The Relationship between Exercise and Corticospinal Tract Health in People with Multiple Sclerosis
Category: Community Engagement Poster
Author(s): Leah Tasker, Christopher Patrick
Presenter(s): Leah Tasker
Mentors(s): Brett Fling
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by the destruction of myelin, a fatty protective substance that is essential for neuron signaling and structural health. Myelin damage disrupts the transmission of signals and compromises structural integrity, impairing communication between the brain, spinal cord, and muscles of the body. Impairment to neural communication in MS leads to a variety of symptoms that negatively impact daily life. Specifically, balance and mobility impairments are often the most reported symptoms of MS. The corticospinal tract (CST) is the primary pathway in the brain that transmits motor signals to the spinal cord facilitating voluntary motor control. In individuals with MS, demyelination within the CST disrupts motor signals, contributing to difficulties in balance and mobility. Previous studies have shown that physical activity may influence myelin preservation and support remyelination in the brain. In this study, individuals with MS were recruited to assess the association between CST structural integrity and exercise. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) techniques were used to examine CST white matter integrity and exercise history was used to group MS participants into anaerobic and aerobic groups. Mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, a common clinical assessment which measures the time taken to stand up from a chair, walk seven meters, turn, and return to the chair. Our research expands on efforts to characterize brain health and mobility in individuals with MS, by examining the relationship between aerobic and anaerobic exercise and CST structural integrity.