Blunted neural and psychological stress processing predicts future grey matter atrophy in multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by two neuropathological key aspects: inflammation and neurodegeneration. Clinical studies support a prospective link between psychological stress and subsequent inflammatory disease activity. However, it is unknown if a similar link exists for grey matter (GM) degeneration as the key driver of irreversible disability.

Methods

We tested whether neural network activity triggered in a psychological fMRI stress paradigm (a mental arithmetic task including social evaluation) conducted at a baseline time point predicts future GM atrophy in 25 persons with MS (14 females). Atrophy was determined between the baseline and a follow-up time point with a median delay of 1012 (Rg: 717-1439) days. Additionally, atrophy was assessed in 2

SUBMITTER: Meyer-Arndt L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7739031 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature