Neurophysiological and clinical biomarkers of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study

Matteo Tartaglia; Marco Canevelli; Leonardo Malimpensa; Daniele Belvisi; Viola Baione; Gina Ferrazzano; Giorgio Leodori; Alfredo Berardelli; Antonella Conte

doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1138600

Neurophysiological and clinical biomarkers of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study

Front Neurol. 2023 Mar 16:14:1138600. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1138600. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Matteo Tartaglia¹, Marco Canevelli¹, Leonardo Malimpensa², Daniele Belvisi^{1

2}, Viola Baione¹, Gina Ferrazzano¹, Giorgio Leodori^{1

2}, Alfredo Berardelli^{1

2}, Antonella Conte^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
² Department of Neurophysiology, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.

Abstract

Timely diagnosis of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) represents a clinical challenge. The Frailty Index, a quantitative frailty measure, and the Neurophysiological Index, a combined measure of sensorimotor cortex inhibitory mechanism parameters, have recently emerged as promising tools to support SPMS diagnosis. The aim of this study was to explore the possible relationship between these two indices in MS. MS participants underwent a clinical evaluation, Frailty Index administration, and neurophysiological assessment. Frailty and Neurophysiological Index scores were found to be higher in SPMS and correlated with each other, thus suggesting that they may capture similar SPMS-related pathophysiological mechanisms.

Keywords: biomarkers; disease progression; frailty; multiple sclerosis; neurophysiology; transcranial magnetic stimulation.