Human Study on Cervical Cord Atrophy in MS Patients
In a study with 1,295 patients with MS, researchers found that cervical cord area (mean upper cervical cord area) was reduced starting at age 30 compared to healthy controls. Additionally, greater cervical cord atrophy was linked to higher disability and worse MRI measures.
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- #MSResearch
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Why it matters
These findings suggest that cervical cord atrophy is a significant factor in the progression of MS-related disability, beyond normal aging effects, highlighting a potential biomarker for disease severity.
What this does not prove
The study cannot establish causality due to its cross-sectional design and lacks longitudinal data. The observed differences related to disease duration may not directly reflect age at onset's influence on atrophy.
Next milestone
No next milestone was established from the available source.
Study facts
- Study design
- Observational
- Participants / samples
- 1295 · patients with MS analyzed
- Randomised
- Not reported
- Controlled
- Not reported
- Primary endpoint met
- Yes
- Relevant MS type
- Not reported
- Publication date
- 2026-09-30
- Evidence reviewed
- Abstract only
- Regulatory approval
- Not reported
- Research areas
- Not classified
Original sources
- Primary evidenceDisentangling Age-Related and Disease-Specific Effects on Upper Cervical Cord Area in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis. ↗DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000218517
Supporting passages (11)
publication date2026-09-30
comparatorhealthy controls
study designMETHODS: In this cross-sectional, multicenter study (3 Italian sites), we analyzed volumetric T1-weighted 3.0T brain MRIs and clinical data from healthy controls (HCs) and patients with MS (ages 18-70 years) without other cord pathology.
subjectsMETHODS: In this cross-sectional, multicenter study (3 Italian sites), we analyzed volumetric T1-weighted 3.0T brain MRIs and clinical data from healthy controls (HCs) and patients with MS (ages 18-70 years) without other cord pathology.
speciesBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cervical cord atrophy is a key predictor of disability and disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, age-related vs disease-related contributions remain unclear.
sample size1,295
sample size basisMETHODS: In this cross-sectional, multicenter study (3 Italian sites), we analyzed volumetric T1-weighted 3.0T brain MRIs and clinical data from healthy controls (HCs) and patients with MS (ages 18-70 years) without other cord pathology.
primary endpoint metPatients with MS (n = 1,295, median age 42.0 years, 68% female) showed cord Z-scores below zero from age 30 years (p ≤ 0.039), particularly in the fifth and sixth decades, indicating reductions vs HC.
primary endpointHere, we investigated whether MS results in a disease-specific reduction in mean upper cervical cord area (MUCCA) beyond aging, and whether this deviation is modulated by sex and age at disease onset.
findingsDISCUSSION: In MS, upper cord atrophy exceeds age-related effects, especially in fifth-sixth decades, and attenuates later as aging effects increase.
limitationsTitle: Disentangling Age-Related and Disease-Specific Effects on Upper Cervical Cord Area in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.
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