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Inflammation-related abnormal dynamic brain activity correlates with cognitive impairment in first-episode,

Yifan Jing1, Yuan Liu1, Yuwen Zhou1

  • 1Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|August 28, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Inflammation, indicated by IL-6, is linked to altered brain activity (dALFF) and attention deficits in major depressive disorder (MDD). These findings were specific to MDD patients with suicidal ideation.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD).
  • Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a potential contributor to brain dysfunction in MDD.
  • The precise mechanisms linking inflammation, dynamic brain activity, and cognitive deficits in MDD require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between plasma Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, dynamic brain activity, and cognitive function in first-episode, drug-naïve major depressive disorder (MDD) patients.
  • To explore how dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (dALFF) and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) are affected by inflammation in MDD.
  • To determine if inflammation-related brain activity alterations are associated with specific cognitive impairments, particularly attention deficits.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (dALFF) and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) in 57 MDD patients and 60 healthy controls.
  • Plasma IL-6 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  • Cognitive function, including attention, was assessed using the Repeated Battery for Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS).

Main Results:

  • MDD patients showed reduced dALFF in several brain regions, including the inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and middle occipital gyrus (MOG).
  • IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with dALFF in the right ITG, left ITG, right inferior frontal gyrus, opercular part (IFGoperc), and right MOG.
  • IL-6-associated abnormal dALFF in the ITG was linked to attention impairment, an association observed only in MDD patients with suicidal ideation. IL-6 also correlated with dFC in specific brain regions.

Conclusions:

  • Inflammation, as indicated by IL-6 levels, is associated with altered dynamic brain activity (dALFF) in MDD patients.
  • These inflammation-related brain activity changes are specifically linked to attention deficits in MDD, particularly in those with suicidal ideation.
  • The study highlights the complex interplay between inflammation, dynamic brain function, and cognitive impairments in MDD, suggesting potential differences across patient subgroups.
Keywords:
Cognitive impairmentDynamic brain activityInflammationMDD

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