Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38952134›Full record

ArticleAnnals of clinical and translational neurology2024

Gradient of microstructural damage along the dentato-thalamo-cortical tract in Friedreich ataxia.

Sirio Cocozza, Sara Bosticardo, Matteo Battocchio, Louise Corben, Martin Delatycki, Gary Egan, Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis, Serena Monti, Giuseppe Palma, Chiara Pane and 7 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of clinical and translational neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Multimodal Imaging Investigation of the Dentato-Thalamo-Cortical Pathway in Friedreich's Ataxia.Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Sirio CocozzaDepartment of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0300-5160
Sara BosticardoDepartment of Computer Science, Diffusion Imaging and Connectivity Estimation (DICE) Lab, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Matteo BattocchioDepartment of Computer Science, Diffusion Imaging and Connectivity Estimation (DICE) Lab, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Louise CorbenBruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Martin DelatyckiBruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Gary EganTurner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Nellie Georgiou-KaristianisSchool of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Serena MontiInstitute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Napoli, Italy.
Giuseppe PalmaInstitute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council, Lecce, Italy.
Chiara PaneDepartment of Neurosciences Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Francesco SaccàDepartment of Neurosciences Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1323-6317
Simona SchiaviDepartment of Computer Science, Diffusion Imaging and Connectivity Estimation (DICE) Lab, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Louisa SelvaduraiSchool of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Mario TranfaDepartment of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4451-4746
Alessandro DaducciDepartment of Computer Science, Diffusion Imaging and Connectivity Estimation (DICE) Lab, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Arturo BrunettiDepartment of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
Ian H HardingMonash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6843-9592

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe dentato-thalamo-cortical tract (DTT) is the main cerebellar efferent pathway. Degeneration of the DTT is a core feature of Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). However, it remains unclear whether DTT disruption is spatially specific, with some segments being more impacted than others. This study aimed to investigate microstructural integrity along the DTT in FRDA using a profilometry diffusion MRI (dMRI) approach.

methodsMRI data from 45 individuals with FRDA (mean age: 33.2 ± 13.2, Male/Female: 26/19) and 37 healthy controls (mean age: 36.5 ± 12.7, Male/Female:18/19) were included in this cross-sectional multicenter study. A profilometry analysis was performed on dMRI data by first using tractography to define the DTT as the white matter pathway connecting the dentate nucleus to the contralateral motor cortex. The tract was then divided into 100 segments, and dMRI metrics of microstructural integrity (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity) at each segment were compared between groups. The process was replicated on the arcuate fasciculus for comparison.

resultsAcross all diffusion metrics, the region of the DTT connecting the dentate nucleus and thalamus was more impacted in FRDA than downstream cerebral sections from the thalamus to the cortex. The arcuate fasciculus was minimally impacted.

interpretationOur study further expands the current knowledge about brain involvement in FRDA, showing that microstructural abnormalities within the DTT are weighted to early segments of the tract (i.e., the superior cerebellar peduncle). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of DTT undergoing anterograde degeneration arising from the dentate nuclei and progressing to the primary motor cortex.

Indexed as

Diffusion Tensor ImagingFriedreich AtaxiaWhite MatterAdultCerebellar NucleiCross-Sectional StudiesDiffusion Magnetic Resonance ImagingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMotor CortexNeural PathwaysThalamusYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID38952134
PMCPMC11251475

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.