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Wróbel PP, Braaß H, Frey BM, Bönstrup M, Guder S, Frontzkowski LK, Feldheim JF, Cheng B, Rathi Y, Pasternak O, Thomalla G, Koerte IK, Shenton ME, Gerloff C, Quandt F, Higgen FL, Schulz R. Cortical microstructure and hemispheric specialization-A diffusion-imaging analysis in younger and older adults. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 60:5718-5730. [PMID: 39205547 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Characterizing cortical plasticity becomes increasingly important for identifying compensatory mechanisms and structural reserve in the ageing population. While cortical thickness (CT) largely contributed to systems neuroscience, it incompletely informs about the underlying neuroplastic pathophysiology. In turn, microstructural characteristics may correspond to atrophy mechanisms in a more sensitive way. Fractional anisotropy, a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measure, is inversely related to cortical histologic complexity. Axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity are assumed to be linked to the density of structures oriented perpendicular and parallel to the cortical surface, respectively. We hypothesized (1) that cortical DTI will reveal microstructural correlates for hemispheric specialization, particularly in the language and motor systems, and (2) that lateralization of cortical DTI parameters will show an age effect, paralleling age-related changes in activation, especially in the prefrontal cortex. We analysed data from healthy younger and older adult participants (N = 91). DTI and CT data were extracted from regions of the Destrieux atlas. Diffusion measures showed lateralization in specialized motor, language, visual, auditory and inferior parietal cortices. Age-dependent increased lateralization for DTI measures was observed in the prefrontal, angular, superior temporal and lateral occipital cortex. CT did not show any age-dependent alterations in lateralization. Our observations argue that cortical DTI can capture microstructural properties associated with functional specialization, resembling findings from histology. Age effects on diffusion measures in the integrative prefrontal and parietal areas may shed novel light on the atrophy-related plasticity in healthy ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł P Wróbel
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Braaß
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt M Frey
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlene Bönstrup
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephanie Guder
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas K Frontzkowski
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan F Feldheim
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yogesh Rathi
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ofer Pasternak
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Inga K Koerte
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fanny Quandt
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Focko L Higgen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Li X, Baker KB, O’Laughlin K, Chen J, Hogue O, Machado AG, Plow EB. Paired DBS and TMS Reveals Dentato-Cortical Facilitation Underlying Upper Extremity Movement in Chronic Stroke Survivors. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2024; 38:109-121. [PMID: 38156644 PMCID: PMC10922453 DOI: 10.1177/15459683231219265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebellum shares robust di-synaptic dentato-thalamo-cortical (DTC) connections with the contralateral motor cortex. Preclinical studies have shown that DTC are excitatory in nature. Structural integrity of DTC is associated with better upper extremity (UE) motor function in people with stroke, indicating DTC are important for cerebellar influences on movement. However, there is a lack of understanding of physiologic influence of DTC in humans, largely due to difficulty in accessing the dentate nucleus. OBJECTIVE Characterize DTC physiology using dentate nucleus deep brain stimulation (DBS) combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in stroke. METHODS Nine chronic stroke survivors with moderate-to-severe UE impairment (Fugl-Meyer 13-38) underwent a paired DBS-TMS experiment before receiving experimental dentate nucleus DBS in our first-in-human phase I trial (Baker et al., 2023, Nature Medicine). Conditioning DBS pulses were given to dentate nucleus 1 to 10 ms prior to supra-threshold TMS pulses given to ipsilesional motor cortex. Effects were assessed on motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Size of DBS-conditioned MEPs was expressed relative to TMS MEPs, where values >1 indicate facilitation. RESULTS Dentate nucleus DBS led to facilitation of MEPs at short-latency intervals (3.5 and 5 ms, P = .049 and .021, respectively), a phenomenon we have termed dentato-cortical facilitation (DCF). Higher DCF was observed among patients with more severe UE impairment. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed microstructure of thalamo-cortical portion of DTC was related to higher corticomotor excitability. CONCLUSIONS Our in vivo investigation reveals for the first time in humans the intrinsic excitatory properties of DTC, which can serve as a novel therapeutic target for post-stroke motor recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kenneth B. Baker
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kyle O’Laughlin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jacqueline Chen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Olivia Hogue
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Andre G. Machado
