Resting-state brain activity in Chinese boys with low functioning autism spectrum disorder

Background

This study aimed to explore the resting-state fMRI changes in Chinese boys with low functioning autism spectrum disorder (LFASD) and the correlation with clinical symptoms.

Methods

The current study acquired resting-state fMRI data from 15 Chinese boys with LFASD and 15 typically developing (TD) boys to examine the local brain activity using the regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) indexes; the researchers also examined these measures and their possible relationships with clinical symptoms using the autism behavior checklist.

Results

Results indicated that boys with LFASD exhibited increased ReHo in the right precuneus and inferior parietal gyrus (IPG), increased ALFF in right middle temporal gyrus, angular gyrus and IPG. However, no correlation was found between the ALFF/ReHo score and clinical symptoms in the LFASD group.

Conclusions

Some of the brain regions had ReHo/ALFF values that were higher in the boys with LFASD than the TD group and these differentiated brain areas in boys with LFASD were all on the right cerebrum, which supported ‘atypical rightward asymmetry’ in boys with LFASD.

     

Altered baseline brain activity in children with ADHD revealed by resting-state functional MRI

In children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), functional neuroimaging studies have revealed abnormalities in various brain regions, including prefrontal-striatal circuit, cerebellum, and brainstem. In the current study, we used a new marker of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), amplitude of low-frequency (0.01-0.08Hz) fluctuation (ALFF) to investigate the baseline brain function of this disorder. Thirteen boys with ADHD (13.0+/-1.4 years) were examined by resting-state fMRI and compared with age-matched controls. As a result, we found that patients with ADHD had decreased ALFF in the right inferior frontal cortex, left sensorimotor cortex, and bilateral cerebellum and the vermis as well as increased ALFF in the right anterior cingulated cortex, left sensorimotor cortex, and bilateral brainstem. This resting-state fMRI study suggests that the changed spontaneous neuronal activity of these regions may be implicated in the underlying pathophysiology in children with ADHD.     

Altered intrinsic brain activity and memory performance improvement in patients with end-stage renal disease during a single dialysis session

Memory deficits are considered to have a great influence on self-management, dietary restriction and therapeutic regimen for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with dialysis treatment. This study was aim to investigate the spontaneous brain activity and its relationship with memory performance in ESRD patients before dialysis (T1) and after 24 h (T2) during a single dialysis session. 23 ESRD patients and 25 matched healthy controls (HCs) were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at T1, and all patients were also scanned at T2. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) methods were used to evaluate the spontaneous brain activity between two groups. The Auditory Verbal Learning Test-Huashan version (AVLT-H) was performed to assess memory function. Compared with HCs, ESRD group showed a significant decreases in the immediate recall total score (IR-S), short-term delayed recall score (SR-S), and long-term delayed recall score (LR-S) at T1. IR-S, SR-S, LR-S and recognition score (REC-S) were significantly increased at T2. Compared with HCs at T1, ESRD patients showed that the lower mean ALFF (mALFF) values were mainly located in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), medial frontal gyrus, and precuneus. Higher ReHo in the bilateral inferior temporal gyrus and left hippocampus and lower ReHo in the right precentral gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex were found at T1 too. The mALFF values of the DLPFC and precuneus were significantly increased during a dialysis session, while no significantly difference of ReHo region was found. Furthermore, the increased mALFF values of the DLPFC were significantly positively correlated with the improvement in the IR-S. Our results indicated that increased regional spontaneous activity of the DLPFC may reflect memory performance improvement after a single dialysis treatment, which may provide insight into the effect of hemodialysis on spontaneous brain function during a single dialysis session.     

Altered intra- and interregional synchronization in the absence of the corpus callosum: a resting-state fMRI study

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC) can result in subtle to severe cognitive deficits. Individuals with impaired cognition often show abnormalities on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). This study used rs-fMRI to investigate changes in regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) among individuals with AgCC. AgCC individuals (n = 10) and age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy control subjects (n = 19) were included in this study. The ReHo values were calculated to represent spontaneous brain activity. The regions which showed altered ReHo were selected as seeds to compare FC with the whole brain between the AgCC group and the healthy control group. Compared with healthy control subjects, the AgCC individuals had increased ReHo in the left anterior cingulate gyrus, left rolandic operculum, and right precuneus and decreased ReHo in the right calcarine, right cingual gyrus and right cuneus gyrus. The right calcarine and the right lingual gyrus in the AgCC exhibited decreased FC with bilateral cuneus, superior occipital gyrus, Rolandic operculum, superior temporal gyrus, posterior central gyrus, and midcingulate gyrus.The right cuneus gyrus in the AgCC individuals exhibited decreased FC with the bilateral calcarine gyrus, left cuneus, and left superior occipital gyrus. Our study revealed several subareas within the visual cortex exhibited remarkable abnormalities of spontaneous brain activity and decreased FC with the higher-order cognitive cortex.The abnormalities of ReHo and FC in AgCC individuals may provide new insights into the neurological pathophysiology.     

