Dissociable, species-specific impact of Aβ on static and dynamic functional connectomes

Temporal dynamics in functional connectomes offer a physiologically grounded signature of 'hidden' pathologies during preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We evaluated the effect of beta-amyloid (Aβ) on dynamic functional connectomes in transgenic mice and human subjects. Functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) were collected in two strains of Aβ mice. fMRI-derived connectomes were segmented into discrete states using a hidden Markov model and network strength, efficiency, and transitivity were analyzed per state. Human fMRI-derived connectome measures were analyzed across 3 states. Static network measures were significantly different between Aβ mice and controls, the former having high values for strength, efficiency and clustering coefficient in anterior cingulate, hippocampus and retrosplenium. Dynamic network measures were stable within-states in Aβ mice. Similarly, human subjects with high Aβ had high node strength in precuneus and temporoparietal areas compared to low Aβ. In contrast, however, high Aβ was associated with high state switch rates, high fractional occupancy and state dwell times. Also, global strength, efficiency, and transitivity were less stable within states in the high Aβ group. Our results indicate that static, but not dynamic, connectome strength, efficiency and network integration are increased in Aβ mice, while dynamic network states appear less stable in human functional connectomes. This data supports a dissociable, species-specific impact of Aβ, with dynamic network alterations present in humans but not in Aβ mouse models, suggesting additional non-Aβ-driven influences on dynamic functional connectivity in preclinical AD.