Comparative study on structural and functional brain differences in mild cognitive impairment patients with tinnitus.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Tinnitus is a common symptom that may be associated with brain changes.
• Degenerative changes in patients with tinnitus, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate degenerative, structural, and functional brain changes in patients with MCI who also experience tinnitus.
• To explore the relationship between tinnitus, beta-amyloid deposition, and brain network activity in MCI patients.

Main Methods:

• Included participants aged 60-80 years with MCI, divided into MCI with tinnitus (MCI-T) and MCI without tinnitus (MCI-NT) groups.
• Utilized 3T brain MRI, F18-florapronol PET, F18-FDG PET, and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) for assessment.

Main Results:

• MCI-T group showed higher beta-amyloid deposition in temporal lobe regions and increased metabolism in the inferior frontal gyrus, insula, and ACC.
• Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores correlated with increased brain volumes in several regions, including the insula and ACC.
• MCI-T patients exhibited higher default mode network (DMN) activity and lower executive control network (ECN) activity compared to MCI-NT patients.

Conclusions:

• MCI patients with tinnitus display greater beta-amyloid accumulation and altered brain network dynamics, particularly in the default mode and executive control networks.
• Tinnitus in MCI may serve as a biomarker for temporal lobe degenerative changes and significant alterations in brain network function.
• These findings suggest tinnitus in MCI could predict diverse clinical outcomes, including dementia with semantic deficits or depression.