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Ela B. Plow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospitals, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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Guder S, Sadeghi F, Zittel S, Quandt F, Choe C, Bönstrup M, Cheng B, Thomalla G, Gerloff C, Schulz R. Disability and persistent motor deficits are linked to structural crossed cerebellar diaschisis in chronic stroke. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:5336-5345. [PMID: 37471691 PMCID: PMC10543354 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain imaging has significantly contributed to our understanding of the cerebellum being involved in recovery after non-cerebellar stroke. Due to its connections with supratentorial brain networks, acute stroke can alter the function and structure of the contralesional cerebellum, known as crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD). Data on the spatially precise distribution of structural CCD and their implications for persistent deficits after stroke are notably limited. In this cross-sectional study, structural MRI and clinical data were analyzed from 32 chronic stroke patients, at least 6 months after the event. We quantified lobule-specific contralesional atrophy, as a surrogate of structural CCD, in patients and healthy controls. Volumetric data were integrated with clinical scores of disability and motor deficits. Diaschisis-outcome models were adjusted for the covariables age, lesion volume, and damage to the corticospinal tract. We found that structural CCD was evident for the whole cerebellum, and particularly for lobules V and VI. Lobule VI diaschisis was significantly correlated with clinical scores, that is, volume reductions in contralesional lobule VI were associated with higher levels of disability and motor deficits. Lobule V and the whole cerebellum did not show similar diaschisis-outcome relationships across the spectrum of the clinical scores. These results provide novel insights into stroke-related cerebellar plasticity and might thereby promote lobule VI as a key area prone to structural CCD and potentially involved in recovery and residual motor functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Guder
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Fatemeh Sadeghi
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Simone Zittel
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Fanny Quandt
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Chi‐un Choe
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Marlene Bönstrup
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Robert Schulz
- Department of NeurologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
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Yoo YJ, Lim SH, Kim Y, Kim JS, Hong BY, Yoon MJ, Rim H, Park GY. Structural Integrity of the Cerebellar Outflow Tract Predicts Long-Term Motor Function After Middle Cerebral Artery Ischemic Stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2023; 37:554-563. [PMID: 37269119 DOI: 10.1177/15459683231177607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cerebellum plays a crucial role in functional movement by influencing sensorimotor coordination and learning. However, the effects of cortico-cerebellar connectivity on the recovery of upper extremity motor function after stroke have not been investigated. We hypothesized that the integrity of the cortico-cerebellar connections would be reduced in patients with a subacute middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke, and that this reduction may help to predict chronic upper extremity motor function. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the diffusion-tensor imaging of 25 patients with a subacute MCA stroke (mean age: 62.2 ± 2.7 years; 14 females) and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We evaluated the microstructural integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST), dentatothalamocortical tract (DTCT), and corticopontocerebellar tract (CPCT). Furthermore, we created linear regression models to predict chronic upper extremity motor function based on the structural integrity of each tract. RESULTS In stroke patients, the affected DTCT and CST showed significantly impaired structural integrity compared to unaffected tracts and the tracts in controls. When all models were compared, the model that used the fractional anisotropy (FA) asymmetry indices of CST and DTCT as independent variables best predicted chronic upper extremity motor function (R2 = .506, P = .001). The extent of structural integrity of the CPCT did not significantly differ between hemispheres or groups and was not predictive of motor function. CONCLUSIONS We found evidence that microstructural integrity of the DTCT in the subacute phase of an MCA stroke helped to predict chronic upper extremity motor function, independent of CST status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeun Jie Yoo
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Hoon Lim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngkook Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon-Sung Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Young Hong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Jeong Yoon
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanee Rim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun-Young Park
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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Chen R, Dadario NB, Cook B, Sun L, Wang X, Li Y, Hu X, Zhang X, Sughrue ME. Connectomic insight into unique stroke patient recovery after rTMS treatment. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1063408. [PMID: 37483442 PMCID: PMC10359072 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1063408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
An improved understanding of the neuroplastic potential of the brain has allowed advancements in neuromodulatory treatments for acute stroke patients. However, there remains a poor understanding of individual differences in treatment-induced recovery. Individualized information on connectivity disturbances may help predict differences in treatment response and recovery phenotypes. We studied the medical data of 22 ischemic stroke patients who received MRI scans and started repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment on the same day. The functional and motor outcomes were assessed at admission day, 1 day after treatment, 30 days after treatment, and 90 days after treatment using four validated standardized stroke outcome scales. Each patient underwent detailed baseline connectivity analyses to identify structural and functional connectivity disturbances. An unsupervised machine learning (ML) agglomerative hierarchical clustering method was utilized to group patients according to outcomes at four-time points to identify individual phenotypes