Demonstration of Central Nervous System Regeneration with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in Multiple Sclerosis
Hakan Silek1, Dilek İnce Gunal21Department of Neurology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye, 2Department of Neurology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Objectives: This scientific study aimed to showcase central nervous system (CNS) regeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by quantifying neural activities using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). The objectives were to investigate regeneration patterns and correlations with disease parameters. Methods: Twelve MS patients with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) less than four, and an age and sexmatched control group, were examined using fMRI during finger-counting tasks. Cortical activation patterns were compared, and correlations with disease parameters were assessed. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast was employed, and motor activation was illustrated through imaging. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in cortical activation during motor tasks between MS patients and controls. The number of activated cortical regions was higher in MS patients. Negative correlation was observed between EDSS scores and activated areas, indicating reduced activation with higher disability. Cortical activation patterns differed between patient and control groups, particularly in sensory motor cortex (SMC) areas. Conclusion: The study demonstrated CNS regeneration through quantification of neural activities using fMRI in MS patients. Cortical activation differences and correlations with disease parameters suggest potential insights into the regenerative process. Further research is warranted to explore the implications of these findings for understanding and treating multiple sclerosis. Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, Functional MRI, regeneration
Cite This Article
Silek H, İnce Gunal D. Demonstration of Central Nervous System Regeneration with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in Multiple Sclerosis. EJMI. 2019; 3(4): 347-350
Corresponding Author: Hakan Silek