| Title: |
QSM-detected iron accumulation in the cerebellar gray matter is selectively associated with executive dysfunction in non-demented ALS patients |
| Authors: |
Aiello E. N.; Contarino V. E.; Conte G.; Solca F.; Curti B.; Maranzano A.; Torre S.; Casale S.; Doretti A.; Colombo E.; Verde F.; Silani V.; Liu C.; Cinnante C.; Triulzi F. M.; Morelli C.; Poletti B.; Ticozzi N. |
| Contributors: |
E.N. Aiello; V.E. Contarino; G. Conte; F. Solca; B. Curti; A. Maranzano; S. Torre; S. Casale; A. Doretti; E. Colombo; F. Verde; V. Silani; C. Liu; C. Cinnante; F.M. Triulzi; C. Morelli; B. Poletti; N. Ticozzi |
| Publisher Information: |
Frontiers Media SA |
| Publication Year: |
2024 |
| Collection: |
The University of Milan: Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (AIR) |
| Subject Terms: |
amyotrophic lateral sclerosi; cerebellum; executive functioning; frontotemporal degeneration; quantitative susceptibility imaging; Settore MEDS-12/A - Neurologia |
| Description: |
Background: This study aimed to assess whether quantitative susceptibility imaging (QSM)-based measures of iron accumulation in the cerebellum predict cognitive and behavioral features in non-demented amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods: A total of ALS patients underwent 3-T MRI and a clinical assessment using the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). Regression models were applied to each subscale of the cognitive section of the ECAS and the ECAS-Carer Interview to examine the effect of QSM-based measures in white and gray matter (WM; GM) of the cerebellum, separately for right, left, and bilateral cerebellar regions of interest (ROIs). These effects were compared to those of cerebellar volumetrics in WM/GM, right and left hemispheres while controlling for demographics, disease status, and total intracranial volume. Results: Higher QSM measures of the cerebellar GM on the left, right, and bilateral sides significantly predicted (ps ≤ 0.003) a greater number of errors on the executive functioning (EF) subscale of the ECAS (ECAS-EF). Moreover, higher GM-related, QSM measures of the cerebellum were associated with an increased probability of a below-cut-off performance on the ECAS-EF (ps ≤ 0.024). No significant effects were observed for QSM measures of the cerebellar WM or for volumetric measures on the ECAS-EF. Other ECAS measures showed no significant effects. Bilateral QSM measures of the cerebellar GM also selectively predicted performance on backward digit span and social cognition tasks. Discussion: Iron accumulation within the cerebellar GM, particularly in the cerebellar cortices, may be associated with executive functioning deficits in non-demented ALS patients. Therefore, QSM-based measures could be useful for identifying the neural correlates of extra-motor cognitive deficits in ALS patients. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:001328867400001; volume:15; firstpage:1; lastpage:9; numberofpages:9; journal:FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY; https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1206097 |
| DOI: |
10.3389/fneur.2024.1426841 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1206097; https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2024.1426841 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; license:Creative commons ; license uri:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.2C0F8B1A |
| Database: |
BASE |