in recovery trajectory. Differences in connectivity features were examined between individual clusters. Patients were a median age of 64, 50% female, and had a median hospital length of stay of 9.5 days. A significant improvement between all time points was demonstrated post treatment in three of four validated stroke scales utilized. ML-based analyses identified distinct clusters representing unique patient trajectories for each scale. Quantitative differences were found to exist in structural and functional connectivity analyses of the motor network and subcortical structures between individual clusters which could explain these unique trajectories on the Barthel Index (BI) scale but not on other stroke scales. This study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility of using individualized connectivity analyses in differentiating unique phenotypes in rTMS treatment responses and recovery. This personalized connectomic approach may be utilized in the future to better understand patient recovery trajectories with neuromodulatory treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Nicholas B. Dadario
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Brennan Cook
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Lichun Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yujie Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Xiaorong Hu
- Xijia Medical Technology Company Limited, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Xijia Medical Technology Company Limited, Shenzhen, China
- International Joint Research Center on Precision Brain Medicine, XD Group Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Michael E. Sughrue
- International Joint Research Center on Precision Brain Medicine, XD Group Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Omniscient Neurotechnology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Cingulum Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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6
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Wróbel PP, Guder S, Feldheim JF, Graterol Pérez JA, Frey BM, Choe CU, Bönstrup M, Cheng B, Rathi Y, Pasternak O, Thomalla G, Gerloff C, Shenton ME, Schulz R. Altered microstructure of the contralesional ventral premotor cortex and motor output after stroke. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad160. [PMID: 37265601 PMCID: PMC10231803 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical thickness analyses have provided valuable insights into changes in cortical brain structure after stroke and their association with recovery. Across studies though, relationships between cortical structure and function show inconsistent results. Recent developments in diffusion-weighted imaging of the cortex have paved the way to uncover hidden aspects of stroke-related alterations in cortical microstructure, going beyond cortical thickness as a surrogate for cortical macrostructure. We re-analysed clinical and imaging data of 42 well-recovered chronic stroke patients from 2 independent cohorts (mean age 64 years, 4 left-handed, 71% male, 16 right-sided strokes) and 33 healthy controls of similar age and gender. Cortical fractional anisotropy and cortical thickness values were obtained for six key sensorimotor areas of the contralesional hemisphere. The regions included the primary motor cortex, dorsal and ventral premotor cortex, supplementary and pre-supplementary motor areas, and primary somatosensory cortex. Linear models were estimated for group comparisons between patients and controls and for correlations between cortical fractional anisotropy and cortical thickness and clinical scores. Compared with controls, stroke patients exhibited a reduction in fractional anisotropy in the contralesional ventral premotor cortex (P = 0.005). Fractional anisotropy of the other regions and cortical thickness did not show a comparable group difference. Higher fractional anisotropy of the ventral premotor cortex, but not cortical thickness, was positively associated with residual grip force in the stroke patients. These data provide novel evidence that the contralesional ventral premotor cortex might constitute a key sensorimotor area particularly susceptible to stroke-related alterations in cortical microstructure as measured by diffusion MRI and they suggest a link between these changes and residual motor output after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł P Wróbel
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Stephanie Guder
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Jan F Feldheim
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - José A Graterol Pérez
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Benedikt M Frey
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Chi-un Choe
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Marlene Bönstrup
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Yogesh Rathi
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
| | - Ofer Pasternak
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, MA, USA
| | - Robert Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
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7
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Yuasa A, Uehara S, Ushizawa K, Toyama T, Gomez-Tames J, Hirata A, Otaka Y. Effects of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation on upper limb motor function after stroke: study protocol for the pilot of a randomized controlled trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2022; 8:259. [PMCID: PMC9748387 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-022-01223-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a technique that can noninvasively modulate neural states in a targeted brain region. As cerebellar activity levels are associated with upper limb motor improvement after stroke, the cerebellum is a plausible target of tDCS. However, the effect of tDCS remains unclear. Here, we designed a pilot study to assess: (1) the feasibility of a study that aims to examine the effects of cerebellar tDCS combined with an intensive rehabilitation approach based on the concept of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and (2) the preliminary outcome of the combined approach on upper limb motor function in patients with stroke in the chronic stage.
