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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
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Alterations in functional connectivity are associated with white matter lesions and information processing efficiency
José Miguel Soares1,2, Raquel Conde3, Ricardo Magalhães4,5,6
1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. josesoares@med.uminho.pt.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|March 2, 2020
Summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) show reduced brain functional connectivity (FC). This reduction in FC is linked to white matter lesion volume and impacts information processing efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Functional connectivity (FC) alterations are common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- Contradictory findings exist regarding the relationship between brain FC, tissue integrity, and cognitive impairment in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between whole brain connectome, resting-state networks (RSNs) FC, white matter (WM) lesion volume, and information processing efficiency in RRMS patients.
- To clarify inconsistencies in the literature concerning FC alterations in RRMS.
Main Methods:
- Network-based statistics and independent component analyses were used to compare FC in 21 RRMS patients and 17 healthy controls (HCs).
- Total WM lesion volume and information processing efficiency were correlated with FC in the RRMS group.
Main Results:
- RRMS patients exhibited diminished whole brain connectome and individual RSNs FC compared to HCs.
- Reduced FC was proportional to total WM lesion volume, with more significant reductions in patients with larger lesions.
- A positive correlation was found between FC and information processing efficiency in RRMS patients.
Conclusions:
- Combined whole brain and RSNs FC analysis provides insights into functional abnormalities in RRMS.
- White matter structural damage, indicated by lesion volume, significantly impacts functional connectivity and processing efficiency in RRMS.
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