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Progressive brain function changes in patients with neuromyelitis optica: insights from resting-state fMRI
Jiyuan Wang1,2, Jing Huang1,2, Xiong Kang1,2
1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.45 Changchun Street, Beijing, 100053, Xicheng District, China.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|May 23, 2025
Summary
Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) patients show progressive brain function decline, with reduced neural activity in key areas over time. These changes correlate with clinical disability and visual acuity, suggesting ALFF as a biomarker for disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimmunology
- Radiology
Background:
- Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a severe neuroinflammatory condition affecting optic nerves and spinal cord.
- Brain function alterations in NMO are known, but their longitudinal progression is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spontaneous temporal changes in brain function in NMO patients.
- To explore associations between these brain function changes and clinical assessments.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) in 31 NMO patients and 20 healthy controls.
- Quantitative assessment of neural activity using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF).
- Correlation analysis with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and visual acuity.
Main Results:
- NMO patients showed baseline ALFF reductions in sensory/motor areas, expanding over time, particularly in occipital/temporal lobes.
- Initially elevated ALFF in areas like the cerebellum and thalamus decreased over time.
- Progressive ALFF decreases were noted in lingual gyrus, calcarine, and precuneus.
- Improvements in EDSS scores correlated with increased ALFF in sensorimotor cortex.
- Enhanced visual acuity linked to increased ALFF in the medial superior frontal gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Rs-fMRI reveals progressive brain function decline in NMO, characterized by decreasing ALFF.
- ALFF changes correlate with clinical outcomes, indicating its potential as a biomarker.
- This study highlights ALFF's utility for monitoring NMO progression and treatment efficacy.
Keywords:
Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuationsDisease processFunctional MRINeuromyelitis opticaResting state
