Martina Absinta1, Maria A. Rocca1, Maria Pia Amato2, Angelo Ghezzi3, Lucia Moiola4, Agnese Fiorino4, Pierangelo Veggiotti5, Andrea Falini6, Giancarlo Comi4, Massimo Filippi1, the MS and Neuroimaging Study Groups of the Italian Neurological Society7
1Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, Italy; 2Department of Neurology, University of Florence; 3MS Centre, Ospedale di Gallarate; 4Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, Italy; 5Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C Mondino; 6Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, Italy; 7.....
The patterns of regional abnormalities in the brain gray matter (GM) in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) patients according to their cognitive profile were assessed using voxel-based morphometry. Compared to controls and to cognitively preserved patients, cognitively impaired patients had atrophy of the bilateral precuneus, left (L) lingual gyrus, L inferior frontal operculum, L insula, L middle temporal gyrus, and L precentral gyrus. In pediatric MS patients, thalamic atrophy was significantly related to lesion volumes, while precuneus atrophy correlated with cognitive impairment, suggesting that the assessment of the regional distribution of GM atrophy contributes explaining cognitive deficits in these patients.