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Abstract #4335

Relationship Between Structural Brain Damage and Functional Cortical Reorganisation in Patients with Benign Multiple Sclerosis

Antonio Giorgio1, Emilio Portaccio2, Maria Laura Stromillo3, Silvia Marino3, Valentina Zipoli2, Gianfranco Siracusa2, Marco Battaglini3, Maria Letizia Bartolozzi4, Anita Blandino3, Leonello Guidi4, Sandro Sorbi2, Antonio Federico3, Maria Pia Amato2, Nicola De Stefano3

1Neurology and Neurometabolic Unit, Dept. of Neurological and Behavioral Sciences, Siena University , Siena, Italy; 2Dept. of Neurology, University of Florence, Italy; 3Neurology and Neurometabolic Unit, Dept. of Neurological and Behavioral Sciences, Siena University, Siena, Italy; 4Neurology Unit, Hospital of Empoli, Italy


It is not currently known whether the favorable clinical status present several years after disease onset in Benign Multiple Sclerosis (B-MS) might be due to the presence of a more efficient functional cortical reorganisation. In 25 right-handed patients with B-MS, different bilateral brain areas, not only those devoted to motor tasks, were recruited during a simple motor task. This widespread functional cortical reorganisation appeared directly related to the integrity of normal appearing brain tissues and inversely associated with focal WM pathology and progressive brain volume loss.