Vascular risk factors' impact on motor performance and sensorimotor network structural integrity in multiple…

Cross-sectionalMultiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)· Aug 2026

Vascular risk factors' impact on motor performance and sensorimotor network structural integrity in multiple sclerosis.

Matteo Albergoni, Paolo Preziosa, Gloria Ritroso … Maria A Rocca

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Multiple Sclerosis & NeuroimmunologyCross-sectionalPrognosis

Vascular risk factors are associated with greater disability and worse motor performance in multiple sclerosis.

Vascular risk factors' impact on motor performance and sensorimotor network structural integrity in multiple sclerosis.

Matteo Albergoni … Maria A Rocca

Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · Aug 2026

Background

Vascular risk factors (vascular risk factors) are associated with diffuse brain damage in multiple sclerosis (multiple sclerosis).

Purpose

We investigated vascular risk factors' impact on motor performance and sensorimotor network (sensorimotor network) structural integrity in multiple sclerosis patients.

Methods

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 268 multiple sclerosis patients and 180 healthy controls were classified according to vascular risk factors presence (vascular risk factors[+]) or absence (vascular risk factors[-]).

n = 268 MS patients and 180 healthy

Results

pFDR ⩽ 0.004

worse disability and motor scores when vascular risk factors are present

n = 268 MS patients and 180 healthy

More results

Significant MS-VRF interactions were observed for motor performance, medial lemniscus mean diffusivity, normalized deep gray matter volume, and ACMA volumes (pFDR ⩽ 0.039).

In multiple sclerosis, Expanded Disability Status Scale was associated with the vascular risk factors × medial lemniscus fractional anisotropy interaction term (β = 1.931, p = 0.042).

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Conclusion

Vascular risk factors may contribute to increased disability, motor impairment, and region-specific sensorimotor network structural damage in multiple sclerosis patients.

Vascular risk factors' impact on motor performance and sensorimotor network structural integrity in multiple sclerosis.

Vascular risk factors' impact on motor performance and sensorimotor network structural integrity in multiple sclerosis.

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