Altered spontaneous brain activity patterns in dysthyroid optic neuropathy: a resting-state fMRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Radiology
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) is a vision-threatening complication of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.
• Understanding the neurological underpinnings of DON is crucial for early detection and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate spontaneous brain activity characteristics in DON patients using regional homogeneity (ReHo).
• To explore the relationship between ReHo, clinical manifestations, and psychological factors in DON.

Main Methods:

• Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed on 16 DON patients and 16 controls.
• Regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis evaluated spontaneous brain activity.
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and clinical data were collected.

Main Results:

• DON patients exhibited significantly decreased ReHo in the corpus callosum/cingulate gyrus and parietal lobe/middle frontal gyrus compared to controls.
• Lower ReHo values correlated negatively with HADS scores and disease duration.
• ReHo signal values were significantly lower in DON patients, indicating potential regional brain dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Reduced ReHo in specific brain regions may serve as an early diagnostic marker for DON.
• Findings suggest ReHo analysis could offer insights into the pathological mechanisms of DON and optic nerve injury.
• This research provides a basis for further investigation into DON's pathophysiology.