Microstructural analyses of the posterior cerebellar lobules in relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis and their implication in cognitive impairment

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 8;12(8):e0182479. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182479. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Background: The posterior cerebellar lobules seem to be the anatomical substrate of cognitive cerebellar processes, but their microstructural alterations in multiple sclerosis (MS) remain unclear.

Objectives: To correlate diffusion metrics in lobules VI to VIIIb in persons with clinically isolated syndrome (PwCIS) and in cognitively impaired persons with MS (CIPwMS) with their cognitive performances.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients (37 PwCIS, 32 CIPwMS) and 36 matched healthy subjects (HS) underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging, including 3D T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were calculated within each lobule and in the cerebellar peduncles. We investigated the correlations between cognitive outcomes and the diffusion parameters of cerebellar sub-structures and performed multiple linear regression analysis to predict cognitive disability.

Results: FA was generally lower and MD was higher in the cerebellum and specifically in the vermis Crus II, lobules VIIb and VIIIb in CIPwMS compared with PwCIS and HS. In hierarchical regression analyses, 31% of the working memory z score variance was explained by FA in the left lobule VI and in the left superior peduncle. Working memory was also associated with MD in the vermis Crus II. FA in the left lobule VI and right VIIIa predicted part of the information processing speed (IPS) z scores.

Conclusion: DTI indicators of cerebellar microstructural damage were associated with cognitive deficits in MS. Our results suggested that cerebellar lobular alterations have an impact on attention, working memory and IPS.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cerebellar Cortex / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / complications
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Linear Models
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / diagnostic imaging*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / psychology
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

REACTIV and SCICOG programs are supported by public grants from the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche within the context of the Investments for the Future program referenced ANR-10-LABX-57 named TRAIL (project IBIO-NI). REACTIV was also supported by a grant from MERCK SANTE FRANCE, and SCICOG by a grant from TEVA FRANCE. A. Moroso received a research grant from the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (DEA20140630564). The funders has no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.