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Impairments in Walking Ability, Dexterity, and Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis Are Associated with Different Regional Cerebellar Gray Matter Loss

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Abstract

Both histological and neuroimaging studies highlight the role of the cerebellum in multiple sclerosis (MS). There is at least some evidence for associations of cerebellar gray matter (GM) loss with motor and cognitive ability. We therefore correlated motor and cognitive ability scores (the multiple sclerosis functional composite MSFC) with regional cerebellar GM volumes. We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess the regional GM volume loss in a cohort of 45 MS patients. For the regression analysis, we used the clinical subscores of the multiple sclerosis functional composite (25-ft walk test (T25FW), nine-hole peg test (9HPT), paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT)). Decreased GM in distinct cerebellar areas was associated with different subscores of the MSFC in Larsell’s lobule VI with the T25FW (t = 5.16), in lobule IX with the 9HPT (t = 3.95), and in lobule IX with the PASAT (t = 4.81). Regional volume decrease in distinct cerebellar areas involved in motor and cognitive domains were associated with clinical impairment in these fields. Our data confirm the relationship between cerebellar GM volume loss and disability, extending the knowledge in the functional neuroanatomical perspective.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany

    Matthias Grothe & Alexander Dressel

  2. Functional Imaging, Institute for Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Martin Lotze

  3. Institute for Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

    Sönke Langner

  4. Department of Neurology, Carl-Thiem-Hospital Cottbus, Cottbus, Germany

    Alexander Dressel

Authors
  1. Matthias Grothe
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  2. Martin Lotze
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  3. Sönke Langner
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  4. Alexander Dressel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Grothe.

Ethics declarations

The study was approved by the local ethical committees and written informed consent from each subject was obtained prior to their enrolment.

Conflict of Interests

M. Grothe has received travel reimbursement from Novartis Pharma, Teva, and BiogenIdec and research grants from the Federal Ministry for Research and Education in Germany.

M. Lotze has received research grants from the German Research Foundation and the Federal Ministry for Research and Education in Germany.

S. Langner received institutional support from the University of Greifswald for investigator initiated studies.

A. Dressel has received research grants, speaker and consulting honoraria as well as travel reimbursement from Novartis Pharma, Bayer Schering, Teva, Sanofi Aventis, Genzyme, Merck Serono, and BiogenIdec.

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Grothe, M., Lotze, M., Langner, S. et al. Impairments in Walking Ability, Dexterity, and Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis Are Associated with Different Regional Cerebellar Gray Matter Loss. Cerebellum 16, 945–950 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-017-0871-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-017-0871-8

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