Involvement of the Amygdala in Memory and Psychosocial Functioning in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis

Dev Neuropsychol. 2018;43(6):524-534. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2018.1485679. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Abstract

Youth with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience cognitive impairment and psychosocial disturbances. We describe the relationship between memory function, psychosocial skills, and brain volume in 32 patients with pediatric-onset MS and 30 controls. Amygdala volume was significantly lower in patients compared with controls. In general, poorer memory was associated with reduced functional communication skills and reduced amygdala volume. Greater amygdala volume in patients correlated with parent-reported functional communication and social skills. Adjusting for whole-brain volume, right amygdala volume was positively associated with visual memory; left amygdala volume was a stronger predictor of parent-reported social skills.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age of Onset
  • Amygdala / diagnostic imaging
  • Amygdala / physiopathology*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology
  • Memory Disorders / complications
  • Memory Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Memory Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / complications
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Reaction Time

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