title: How genetics affects the brain to produce higher-level dysfunctions in myotonic dystrophy type 1.
abstract: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder dominated by muscular impairment and brain dysfunctions. Although brain damage has previously been demonstrated in DM1, its associations with the genetics and clinical/neuropsychological features of the disease are controversial. This study assessed the differential role of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) damage in determining higher-level dysfunctions in DM1. Ten patients with genetically confirmed DM1 and 16 healthy How genetics affects the brain to produce higher-level dysfunctions in myotonic dystrophy type 1 matched controls entered the study. The patients underwent a neuropsychological assessment and quantification of CTG triplet expansion. All the subjects underwent MR scanning at 3T, with studies including T1-weighted volumes and diffusion-weighted images. Voxel-based morphometry and tractbased spatial statistics were used for unbiased quantification of regional GM atrophy and WM integrity. The DM1 patients showed widespread involvement of both tissues. The extent of the damage correlated with CTG triplet expansion and cognition. This study supports the idea that genetic abnormalities in DM1mainly target the WM, but GM involvement is also crucial in determining the clinical characteristics of DM1.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spanò
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torso
authors.forename: Giusy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olivito
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lispi
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costanzi-Porrini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giulietti
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Manlio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giacanelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caltagirone
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cercignani
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D065636:Myotonin-Protein Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C585517:DMPK protein, human; D065636:Myotonin-Protein Kinase