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Aberrant Structural Network Architecture in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Minimum Spanning Tree Graph Analysis
Kamil Jonak1, Paweł Krukow2, Hanna Karakuła-Juchnowicz3
1Department of Clinical Neuropsychiatry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-439 Lublin, Poland; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland.
Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) alters brain network structure, affecting vision and disease progression. Network analysis reveals changes in centralization and hub locations, correlating with illness duration and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial DNA disease causing vision loss.
- Previous studies focused on localized brain changes in LHON.
- Whole-brain network analysis offers a comprehensive view of structural alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whole-brain structural network changes in LHON patients.
- To correlate these network alterations with clinical data.
Main Methods:
- Used 7T MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) on 15 LHON patients and 17 controls.
- Reconstructed whole-brain structural networks using the minimum spanning tree (MST) algorithm.
Main Results:
- LHON patients exhibited altered local and global network structures.
- Global networks were less centralized with imbalanced hub centrality.
- Prominent hubs shifted to basal ganglia in LHON patients.
- Network metrics correlated with disease duration and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
Conclusions:
- LHON significantly impacts brain network architecture.
- Disease progression is associated with alterations in brain network structure and efficiency.
- Network analysis provides insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of LHON.
