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Research summary · AI summary · not yet reviewedHuman studyOtherPublished in a peer-reviewed journal
Functional Connectivity Alterations in Late-Onset Multiple Sclerosis Patients
In a study of 34 late-onset multiple sclerosis patients, widespread functional connectivity abnormalities were observed compared to 169 patients with adult-onset multiple sclerosis and 163 healthy controls. Late-onset patients showed distinct alterations in brain connectivity, particularly in various default mode networks.
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This plain-English summary was written by AI from a published abstract and may contain errors. It is not medical advice. Read the original study and talk to your MS team before making decisions about treatment.
- Human efficacy
- Not established from this source
- Mechanism
- Not reported
- Evidence strength
- Limited
- Outcome
- Not reported
Why it matters
These findings highlight differences in brain connectivity patterns between late- and adult-onset multiple sclerosis, potentially reflecting both disease progression and age-related changes.
What this does not prove
Correlations from this exploratory study did not withstand corrections for multiple comparisons, meaning they should be viewed as preliminary and hypothesis-generating.
Next milestone
No next milestone was established from the available source.
Study facts
- Study design
- Other
- Participants / samples
- 34 · basis not reported
- Randomised
- Not reported
- Controlled
- Yes
- Primary endpoint met
- Not reported
- Relevant MS type
- All
- Publication date
- 2026-10-16
- Evidence reviewed
- Abstract only
- Regulatory approval
- Not reported
- Research areas
- Not classified
- Biological target
- Not reported
- Pathway
- Not reported
- Population
- Late-onset multiple sclerosis patients aged ≥50 years
- Size of effect
- Not reported
- Secondary endpoints
- Not reported
- MRI endpoints
- Not reported
- Biomarkers
- Not reported
- Safety
- Not reported
Original sources
- Primary evidenceAdvanced age at onset is associated with distinct functional brain reorganization in multiple sclerosis. ↗DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcag396
Supporting passages (12)
study phaseAdvanced age at onset is associated with distinct functional brain reorganization in multiple sclerosis.
study designIn this cross-sectional study, we investigated resting-state functional connectivity alterations in late-onset multiple sclerosis versus adult-onset multiple sclerosis and their associations with clinical, cognitive and structural MRI measures.
subjectsThirty-four late-onset multiple sclerosis, 169 sex- and disease duration-matched adult-onset multiple sclerosis, and 163 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent clinical, neuropsychological (Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests) and MRI assessment including resting-state functional MRI.
sample sizeThirty-four late-onset multiple sclerosis, 169 sex- and disease duration-matched adult-onset multiple sclerosis, and 163 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent clinical, neuropsychological (Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests) and MRI assessment including resting-state functional MRI.
controlledThese findings suggest that late-onset multiple sclerosis was associated with a distinct resting-state functional connectivity profile compared with adult-onset multiple sclerosis within a cross-sectional, age-matched healthy control framework, possibly reflecting the combined contribution of multiple sclerosis-related damage, age-related vulnerability and the more severe clinical profile of late-onset multiple sclerosis.
relevant ms typesThese findings suggest that late-onset multiple sclerosis was associated with a distinct resting-state functional connectivity profile compared with adult-onset multiple sclerosis within a cross-sectional, age-matched healthy control framework, possibly reflecting the combined contribution of multiple sclerosis-related damage, age-related vulnerability and the more severe clinical profile of late-onset multiple sclerosis.
publication datePublication date: 2026-10-16
comparatorAt MRI acquisition, compared with the adult-onset multiple sclerosis group, the late-onset multiple sclerosis group was significantly older (median age: 60.5 [IQR: 56.6-66.1] versus 35.6 [IQR: 30.0-40.1] years; pFDR = 0.006) and showed higher Expanded Disability Status Scale score (pFDR = 0.016) and higher T2-hyperintense lesion volume (pFDR = 0.028) despite similar disease duration (median: 4.5 [IQR: 1.7-13.2] versus 6.0 [IQR: 2.1-11.8] years; pFDR = 0.894), whereas no significant between-group cognitive difference was found.
findingsBoth multiple sclerosis groups showed widespread functional connectivity abnormalities versus healthy controls, partly overlapping and partly distinct.
limitationsThese associations did not survive correction for multiple comparisons and should therefore be considered hypothesis-generating.
populationIn this cross-sectional study, we investigated resting-state functional connectivity alterations in late-onset multiple sclerosis versus adult-onset multiple sclerosis and their associations with clinical, cognitive and structural MRI measures.
peer reviewedPublication types: Journal Article
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