AUTHOR=Stampanoni Bassi Mario , Gilio Luana , Iezzi Ennio , Moscatelli Alessandro , Pekmezovic Tatjana , Drulovic Jelena , Furlan Roberto , Finardi Annamaria , Mandolesi Georgia , Musella Alessandra , Galifi Giovanni , Fantozzi Roberta , Bellantonio Paolo , Storto Marianna , Centonze Diego , Buttari Fabio 

TITLE=Age at Disease Onset Associates With Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Impaired Synaptic Plasticity in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.694651

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2021.694651

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=Age at onset is the main risk factor for disease progression in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients. 
In this cross-sectional study, we explored whether older age is associated with specific disease features involved in progression of disability independent of disease activity (PIRA).
In 266 RR-MS patients, the associations between age at onset, clinical characteristics, cerebrospinal fluid levels of lactate and of several inflammatory molecules were analyzed. Long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity was studied using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Older age was associated with reduced prevalence of both clinical and radiological focal inflammatory disease activity. Older patients showed also increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of lactate and of the proinflammatory molecules MCP-1/CCL2, MIP-1α/CCL3, and IL-8. Finally, TMS evidenced a negative correlation between age and LTP-like plasticity.
In newly diagnosed RR-MS, older age at onset is associated with reduced acute disease activity, increased oxidative stress, enhanced central inflammation, and altered synaptic plasticity. Independently of their age, MS patients showing similar clinical, immunological and neurophysiological characteristics may represent ideal candidates for early treatments effective against PIRA.