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Abstract #1310

Age at disease onset influences gray matter and white matter damage in adult multiple sclerosis patients

Elisabetta Pagani1, Maria Assunta Rocca1,2, Laura Vacchi1, Bruno Colombo2, Mariaemma Rodegher2, Lucia Moiola2, Angelo Ghezzi3, Giancarlo Comi2, Andrea Falini4, and Massimo Filippi1,2

1Neuroimaging Research Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, 2Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, 3Multiple Sclerosis Study Center, Hospital of Gallarate, Gallarate, Italy, 4Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

Aim of the study was to explore the extent and distribution of brain gray matter (GM) atrophy and white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities in adult multiple sclerosis (MS) patients according to their age at disease onset. High-resolution T1-weighted and diffusion tensor MRI scans were acquired from 58 pediatric-onset MS patients, 58 age-matched and 58 disease duration-matched adult-onset MS patients, and 58 healthy controls. The distribution of atrophy and microstructural WM damage were assessed using voxel-wise approaches. Neurodegenerative and inflammatory-demyelinating processes seemed less pronounced in pediatric-onset MS patients. However, with increasing disease duration, an accelerated normal appearing WM damage occurred.

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