Alterations in Spontaneous Brain Activity in Drug-Naïve First-Episode Schizophrenia: An Anatomical/Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis

Objective The etiology of schizophrenia is unknown and is associated with abnormal spontaneous brain activity. There are no consistent results regarding the change in spontaneous brain activity of people with schizophrenia. In this study, we determined the specific changes in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation/fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF/fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in patients with drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (Dn-FES). Methods A comprehensive search of databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase was conducted to find articles on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging using ALFF/fALFF and ReHo in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls (HCs) and then, anatomical/activation likelihood estimation was performed. Results Eighteen eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. Compared to the spontaneous brain activity of HCs, we found changes in spontaneous brain activity in Dn-FES based on these two methods, mainly including the frontal lobe, putamen, lateral globus pallidus, insula, cerebellum, and posterior cingulate cortex. Conclusion We found that widespread abnormalities of spontaneous brain activity occur in the early stages of the onset of schizophrenia and may provide a reference for the early intervention of schizophrenia.     

The effects of AQP4 rs162009 on resting-state brain activity in Parkinson's disease

Background

We previously identified a significant association between Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives

To identify whether AQP4 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs162009 affects regional brain activity and clinical phenotypes of PD.

Methods

Low-frequency fluctuation amplitude (ALFF) was used to evaluate spontaneous brain activity, regional homogeneity (ReHo) was used to evaluate the pace of activity of adjacent voxel regions, and degree centrality (DC) was used to describe the functional connection strength between a voxel and the whole brain. Disease severity and PD stage were assessed with the Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and Hoehn and Yahr scales, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess the participants' cognitive function.

Results

In patients with PD, AQP4 SNP rs162009 was associated with a significant higher ALFF in the right caudate head and the left occipital gyrus, a significant lower ReHo in the right inferior frontal gyrus, a different DC in the right frontal gyrus, the left calcarine, and the right inferior temporal gyrus. A significant positive correlation between ALFF in the right caudate head and MoCA in rs162009_A carriers was found. A significant negative correlation between the DC at the left calcarine and MDS-UPDRS and MDS-UPDRS III in rs162009_A noncarriers was found.

Conclusions

Our study further revealed the effect of AQP4 SNP rs162009 on brain activity in PD, indicating that AQP4 may play an important role in PD neuropathophysiology.     

Abnormal intrinsic brain activity of the putamen is correlated with dopamine deficiency in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

ObjectivesTo investigate the changes in spontaneous neuronal activity of the striatum in idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) patients using regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis. Furthermore, we tested the association between abnormal spontaneous brain activity and dopamine deficit in patients with iRBD.MethodsFifteen iRBD patients and 15 matched healthy controls received resting state magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological assessments. ReHo and ALFF in subregions of the striatum were calculated and compared between groups in a voxel-by-voxel manner. In addition, 15 iRBD patients and seven healthy controls underwent dopamine transporter single photon computed emission tomography (DAT-SPECT) imaging. Correlation analysis was also performed to investigate whether the altered spontaneous brain activity could be correlated with dopamine deficiency in iRBD patients.ResultsWe found that iRBD patients, compared with healthy controls, exhibited significantly reduced ReHo in the bilateral putamen. Patients also had significantly decreased tracer uptake in the bilateral putamen and left caudate. In addition, a significantly positive correlation was observed between the mean ReHo value and the tracer uptake ratio in the left putamen of iRBD patients.ConclusionsWe detected abnormal spontaneous brain activity of the bilateral putamen in iRBD patients. These findings could be complementary to the Braak staging model and could help to clarify the pathophysiology of iRBD.     

