IN VIVO STUDY OF SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF WHITE MATTER CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

Abstract

Τhe aim of the present study was to identify the spatial distribution of white matter changes in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as compared to healthy controls (HC) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We included 50 patients with ALS and 25 HC with similar demographic characteristics. Neuroimaging scanning was conducted in a 3T magnetic resonance scanner and for the purpose of the study the protocol was also included a 30-direction DTI sequence. DTI data were analyzed using the τεχνικής tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) method and between-group differences along major projective, commissural and associative tracts were examined. We found significant differences in corticospinal tract, in corpus callosum (specifically in the body) and major associative fronto-temporo-occipital tracts (specifically in frontal and temporal areas). In conclusion, white matter changes were detected in a network comprising of both motor and extra-motor tracts, which is consistent with motor and extra-motor/cognitive symptoms of patients with ALS.