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Functional Brain Network Alterations in Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis: A Graph-based Connectome
Yaou Liu1, Hao Wang1, Yunyun Duan1
1From the Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China (Y.L., Y.D., J.H., Z.R., K.L.); Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Y.L.); Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurologic Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China (Y.L., F.S.); Department of Psychology, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 58 Haishu Rd, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou 311121, People's Republic of China (H.W., J.W.); Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China (H.W., J.W.); and Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Section of Clinical Neuroscience, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (J.Y., H.D.).
Brain network organization is disrupted in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). These changes in functional brain networks correlate with disease duration and can distinguish patients from healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is an early stage of multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Understanding brain network alterations in CIS and MS is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the topological organization of functional brain networks in CIS and MS.
- To examine the clinical relevance of these network disruptions.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired from patients with MS, CIS, and healthy controls.
- Graph-based network measures were calculated to assess whole-brain and regional network efficiency.
- Brain-behavior correlation analyses were performed to link network disruptions with clinical data.
Main Results:
- Patients with MS showed decreased whole-brain network efficiency compared to controls, with intermediate values in CIS patients.
- Both CIS and MS groups exhibited reduced nodal efficiency in specific brain regions, including the left rolandic operculum, insula, and temporal pole.
- Disrupted functional connectivity correlated with disease duration and effectively distinguished patients from healthy controls.
Conclusions:
- Disrupted functional brain network organization is an early finding in CIS, preceding or accompanying MS.
- These network alterations are largely independent of white matter lesions and gray matter atrophy.
- The study highlights the potential of network analysis for early detection and monitoring of MS.
