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Abstract #3450

Increased Dorsal Network Functional Connectivity is Associated with DTI Indices in the Cervical Spinal Cord in Relapsing-Remitting MS

Anna JE Combes1,2, Kristin P O'Grady1,2, Baxter P Rogers1,2, Kurt G Schilling1,2, Richard D Lawless2,3, Mereze Visagie2, Delaney Houston2, Colin D McKnight1, Francesca R Bagnato4, John C Gore1,2,3,4, and Seth A Smith1,2,3
1Radiology & Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States, 2Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States, 3Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States, 4Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States

Tissue integrity and functional connectivity in the cervical spinal cord were assessed with diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state fMRI in a group of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis participants with low disability and healthy controls. Lower fractional anisotropy and higher radial diffusivity, markers of tissue damage, were associated with higher dorsal network connectivity in the patient group, but not in controls. These results suggest that increased connectivity may represent a compensatory mechanism in response to structural damage, in order to maintain relatively preserved clinical function in this group.

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