Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T06:39:31.663Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

FLAIR lesion volume in multiple sclerosis: Relation to processing speed and verbal memory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2005

JOHN J. RANDOLPH ,
HEATHER A. WISHART ,
ANDREW J. SAYKIN ,
BRENNA C. MCDONALD ,
KIMBERLY R. SCHUSCHU ,
JOHN W. MACDONALD ,
ALEXANDER C. MAMOURIAN ,
CAMILO E. FADUL ,
KATHLEEN A. RYAN  and
LLOYD H. KASPER
JOHN J. RANDOLPH
Affiliation:
Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
HEATHER A. WISHART
Affiliation:
Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
ANDREW J. SAYKIN
Affiliation:
Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire Department of Radiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
BRENNA C. MCDONALD
Affiliation:
Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
KIMBERLY R. SCHUSCHU
Affiliation:
Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
JOHN W. MACDONALD
Affiliation:
Brain Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
ALEXANDER C. MAMOURIAN
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
CAMILO E. FADUL
Affiliation:
Section of Neurology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
KATHLEEN A. RYAN
Affiliation:
Section of Neurology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
LLOYD H. KASPER
Affiliation:
Section of Neurology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Information processing speed and episodic memory are two commonly affected cognitive abilities in MS. Insights into the mechanisms of and relationships between these abilities have recently come from structural neuroimaging techniques, but few studies have used fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), a neuroimaging sequence known to be sensitive to cortical and juxtacortical lesions in MS. We hypothesized that a volumetric index of FLAIR total lesion volume (TLV) would be associated with slowed processing speed and verbal memory dysfunction in MS. Twenty MS patients underwent FLAIR imaging and were administered measures of verbal memory and processing speed. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that TLV was directly and independently related to measures of processing speed and verbal memory, and TLV accounted for 56% of the variance in cognitive performance. These findings, considered in the context of prior work, suggest that FLAIR TLV is a useful predictor of commonly impaired cognitive functions in MS, and shows promise as a functionally relevant biomarker for disease status. (JINS, 2005, 11, 205–209.)

Keywords

MSFLAIRCognitionLesion volume
Type
BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 205 - 209
Copyright
© 2005 The International Neuropsychological Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Achiron, A. & Barak, Y. (2003). Cognitive impairment in probable multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 74, 443–446.Google Scholar
Bakshi, R., Ariyaratana, S., Benedict, R.H.B., & Jacobs, L. (2001). Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Magnetic Resonance Imaging detects cortical and juxtacortical multiple sclerosis lesions. Archives of Neurology, 58, 742–748.Google Scholar
Christodoulou, C., Krupp, L.B., Liang, Z., Huang, W., Melville, P., Roque, C., Scherl, W.F., Morgan, T., MacAllister, W.S., Li, L., Tudorica, L.A., Li, X., Roche, P., & Peyster, R. (2003). Cognitive performance and MR markers of cerebral injury in cognitively impaired MS patients. Neurology, 60, 1793–1798.Google Scholar
Delis, D.C., Kramer, J.H., Kaplan, E., & Ober, B.A. (1987). California Verbal Learning Test: Adult Version. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
DeLuca, J., Barbieri-Berger, S., & Johnson, S. (1994). The nature of memory impairments in multiple sclerosis: Acquisition versus retrieval. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 16, 183–189.Google Scholar
Filippi, M. & Rocca, M.A. (2003). Disturbed function and plasticity in multiple sclerosis as gleaned from functional magnetic resonance imaging. Current Opinion in Neurology, 16, 275–282.Google Scholar
Filippi, M., Yousry, T., Baratti, C., Horsfield, M.A., Mammi, S., Becker, C., Voltz, R., Spuler, S., Campi, A., Reiser, M.F., & Comi, G. (1996). Quantitative assessment of MRI lesion load in multiple sclerosis. A comparison of conventional spin-echo with fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. Brain, 119, 1349–1355.Google Scholar
Foong, J., Rozewicz, L., Chong, W.K., Thompson, A.J., Miller, D.H., & Ron, M.A. (2000). A comparison of neuropsychological deficits in primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, 247, 97–101.Google Scholar
Fulton, J.C., Grossman, R.I., Udupa, J., Mannon, L.J., Grossman, M., Wei, L., Polansky, M., & Kolson, D.L. (1999). MR lesion load and cognitive function in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 20, 1951–1955.Google Scholar
Lazeron, R.H.C., Langdon, D.W., Filippi, M., van Waesberghe, J.H., Stevenson, V.L., Boringa, J.B., Origgi, D., Thompson, A.J., Falautano, M., Polman, C.H., & Barkhof, F. (2000). Neuropsychological impairment in multiple sclerosis patients: The role of (juxta)cortical lesion on FLAIR. Multiple Sclerosis, 6, 280–285.Google Scholar
Litvan, I., Grafman, J., Vendrell, P., Martinez, J.M., Junque, C., Vendrell, J.M., & Barraquer-Bordas, J.L. (1988). Multiple memory deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis. Archives of Neurology, 45, 607–610.Google Scholar
Maurelli, M., Marchioni, E., Cerretano, R., Bosone, D., Bergamaschi, R., Citterio, A., Martelli, A., Sibilla, L., & Savoldi, F. (1992). Neuropsychological assessment in MS: Clinical, neurophysiological, and neuroradiological relationships. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 86, 124–128.Google Scholar
McDonald, W.I., Compston, A., Edan, G., Goodkin, D., Hartung, H., et al. (2001). Recommended diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: Guidelines from the international panel on the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Annals of Neurology, 50, 121–127.Google Scholar
Moriarty, D.M., Blackshaw, A.J., Talbot, P.R., Griffiths, H.L., Snowden, J.S., Hillier, V.F., Capener, S., Laitt, R.D., & Jackson, A. (1999). Memory dysfunction in multiple sclerosis corresponds to juxtacortical lesion load on fast Fluid-Attenuated Inversion-Recovery MR images. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 20, 956–1962.Google Scholar
Rao, S.M., Leo, G.J., Bernardin, L., & Unverzagt, F. (1991). Cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: Frequency, patterns, and prediction. Neurology, 41, 685–691.Google Scholar
Rovaris, M., Filippi, M., Minicucci, L., Iannucci, G., Santuccio, G., Possa, F., & Comi, G. (2000). Cortical/subcortical disease burden and cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 21, 402–408.Google Scholar
Smith, A. (1982). Symbol Digit Modalities Test: Manual. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Sperling, R.A., Guttmann, C.R.G., Mohol, M.J., Warfield, S.K., Jakab, M., Parente, M., Diamond, E.L., Daffner, K.R., Olek, M.J., Orav, E.J., Kikinis, R., Jolesz, F.A., & Weiner, H.L. (2001). Regional magnetic resonance imaging lesion burden and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis. Archives of Neurology, 58, 115–121.Google Scholar
Stevenson, V.L., Gawne-Caine, M.L., Barker, G.J., Thompson, A.J., & Miller, D.H. (1997). Imaging of the spinal cord and brain in multiple sclerosis: A comparative study between fast FLAIR and fast spin echo. Journal of Neurology, 244, 119–124.Google Scholar
Thornton, A.E. & Raz, N. (1997). Memory impairment in multiple sclerosis: A quantitative review. Neuropsychology, 11, 357–366.Google Scholar
Wishart, H.A., Saykin, A.J., McDonald, B.C., Mamourian, A.C., Flashman, L.A., Schuschu, K.R., Ryan, K.A., Fadul, C.E., & Kasper, L.H. (2004). Brain activation patterns associated with working memory in relapsing-remitting MS. Neurology, 62, 234–238.Google Scholar