NeuroImage. Clinical
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2019
Cerebellar atrophy and its contribution to motor and cognitive performance in multiple system atrophy.
Neuroanatomical differences in the cerebellum are among the most consistent findings in multiple system atrophy (MSA) patients. This study performed a detailed cerebellar morphology in MSA patients and its two subtypes: MSA-P (parkinson's symptoms predominate) and MSA-C (cerebellar symptoms predominant), and their relations to profiles of motor and cognitive deficits. ⋯ Our data suggest that volumetric abnormalities of cerebellum contribute substantially to motor and cognitive performance in patients with MSA. In patients with MSA-P and MSA-C, affected regions of cerebellum differed.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2019
Rapid myelin water imaging for the assessment of cervical spinal cord myelin damage.
Rapid myelin water imaging (MWI) using a combined gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequence can produce myelin specific metrics for the human brain. Spinal cord MWI could be similarly useful, but technical challenges have hindered routine application. GRASE rapid MWI was recently successfully implemented for imaging of healthy cervical spinal cord and may complement other advanced imaging methods, such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and quantitative T1 (qT1). ⋯ GRASE is sufficiently sensitive to detect decreased myelin within MS spinal cord plaques, NMO lesions, and PLS diffuse spinal cord injury. Decreased MWF in PLS is consistent with demyelination secondary to motor neuron degeneration. GRASE MWI is a feasible method for rapid assessment of myelin content in the cervical spinal cord and provides complementary information to that of DTI and qT1 measures.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2019
Reduced brainstem functional connectivity in patients with peripheral autonomic failure.
Autonomic homeostasis is dependent upon several brainstem nuclei, as well as several cortical and subcortical structures. Together, these sites make up, in part, the central autonomic network. Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) is a cardinal feature of autonomic failure that occurs due to a failure to increase sympathetic efferent activity in response to postural changes. ⋯ Patients with autonomic failure show reduced coupling between the brainstem and regions of the central autonomic network, including the cerebellum, insula, thalamus and cingulate cortices. Connectivity was associated with autonomic impairment. These findings may suggest impaired brainstem connectivity in patients with autonomic failure.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2018
ReviewNeuroimaging and other modalities to assess Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome.
People with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) at higher rates and a younger age of onset compared to the general population. As the average lifespan of people with DS is increasing, AD is becoming an important health concern in this group. Neuroimaging is becoming an increasingly useful tool in understanding the pathogenesis of dementia development in relation to clinical symptoms. ⋯ Future PET studies relating tau distribution to clinical symptoms will provide further insight into the role this protein plays in dementia development. Brain activity changes demonstrated by EEG and metabolic changes seen via FDG-PET may also follow predictable patterns that can help track dementia progression. Finally, newer approaches such as retinal imaging will hopefully overcome some of the limitations of neuroimaging and allow for detection of dementia at an earlier stage.
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NeuroImage. Clinical · Jan 2018
Sex differences in white matter alterations following repetitive subconcussive head impacts in collegiate ice hockey players.
Repetitive subconcussive head impacts (RSHI) may lead to structural, functional, and metabolic alterations of the brain. While differences between males and females have already been suggested following a concussion, whether there are sex differences following exposure to RSHI remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and to characterize sex differences following exposure to RSHI. ⋯ The results of this study suggest sex differences in structural alterations following exposure to RSHI. Future studies need to investigate further the underlying mechanisms and association with exposure and clinical outcomes.