Abstract #1378

Brainstem monoaminergic functional and structural connectivity is altered in multiple sclerosis and contributes to fatigue

Tiziana Carandini^1,2, Matteo Mancini^1,3,4, Iulia Bogdan¹, Charlotte Rae⁵, Andrew Barritt¹, Arjun Sethi⁶, Neil Harrison⁷, Waqar Rashid¹, Mara Cercignani¹, and Marco Bozzali¹

¹Department of Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom, ²Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy, ³NeuroPoly Lab, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada, ⁴CUBRIC, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom, ⁵School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom, ⁶Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁷Department of Psychology and Department of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Brainstem monoaminergic functional and structural connectivity was investigated in a cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls. RS-fMRI analysis revealed in MS patients reduced functional connectivity between monoaminergic nuclei and central brain networks that are critically involved in the pathophysiology of MS. Functional alterations were associated to structural disconnections between these nuclei and cortical/subcortical efferent targets in MS patients. Axonal loss in the mesocorticolimbic tracts and in the noradrenergic projections to prefrontal cortex was associated with central fatigue in MS patients, whereas brainstem functional connectivity did not correlate with fatigue.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.