The correlation between brain structure, function, and cognitive changes in patients with active-stage ulcerative...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Active ulcerative colitis (UC) is frequently associated with emotional disturbances and cognitive deficits.
• The underlying neurobiological mechanisms for these manifestations in UC patients are not well understood.
• This study aims to explore neurostructural and functional brain alterations in UC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate neurostructural and functional brain alterations in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).
• To identify potential neural correlates of emotional disturbances and cognitive deficits in UC.
• To explore the relationship between brain changes, cognitive function, and clinical assessments in UC.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multimodal MRI, including structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI).
• Assessed cognitive function and clinical status in 45 active-stage UC patients and 48 healthy controls.
• Analyzed regional neural activity using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and gray matter volume (GMV).

Main Results:

• UC patients exhibited impaired attention, working memory, and executive function, alongside increased stress and anxiety scores.
• Reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the bilateral thalamus was observed in UC patients.
• Altered fALFF values were found in the posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG), lingual gyrus, frontal lobes, temporal lobe, and parietal lobule, correlating with emotional and cognitive functions.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive impairment and emotional abnormalities in UC are linked to structural and functional brain changes, particularly in the frontal lobes, PCG, and thalamus.
• Findings suggest the activation of the gut-brain axis in UC due to chronic inflammation.
• Specific brain regions may serve as key targets for predicting and managing cognitive impairment in UC patients.