Impaired Motor Performance in MS Is Associated with Increased GABA Level in Sensorimotor Cortex

Pallab Bhattacharyya¹, Micheal Phillips¹, Robert Bermel¹, Lael Stone¹, Mark Lowe¹

In vivo GABA level is measured at sensorimotor cortex in healthy controls and MS patients using ¹H spectroscopy. The measured GABA level was correlated with clinical measure of MS as determined by Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) scores. A strong inverse correlation was observed between the GABA level and motor performance (as measured by the 9 hole peg component of MSFC) in patients, while no such correlation was observed in the controls. No other component of MSFC showed any correlation with the GABA level in either patients or controls. The findings indicate motor impairment with increased GABA level in MS.