Functional and Structural Brain Damage in Friedreich's Ataxia

Vavla Marinela, Arrigoni Filippo, Nordio Andrea, De Luca Alberto, Pizzighello Silvia, Petacchi Elisa, Paparella Gabriella, D'Angelo Maria Grazia, Brighina Erika, Russo Emanuela, Fantin Marianna, Colombo Paola, Martinuzzi Andrea; Front. Neurol., 06 September 2018 doi.:10.3389/fneur.2018.00747

Our study demonstrates the extent of CNS brain damage in FRDA by using a composite protocol of clinical and multimodal neuroimaging tools as VBM, DTI and fMRI in a cross-sectional study. Our findings support the need for future longitudinal studies and highlights the possibility that MRI studies could provide valuable paraclinical biomarkers in FRDA.
In conclusion, our multimodal imaging study provided convergent results, with a strong involvement of the cerebellar cortex, cerebellar WM tracts, in particular SCPs and ICPs and a strong functional involvement of the anterior lobe of the cerebellum during the non-dominant hand motor task. These findings bring a new dimensional role of the cortical circuitry involved in FRDA.

 Functional and Structural Brain Damage in Friedreich's Ataxia