Cortical reorganization following injury early in life

• The brain has a remarkable capacity for reorganization following injury, especially during the first years of life. Knowledge of structural reorganization and its consequences following perinatal injury is sparse. Here we studied changes in brain tissue volume, morphology, perfusion, and integrity in children with hemiplegia compared to typically developing children, using MRI. Children with hemiplegia demonstrated reduced total cerebral volume, with increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and reduced total white matter volumes, with no differences in total gray matter volume, compared to typically developing children. An increase in cortical thickness at the hemisphere contralateral to the lesion (CLH) was detected in motor and language areas, which may reflect compensation for the gray matter loss in the lesion area or retention of ipsilateral pathways. In addition, reduced cortical thickness, perfusion, and surface area were detected in limbic areas. Increased CSF volume and precentral cortical thickness and reduced white matter volume were correlated with worse motor performance. Brain reorganization of the gray matter within the CLH, while not necessarily indicating better outcome, is suggested as a response to neuronal deficits following injury early in life.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

adolescent

Article

brain cortex lesion

brain function

brain injury

brain perfusion

brain size

brain tissue

cerebrospinal fluid

child

clinical article

cortical thickness (brain)

female

gray matter

hemiplegia

human

male

morphology

neuroimaging

nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

perinatal period

white matter

age

brain cortex

complication

diagnostic imaging

organ size

pathophysiology

physiology

trends

Age Factors

Brain Injuries

Cerebral Cortex

Humans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)