title: Abnormal cerebellar functional MRI connectivity in patients with paediatric multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the cerebellar dentate nuclei in paediatric MS patients and its correlations with clinical, neuropsychological and structural MRI measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  RSFC analysis was performed using a seed-region correlation approach and SPM8 from 48 paediatric MS patients and 27 matched healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, dentate nuclei RSFC was significantly correlated with RSFC of several cerebellar and extra-cerebellar brain regions. Compared with healthy controls, paediatric MS patients had reduced RSFC between the right dentate nuclei and the bilateral caudate nuclei and left thalamus as well as increased RSFC between the right dentate nuclei and the left precentral and postcentral gyri. Cognitively impaired patients showed a reduced RSFC between the dentate nuclei and bilateral regions located in the parietal, frontal and temporal lobes. Decreased RSFC was correlated with longer disease duration and higher T2 lesion volumes, whereas increased RSFC correlated with shorter disease duration, lower T2 lesion volume and a better motor performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modifications of cerebellar RSFC occur in paediatric MS and are influenced by the duration of the disease and brain focal lesions. Decreased RSFC may reflect early maladaptive plasticity contributing to cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy/Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Ospedale di Gallarate, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valsasina
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moiola
authors.affiliation: Fondazione 'Istituto Neurologico Casimiro Mondino', Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierangelo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veggiotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falini
authors.affiliation: Neuroimaging Research Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy/Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy filippi.massimo@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Paediatric multiple sclerosis; cerebellum; resting state functional connectivity