Author Of 1 Presentation

Imaging Poster Presentation

P0635 - Relationship between mood disturbance and cerebellar volume and structural connectivity in multiple sclerosis  (ID 1068)

Speakers
Presentation Number
P0635
Presentation Topic
Imaging

Abstract

Background

Recent examinations of the cerebellum have found relationships to higher level processes (i.e., cognition, mood). Mood disturbance is highly prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet, most studies examining the role of the cerebellum in MS have focused on disability or cognitive functioning, despite cerebellar changes being linked to mood disturbance (e.g., depression) in other clinical populations.

Objectives

The aim of the current study is to examine the relationship between cerebellar gray matter volume and white matter connectivity and mood in persons with MS.

Methods

Forty-eight participants were divided into three groups: MS with depression (MS+D; N=22), MS without depression (MS-D; N=11), and Depression without MS (D-MS; N=15). Each participant completed self-report mood questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen; Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory; Apathy Evaluation Scale; Depression Proneness Rating Scale). Multi-shell diffusion MRI and structural data (T1, T2 FLAIR) were collected. Deterministic tractography was performed and structural connectivity (i.e., graph theory) analyses were conducted within the cerebellum. Five graph theory metrics were calculated- density, clustering coefficient, path length, small worldness, global efficiency- for number of normalized streamlines and quantitative anisotropy (QA). Gray matter volume (mm3) was calculated for the anterior and posterior cerebellum and 16 separate cerebellar lobules. Whole brain lesion volume was also calculated. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) determined group differences for self-report and brain measures. The two MS groups were also combined to conduct ridge regression analyses for brain metrics vs. mood severity.

Results

Significant differences were observed between groups on all mood measures. MS+D and MS-D had significantly greater whole brain lesion volumes than D-MS. After correcting for multiple comparisons, MS+D had significantly lower streamline clustering coefficients and global efficiency compared to MS-D. MS+D showed significantly decreased volume in lobules I-IV, Vermis Crus II, and lobule VIIIb when compared to MS-D or D-MS, though they did not survive Bonferroni correction. The combined MS group showed less efficient connectivity (clustering, global efficiency) to be related to greater depression severity/proneness and apathy. Similarly, greater atrophy within the anterior cerebellum, Vermis Crus II, I-IV, lobule VIIIb, Vermis IIIb, and Vermis IX were related to depression severity/proneness and apathy.

Conclusions

This study is among the first to examine mood in persons with MS through a cerebellar volumetric and structural connectivity lens. Results provide evidence for the contribution of cerebellar atrophy and structural network disruption to the presence and severity of mood disturbance in MS. These results have important implications for future research and clinical interventions.

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Presenter Of 1 Presentation

Imaging Poster Presentation

P0635 - Relationship between mood disturbance and cerebellar volume and structural connectivity in multiple sclerosis  (ID 1068)

Speakers
Presentation Number
P0635
Presentation Topic
Imaging

Abstract

Background

Recent examinations of the cerebellum have found relationships to higher level processes (i.e., cognition, mood). Mood disturbance is highly prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet, most studies examining the role of the cerebellum in MS have focused on disability or cognitive functioning, despite cerebellar changes being linked to mood disturbance (e.g., depression) in other clinical populations.

Objectives

The aim of the current study is to examine the relationship between cerebellar gray matter volume and white matter connectivity and mood in persons with MS.

Methods

Forty-eight participants were divided into three groups: MS with depression (MS+D; N=22), MS without depression (MS-D; N=11), and Depression without MS (D-MS; N=15). Each participant completed self-report mood questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen; Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory; Apathy Evaluation Scale; Depression Proneness Rating Scale). Multi-shell diffusion MRI and structural data (T1, T2 FLAIR) were collected. Deterministic tractography was performed and structural connectivity (i.e., graph theory) analyses were conducted within the cerebellum. Five graph theory metrics were calculated- density, clustering coefficient, path length, small worldness, global efficiency- for number of normalized streamlines and quantitative anisotropy (QA). Gray matter volume (mm3) was calculated for the anterior and posterior cerebellum and 16 separate cerebellar lobules. Whole brain lesion volume was also calculated. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) determined group differences for self-report and brain measures. The two MS groups were also combined to conduct ridge regression analyses for brain metrics vs. mood severity.

Results

Significant differences were observed between groups on all mood measures. MS+D and MS-D had significantly greater whole brain lesion volumes than D-MS. After correcting for multiple comparisons, MS+D had significantly lower streamline clustering coefficients and global efficiency compared to MS-D. MS+D showed significantly decreased volume in lobules I-IV, Vermis Crus II, and lobule VIIIb when compared to MS-D or D-MS, though they did not survive Bonferroni correction. The combined MS group showed less efficient connectivity (clustering, global efficiency) to be related to greater depression severity/proneness and apathy. Similarly, greater atrophy within the anterior cerebellum, Vermis Crus II, I-IV, lobule VIIIb, Vermis IIIb, and Vermis IX were related to depression severity/proneness and apathy.

Conclusions

This study is among the first to examine mood in persons with MS through a cerebellar volumetric and structural connectivity lens. Results provide evidence for the contribution of cerebellar atrophy and structural network disruption to the presence and severity of mood disturbance in MS. These results have important implications for future research and clinical interventions.

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