Resting state functional connectivity alterations in primary lateral sclerosis

Resting state (RS) functional connectivity of the sensorimotor and extramotor brain networks was studied in 24 patients with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) relative to 26 healthy controls. The relationships of RS functional connectivity with patient clinical and cognitive status and white matter (WM) tract damage (i.e, corticospinal tracts, corpus callosum and superior longitudinal fasciculus) were investigated. Compared with controls, PLS patients showed an increased functional connectivity within the sensorimotor, frontal and left frontoparietal networks spanning the pre- and postcentral, medial and dorsal frontal, insular, and superior temporal regions. Patients with more severe physical disability and more rapid rate of disease progression experienced increased sensorimotor connectivity values. The increased functional connectivity within the frontal network was associated with executive dysfunction. In addition, higher functional connectivity correlated with a greater structural damage to network-specific WM tracts. This study shows clinically meaningful increased RS functional connectivity in PLS.