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A breakthrough study has uncovered a possible neurological cause of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, opening new possibilities for earlier diagnosis and treatment.
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Surgeons had long observed subtle differences in brain signals among patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Using advanced MRI technology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH) surgeons and National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) neurologists confirmed structural differences in the brain, suggesting the condition may originate beyond the spine.
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The study revealed asymmetry in brain pathways and enlargement of the pons in patients with scoliosis—differences absent in those without the condition. These findings provide the strongest evidence yet that the brain and spinal cord may play a key role in the development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
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Today, most patients manage scoliosis with physiotherapy and bracing, while more severe cases require surgery. By uncovering a possible neurological cause, the research opens the door to earlier diagnosis and future non-invasive treatments that could slow or prevent spinal curvature.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis affects around 3% of adolescents in Singapore, yet its underlying cause remains largely unknown. The SGH-NNI team investigated a pattern they had repeatedly observed during surgery—subtle asymmetry in patients' brain signals.
Using high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), they became the first to map these brain pathways in patients with scoliosis. The scans revealed structural differences absent in participants without the condition, supporting the theory that scoliosis may be linked to the brain and spinal cord, rather than the spine alone.
The team is now working to identify markers that could predict which patients are at greater risk of disease progression. Their long-term goal is to develop earlier, non-invasive interventions that could reduce the need for prolonged bracing or complex corrective surgery, improving care for future generations.
This article was first published on 11 December 2024.
“We are hopeful that one day, there could be a non-invasive mode for managing the spinal curvature, and that would really change things for the patients.”
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