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Brain Network Connectivity and Executive Function in Children with Infantile Hydrocephalus
Ramina Adam1,2, Daamoon Ghahari1, J Bruce Morton1,3
1Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Infantile hydrocephalus (HCP) alters brain network connectivity and white matter development in children. These changes are linked to reduced executive function, impacting cognitive abilities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Infantile hydrocephalus (HCP) involves abnormal cerebrospinal fluid buildup, causing pressure on the developing brain.
- This pressure increases risks of brain injury and cognitive disabilities in infants.
- Shunt placement is a common treatment for HCP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ventricle dilatation in shunted infantile hydrocephalus on brain networks.
- To examine the impact of these brain changes on executive function in school-aged children.
- To correlate structural and functional brain network alterations with executive function deficits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
- Assessed structural and functional brain connectivity in children with HCP and typically developing controls.
- Measured fractional anisotropy in white matter and executive function scores.
Main Results:
- Children with HCP exhibited altered structural and functional connectivity within and between large-scale brain networks.
- Hyperconnectivity between ventral attention and default mode networks correlated with lower executive function.
- Reduced fractional anisotropy in posterior white matter was observed in the HCP group compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Infantile hydrocephalus has lasting effects on brain network connectivity and white matter development.
- Altered brain networks in HCP are associated with impaired executive function in school-aged children.
- Future research will explore the link between early ventricular volume and long-term brain network development.
Abstract:
Infantile hydrocephalus (HCP) is a condition in which there is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles within the first few months of life, which puts pressure on surrounding brain tissues. Compression of the developing brain increases the risk of secondary brain injury and cognitive disabilities. In this study, we used diffusion-weighted imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of ventricle dilatation on structural and functional brain networks in children with shunted infantile HCP and examined how these brain changes may impact executive function. We found that children with HCP have altered structural and functional connectivity between and within large-scale networks. Moreover, hyperconnectivity between the ventral attention and default mode network in children with HCP correlated with reduced executive function scores. Compared with typically developing age-matched control participants, our patient population also had lower fractional anisotropy in posterior white matter. Overall, these findings suggest that infantile HCP has long-term effects on brain network connectivity, white matter development, and executive function in children at school age. Future work will examine the relationship between ventricular volumes before shunt placement in infancy and brain network development throughout childhood.
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