Paola Valsasina1, Federica Agosta1, Nilo Riva2, Massimiliano Copetti3, Michele Perini4, Alessandro Prelle5, Domenico Caputo6, Fabrizio Salvi7, Maria Jos Messina2, Giancarlo Comi2, Massimo Filippi1
1Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, Italy; 2Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, Italy; 3Biostatistics Unit, IRCCS-Ospedale Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; 4Department of Neurology, Ospedale di Gallarate, Gallarate, Italy; 5Neurologic Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Fatebenefratelli e Oftalmico, Milan, Italy; 6Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute Fondazione Don Gnocchi, Milan, Italy; 7Department of Neurology, Ospedale di Bellaria, Bologna, Italy
In this study, we explored differences of regional cortical thickness (CT) between a large group of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and matched healthy controls. We also assessed whether cortical thinning in these patients is associated with clinical variables. Results indicated a significant bilateral thinning of sensorimotor, frontal, insular, temporal, parietal and occipital cortices. Mean CT of the sensorimotor, frontal and temporal cortices was able to distinguish patients with ALS from healthy controls. Decreased CT in sensorimotor regions was more strongly associated with age in ALS patients than in controls, and it was correlated with disease progression rate.