Japanese researchers analyzed brain MRI scans of 112 patients with DM1 and compared them to 50 brain MRI scans of controls. From the study of the z-Evans index, a recently developed parameter, they conclude that:
- dilation of the ventricles and sylvian valleys is frequent in DM1, even at a presymptomatic stage;
- these images are comparable to those of hydrocephalus at normal pressure;
- their importance does not correlate with the number of CTG triplets or the gender;
- dilation occurs preferentially in elderly patients.
Further neuropsychological studies may be able to distinguish between the consequences of these dynamic disturbances of the CSF and the evolution of DM1.
