A preliminary study of fMRI and the relationship with depression and anxiety in Meniere's patients

Purpose

To examine alterations in Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent (BOLD) resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) signals, utilizing regional homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) metrics, within activated brain regions. Additionally, this study aims to explore the relationship between these neural changes and clinical characteristics, as well as emotional states, in patients diagnosed with unilateral Meniere's disease (MD).

Method

The study included 24 patients diagnosed with left Meniere's disease (L-MD), 25 patients diagnosed with right Meniere's disease (R-MD), and 23 healthy control subjects. Resting-state blood‑oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (rest-BOLD-fMRI) data were preprocessed. A two-sample t-test was employed to compare the regional homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) between the patient groups and the control group. Brain regions exhibiting significant differences were further analyzed for correlations with disease duration, vertigo severity, vertigo duration, hearing loss grade, and levels of anxiety and depression.

Results

In patients with L-MD, fALFF values were significantly decreased in the right cerebellar hemisphere, middle occipital gyrus, among other regions. In patients with right-sided Ménière's disease (R-MD), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) values were elevated in the right middle inferior temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) values exhibited both increases and decreases in the temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, occipital gyrus, superior marginal gyrus, anterior central gyrus, and fusiform gyrus. In studies examining relational aspects, the parahippocampal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, superior middle occipital gyrus, superior marginal gyrus, and occipital gyrus demonstrated positive or negative correlations with clinical characteristics and emotional states.

Conclusions

Patients with unilateral Meniere's disease (MD) exhibited both increased and decreased activation in various brain regions when compared to control subjects. A correlation was identified between these neural activation patterns and clinical characteristics, as well as emotional state, which holds significant implications for clinical treatment, prognosis, and rehabilitation strategies for MD patients.