Background: Our understanding of the effect of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene mutations on brain structure and function is limited. In this study, white matter motor pathway integrity was investigated in ataxia telangiectasia patients using diffusion MRI and probabilistic tractography.

Methods: Diffusion MRI were obtained from 12 patients (age range: 7-22 years, mean: 12 years) and 12 typically developing age matched participants (age range 8-23 years, mean: 13 years). White matter fiber tracking and whole tract statistical analyses were used to assess quantitative fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity differences along the cortico-ponto-cerebellar, cerebellar-thalamo-cortical, somatosensory and lateral corticospinal tract length in patients using a linear mixed effects model. White matter tract streamline number and apparent fiber density in patient and control tracts were also assessed.

Results: Reduced fractional anisotropy along all analyzed patient tracts were observed (p < 0.001). Mean diffusivity was significantly elevated in anterior tract locations but was reduced within cerebellar peduncle regions of all patient tracts (p < 0.001). Reduced tract streamline number and tract volume in the left and right corticospinal and somatosensory tracts were observed in patients (p < 0.006). In addition, reduced apparent fiber density in the left and right corticospinal and right somatosensory tracts (p < 0.006) occurred in patients.

Conclusions: Whole tract analysis of the corticomotor, corticospinal and somatosensory pathways in ataxia telangiectasia showed significant white matter degeneration along the entire length of motor circuits, highlighting that ataxia-telangiectasia gene mutation impacts the cerebellum and multiple other motor circuits in young patients.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4561673PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2015.08.007DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

white matter
12
motor pathway
8
ataxia telangiectasia
8
telangiectasia patients
8
patients diffusion
8
diffusion mri
8
age range
8
fractional anisotropy
8
pathway degeneration
4
degeneration young
4

Similar Publications

Single cell approaches define neural stem cell niches and identify microglial ligands that can enhance precursor-mediated oligodendrogenesis.

Cell Rep

January 2025

Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Electronic address:

Here, we used single cell RNA sequencing and single cell spatial transcriptomics to characterize the forebrain neural stem cell (NSC) niche under homeostatic and injury conditions. We defined the dorsal and lateral ventricular-subventricular zones (V-SVZs) as two distinct neighborhoods and showed that, after white matter injury, NSCs are activated to make oligodendrocytes dorsally for remyelination. This activation is coincident with an increase in transcriptionally distinct microglia in the dorsal V-SVZ niche.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neonatal inflammation and near-term white matter microstructure in infants born very preterm.

Neuroimage Rep

December 2024

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Background: Severe neonatal inflammatory conditions in very preterm infants (VPT: <32 weeks gestational age, GA) are linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Differences in white matter (WM) microstructure of the corpus callosum (CC) have been observed at age 6 in VPT children with a history of severe neonatal inflammation. The goal of this study was to determine whether these CC differences can be detected at term-equivalent age using diffusion MRI (dMRI), and whether neonatal inflammation is associated with altered WM in additional tracts implicated in the encephalopathy of prematurity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The plasma proteome's mediating or moderating roles in the association between poor cardiovascular health (CVH) and brain white matter (WM) microstructural integrity are largely unknown.

Methods: Data from 3953 UK Biobank participants were used (40-70 years, 2006-2010), with a neuroimaging visit between 2014 and 2021. Poor CVH was determined using Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and reversing standardized z-scores (LE8 ).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: After a recent small subcortical infarct (RSSI), some patients develop perilesional or remote hyperintensities ('caps/tracks') to the index infarct on T2/FLAIR MRI. However, their clinical relevance remains unclear. We investigated the clinicoradiological correlates of 'caps/tracks', and their impact on long-term outcomes following RSSI.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Delayed Progression of Ataxia with a Static Cerebellar Lesion- Consider SCA27B.

Cerebellum

January 2025

Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition & Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Repeat expansions in the fibroblast growth factor 14 gene (FGF14), associated with spinocerebellar ataxia type 27B (SCA27B), have emerged as a prevalent cause of previously unexplained late-onset cerebellar ataxia. Here, we present a patient with residual symptom of gait ataxia after complicated meningioma surgery, who presented with progressive symptoms of oculomotor disturbances, speech difficulties, vertigo and worsening of gait imbalance, twelve years post-resection. Neuroimaging revealed a surgical resection cavity in the dorsolateral side of the left cerebellar hemisphere, accompanied by gliosis in left cerebellar hemisphere extending into the vermis, extensive non-specific supratentorial periventricular white matter abnormalities, and mild atrophy of the cerebellar vermis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!