Altered spontaneous functional activity of the right precuneus and cuneus in patients with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a functional vestibular disorder, and is the most common cause of chronic vestibular syndrome. However, the pathogenesis of PPPD is currently unclear. This study aimed to analyze the changes of brain spontaneous functional activities in PPPD patients during the resting state, and to explore the underlying pathogenesis of PPPD, particularly the abnormal integration of visual and vestibular information. Ten PPPD patients and 10 healthy controls were enrolled from January to June 2018, and baseline data were collected from all subjects. Videonystagmography (VNG), the vestibular caloric test, the video head impulse test (vHIT) and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) were measured to exclude peripheral vestibular lesions. Functional MRI (fMRI) was conducted in PPPD patients and healthy controls. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity were calculated to explore changes in brain spontaneous functional activity during the resting state. Compared with healthy controls, ALFF and ReHo values in the right precuneus and cuneus were significantly lower in PPPD patients (both P?<?0.05). Further seed-based functional connectivity analysis showed decreased functional connectivity between precuneus, cuneus and left precentral gyrus (P?<?0.05). Our findings suggest that the spontaneous functional activity of cuneus and precuneus in PPPD patients were altered, potentially leading to abnormal integration of visual and vestibular information. Weakened functional connectivity between the precuneus and the precentral gyrus may be associated with aggravated symptoms during upright posture, active or passive movements.

     

不同亚型轻度认知障碍患者静息态脑功能局部一致性研究

目的探讨遗忘型和非遗忘型轻度认知障碍(mild cognition impairment,MCI)患者局部自发脑活动特点。方法纳入遗忘型MCI(amnesicMCI,aMCI)患者25例,非遗忘型MCI(non-amnesticMCI,naMCI)患者21例和正常对照(normal control,NC)15名进行静息态功能磁共振扫描,通过计算每个给定体素与其最邻近26个体素时间序列的相似性获得全脑局部一致性(regional homogeneity,ReHo)图,比较三组被试全脑ReHo差异。结果 aMCI组右侧额叶ReHo值低于NC组,左侧颞中回和左侧小脑ReHo值高于NC组(P0.05,Alphasim校正);naMCI组前扣带回和右侧额中回ReHo值低于NC组,右侧海马旁回、右侧颞中回和右侧楔前叶ReHo值高于NC组(P0.05,Alphasim校正);aMCI左侧前额叶和左侧颞中回ReHo值高于naMCI组,右侧小脑ReHo值低于naMCI组(P0.05,Alphasim校正)。结论 aMCI和naMCI患者左侧前额叶、左侧颞中回及右侧小脑自发脑功能活动存在差异,这为区别aMCI和naMCI两者脑功能活动特点提供了初步影像学依据。     

卒中后抑郁患者静息态局部脑活动与默认网络功能连接改变的磁共振成像研究

采用静息态fMRI并基于局部一致性（regional homogeneity,ReHo）和独立成分分析（independent component analysis,ICA）方法研究卒中后抑郁患者（post-stroke depression,PSD）局部自发脑活动和默 认网络（default mode network,DMN）功能连接变化模式。 方法 纳入自2017年1月-2019年1月期间新乡医学院第一附属医院收治的20例PSD患者（PSD组）,以 及年龄、性别和受教育程度等均匹配的单纯缺血性卒中未抑郁患者19例（对照组）。分别采用MMSE、 汉密尔顿抑郁量表17项（Hamilton depression scale-17,HAMD-17）测试受试者的认知功能和抑郁情绪; 然后采集静息态fMRI数据,图像预处理后计算ReHo值并提取两组DMN成分。比较组间ReHo值和DMN功 能连接差异,并提取差异脑区的ReHo值和功能连接值与PSD组患者HAMD-17评分进行相关性分析。 结果 与对照组相比,PSD组右侧海马旁回和左侧小脑脚2区ReHo值升高（P <0.001,体素值>20 mm3, 未校正）,并且在DMN中左侧楔前叶功能连接增强[P =0.011,校正错误发现率（false discovery rate, FDR）]、右侧楔叶功能连接减弱（P =0.006,校正FDR）。右侧海马旁回的ReHo值与HAMD-17评分呈正 相关（r =0.556,P =0.011）;右侧楔叶功能连接值与HAMD-17评分呈负相关（r =-0.574,P =0.008）。 结论 PSD患者存在局部自发脑活动以及DMN功能连接异常并与患者的抑郁情绪相关。     

