Predictors of training-related improvement in visuomotor performance in patients with multiple sclerosis: A behavioural and MRI study.

Mult Scler

Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK/Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK/Helen Durham Centre for Neuroinflammation, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK/Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University 'G. d'Annunzio' of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.

Published: June 2021

Background: The development of tailored recovery-oriented strategies in multiple sclerosis requires early identification of an individual's potential for functional recovery.

Objective: To identify predictors of visuomotor performance improvements, a proxy of functional recovery, using a predictive statistical model that combines demographic, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.

Methods: Right-handed multiple sclerosis patients underwent baseline disability assessment and MRI of the brain structure, function and vascular health. They subsequently undertook 4 weeks of right upper limb visuomotor practice. Changes in performance with practice were our outcome measure. We identified predictors of improvement in a of patients using lasso regression; we calculated the best performing model in a and applied this model to a

Results: Patients improved their visuomotor performance with practice. Younger age, better visuomotor abilities, less severe disease burden and concurrent use of preventive treatments predicted improvements. Neuroimaging localised outcome-relevant sensory motor regions, the microstructure and activity of which correlated with performance improvements.

Conclusion: Initial characteristics, including age, disease duration, visuo-spatial abilities, hand dexterity, self-evaluated disease impact and the presence of disease-modifying treatments, can predict functional recovery in individual patients, potentially improving their clinical management and stratification in clinical trials. MRI is a correlate of outcome, potentially supporting individual prognosis.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8151554PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1352458520943788DOI Listing

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