Assessment of the upper motor neuron degeneration by detailed motor homunculus cortex thickness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Jiaoting Jin; Fangfang HU; Qiuli Zhang; Ming Zhang; Qiaoyi Chen; Haining LI; Xing Qin; Li Kang; Rui Jia; Xiao Liu; Jingxia Dang

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Assessment of the upper motor neuron degeneration by detailed motor homunculus cortex thickness in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

VernacularTitle:精细的运动皮层厚度对肌萎缩侧索硬化症患者上运动神经元损害的评价研究
Author: Jiaoting JIN ¹ ; Fangfang HU ¹ ; Qiuli ZHANG ² ; Ming ZHANG ² ; Qiaoyi CHEN ³ ; Haining LI ² ; Xing QIN ¹ ; Li KANG ¹ ; Rui JIA ¹ ; Xiao LIU ¹ ; Jingxia DANG ¹
Author Information

1. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061
2. Department of Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061
3. Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, China
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); motor homunculus cortex thickness; upper motor neuron (UMN) degeneration
From: Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2023;44(5):694-700
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: 【Objective】 The involvement of upper motor neuron (UMN) degeneration is crucial to the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to determine objective and sensitive UMN degeneration markers for an accurate and early diagnosis. 【Methods】 A total of 108 ALS patients and 90 age- and gender-matched control subjects were recruited from ALS Clinic of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. The motor homunculus cortex thickness data in MRI were collected from all the participants. The clinical characteristics and UMN clinical examination of bulbar, cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral regions were collected from the ALS patients. 【Results】 Cortical thickness was significantly thinner in the ALS group than in the control group in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). The cortical thickness of the global UMN positive group was significantly thinner than that of control groups in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). The cortical thickness of the UMN positive group in the corresponding region was significantly thinner than that of control groups in bilateral head-face-bulbar and upper-limb areas (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The thinning of the motor homunculus cortex can be used as an objective marker of UMN involvement in ALS patients in clinical practice.