青少年广泛性焦虑障碍患者静息态功能磁共振成像研究

目的:运用局部一致性(ReHo)方法研究首发青少年广泛性焦虑障碍患者的局部自发性脑活动. 方法:对19例首发青少年广泛性焦虑障碍患者及14名年龄、性别与其相匹配的正常对照进行静息态脑功能磁共振成像扫描,通过计算每个给定体素与其最邻近的26个体素之间的肯德尔和谐系数(KCC)来获得全脑的局部一致性(ReHo)图,利用双样本t检验分析两组受试者静息态下局部一致性的差异. 结果:与正常对照相比,青少年广泛性焦虑障碍患者局部一致性降低的脑区包括双侧额中回、枕中回,左侧额上回、颞下回、前扣带回及右侧顶下回、枕下回(P ＜0.005,未校正);局部一致性增高的脑区包括:右侧楔前叶、角回及左侧枕上回(P ＜0.005,未校正). 结论:青少年广泛性焦虑障碍患者静息态脑功能局部一致性存在异常.     

有先兆偏头痛患者发作间期的静息态功能磁共振变化

目的采用静息态功能磁共振成像技术探讨有先兆偏头痛患者的自发神经元活动,分析其脑功能网络的变化,以便更好地认识有先兆偏头痛的发病机制。方法对7例发作间期有先兆偏头痛患者和7例年龄、性别及受教育程度相匹配的健康对照行静息态功能磁共振成像扫描,分析原始数据,得出全脑低频振幅(ALFF),进行双样本t检验,并以ALFF差异脑区为感兴趣区(ROI)校正后行功能连接(FC)分析,比较两组之间影像学表现的差异。结果病例组双侧额上回、左侧眶额皮质低频振幅值显著高于对照组(t=2.18~5.12,P0.05)。病例组左侧颞中回、左侧颞下回、左侧尾状核、双侧丘脑、右侧运动前区低频振幅ALFF值显著低于对照组(t=-5.12~-2.18,P0.05);与对照组相比,病例组右侧眶额皮质、左侧额中回、双侧前扣带皮质、右侧缘上回与左侧额上回功能连接增强,病例组左侧小脑、右侧脑岛、脑干与左侧额上回之间的功能连接减弱。结论有先兆偏头痛患者头痛发作间期疼痛处理相关脑区功能异常,支持偏头痛并非单纯的发作性疾病。     

Distinct functional brain abnormalities in insomnia disorder and obstructive sleep apnea

Insomnia disorder (ID) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are the two most prevalent sleep disorders worldwide, but the pathological mechanism has not been fully understood. Functional neuroimaging findings indicated regional abnormal neural activities existed in both diseases, but the results were inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to explore concordant regional functional brain changes in ID and OSA, respectively. We conducted a coordinate-based meta-analysis (CBMA) of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) studies using the anisotropic effect-size seed‐based d mapping (AES-SDM) approach. Studies that applied regional homogeneity (ReHo), amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) or fractional ALFF (fALFF) to analyze regional spontaneous brain activities in ID or OSA were included. Meta-regressions were then applied to investigate potential associations between demographic variables and regional neural activity alterations. Significantly increased brain activities in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L) and right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF.R), as well as decreased brain activities in several right cerebral hemisphere areas were identified in ID patients. As for OSA patients, more distinct and complicated functional activation alterations were identified. Several neuroimaging alterations were functionally correlated with mean age, duration or illness severity in two patients groups revealed by meta-regressions. These functionally altered areas could be served as potential targets for non-invasive brain stimulation methods. This present meta-analysis distinguished distinct brain function changes in ID and OSA, improving our knowledge of the neuropathological mechanism of these two most common sleep disturbances, and also provided potential orientations for future clinical applications.

Registration number: CRD42022301938.

     

