Author Of 3 Presentations
P0004 - Convolutional neural network framework for predicting progression in early MS (ID 1679)
Abstract
Background
Brain tissue damage is closely linked to disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). The localization of white matter (WM) lesions influences the course of the disease.
Objectives
However, the interrelation between lesions topography and cortical atrophy distribution for predicting the clinical disability remains unclear. Use a deep learning neural network framework with the purpose to identify critical co-varying patterns for individualized disease prediction.
Methods
Clinical disability was measured using the Expanded Disability Status Score at baseline and at a one-year follow-up in a cohort of 119 patients with early relapsing-remitting MS and in a replication cohort of 81 patients. Co-varying patterns of cortical atrophy and baseline lesion distribution were extracted by parallel ICA and used as features for constructing a deep learning convolutional neural network. The prediction was conducted for each identified lesion pattern separately using 50% as training cohort and 50% as testing cohort.
Results
In the study cohort, we identified three distinct distribution types of WM lesions (“cerebellar”, “bihemispheric” and “left-lateralized”). The “cerebellar” and “left-lateralized” patterns were reproducibly detected in the second cohort. Each of the patterns predicted to different extents, short-term disability progression, while the “cerebellar” pattern predicting individual disability progression with an 10-fold cross-validation accuracy of above 90% for the Study cohort (95% CI: 88%-94%) and above 85% for the replication cohort (95% CI: 81%-88%) respectively.
Conclusions
These findings highlight that role of distinct spatial distribution of cortical atrophy and WM lesions predicting disability. The cerebellar involvement is shown as a key feature in the CNN framework for prediction of rapid clinical deterioration.
P0599 - Linking microstructural integrity and motor cortex excitability in multiple sclerosis (ID 1151)
Abstract
Background
Motor skills are commonly impaired in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) as a consequence of gray (GM) and white matter (WM) pathology and cortical excitability abnormalities.
Objectives
We hypothesized that microstructural characteristics of motor regions as assessed with the neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) model predict motor cortical excitability that is frequently altered in MS. Further, we evaluated pathological microstructure alterations in motor WM tracts of MS patients compared to healthy controls (HC) using NODDI in comparison to the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameter fractional anisotropy (FA).
Methods
We applied advanced diffusion imaging in 50 MS patients and 49 age-matched HC. As excitability maker, we assessed resting motor thresholds using non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation. For quantification of microstructural integrity of the motor system, neurite density index (NDI), orientation dispersion index (ODI), isotropic volume fraction (IVF) and FA averaged within left primary motor cortex as the stimulation site were considered. We applied hierarchical regression modeling to evaluate the prediction of the resting motor threshold by NDI, ODI, IVF and FA in MS patients and HC. Cognitive-motor performance quantified by the Nine Hole Peg Test and Trail Making Test part A (TMT-A) and part B (TMT-B) was regressed on the diffusion parameters in a subsample of 44 MS patients. In the WM, we applied tract-based spatial statistics with the threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE) method within motor tracts comparing MS patients and HC. We tracked contributions of NDI and ODI to FA and evaluated if the NODDI model detects additional pathological alterations.
Results
A hierarchical regression revealed that lower NDI suggestive for axonal loss in the GM significantly predicted higher motor thresholds, i.e. reduced excitability in MS patients (F(1,48) = 7.493, p = .009). Lower NDI was indicative for decreased performance in TMT-A (F(1,42) = 8.102; p = .007) and TMT-B (F(1,42) = 7.390; p = .009). Microstructural abnormalities of the interconnected WM tracts were characterized by lowered FA, decreased NDI and increased ODI in MS (all TFCE-corrected p < .05). NDI exclusively (56%) and in overlap with FA (19%) accounted for the largest amount of differences, followed by ODI alone (9%).
Conclusions
Our work shows that lower neurite density in primary motor cortex is linked to decreased motor cortical excitability and decreased cognitive-motor performance in MS patients. Lower neurite density and higher orientation dispersion are characteristic in the WM of MS patients compared to HC. Our results suggest that these markers are more sensitive to pathological alterations than the classical DTI measure FA. This work outlines the potential of microstructure imaging using advanced biophysical models to forecast neurodegeneration and excitability alterations in neuroinflammation.
