Firestormm
Senior Member
- Messages
- 5,055
- Location
- Cornwall England
29 November 2011: http://bjr.birjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/93889091v1 Abstract ahead of print. Requires membership to read in full.
Regional grey and white matter volumetric changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome): a voxel-based morphometry 3-T MRI study
B K Puri, PhD, FRCPsych1, P M Jakeman, MSc, PhD2, M Agour, MB, MRCPsych3, K D R Gunatilake, MD, MRCPsych4, K A C Fernando, MBBS, MRCPsych5, A I Gurusinghe, MBBS, PGDPsych6, I H Treasaden, MRCS, FRCPsych7, A D Waldman, PhD, MRCP1,8 and P Gishen, DMRD, FRCR1
1 Department of Imaging, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK 2 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Republic of Ireland 3 University of Hertfordshire, and Care Principles, Rose Lodge, Langley, West Midlands, UK 4 The Ridge Hill Centre, Dudley, UK 5 Brooklands Hospital, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK 6 Broadmoor Hospital, Berkshire, UK 7 Three Bridges Unit, WLMHT, Middlesex, UK 8 National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK
Objective:
It is not established whether myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with structural brain changes. The aim of this study was to investigate this by conducting the largest voxel-based morphometry study to date in CFS.
Methods:
High-resolution structural 3-T cerebral MRI scanning was carried out in 26 CFS patients and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Voxel-wise generalised linear modelling was applied to the processed MR data using permutation-based non-parametric testing, forming clusters at t > 2.3 and testing clusters for significance at p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons across space.
Results:
Significant voxels (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons) depicting reduced grey matter volume in the CFS group were noted in the occipital lobes (right and left occipital poles; left lateral occipital cortex, superior division; and left supracalcrine cortex), the right angular gyrus and the posterior division of the left parahippocampal gyrus. Significant voxels (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons) depicting reduced white matter volume in the CFS group were also noted in the left occipital lobe.
Conclusion:
These data support the hypothesis that significant neuroanatomical changes occur in CFS, and are consistent with the complaint of impaired memory that is common in this illness; they also suggest that subtle abnormalities in visual processing, and discrepancies between intended actions and consequent movements, may occur in CFS.
Without access to the full paper it is always difficult to read too much into research, but I think this is another piece of welcome news. Only 26 patients (don't know criteria) but the important part is the conclusion. This isn't the first time I have read about brain abnormalities being observed, but it is the most recent study; and one that points to cognitive dysfunction and related symptoms as being a possible result.
If anyone can gain full access and is unable to post (due to copyright) would they PM me perhaps? I would really like to read it in full. If I obtain a copy and can repost I will.
Regional grey and white matter volumetric changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome): a voxel-based morphometry 3-T MRI study
B K Puri, PhD, FRCPsych1, P M Jakeman, MSc, PhD2, M Agour, MB, MRCPsych3, K D R Gunatilake, MD, MRCPsych4, K A C Fernando, MBBS, MRCPsych5, A I Gurusinghe, MBBS, PGDPsych6, I H Treasaden, MRCS, FRCPsych7, A D Waldman, PhD, MRCP1,8 and P Gishen, DMRD, FRCR1
1 Department of Imaging, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK 2 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Republic of Ireland 3 University of Hertfordshire, and Care Principles, Rose Lodge, Langley, West Midlands, UK 4 The Ridge Hill Centre, Dudley, UK 5 Brooklands Hospital, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK 6 Broadmoor Hospital, Berkshire, UK 7 Three Bridges Unit, WLMHT, Middlesex, UK 8 National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK
Objective:
It is not established whether myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is associated with structural brain changes. The aim of this study was to investigate this by conducting the largest voxel-based morphometry study to date in CFS.
Methods:
High-resolution structural 3-T cerebral MRI scanning was carried out in 26 CFS patients and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Voxel-wise generalised linear modelling was applied to the processed MR data using permutation-based non-parametric testing, forming clusters at t > 2.3 and testing clusters for significance at p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons across space.
Results:
Significant voxels (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons) depicting reduced grey matter volume in the CFS group were noted in the occipital lobes (right and left occipital poles; left lateral occipital cortex, superior division; and left supracalcrine cortex), the right angular gyrus and the posterior division of the left parahippocampal gyrus. Significant voxels (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons) depicting reduced white matter volume in the CFS group were also noted in the left occipital lobe.
Conclusion:
These data support the hypothesis that significant neuroanatomical changes occur in CFS, and are consistent with the complaint of impaired memory that is common in this illness; they also suggest that subtle abnormalities in visual processing, and discrepancies between intended actions and consequent movements, may occur in CFS.
Without access to the full paper it is always difficult to read too much into research, but I think this is another piece of welcome news. Only 26 patients (don't know criteria) but the important part is the conclusion. This isn't the first time I have read about brain abnormalities being observed, but it is the most recent study; and one that points to cognitive dysfunction and related symptoms as being a possible result.
If anyone can gain full access and is unable to post (due to copyright) would they PM me perhaps? I would really like to read it in full. If I obtain a copy and can repost I will.