伴有暴力倾向的精神分裂症患者低频振幅与分数低频振幅静息态功能影像学研究

目的探讨伴有暴力倾向的精神分裂症患者静息状态下脑自发神经活动特征以及其脑功能异常的神经病理生理机制。方法纳入符合ICD-10诊断标准的精神分裂症患者35例(男24例、女11例)。采用PANSS评分评估患者临床症状严重程度。利用修订版外显攻击行为量表(Modified Overt Aggression Scale,MOAS)评分将患者分为暴力组和无暴力组。应用静息态功能磁共振成像(resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging,rs-fMRI)技术,采集所有患者静息状态下脑fMRI数据,基于DPABI V2.3(Data Processing&Analysis of Brain Imaging,DPABI)软件,对数据进行预处理后得到低频振幅(amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation,ALFF)及分数低频振幅(fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation,fALFF)图,采用双样本t检验比较2组图像差异。提取所有患者全脑区的ALFF、fALFF值与PANSS评分进行Pearson相关分析。结果暴力组(n=18)较无暴力组(n=17)右侧顶上回、右侧顶下缘角回ALFF值减低,而右侧小脑下部、左侧小脑下部和左侧丘脑的fALFF值增高(均经GRF校正,体素水平P<0.01,簇水平P<0.05)。Pearson相关分析显示,精神分裂症患者(n=35)右侧小脑下部、小脑蚓部、右侧颞中回ALFF值与PANSS阴性症状评分呈正相关(r=0.437、0.610、0.656);右侧角回fALFF值与PANSS阴性症状评分呈负相关(r=-0.723);左侧内侧额上回fALFF值与PANSS敌对性评分呈正相关(r=0.647,均经GRF校正,体素水平P<0.01,簇水平P<0.05)。结论相较于无暴力患者,伴有暴力倾向的精神分裂症患者多个脑区ALFF、fALFF值存在差异,提示伴有暴力行为的患者多个脑区自发神经活动异常。     

Analysis of Altered Baseline Brain Activity in Drug-Naive Adult Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder Using Resting-State Functional MRI

Objective

We hypothesize that the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) is involved in the altered regional baseline brain function in social anxiety disorder (SAD). The aim of the study was to analyze the altered baseline brain activity in drug-naive adult patients with SAD.

Methods

We investigated spontaneous and baseline brain activities by obtaining the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 20 drug-naïve adult SAD patients and 19 healthy controls. Voxels were used to analyze the ALFF values using one- and two-sample t-tests. A post-hoc correlation of clinical symptoms was also performed.

Results

Our findings show decreased ALFF in the bilateral insula, left medial superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, left middle temporal gyrus, right middle temporal pole, and left fusiform gyrus of the SAD group. The SAD patients exhibited significantly increased ALFF in the right inferior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, orbital superior frontal gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, right medial superior frontal gyrus, and left parahippocampal gyrus. Moreover, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale results for the SAD patients were positively correlated with the mean Z values of the right middle occipital and right inferior occipital but showed a negative correlation with the mean Z values of the right superior temporal gyrus and right medial superior frontal gyrus.

Conclusion

These results of the altered regional baseline brain function in SAD suggest that the regions with abnormal spontaneous activities are involved in the underlying pathophysiology of SAD patients.     

基于多模态神经影像学的人海马毕生变化曲线

研究背景近20年来,越来越多的研究者采用fMRI技术研究海马结构与功能,以揭示海马功能与记忆力之间的关系。对正常人海马结构与功能毕生变化曲线的研究和建模,是监测个体发育情况和辅助预测相关疾病的关键环节,能够反映正常人脑自然变化的普适性结构变量(即体积),以及反映功能活动的指标低频振荡振幅、分数低频振荡振幅和局部功能一致性。方法采用fMRI技术,通过连接组计算机系统对125例7~85岁正常个体的海马体积、低频振荡振幅、分数低频振荡振幅和局部功能一致性进行评价。结果双侧海马体积随年龄的增长而显著减小(校正后Ps=0.000),左侧海马低频振荡振幅(校正后P=0.034,β=-0.314)、分数低频振荡振幅(校正后P=0.059,β=-0.687)和局部功能一致性(校正后P=0.005,β=-0.330)与年龄呈显著负相关及负相关趋势。结论从一个侧面揭示了人毕生发展过程中海马结构与功能之间的相互关系。     

注意缺陷多动障碍儿童静息态的脑功能磁共振成像研究

目的 探讨注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)儿童静息态脑功能磁共振成像的特点.方法 对15名正常学龄期儿童(对照组)和14例ADHD儿童(ADHD组)进行静息态功能磁共振成像(fMRI)扫描,采用局部一致性(ReHo)作为测最指标.结果 ADHD组在双侧顶下小叶(Z=3.73,Z=3.34)、双侧楔叶(Z=3.42,Z=3.86)、左侧额中回(Z=3.24)、左侧颢中同(Z=3.24)、左侧楔前叶(Z=3.45)及右侧岛叶(Z=3.09)、右侧小脑(Z=3.42)等区域的ReHo值低于对照组,而双侧额下回(Z=3.19,Z=2.93)的ReHo值高于对照组.结论与对照组比较,静息态下ADHD患者与执行控制功能、注意认知功能及默认网络功能等相关区域存在异常.     

