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Published on: June 26, 2013
Altered regional homogeneity in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment: a resting-state fMRI study
Xudong Zhu1, Jiaojiao Zhou1, Qiancheng Wei1
1Department of Neurology, Suzhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Suzhou, Anhui, China.
Background:
To explore changes in regional homogeneity (ReHo) of brain function in patients with Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), and to analyze the correlation between ReHo values in differential brain regions and cognitive function, so as to identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers for PD-MCI.
Methods:
A total of 43 patients with PD were enrolled and divided into the PD-MCI group (n = 23) and the PD with normal cognitive function (PD-NC) group (n = 20). Additionally, 20 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. The ReHo method was used to evaluate differences in functional consistency of brain regions, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale was employed to assess cognitive function. Further, a correlation analysis was performed between the ReHo values of each brain region and MoCA scores in patients with PD-MCI and PD-NC and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discriminative efficacy of these brain regions for PD-MCI.
Results:
Compared with the PD-NC group, the PD-MCI group showed significantly decreased ReHo values in the right middle frontal gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus (t = -3.3113, -4.1326, both p < 0.05), and significantly increased ReHo values in the right cerebellar lobule VIII, left inferior temporal gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus (t = 4.9059, 2.9759, both p < 0.05). MoCA scores were negatively correlated with ReHo values in the right cerebellar lobule VIII, left inferior temporal gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus (r = -0.5597, -0.6239, p < 0.05), and positively correlated with ReHo values in the right middle frontal gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus (r = 0.5690, 0.5296, p < 0.05). ROC analysis showed that the ReHo values of the right cerebellar area VIII and the left inferior temporal gyrus had high efficacy in distinguishing PD-MCI from PD-NC, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9326.
Conclusion:
Functional abnormalities in brain regions including the right middle frontal gyrus, right superior frontal gyrus, right cerebellar lobule VIII, left inferior temporal gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus are closely associated with the occurrence and development of PD-MCI. ReHo indicators in these regions are promising potential neuroimaging biomarkers for auxiliary diagnosis and monitoring the progression of PD-MCI.
Insights
This study found altered brain activity patterns in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). Specific brain region ReHo values can help diagnose PD-MCI and monitor its progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is common in PD patients.
- Understanding PD-MCI's neurobiological underpinnings is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate regional homogeneity (ReHo) changes in PD-MCI using rs-fMRI.
- To correlate ReHo values with cognitive function in PD patients.
- To identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers for PD-MCI.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
- Compared ReHo in PD-MCI (n=23), PD with normal cognition (PD-NC, n=20), and healthy controls (HC, n=20).
- Assessed cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and employed ROC curve analysis.
Main Results:
- PD-MCI showed decreased ReHo in the right middle/superior frontal gyri and increased ReHo in the right cerebellar lobule VIII, left inferior temporal gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus compared to PD-NC.
- MoCA scores correlated with ReHo in these regions.
- ROC analysis indicated high diagnostic efficacy (AUC=0.9326) for right cerebellar lobule VIII and left inferior temporal gyrus ReHo in distinguishing PD-MCI from PD-NC.
Conclusions:
- Functional abnormalities in specific brain regions are linked to PD-MCI development.
- ReHo in these regions shows potential as neuroimaging biomarkers for PD-MCI diagnosis and monitoring.
