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Altered functional connectivity of the marginal division in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment: A
Ming-Ge Li1,2, Yuan-Yuan Chen3, Zhi-Ye Chen2
1School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, P.R. China.
Background:
The marginal division (MrD) is an important subcortical center involved in learning and memory. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is commonly seen in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), but the neurobiological basis is yet to be elucidated.
Purpose:
To use resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the altered functional connectivity (FC) of the MrD in patients with PD-MCI.
Study Type:
Prospective pilot study.
Population:
Twenty-five patients with PD-MCI; 25 PD patients and no cognitive impairment (PD-NCI); and 25 healthy control (HC) participants.
Sequence:
3.0 T GE Healthcare MRI scanner; three-dimensional T1 -weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo (3D T1 -FSPGR); rs-fMRI.
Assessment:
The MrD was defined using manual delineation, which was the seed point to compute the FC to examine correlations between low-frequency fMRI signal fluctuations in MrD and the whole brain.
Statistical Tests:
Between-group comparisons of the rs-fMRI data were computed using two-sample t-tests in a voxelwise manner after controlling for age and sex, to determine the brain regions that showed significant differences in FC with the bilateral MrDs. Correlation analyses were performed for FC values and cognitive abilities in patients with PD.
Results:
In the PD-MCI group, compared with the PD-NCI group, we observed lesser FC between the MrD bilaterally and right putamen, left insula, left cerebellum, and left thalamus; greater FC between the MrD bilaterally and left middle cingulate cortex, left middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, and left middle/inferior occipital gyrus. Moreover, the strength of FC between the MrD and regions that showed differences between the PD-MCI and PD-NCI groups was significantly correlated with neuropsychological scores in patients with PD.
Data Conclusion:
The current study suggests that MrD dysfunction may contribute to MCI in PD. However, the mechanisms underlying this process require further investigation. Level of Evidence 1. Technical Efficacy Stage 2. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:183-192.
Insights
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show altered functional connectivity (FC) in the marginal division (MrD). These MrD connectivity changes correlate with cognitive function, suggesting MrD dysfunction contributes to PD-MCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurology
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is prevalent in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its neurobiological underpinnings remain unclear.
- The marginal division (MrD) is a subcortical structure crucial for learning and memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate altered functional connectivity (FC) of the marginal division (MrD) in PD patients with MCI using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI).
Main Methods:
- A prospective pilot study included 25 PD patients with MCI (PD-MCI), 25 PD patients without cognitive impairment (PD-NCI), and 25 healthy controls (HC).
- rs-fMRI data were acquired on a 3.0 T MRI scanner.
- Functional connectivity (FC) was computed with the manually delineated MrD as the seed region, and between-group comparisons were performed using voxelwise two-sample t-tests, controlling for age and sex.
Main Results:
- PD-MCI patients exhibited significantly different FC between the MrD and several brain regions compared to PD-NCI patients.
- Specifically, reduced FC was observed between the MrD and the right putamen, left insula, left cerebellum, and left thalamus.
- Increased FC was found between the MrD and the left middle cingulate cortex, left middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, and left middle/inferior occipital gyrus.
- The strength of FC between the MrD and these differing regions correlated significantly with neuropsychological test scores in PD patients.
Conclusions:
- Marginal division (MrD) dysfunction is implicated in the development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Altered functional connectivity (FC) patterns involving the MrD are associated with cognitive deficits in PD.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying MrD dysfunction in PD-MCI.
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