On the relation between self-reported cognitive fatigue and the posterior hypothalamic-brainstem network

摘要: Background and Purpose Various causes have been suggested for multiple sclerosis (MS) related fatigue. Hypothalamus-brainstem fibres play a role in sleep−wake regulation hypothalamic deactivation during inflammatory states. Hence, they may experiencing fatigue by changing bottom-up activation. Methods Multiple patients with without self-reported cognitive healthy controls were analysed respect to the integrity of hypothalamus−brainstem using diffusion-tensor imaging based tractography, focusing on anterior, medial posterior areas, controlling clinical impairment excluding participants depressive mood. Results Multiple showed increased axial radial diffusivity levels specifically connecting right hypothalamus locus coeruleus, but not corpus callosum. Moreover, there no differences between MS brain atrophy lesion load, which could explain our results. Conclusion Multiple show brainstem, might prevent activation therefore downregulation structures responsible wakefulness exploratory states mind.