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Neurostructural and Neurophysiological Correlates of Multiple Sclerosis Physical Fatigue: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Mark BakerORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© 2021, The Author(s).Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). By consolidating a diverse and conflicting evidence-base, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to gain new insights into the neurobiology of MS fatigue. MEDLINE, ProQuest, CINAHL, Web of Science databases and grey literature were searched using Medical Subject Headings. Eligible studies compared neuroimaging and neurophysiological data between people experiencing high (MS-HF) versus low (MS-LF) levels of perceived MS fatigue, as defined by validated fatigue questionnaire cut-points. Data were available from 66 studies, with 46 used for meta-analyses. Neuroimaging studies revealed lower volumetric measures in MS-HF versus MS-LF for whole brain (­22.74 ml; 95% CI: -37.72 to -7.76 ml; p = 0.003), grey matter (­18.81 ml; 95% CI: ­29.60 to ­8.03 ml; p < 0.001), putamen (­0.40 ml; 95% CI: ­0.69 to ­0.10 ml; p = 0.008) and acumbens (­0.09 ml; 95% CI: ­0.15 to ­0.03 ml; p = 0.003) and a higher volume of T1-weighted hypointense lesions (1.10 ml; 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.73 ml; p < 0.001). Neurophysiological data showed reduced lower-limb maximum voluntary force production (­19.23 N; 95% CI: ­35.93 to ­2.53 N; p = 0.02) and an attenuation of upper-limb (­5.77%; 95% CI:­8.61 to ­2.93%; p < 0.0001) and lower-limb (­2.16%; 95% CI:­4.24 to ­0.07%; p = 0.04) skeletal muscle voluntary activation, accompanied by more pronounced upper-limb fatigability (­5.61%; 95% CI: -9.57 to -1.65%; p = 0.006) in MS-HF versus MS-LF. Results suggest that MS fatigue is characterised by greater cortico-subcortical grey matter atrophy and neural lesions, accompanied by neurophysiological decrements, which include reduced strength and voluntary activation. Prospero registration Prospero registration number: CRD42016017934


Publication metadata

Author(s): Ellison PM, Goodall S, Kennedy N, Dawes H, Clark A, Pomeroy V, Duddy M, Baker MR, Saxton JM

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Neuropsychology Review

Year: 2022

Volume: 32

Pages: 506-519

Print publication date: 01/09/2022

Online publication date: 07/05/2021

Acceptance date: 14/04/2021

ISSN (print): 1040-7308

ISSN (electronic): 1573-6660

Publisher: Springer

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-021-09508-1

DOI: 10.1007/s11065-021-09508-1

Data Access Statement: Data from the included primary studies is available in the supplementary tables and figures.


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