Structural and resting state network alterations in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 in comparison with healthy controls

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is a progressive disorder with an early onset (10-15 years). On resting state functional connectivity and volume morphometrics, we observed reduced midbrain, sensory-motor and prefrontal cortex functional connectivity with cerebellum and atrophy in inferior parietal lobule, middle occipital gyrus, fusiform gyrus, posterior cingulate, precentral gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, fusiform gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, pyramis, uvula, culmen, inferior semi-lunar lobule in SCA2, with respect to healthy controls. Atrophy and alterations in the rsfMRI connectivity suggest deficits in motor and cognition in SCA2 patients.