Microstructural Alterations in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most commonly occurring type of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia. The present study aims to investigate progressive changes in white matter (WM) fiber in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with SCA3.

Methods

A total of 62 participants were included in this study. Among them, 16 were asymptomatic mutation carriers (pre-SCA3), 22 were SCA3 patients with clinical symptoms, and 24 were normal controls (NC). Group comparison of tract-based spatial statistics was performed to identify microstructural abnormalities at different SCA3 disease stages.

Results

Decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) and increased mean diffusivity (MD) were found in the left inferior cerebellar peduncle and superior cerebellar peduncl

SUBMITTER: Wu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5744430 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature