Maria A. Rocca1, Paola Valsasina, Martina Absinta, Angelo Ghezzi2, Lucia Moiola3, Pierangelo Veggiotti4, Andrea Falini5, Giancarlo Comi3, Massimo Filippi, the MS and Neuroimaging Study Groups of the Italian Neurological Society6
1Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, Italy; 2MS Centre, Ospedale di Gallarate; 3Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; 4Department of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C Mondino, Pavia, Italy; 5Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; 6.....
In this study, we assessed functional connectivity (FC) at resting state (RS) within and among networks with potential functional relevance in 38 patients with pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Decreased FC was found in the sensorimotor and primary visual networks, as well as in posterior and infratentorial regions of the default mode, salience, executive control, attention and working memory networks. Conversely, increased FC was found in frontal regions of the salience and of the default mode networks. Decreased FC was associated with a more severe clinical disability and a longer disease duration.