BACKGROUND Network abnormalities could help explain physical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), which remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE This study investigates functional network efficiency changes in the sensorimotor system. METHODS We included 222 MS patients, divided into low disability (LD, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) ⩽3.5, n = 185) and high disability (HD, EDSS ⩾6, n = 37), and 82 healthy controls (HC). Functional connectivity was assessed between 23 sensorimotor regions. Measures of efficiency were computed and compared between groups using general linear models corrected for age and sex. Binary logistic regression models related disability status to local functional network efficiency (LE), brain volumes and demographics. Functional connectivity patterns of regions important for disability were explored. RESULTS HD patients demonstrated significantly higher LE of the left primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and right pallidum compared to LD and HC, and left premotor cortex compared to HC only. The logistic regression model for disability (R2 = 0.38) included age, deep grey matter volume and left S1 LE. S1 functional connectivity was increased with prefrontal and secondary sensory areas in HD patients, compared to LD and HC. CONCLUSION Clinical disability in MS associates with functional sensorimotor increases in efficiency and connectivity, centred around S1, independent of structural damage.

中文翻译：

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增加的功能性感觉运动网络效率与多发性硬化症的残疾有关

背景网络异常可以帮助解释多发性硬化症 (MS) 中的身体残疾，这仍然知之甚少。目的 本研究调查感觉运动系统的功能网络效率变化。方法 我们纳入了 222 名 MS 患者，分为低残疾（LD，扩展残疾状态量表 (EDSS) ⩽3.5，n = 185）和高残疾（HD，EDSS ⩾6，n = 37）和 82 名健康对照 (HC) . 评估了 23 个感觉运动区域之间的功能连接。使用针对年龄和性别校正的一般线性模型计算和比较组之间的效率测量。二元逻辑回归模型将残疾状态与局部功能网络效率 (LE)、脑容量和人口统计学相关联。探索了对残疾很重要的区域的功能连接模式。结果 HD 患者与 LD 和 HC 相比，左侧初级躯体感觉皮层 (S1) 和右侧苍白球的 LE 显着更高，与仅 HC 相比，左侧前运动皮层的 LE 显着增加。残疾的逻辑回归模型 (R2 = 0.38) 包括年龄、深部灰质体积和左侧 S1 LE。与 LD 和 HC 相比，HD 患者的前额叶和次级感觉区的 S1 功能连接增加。结论 MS 的临床残疾与功能性感觉运动的效率和连接性增加有关，以 S1 为中心，与结构损伤无关。深灰质体积和左 S1 LE。与 LD 和 HC 相比，HD 患者的前额叶和次级感觉区的 S1 功能连接增加。结论 MS 的临床残疾与功能性感觉运动的效率和连接性增加有关，以 S1 为中心，与结构损伤无关。深灰质体积和左 S1 LE。与 LD 和 HC 相比，HD 患者的前额叶和次级感觉区域的 S1 功能连接增加。结论 MS 的临床残疾与功能性感觉运动的效率和连接性增加有关，以 S1 为中心，与结构损伤无关。