Methods
This pilot study has a double-blind randomized controlled design. Twenty-four chronic stroke patients with mild to moderate levels of upper limb motor impairment will be randomly assigned to an active or sham tDCS group. The participants will receive 20 min of active or sham tDCS to the contralesional cerebellum at the commencement of 4 h of daily intensive training, repeatedly for 5 days per week for 2 weeks. The primary outcomes are recruitment, enrollment, protocol adherence, and retention rates and measures to evaluate the feasibility of the study. The secondary outcome is upper limb motor function which will be evaluated using the Action Research Arm Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, for the upper extremity and the Motor Activity Log. Additionally, neurophysiological and neuroanatomical assessments of the cerebellum will be performed using transcranial magnetic stimulation and magnetic resonance imaging. These assessments will be conducted before, at the middle, and after the 2-week intervention, and finally, 1 month after the intervention. Any adverse events that occur during the study will be recorded.
Discussion
Cerebellar tDCS combined with intensive upper limb training may increase the gains of motor improvement when compared to the sham condition. The present study should provide valuable evidence regarding the feasibility of the design and the efficacy of cerebellar tDCS for upper limb motor function in patients with stroke before a future large trial is conducted.
Trial registration
This study has been registered at the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs042200078). Registered 17 December 2020
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Paul T, Cieslak M, Hensel L, Wiemer VM, Grefkes C, Grafton ST, Fink GR, Volz LJ. The role of corticospinal and extrapyramidal pathways in motor impairment after stroke. Brain Commun 2022; 5:fcac301. [PMID: 36601620 PMCID: PMC9798285 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anisotropy of descending motor pathways has repeatedly been linked to the severity of motor impairment following stroke-related damage to the corticospinal tract. Despite promising findings consistently tying anisotropy of the ipsilesional corticospinal tract to motor outcome, anisotropy is not yet utilized as a biomarker for motor recovery in clinical practice as several methodological constraints hinder a conclusive understanding of degenerative processes in the ipsilesional corticospinal tract and compensatory roles of other descending motor pathways. These constraints include estimating anisotropy in voxels with multiple fibre directions, sampling biases and confounds due to ageing-related atrophy. The present study addressed these issues by combining diffusion spectrum imaging with a novel compartmentwise analysis approach differentiating voxels with one dominant fibre direction (one-directional voxels) from voxels with multiple fibre directions. Compartmentwise anisotropy for bihemispheric corticospinal and extrapyramidal tracts was compared between 25 chronic stroke patients, 22 healthy age-matched controls, and 24 healthy young controls and its associations with motor performance of the upper and lower limbs were assessed. Our results provide direct evidence for Wallerian degeneration along the entire length of the ipsilesional corticospinal tract reflected by decreased anisotropy in descending fibres compared with age-matched controls, while ageing-related atrophy was observed more ubiquitously across compartments. Anisotropy of descending ipsilesional corticospinal tract voxels showed highly robust correlations with various aspects of upper and lower limb motor impairment, highlighting the behavioural relevance of Wallerian degeneration. Moreover, anisotropy measures of two-directional voxels within bihemispheric rubrospinal and reticulospinal tracts were linked to lower limb deficits, while anisotropy of two-directional contralesional rubrospinal voxels explained gross motor performance of the affected hand. Of note, the relevant extrapyramidal structures contained fibres crossing the midline, fibres potentially mitigating output from brain stem nuclei, and fibres transferring signals between the extrapyramidal system and the cerebellum. Thus, specific parts of extrapyramidal pathways seem to compensate for impaired gross arm and leg movements incurred through stroke-related corticospinal tract lesions, while fine motor control of the paretic hand critically relies on ipsilesional corticospinal tract integrity. Importantly, our findings suggest that the extrapyramidal system may serve as a compensatory structural reserve independent of post-stroke reorganization of extrapyramidal tracts. In summary, compartment-specific anisotropy of ipsilesional corticospinal tract and extrapyramidal tracts explained distinct aspects of motor impairment, with both systems representing different pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to motor control post-stroke. Considering both systems in concert may help to develop diffusion imaging biomarkers for specific motor functions after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Paul
- Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Matthew Cieslak
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States of America
| | - Lukas Hensel
- Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Valerie M Wiemer
- Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian Grefkes
- Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Cognitive Neuroscience (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Scott T Grafton
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, United States of America
| | - Gereon R Fink
- Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Cognitive Neuroscience (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Lukas J Volz
- Correspondence to: Lukas J. Volz, M.D. Department of Neurology, University of Cologne Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany E-mail:
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9
