Atrophy pattern in SCA2 determined by voxel-based morphometry.
We applied voxel-based morphometry, an indirect volumetric technique, to MRI volumes of patients carrying the spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 mutation to determine patterns of brain atrophy. Nine patients were compared to 27 controls matched for age, sex and handedness. An optimised voxel-based morphometry protocol was used for pre-processing to minimize systematic bias. We observed significant volume loss in the cerebellar hemispheres, vermis, pons, mesencephalon and thalamus. Also affected were several supratentorial areas such as the right orbito-frontal cortex, right temporo-mesial cortex and the primary sensorimotor cortex bilaterally. The volumetric changes of cerebellar hemispheres were inversely correlated to cerebellar symptoms rated by a cerebellar ataxia scale. Two mechanisms could contribute to the observed cortical atrophy. It could be either the result of primary supratentorial degeneration as part of the disease process and/or secondary atrophy due to cerebellar deafferentation.
Brenneis
Christian
C
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Australia. christian.brennis@uibk.ac.at
Bösch
Sylvia M
SM
Schocke
Michael
M
Wenning
Gregor K
GK
Poewe
Werner
W
D000067528:Ataxins; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020754:Spinocerebellar Ataxias / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000067528:Ataxins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011506:Proteins