Structural covariance in subcortical regions in MS and NMOSD: An MRI-based study with automated brain volumetry

MS and NMOSD, as two major demyelinating diseases of the CNS, both could cause brain structural volume changes. Moreover, the synergistic volume changes between brain regions can reflect the intrinsic connection network between these regions, which is helpful to further explore the underlying pathophysiological changes of the disease. Our study identified volumetric changes and structural covariance in subcortical regions in MS and NMOSD patients. Furthermore, MS and NMOSD patients had distinct patterns of anatomical connection in brain regions, which reflected the different underlying damage to brain structures in the two diseases.