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Sadeghihassanabadi F, Frey BM, Backhaus W, Choe CU, Zittel S, Schön G, Bönstrup M, Cheng B, Thomalla G, Gerloff C, Schulz R. Structural cerebellar reserve positively influences outcome after severe stroke. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac203. [PMID: 36337341 PMCID: PMC9629400 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of brain reserve capacity positively influencing the process of recovery after stroke has been continuously developed in recent years. Global measures of brain health have been linked with a favourable outcome. Numerous studies have evidenced that the cerebellum is involved in recovery after stroke. However, it remains an open question whether characteristics of cerebellar anatomy, quantified directly after stroke, might have an impact on subsequent outcome after stroke. Thirty-nine first-ever ischaemic non-cerebellar stroke patients underwent MRI brain imaging early after stroke and longitudinal clinical follow-up. Structural images were used for volumetric analyses of distinct cerebellar regions. Ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted to associate cerebellar volumes with functional outcome 3-6 months after stroke, operationalized by the modified Rankin Scale. Larger volumes of cerebellar lobules IV, VI, and VIIIB were positively correlated with favourable outcome, independent of the severity of initial impairment, age, and lesion volume (P < 0.01). The total cerebellar volume did not exhibit a significant structure-outcome association. The present study reveals that pre-stroke anatomy of distinct cerebellar lobules involved in motor and cognitive functioning might be linked to outcome after acute non-cerebellar stroke, thereby promoting the emerging concepts of structural brain reserve for recovery processes after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benedikt M Frey
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Winifried Backhaus
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Chi-un Choe
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simone Zittel
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Schön
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlene Bönstrup
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany,Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Schulz
- Correspondence to: Robert Schulz MD University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany E-mail:
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10
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Graterol Pérez JA, Guder S, Choe CU, Gerloff C, Schulz R. Relationship Between Cortical Excitability Changes and Cortical Thickness in Subcortical Chronic Stroke. Front Neurol 2022; 13:802113. [PMID: 35345406 PMCID: PMC8957093 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.802113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke leads to excitability changes of the motor network as probed by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). There is still limited data that shows to what extent structural alterations of the motor network might be linked to excitability changes. Previous results argue that the microstructural state of specific corticofugal motor tracts such as the corticospinal tract associate with cortical excitability in chronic stroke patients. The relationship between changes of cortical anatomy after stroke, as operationalized by means of decreases or increases in local cortical thickness (CT), has scarcely been addressed. In the present study, we re-analyzed TMS data and recruitment curve properties of motor evoked potentials and CT data in a group of 14 well-recovered chronic stroke patients with isolated supratentorial subcortical lesions. CT data of the stroke patients were compared to CT data of 17 healthy controls. Whole-brain and region-of-interest based analyses were conducted to relate CT data to measures of motor cortical excitability and clinical data. We found that stroke patients exhibited significantly reduced CT not only in the ipsilesional primary motor cortex but also in numerous secondary motor and non-motor brain regions, particularly in the ipsilesional hemisphere including areas along the central sulcus, the inferior frontal sulcus, the intraparietal sulcus, and cingulate cortices. We could not detect any significant relationship between the extent of CT reduction and stroke-related excitability changes of the motor network or clinical scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Graterol Pérez
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Guder
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Chi-Un Choe
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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11
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Veldema J, Nowak DA, Gharabaghi A. Resting motor threshold in the course of hand motor recovery after stroke: a systematic review. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2021; 18:158. [PMID: 34732203 PMCID: PMC8564987 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-021-00947-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Resting motor threshold is an objective measure of cortical excitability. Numerous studies indicate that the success of motor recovery after stroke is significantly determined by the direction and extent of cortical excitability changes. A better understanding of this topic (particularly with regard to the level of motor impairment and the contribution of either cortical hemisphere) may contribute to the development of effective therapeutical strategies in this cohort. Objectives This systematic review collects and analyses the available evidence on resting motor threshold and hand motor recovery in stroke patients. Methods PubMed was searched from its inception through to 31/10/2020 on studies investigating resting motor threshold of the affected and/or the non-affected hemisphere and motor function of the affected hand in stroke cohorts. Results Overall, 92 appropriate studies (including 1978 stroke patients and 377 healthy controls) were identified. The analysis of the data indicates that severe hand impairment is associated with suppressed cortical excitability within both hemispheres and with great between-hemispheric imbalance of cortical excitability. Favorable motor recovery is associated with an increase of ipsilesional motor cortex excitability and reduction of between-hemispheric imbalance. The direction of change of contralesional motor cortex excitability depends on the amount of hand motor impairment. Severely disabled patients show an increase of contralesional motor cortex excitability during motor recovery. In contrast, recovery of moderate to mild hand motor impairment is associated with a decrease of contralesional motor cortex excitability. Conclusions This data encourages a differential use of rehabilitation strategies to modulate cortical excitability. Facilitation of the ipsilesional hemisphere may support recovery in general, whereas facilitation and inhibition of the contralesional hemisphere may enhance recovery in severe and less severely impaired patients, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitka Veldema
- Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery and Neurotechnology, University Hospital and University of Tübingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str.45, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Dennis Alexander Nowak
- Department of Neurology, VAMED Hospital Kipfenberg, Konrad-Regler-Straße 1, 85110, Kipfenberg, Germany
| | - Alireza Gharabaghi
- Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery and Neurotechnology, University Hospital and University of Tübingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str.45, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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12
