Extensive White Matter Alterations and Its Correlations with Ataxia Severity in SCA 2 Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies of SCA2 have revealed significant degeneration of white matter tracts in cerebellar and cerebral regions. The motor deficit in these patients may be attributable to the degradation of projection fibers associated with the underlying neurodegenerative process. However, this relationship remains unclear. Statistical analysis of diffusion tensor imaging enables an unbiased whole-brain quantitative comparison of the diffusion proprieties of white matter tracts in vivo.

Methods

Fourteen genetically confirmed SCA2 patients and aged-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Tract-based spatial statistics were performed to analyze structural white matter damage using two different measurements: fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD

SUBMITTER: Hernandez-Castillo CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4532454 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature