BACKGROUND The first years of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) constitute the most vulnerable phase for the progression of cognitive impairment (CImp), due to a gradual decrease of compensatory mechanisms. In the first 10 years of RRMS, the temporal volumetric changes of deep gray matter structures must be clarified, since they could constitute reliable cognitive biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic purposes. METHODS Forty-five cognitively asymptomatic patients with RRMS lasting ≤ 10 years, and with a brain MRI performed in a year from the neuropsychological evaluation (Te-MRI), were included. They performed the Brief International Cognitive Assessment battery for MS. Thirty-one brain MRIs performed in the year of diagnosis (Td-MRI) and 13 brain MRIs of age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were also included in the study. The relationships between clinical features, cognitive performances, and Te- and Td-MRI volumes were statistically analyzed. RESULTS Cognitively preserved (CP) patients had significantly increased Td-L-putamen (P = 0.035) and Td-R-putamen volume (P = 0.027) with respect to cognitively impaired (CI) ones. CI patients had significantly reduced Te-L-hippocampus (P = 0.019) and Te-R-hippocampus volume (P = 0.042) compared, respectively, with Td-L-hippocampus and Td-R-hippocampus volume. Td-L-putamen volume (P = 0.011) and Te-L-hippocampus volume (P = 0.023) were independent predictors of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test score in all patients (r2 = 0.31, F = 6.175, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION In the first years of RRMS, putamen hypertrophy and hippocampus atrophy could represent promising indices of cognitive performance and reserve, and become potentially useful tools for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic purposes.

中文翻译：

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早期壳核肥大和正在进行的海马萎缩可预测复发缓解型多发性硬化症的头十年中的认知表现。

背景技术由于补偿机制的逐渐减少，复发-缓解型多发性硬化症（RRMS）的头几年构成了认知障碍（CImp）发展的最脆弱阶段。在RRMS的前10年，必须弄清楚深灰质结构的时间体积变化，因为它们可能构成用于诊断，预后和治疗目的的可靠认知生物标记。方法纳入了45例RRMS≤10年且在神经心理学评估（Te-MRI）中进行了一年的脑MRI的认知无症状患者。他们为MS进行了简短的国际认知评估。在诊断当年进行的31例脑MRI（Td-MRI）和13例年龄和性别匹配的健康对照（HCs）的脑MRI也包括在研究中。统计分析临床特征，认知表现，Te-和Td-MRI量之间的关系。结果相对于认知障碍者（CI），认知保留（CP）患者的Td-L-豆蔻量（P = 0.035）和Td-R-豆蔻量（P = 0.027）显着增加。与Td-L海马和Td-R海马的体积相比，CI患者的Te-L海马体积（P = 0.019）和Te-R海马体积（P = 0.042）明显减少。Td-L-豆蔻体积（P = 0.011）和Te-L-海马体积（P = 0.023）是所有患者符号数字模态测试得​​分的独立预测因子（r2 = 0.31，F = 6.175，P = 0.001）。