Einstein Researchers Receive Grant to Study Brain Activity Related to Fall Risk in MS Patients

Marisa Wexler, MS avatar

by Marisa Wexler, MS |

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A grantĀ awarded recently by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research to explore how brain changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients affect mobility.

The five-year grant (1R01NS109023-01A1), totaling $3.5 million, was awarded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the NIH, to a team led by Roee Holtzer, PhD, professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of MedicineĀ in the Bronx, New York.

Impaired mobility is one of the most common symptoms of MS, leading to frequent falls. According to the research team, not enough is known about mobility problems and falls in people with MS ā€” issues that can affect patients’ quality of life significantly.

Previous researchĀ by Holtzer and colleagues suggested that motor problems in MS are due to abnormal functioning in the brain, particularly in a region called the prefrontal cortex, which is believed to play a critical role in orchestrating complex thoughts and actions.

The new project aims to determine whether changes in brain activity during walking can be used to predict fall risk in people with MS. To do this, the team will measure prefrontal cortex activity in 120 people with MS, and 120 people without (the control group), while they are walking.

Prefrontal cortex activity will be assessed through functional near-infrared spectroscopy, a non-invasive technique that measures how much oxygen-carrying blood is in certain parts of the brain. It can be used to estimate brain activity because when a part of the brain is more active, it requires more oxygen.

In addition, other traditional brain imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will be used to assess the structural integrity of participants’ brains.

Researchers hope findings from this study will allow the identification of biological targets that can be manipulated to minimize fall risk.

In addition to this one, other researchers at Einstein also received grants from the NIH in federal fiscal year 2019, totaling a record-breaking $178 million in grants awarded to the medical school.

Other grants include research on Ebola and HIV viruses, and in the fields of genetics, neuroscience, and in studies aimed at improving health among minority groups.

“Our researchers have reached new heights this year, clearly demonstrating their leadership and excellence across a wide range of fields. Whether using the latest technology to untangle complex biological puzzles or tailoring care to minority populations to reduce health disparities, our faculty continues to advance scientific knowledge and improve the health of our borough, our country, and our world,” Gordon F. Tomaselli, MD, the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein, said in a press release.

A complete list of all grants awarded to Einstein researchers is available here.