Large-scale functional network connectivity mediate the associations of white matter lesions with executive functions and information processing speed in asymptomatic cerebral small vessels diseases
Jing Chen , Weiwei lu , Zhangyang Wang , Mingfang Shi , Zhang Shi , Weibin Shi
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
To examine the role of the large-scale functional network connectivity between white matter lesions (WMLs) and cognitive behaviors in patients of asymptomatic cerebral small vascular diseases (CSVD).
Methods
The study sample consisted of 211 asymptomatic CSVD patients with WMLs. Large-scale internetwork and intranetwork functional connectivity (FC) were calculated using a combination of resting-state functional MRI data and independent component analysis. Neuropsychological tests involve cognitive functions were also measured. Then, potential correlations between WMLs, functional network connectivity and cognitive behaviors were tested. Mediation analysis was used to explore the role of functional network connectivity between WMLs and cognitive behaviors.
Results
We successfully identified fourteen meaningful resting-state functional networks. Internetwork FC between dorsal sensorimotor network (dSMN) and right frontoparietal network (rFPN), dSMN and left frontoparietal network (lFPN), auditory network (AN) and posterior default network (pDMN), AN and executive control network (ECN), ECN and salience network (SN), dorsal attention network (DAN) and ECN were significant correlated with volumes of WMLs. Executive function were associated with internetwork FC between AN and pDMN, ECN and SN. Moreover, internetwork FC between AN and pDMN, ECN and SN mediated the relations of WMLs with executive function (for AN and pDMN, indirect effect: −0.0371, 95% CI: −0.0829 to −0.0073; for ECN and SN, indirect effect: −0.03191, 95% CI: −0.0807 to −0.0047). Moreover, left inferior parietal lobule in rFPN, right precentral gyrus in anterior default network (aDMN), right paracentral lobue in pDMN and left precunues in ECN were related to volumes of WMLs. There is a significant association of WMLs with intranetwork FC in left precunues, which could mediate the link between WMLs and information processing speed (indirect effect: −0.0437, 95% CI: −0.1055 to −0.0081).
Conclusion
WMLs in asymptomatic CSVD patients may induce large-scale connectivity changes including the internetwork FC and intranetwork FC, which might further influence executive function and information processing speed.
期刊介绍:
NeuroImage: Clinical, a journal of diseases, disorders and syndromes involving the Nervous System, provides a vehicle for communicating important advances in the study of abnormal structure-function relationships of the human nervous system based on imaging.
The focus of NeuroImage: Clinical is on defining changes to the brain associated with primary neurologic and psychiatric diseases and disorders of the nervous system as well as behavioral syndromes and developmental conditions. The main criterion for judging papers is the extent of scientific advancement in the understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of diseases and disorders, in identification of functional models that link clinical signs and symptoms with brain function and in the creation of image based tools applicable to a broad range of clinical needs including diagnosis, monitoring and tracking of illness, predicting therapeutic response and development of new treatments. Papers dealing with structure and function in animal models will also be considered if they reveal mechanisms that can be readily translated to human conditions.