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Altered sulcogyral patterns of orbitofrontal cortex in patients with mild cognitive impairment
Zixiang Wang1, Xin Zhang2, Renyuan Liu2
1Reward, Competition and Social Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychology, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed structural abnormalities in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in MCI patients, while other findings fail to report anatomical alterations. Accordingly, structural changes in this brain region amongst MCI patients has not been well characterized. Given that OFC sulcogyral organization has increasingly been demonstrated as a reliable pre-morbid marker of pathological conditions in several neuropsychiatric disorders, we examined the distribution of OFC sulcogyral patterns (classified into Type I, II and III) based on structural brain data from 68 MCI patients and 55 healthy controls. Our results, supported by both Frequentist and Bayesian statistics, showed that MCI patients exhibited an increased prevalence of Type II pattern compared with healthy controls, particularly in the right hemisphere. Meanwhile, MCI patients showed a decreased prevalence of Type I pattern compared with healthy controls. Taken together, our results reveal a skewed distribution of OFC sulcogyral in MCI patients, possibly reflecting a potential neurodevelopmental risk marker of MCI.
Insights
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients show altered orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) sulcogyral patterns, suggesting a potential neurodevelopmental risk marker for MCI. These findings highlight differences in OFC structure in individuals with cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Cognitive Neurology
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) structural abnormalities are inconsistently reported in MCI.
- OFC sulcogyral patterns may serve as pre-morbid markers for neuropsychiatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) sulcogyral patterns in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- To determine if specific OFC sulcogyral patterns are associated with MCI.
- To explore the potential of OFC sulcogyral patterns as a neurodevelopmental risk marker for MCI.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of structural brain data from 68 MCI patients and 55 healthy controls.
- Classification of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) sulcogyral patterns into Type I, II, and III.
- Application of Frequentist and Bayesian statistical analyses to compare pattern prevalence.
Main Results:
- MCI patients exhibited a higher prevalence of the Type II OFC sulcogyral pattern, especially in the right hemisphere, compared to controls.
- MCI patients showed a lower prevalence of the Type I OFC sulcogyral pattern compared to healthy controls.
- A skewed distribution of OFC sulcogyral patterns was observed in MCI patients.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals altered orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) sulcogyral patterns in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients.
- These distinct patterns may indicate a potential neurodevelopmental risk marker for MCI.
- Further research into OFC morphology could enhance understanding and early detection of MCI.
