Functional brain networks related to processing speed and memory in SLE: a connectome-based modelling study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Research
• Cognitive Function Analysis

Background:

• Cognitive dysfunction is a prevalent neuropsychiatric issue in SLE, impacting processing speed and memory.
• Understanding the neural underpinnings of cognitive deficits in SLE is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify behaviorally relevant topological networks of functional connectivity associated with cognitive performance in SLE patients.
• To utilize connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) to predict cognitive test scores based on functional brain connectivity.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 43 SLE patients and 34 healthy controls for cognitive screening and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• Constructed functional connectivity matrices from fMRI data and applied CPM with leave-one-out cross-validation.
• Employed regression and moderation analyses to identify risk factors and disease-related moderators of cognitive dysfunction.

Main Results:

• CPM successfully predicted processing speed and memory scores in SLE patients (r = 0.40-0.42, p < 0.01).
• Key brain regions involved included the cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum, forming critical network nodes.
• Higher disease damage indices correlated with slower processing speed; disease activity and treatment factors moderated connectivity-cognitive relationships.

Conclusions:

• CPM effectively identified specific brain networks underlying cognitive functions in SLE.
• These identified neural fingerprints show potential for assisting in the diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction in SLE patients.