PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - P.K. Bhattacharyya
AU  - M.D. Phillips
AU  - L.A. Stone
AU  - R.A. Bermel
AU  - M.J. Lowe
TI  - Sensorimotor Cortex Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Concentration Correlates with Impaired Performance in Patients with MS
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A3483
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1733--1739
VI  - 34
IP  - 9
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/34/9/1733.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/34/9/1733.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2013 Sep 01; 34
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abnormalities in GABA concentration [GABA] have been associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders, and research has suggested that GABA may play a role in sensorimotor cortex function. We sought to determine whether identifying a change in [GABA] within the sensorimotor cortex of patients with MS has any effect on motor function and would provide information about the adaptive/compensatory mechanisms involved in the attempt to maintain motor function during disease progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 19 healthy controls and 30 patients with MS, we assessed task performance with the MS Functional Composite scale and its components (T25FW test, 9HPT, and PASAT). With in vivo MR spectroscopy, we measured [GABA] in the sensorimotor cortex and determined correlations between [GABA] and task performance. We also assessed the association between [GABA] and cortical activation volume after a bilateral finger-tapping task. RESULTS: [GABA] was inversely correlated with 9HPT scores in patients with MS, indicating a worsening of performance with increased [GABA]. No significant correlation was observed between [GABA] and T25FW or PASAT scores. [GABA] was directly correlated with primary motor cortex activation volume after the finger-tapping task in patients with MS. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cortical [GABA] may be a marker of function and reorganization/adaptation of cortical gray matter in MS. 9HPTNine-Hole Peg TestGABAγ-aminobutyric acidGMgray matterPASATPaced Auditory Serial Addition TestPRESSpoint-resolved spectroscopy sequenceT25FWTimed 25-Foot Walk Test