Aberrant intrinsic functional brain networks in patients with functional constipation

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Functional constipation (FCon) is frequently associated with psychological distress.
• Understanding the neurological underpinnings of FCon is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in intrinsic brain functional networks between FCon patients and healthy controls (HC) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI).
• To explore the neurological interactions underlying FCon by analyzing brain network alterations at multiple levels.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 28 FCon patients and 29 HC for RS-fMRI and clinical assessments.
• Employed graph theory and functional connectivity (FC) analyses to compare brain network alterations.
• Conducted correlation analyses between neuropsychological scores, clinical data, and neuroimaging findings.

Main Results:

• FCon patients showed increased global network assortativity compared to HC.
• Significant regional alterations were observed in the somatosensory network (SMN) and default mode network (DMN).
• Aberrant functional connectivity within and between networks, including the visual network (VN), correlated with emotional state and constipation severity.

Conclusions:

• Intrinsic brain functional network differences exist between FCon patients and HC.
• The SMN, DMN, and VN are implicated in the neurophysiology of FCon.
• These findings may inform personalized treatment strategies for FCon.