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Betti S, Fedele M, Castiello U, Sartori L, Budisavljević S. Corticospinal excitability and conductivity are related to the anatomy of the corticospinal tract. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:1155-1164. [PMID: 34698904 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02410-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Probing the brain structure-function relationship is at the heart of modern neuroscientific explorations, enabled by recent advances in brain mapping techniques. This study aimed to explore the anatomical blueprint of corticospinal excitability and shed light on the structure-function relationship within the human motor system. Using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging tractography, based on the spherical deconvolution approach, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we show that anatomical inter-individual variability of the corticospinal tract (CST) modulates the corticospinal excitability and conductivity. Our findings show for the first time the relationship between increased corticospinal excitability and conductivity in individuals with a bigger CST (i.e., number of streamlines), as well as increased corticospinal microstructural organization (i.e., fractional anisotropy). These findings can have important implications for the understanding of the neuroanatomical basis of TMS as well as the study of the human motor system in both health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Betti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Marta Fedele
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Umberto Castiello
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa Sartori
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sanja Budisavljević
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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13
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Integrity of the Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle Correlates with Ambulatory Function after Hemorrhagic Stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 30:106164. [PMID: 34655972 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cerebro-cerebellar connectivity plays a critical role in motor recovery after stroke; however, the underlying mechanism of walking recovery is unclear. The dorsal spinocerebellar pathway has been suggested as a biomarker of poststroke ambulatory function. We aimed to explore the association between ambulatory function and the dorsal spinocerebellar pathway's integrity after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-seven patients with ICH who were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation during the subacute phase of stroke and 27 age-matched healthy controls were included retrospectively. Ambulatory function was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale and Mobility score. We measured the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the corticospinal tract (CST) and inferior cerebellar peduncle (ICP) as the final route of the dorsal spinocerebellar pathway. The FA laterality indices, representing the degree of degeneration, were calculated. A Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression models were used to determine the associations between the FA laterality indices and ambulatory function. RESULTS An FA reduction was found in both the ipsilesional CST and contralesional ICP of the patients. The ICP FA laterality index exhibited a moderate correlation with ambulatory function (Berg Balance Scale, ρBBS=0.589; Mobility score, ρMS=0.619). On dividing the patient group into the moderate (mRS 3, 4) and severe disability (mRS 5) groups, a stronger correlation was found (ρBBS=0.777, ρMS=0.856, moderate disability; ρBBS=0.732, ρMS=0.797, severe disability). The ICP FA laterality index and age were independently associated with the Mobility score (R2=0.525). CONCLUSIONS ICP degeneration occurs after ICH, and its degree is associated with ambulatory function after ICH.
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14
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Schulz R, Bönstrup M, Guder S, Liu J, Frey B, Quandt F, Krawinkel LA, Cheng B, Thomalla G, Gerloff C. Corticospinal Tract Microstructure Correlates With Beta Oscillatory Activity in the Primary Motor Cortex After Stroke. Stroke 2021; 52:3839-3847. [PMID: 34412514 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.121.034344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cortical beta oscillations are reported to serve as robust measures of the integrity of the human motor system. Their alterations after stroke, such as reduced movement-related beta desynchronization in the primary motor cortex, have been repeatedly related to the level of impairment. However, there is only little data whether such measures of brain function might directly relate to structural brain changes after stroke. METHODS This multimodal study investigated 18 well-recovered patients with stroke (mean age 65 years, 12 males) by means of task-related EEG and diffusion-weighted structural MRI 3 months after stroke. Beta power at rest and movement-related beta desynchronization was assessed in 3 key motor areas of the ipsilesional hemisphere that are the primary motor cortex (M1), the ventral premotor area and the supplementary motor area. Template trajectories of corticospinal tracts (CST) originating from M1, premotor cortex, and supplementary motor area were used to quantify the microstructural state of CST subcomponents. Linear mixed-effects analyses were used to relate tract-related mean fractional anisotropy to EEG measures. RESULTS In the present cohort, we detected statistically significant reductions in ipsilesional CST fractional anisotropy but no alterations in EEG measures when compared with healthy controls. However, in patients with stroke, there was a significant association between both beta power at rest (P=0.002) and movement-related beta desynchronization (P=0.003) in M1 and fractional anisotropy of the CST specifically originating from M1. Similar structure-function relationships were neither evident for ventral premotor area and supplementary motor area, particularly with respect to their CST subcomponents originating from premotor cortex and supplementary motor area, in patients with stroke nor in controls. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest there might be a link connecting microstructure of the CST originating from M1 pyramidal neurons and beta oscillatory activity, measures which have already been related to motor impairment in patients with stroke by previous reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
| | - Marlene Bönstrup
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.).,Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Leipzig, Germany (M.B.)
