Volumetric differences of the thalami and the third ventricle relative to the impairment of cognitive functions in patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Introduction: Cognitive alterations in patients with Multiple Sclerosis and their association with thalamic atrophy show dissimilar results in the research carried out.

Objective: To determine if there are volumetric differences of the thalami and the third ventricle related to the affectation of cognitive functions in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with a diagnosis of definite Multiple Sclerosis, at the "Hermanos Ameijeiras" hospital in Havana-Cuba, in the period from October 2021 to December 2022.

Results: The patients studied had a average age of 48,38 years, female sex predominated and schooling of more than 17 years of continuous studies. Patients with attention impairment had smaller thalamic volume than those without attention impairment (8.629 vs 10.004; P=0.034) and larger third ventricle volume (1.654 vs 1.227; P=0.023). Patients with impairment of visuo-spatial processing had smaller thalamic volume than those without impairment (7.047 vs 10.042; P=0.000) and larger volume of the third ventricle (1.932 vs 1.255; P=0.009).

Conclusions: Patients with multiple sclerosis and impairment of cognitive domains: attention and visuo-spatial processing present a significant reduction in the total volume of the thalami and a significant increase in the volume of the third ventricle.