Cerebellar grey matter modifications in lower limb amputees not using prosthesis

Plastic brain changes following peripheral deafferentation, in particular those following limb amputations, are well-documented, with significant reduction of grey matter (GM) in the sensory-motor cerebral areas representing the amputated limb. However, few studies have investigated the role played by the use of a prosthesis in these structural brain modifications. Here we hypothesized that using a functional prosthesis that allows individuals to perform actions may reduce grey matter reduction. We investigated the brain structural reorganization following lower limb amputation by using a Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 8 right-handed individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA) fitted with prostheses (LLAwp), compared to 6 LLA who had never used a prosthesis (LLAnp). 14 age-matched healthy controls were also enrolled (HC). We did not find any significant effect when comparing LLAwp and HC. However we found a decreased GM volume in the bilateral cerebellum in LLAnp compared with HC. These results suggest that prosthesis use prevents GM decrease in the cerebellum after lower limb amputation.

In:Scientific reports: Springer Science and Business Media LLC8:1, s. 370-2045-2322

By the author/editor: Di Vita, A; Boccia, M; Palermo, L; Nemmi, F; Traballesi, M; Brunelli, S; show more...; De Giorgi, R; Galati, G; Guariglia, C; show less...

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