Aberrant intra and inter network resting state functional connectivity in thyrotoxicosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Thyroid hormones are crucial for neural development and network regulation.
• Thyrotoxicosis, a condition of excess thyroid hormones, is associated with various neurobehavioral symptoms.
• Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of these symptoms is essential for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in resting-state functional connectivity within and between brain networks in patients with thyrotoxicosis.
• To explore the correlation between these functional connectivity changes and clinical/behavioral measures.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional connectivity MRI was performed on 28 newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis patients and 28 healthy controls.
• Neuropsychological tests (Bender Gestalt, Nahar-Benson, MMSE) assessed cognitive function.
• Correlations between functional connectivity and clinical/behavioral data were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Thyrotoxicosis patients exhibited significantly decreased functional connectivity in sensorimotor, fronto-temporal, default mode, fronto-parietal, and salience networks.
• Reduced inter-network connectivity was observed between basal ganglia and sensorimotor networks.
• Increased connectivity between salience and fronto-temporal networks was noted, alongside declines in cognitive functions.

Conclusions:

• Altered intrinsic resting-state functional connectivity is implicated in the cognitive deficits observed in thyrotoxicosis.
• The brain may attempt to compensate for neuropathology through increased connectivity in specific networks.
• These findings highlight the significant impact of thyroid hormones on brain function and cognition.