Brain anatomical correlates of fatigue in multiple sclerosis. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palotai, Miklos; Guttmann, Charles RG
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 26:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 751
• Page End: 764
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Fatigue -- multiple sclerosis -- brain -- magnetic resonance imaging -- depression; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/1352458519876032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite its clinical significance, the aetiology and pathophysiology of MS-related fatigue are not well understood. Current evidence and understanding of the neuroanatomical underpinnings of MS-related fatigue are reviewed in this article. The aims of this paper are to (1) review the findings of previous structural neuroimaging studies on MS-related fatigue and summarize consistent findings regarding brain circuitry associated with fatigue in MS, (2) contextualize these findings with the neurochemistry of the relevant circuits and (3) discuss future perspectives with regard to impact on fatigue management of MS patients and methodological challenges towards improved understanding of fatigue pathogenesis. The detailed understanding of the neuroanatomical underpinnings of fatigue might contribute to the identification of novel treatment targets and factors determining treatment resistance to drugs used in current clinical practice.