Aberrant brain structural-functional coupling and structural/functional network topology explain developmental delays...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Systems Neuroscience

Background:

• Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder linked to brain network abnormalities.
• Understanding structural-functional coupling and network topology in PWS is crucial for early diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural-functional coupling and network topological properties in children with PWS.
• To correlate these neuroimaging findings with developmental scales.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) were used.
• Structural and functional brain networks were constructed and analyzed for global and nodal properties.
• Partial correlations with developmental scales were assessed.

Main Results:

• Children with PWS exhibited decreased structural-functional coupling.
• Global network properties showed higher characteristic path length and lower global efficiency in the structural network.
• Nodal properties were altered in both structural (decreased) and functional (increased) networks.
• Functional network alterations significantly correlated with developmental scales.

Conclusions:

• Structural-functional decoupling and altered network topology are key neuroimaging features in PWS.
• These findings may elucidate mechanisms of early neurodevelopmental delays in PWS.
• Network properties could serve as potential biomarkers for assessing developmental backwardness.