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Increased default-mode network centrality in cognitively impaired multiple sclerosis patients
Anand J C Eijlers1, Kim A Meijer2, Thomas M Wassenaar2
1Departments of Anatomy and Neurosciences (A.J.C.E., K.A.M., T.M.W., M.D.S., J.J.G.G., M.M.S.), Neurology (M.D.S., B.M.J.U.), and Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (F.B., A.M.W.), Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, MS Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, the Netherlands; and Institutes of Neurology and Healthcare Engineering (F.B.), UCL, London, UK. a.eijlers@vumc.nl.
Cognitively impaired multiple sclerosis (MS) patients show altered brain network hierarchy, with increased default-mode network importance. These findings highlight key changes in brain connectivity linked to cognitive decline in MS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting cognitive function.
- Cognitive impairment is a significant challenge for MS patients, impacting quality of life.
- Understanding the neural basis of cognitive impairment in MS is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between functional brain network hierarchy and cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- To identify specific alterations in brain network organization associated with different levels of cognitive function in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 332 MS patients and 96 healthy controls (HCs) underwent structural MRI, fMRI, and neuropsychological testing.
- Patients were categorized into cognitively impaired (CI), mildly cognitively impaired (MCI), and cognitively preserved (CP) groups.
- Functional brain region importance was quantified using degree and eigenvector centrality from resting-state fMRI data.
Main Results:
- Cognitively impaired (CI) MS patients exhibited increased centrality in default-mode network regions compared to HCs and cognitively preserved (CP) patients.
- Centrality decreases were observed in occipital and sensorimotor areas across all MS patient groups compared to HCs.
- Findings were consistent across different centrality measures, indicating robust alterations in functional network hierarchy.
Conclusions:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with cognitive impairment display distinct alterations in functional network hierarchy.
- Increased relative importance (centrality) of the default-mode network is a hallmark of cognitive impairment in MS.
- These findings provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in MS.