P1123 - Gender dimorphism of hippocampal intrinsic networks and regional integrity in multiple sclerosis (ID 1743)
Abstract
Background
The hippocampus is a complex anatomical structure with a fine-tuned intrinsic network architecture, shaped by functional and structural compartmentalization. The hippocampus is affected early in multiple sclerosis (MS) and besides focal neuroinflammatory damage, network disruption is thought to account for cognitive deficits in MS. Given the sex-related vulnerability to cognitive decline in MS, sex-driven differences in hippocampal networks and regional integrity can be hypothesized.
Objectives
To characterize sex effects on hippocampal network organization and subfield integrity, and their relation to cognitive performance.
Methods
In a cohort of 476 MS patients (age 35±10 years), 337 females and 139 males with a disease duration of 16±14 months were imaged on a 3T MRI scanner at baseline and after 2 years. A control group of healthy subjects (HS, n=110, age 34±15 years, 54 females) was included. Volumes of 12 hippocampal subfields were quantified and fed into the reconstruction of the single-subject morphometric networks and analyzed within the graph theoretical framework. Sex-related differences in network and subfield properties were evaluated with linear mixed-effects models, adjusted for age, center and total hippocampal volume; p-values are reported after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.
Results
At baseline, both female and male patients displayed higher clustering (p<0.05) compared to HS. Female patients had higher clustering (p<0.05) but equally efficient network organization (local and global efficiency, p>0.05) compared to male patients. At follow-ups, independently of sex, patients had increased modularity, clustering and global efficiency, however, with higher values in female patients (all p<0.05). Both female and male patients had lower volumes in almost all subfields compared to HS. Female patients had smaller parasubiculum and presubiculum but larger molecular layer as compared to male patients. Over time, female patients had more widespread regional volumetric reduction compared to male patients. Cognitive performance was positively associated with clustering (r=0.27, p<0.01), local (r=0.25, p<0.01) and global efficiency (r=0.24, p<0.01) only in female but not in male patients.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest a more clustered and modular network architecture in female patients despite a more extensive local atrophy over time. The stronger association of cognitive performance with intrinsic hippocampal connectivity may explain cognitive reserve in female patients. These results may serve for sex-targeted neuropsychological interventions.
Presenter Of 1 Presentation
P1123 - Gender dimorphism of hippocampal intrinsic networks and regional integrity in multiple sclerosis (ID 1743)
Abstract
Background
The hippocampus is a complex anatomical structure with a fine-tuned intrinsic network architecture, shaped by functional and structural compartmentalization. The hippocampus is affected early in multiple sclerosis (MS) and besides focal neuroinflammatory damage, network disruption is thought to account for cognitive deficits in MS. Given the sex-related vulnerability to cognitive decline in MS, sex-driven differences in hippocampal networks and regional integrity can be hypothesized.
Objectives
To characterize sex effects on hippocampal network organization and subfield integrity, and their relation to cognitive performance.
Methods
In a cohort of 476 MS patients (age 35±10 years), 337 females and 139 males with a disease duration of 16±14 months were imaged on a 3T MRI scanner at baseline and after 2 years. A control group of healthy subjects (HS, n=110, age 34±15 years, 54 females) was included. Volumes of 12 hippocampal subfields were quantified and fed into the reconstruction of the single-subject morphometric networks and analyzed within the graph theoretical framework. Sex-related differences in network and subfield properties were evaluated with linear mixed-effects models, adjusted for age, center and total hippocampal volume; p-values are reported after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.
Results
At baseline, both female and male patients displayed higher clustering (p<0.05) compared to HS. Female patients had higher clustering (p<0.05) but equally efficient network organization (local and global efficiency, p>0.05) compared to male patients. At follow-ups, independently of sex, patients had increased modularity, clustering and global efficiency, however, with higher values in female patients (all p<0.05). Both female and male patients had lower volumes in almost all subfields compared to HS. Female patients had smaller parasubiculum and presubiculum but larger molecular layer as compared to male patients. Over time, female patients had more widespread regional volumetric reduction compared to male patients. Cognitive performance was positively associated with clustering (r=0.27, p<0.01), local (r=0.25, p<0.01) and global efficiency (r=0.24, p<0.01) only in female but not in male patients.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest a more clustered and modular network architecture in female patients despite a more extensive local atrophy over time. The stronger association of cognitive performance with intrinsic hippocampal connectivity may explain cognitive reserve in female patients. These results may serve for sex-targeted neuropsychological interventions.