Disrupted Brain Structure-Function Coupling and Its Mediating Effects on the Associations Between Cerebral Small...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neurology
• Brain Structure and Function

Background:

• Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is associated with cognitive decline.
• Understanding the neural mechanisms linking CSVD burden to cognitive dysfunction is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between CSVD burden, cognitive impairment, and brain structure-function coupling.
• To identify specific brain regions and coupling metrics involved in this association.

Main Methods:

• Included 108 mild CSVD (CSVD-m), 53 severe CSVD (CSVD-s) patients, and 76 healthy controls (HC).
• Calculated regional homogeneity (ReHo)-gray matter volume (GMV) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF)-GMV ratios as voxel-wise structure-function coupling indicators.

Main Results:

• Severe CSVD burden showed altered ReHo-GMV and ALFF-GMV coupling in specific brain regions.
• Disrupted structure-function coupling in the right putamen mediated the link between CSVD burden and cognitive dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Brain structure-function coupling (ReHo-GMV, ALFF-GMV) mediates CSVD-related cognitive dysfunction.
• This coupling serves as an innovative imaging biomarker for studying CSVD burden and cognitive impairment.