Increased local synchronization of resting-state fMRI signal after episodic memory encoding reflects off-line memory consolidation

The changes of spontaneous activity from before and after a memory or learning task had been considered to be related to off-line memory consolidation process in human brain by using resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) MRI (fMRI). However, RSFC reflects temporal synchronization of timecourses of spatially distinct brain regions and therefore could not determine which specific brain region is involved in the memory consolidation process. Here we used regional homogeneity (ReHo), a method for measuring local synchronization, to link the local spontaneous activity change to off-line episodic memory consolidation. We hypothesized that the spontaneous activity change would be different between people with better memory performance and those with worse performance in memory-related regions. All participants completed two resting-state sessions, that is, before (REST-1) and after (REST-2) an episodic memory encoding task (picture indoor or outdoor judgment). Then, based on the d' of a later surprise memory retrieval test, a high-performance group and a low-performance group, each consisting of 16 participants, were chosen from whole 58 participants. We defined a ReHo ratio, that is, ReHo of REST-2 divided by ReHo of REST-1, as a change induced by memory consolidation. The high-performance group showed a significant higher ReHo ratio than low-performance group in medial temporal lobe (MTL) including parahippocampal and anterior temporal regions. The current results provide neuroimaging evidence supporting that the MTL is involved in off-line memory consolidation of episodic memory. Moreover, this study may provide a paradigm for understanding of episodic memory deficit in Alzheimer's disease.     

A study on BOLD fMRI of the brain basic activities of MDD and the first-degree relatives

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aims to explore the characteristics and differences of the ReHo, ALFF and fALFF of brain in the resting state of depression and first-degree relatives, in order to identify candidate central prodromal biomarkers of depression.

Method: Three groups of medication-free patients (39–59?years old) was involved in this study, including the patients with major depression disorder (MDD group, n?=?15), healthy volunteers with first-degree relatives with MDD (first-degree relatives group, n?=?15), healthy volunteers with no personal or family history of MDD (the control group [HC], n?=?15). Participants underwent functional MRI while staying in a resting state after a conventional MRI scanning on a clinical 3?T system(Siemens Skyra, Germany).

Results: The ReHo, ALFF and fALFF values are different in brain of MDD, first-degree relatives, and HC (p<.05). MDD patients exhibited abnormal spontaneous activity in multiple brain regions which are closely related to emotion regulation and perception. The present findings provide further insight into the pathological mechanisms underlying MDD.

Conclusion: With the widespread abnormal values of brain in MDD and first-degree relatives measured, we can get a hypothesis that these abnormalities may be associated with cognitive network disorders and emotional distress in MDD.

• Key points

• The fMRI could increase the early validity of MDD as a new diagnostic and disease-monitoring tool.

• Monitoring ReHo, ALFF, fALFF values using fMRI can provide insight into the presence and evolution of MDD disease and permit objective evaluation of brain abnormalities.

• It appears that ReHo, ALFF, fALFF could be used as markers for monitoring disease progression and treatment effects in MDD patients in the future.

     

The association between TOMM40 gene polymorphism and spontaneous brain activity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

The outer mitochondria membrane 40 homolog (TOMM40) is thought to be involved in the mitochondrial function and to influence the susceptibility for the development of AD. To determine whether TOMM40 rs157581 polymorphism is a plausible modulator of spontaneous brain activity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients, 46 aMCI subjects and 21 healthy controls were recruited and explored. Each individual was firstly genotyped for TOMM40 rs157581 and was further assessed by resting-state functional MRI to evaluate regional brain activity using amplitude low-frequency fluctuation analysis (ALFF). aMCI patients showed decreased ALFF in the left inferior frontal gyrus and insula, and increased ALFF in right posterior cingulate, lingual gyrus and calcarine sulcus. A significant difference in the interaction of “groups × genotypes” was observed in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus, bilateral lingual gyrus, right calcarine sulcus and left cerebellum. These results demonstrated a pattern of change in ALFF values, in which increased and subsequently decreased ALFF values in parallel with the progression of aMCI symptoms. The present study shows for the first time that TOMM40 rs157581 polymorphism may modulate regional spontaneous brain activity and related to the progression of aMCI.