| | - Stephanie Guder
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
| | - Jingchun Liu
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, China (J.L.)
| | - Benedikt Frey
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
| | - Fanny Quandt
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
| | - Lutz A Krawinkel
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (R.S., M.B., S.G., B.F., F.Q., L.A.K., B.C., G.T., C.G.)
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15
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Cao X, Wang Z, Chen X, Liu Y, Wang W, Abdoulaye IA, Ju S, Yang X, Wang Y, Guo Y. White matter degeneration in remote brain areas of stroke patients with motor impairment due to basal ganglia lesions. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:4750-4761. [PMID: 34232552 PMCID: PMC8410521 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have revealed distinct white matter (WM) characteristics of the brain following diseases. Beyond the lesion‐symptom maps, stroke is characterized by extensive structural and functional alterations of brain areas remote to local lesions. Here, we further investigated the structural changes over a global level by using DTI data of 10 ischemic stroke patients showing motor impairment due to basal ganglia lesions and 11 healthy controls. DTI data were processed to obtain fractional anisotropy (FA) maps, and multivariate pattern analysis was used to explore brain regions that play an important role in classification based on FA maps. The WM structural network was constructed by the deterministic fiber‐tracking approach. In comparison with the controls, the stroke patients showed FA reductions in the perilesional basal ganglia, brainstem, and bilateral frontal lobes. Using network‐based statistics, we found a significant reduction in the WM subnetwork in stroke patients. We identified the patterns of WM degeneration affecting brain areas remote to the lesions, revealing the abnormal organization of the structural network in stroke patients, which may be helpful in understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying hemiplegia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejin Cao
- Department of Neurology, Southeast University Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Southeast University Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Southeast University Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Idriss Ali Abdoulaye
- Department of Neurology, Southeast University Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shenghong Ju
- Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xi Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation, Southeast University Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuancheng Wang
- Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yijing Guo
- Department of Neurology, Southeast University Zhongda Hospital, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Neurology, Lishui People's Hospital, Southeast University Zhongda Hospital Lishui Branch, Nanjing, China
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16
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Li H, Zhang Q, Duan Q, Jin J, Hu F, Dang J, Zhang M. Brainstem Involvement in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Combined Structural and Diffusion Tensor MRI Analysis. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:675444. [PMID: 34149349 PMCID: PMC8206526 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.675444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The brainstem is an important component in the pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although neuroimaging studies have shown multiple structural changes in ALS patients, few studies have investigated structural alterations in the brainstem. Herein, we compared the brainstem structure between patients with ALS and healthy controls. Methods A total of 33 patients with ALS and 33 healthy controls were recruited in this study. T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were acquired on a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI) scanner. Volumetric and vertex-wised approaches were implemented to assess the differences in the brainstem’s morphological features between the two groups. An atlas-based region of interest (ROI) analysis was performed to compare the white matter integrity of the brainstem between the two groups. Additionally, a correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between ALS clinical characteristics and structural features. Results Volumetric analyses showed no significant difference in the subregion volume of the brainstem between ALS patients and healthy controls. In the shape analyses, ALS patients had a local abnormal surface contraction in the ventral medulla oblongata and ventral pons. Compared with healthy controls, ALS patients showed significantly lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the left corticospinal tract (CST) and bilateral frontopontine tracts (FPT) at the brainstem level, and higher radial diffusivity (RD) in bilateral CST and left FPT at the brainstem level by ROI analysis in DTI. Correlation analysis showed that disease severity was positively associated with FA in left CST and left FPT. Conclusion These findings suggest that the brainstem in ALS suffers atrophy, and degenerative processes in the brainstem may reflect disease severity in ALS. These findings may be helpful for further understanding of potential neural mechanisms in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haining Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiuli Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qianqian Duan
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiaoting Jin
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fangfang Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingxia Dang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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17
