Tracking the Brain in Myotonic Dystrophies: a 5-year Longitudinal Follow-up Study

It is unknown whether brain affection in myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2 is due to neurodevelopmental defects, neurodegeneration, or both. An exact definition of the nature and dynamic of brain affection is of urgent need for the identification of clinical trial outcome parameters and the design of therapy compounds. The investigators planned a 5-year longitudinal study to examine the natural history of functional and structural brain affection. Myotonic dystrophy type 1, myotonic dystrophy type 2 patients, and healthy controls were enrolled. All participants undergo clinical-neurological examinations, neuropsychological analyses according to a 13-item neuropsychological test battery, and 3T-brain MRI at baseline and at follow-up using identical examination protocols. The intended time span between baseline and follow-up examinations is 5 years minimum. To investigate gray and white matter affection, voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging are performed, and data are statistically analyzed including (i) group comparisons between patients and controls at baseline and follow-up, and (ii) group comparisons using difference maps to focus on isolated disease-related effects over time.

Inclusion criteria

for healthy controls:

• written informed consent
• normal neurological examination without any acute or former neurological or severe psychiatric disease, no medical history of traumatic brain injury

Inclusion criteria

for patients:

• written informed consent
• diagnosis confirmed by genetic testing
• no other neurological or severe psychiatric disease, no medical history of traumatic brain injury

Exclusion criteria

for healthy controls and patients:

• use of psychoactive substances including alcohol (except nicotine), formerly or currently; treatment with modafinil
• severe psychiatric disorders, serious physical illnesses, particularly cardiovascular diseases, formerly or currently
• non-removable ferromagnetic metallic implants, sensors, stimulators, prostheses, pacemaker, large tattoos
• claustrophobia
• age under 18 years