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Backhaus W, Braaß H, Higgen FL, Gerloff C, Schulz R. Early parietofrontal network upregulation relates to future persistent deficits after severe stroke-a prospective cohort study. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab097. [PMID: 34056601 PMCID: PMC8154858 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent brain imaging has evidenced that parietofrontal networks show alterations after stroke which also relate to motor recovery processes. There is converging evidence for an upregulation of parietofrontal coupling between parietal brain regions and frontal motor cortices. The majority of studies though have included only moderately to mildly affected patients, particularly in the subacute or chronic stage. Whether these network alterations will also be present in severely affected patients and early after stroke and whether such information can improve correlative models to infer motor recovery remains unclear. In this prospective cohort study, 19 severely affected first-ever stroke patients (mean age 74 years, 12 females) were analysed which underwent resting-state functional MRI and clinical testing during the initial week after the event. Clinical evaluation of neurological and motor impairment as well as global disability was repeated after three and six months. Nineteen healthy participants of similar age and gender were also recruited. MRI data were used to calculate functional connectivity values between the ipsilesional primary motor cortex, the ventral premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area and the anterior and caudal intraparietal sulcus of the ipsilesional hemisphere. Linear regression models were estimated to compare parietofrontal functional connectivity between stroke patients and healthy controls and to relate them to motor recovery. The main finding was a significant increase in ipsilesional parietofrontal coupling between anterior intraparietal sulcus and the primary motor cortex in severely affected stroke patients (P < 0.003). This upregulation significantly contributed to correlative models explaining variability in subsequent neurological and global disability as quantified by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale, respectively. Patients with increased parietofrontal coupling in the acute stage showed higher levels of persistent deficits in the late subacute stage of recovery (P < 0.05). This study provides novel insights that parietofrontal networks of the ipsilesional hemisphere undergo neuroplastic alteration already very early after severe motor stroke. The association between early parietofrontal upregulation and future levels of persistent functional deficits and dependence from help in daily living might be useful in models to enhance clinical neurorehabilitative decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winifried Backhaus
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Braaß
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Focko L Higgen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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18
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Guder S, Pasternak O, Gerloff C, Schulz R. Strengthened structure-function relationships of the corticospinal tract by free water correction after stroke. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab034. [PMID: 33959708 PMCID: PMC8088790 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The corticospinal tract is the most intensively investigated tract of the human motor system in stroke rehabilitative research. Diffusion-tensor-imaging gives insights into its microstructure, and transcranial magnetic stimulation assesses its excitability. Previous data on the interrelationship between both measures are contradictory. Correlative or predictive models which associate them with motor outcome are incomplete. Free water correction has been developed to enhance diffusion-tensor-imaging by eliminating partial volume with extracellular water, which could improve capturing stroke-related microstructural alterations, thereby also improving structure-function relationships in clinical cohorts. In the present cross-sectional study, data of 18 chronic stroke patients and 17 healthy controls, taken from a previous study on cortico-cerebellar motor tracts, were re-analysed: The data included diffusion-tensor-imaging data quantifying corticospinal tract microstructure with and without free water correction, transcranial magnetic stimulation data assessing recruitment curve properties of motor evoked potentials and detailed clinical data. Linear regression modelling was used to interrelate corticospinal tract microstructure, recruitment curves properties and clinical scores. The main finding of the present study was that free water correction substantially strengthens structure-function associations in stroke patients: Specifically, our data evidenced a significant association between fractional anisotropy of the ipsilesional corticospinal tract and its excitability (P = 0.001, adj. R2 = 0.54), with free water correction explaining additional 20% in recruitment curve variability. For clinical scores, only free water correction leads to the reliable detection of significant correlations between ipsilesional corticospinal tract fractional anisotropy and residual grip (P = 0.001, adj. R2 = 0.70) and pinch force (P < 0.001, adj. R2 = 0.72). Finally, multimodal models can be improved by free water correction as well. This study evidences that corticospinal tract microstructure directly relates to its excitability in stroke patients. It also shows that unexplained variance in motor outcome is considerably reduced by free water correction arguing that it might serve as a powerful tool to improve existing models of structure-function associations and potentially also outcome prediction after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Guder
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ofer Pasternak
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Schulz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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