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Huang S, Li M, Huang C, Liu J. Acute limbic system connectivity predicts chronic cognitive function in mild traumatic brain injury: An individualized differential structural covariance network study. Pharmacol Res 2024; 206:107274. [PMID: 38906205 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a known risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, yet the precise pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understand, often obscured by group-level analysis in non-invasive neuroimaging studies. Individual-based method is critical to exploring heterogeneity in mTBI. We recruited 80 mTBI patients and 40 matched healthy controls, obtaining high-resolution structural MRI for constructing Individual Differential Structural Covariance Networks (IDSCN). Comparisons were conducted at both the individual and group levels. Connectome-based Predictive Modeling (CPM) was applied to predict cognitive performance based on whole-brain connectivity. During the acute stage of mTBI, patients exhibited significant heterogeneity in the count and direction of altered edges, obscured by group-level analysis. In the chronic stage, the number of altered edges decreased and became more consistent, aligning with clinical observations of acute cognitive impairment and gradual improvement. Subgroup analysis based on loss of consciousness/post-traumatic amnesia revealed distinct patterns of alterations. The temporal lobe, particularly regions related to the limbic system, significantly predicted cognitive function from acute to chronic stage. The use of IDSCN and CPM has provided valuable individual-level insights, reconciling discrepancies from previous studies. Additionally, the limbic system may be an appropriate target for future intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihong Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Mengjun Li
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Chuxin Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Department of Radiology Quality Control Center, Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
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Symons GF, Gregg MC, Hicks AJ, Rowe CC, Shultz SR, Ponsford JL, Spitz G. Altered grey matter structural covariance in chronic moderate-severe traumatic brain injury. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1728. [PMID: 38242923 PMCID: PMC10799053 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50396-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) alters brain network connectivity. Structural covariance networks (SCNs) reflect morphological covariation between brain regions. SCNs may elucidate how altered brain network topology in TBI influences long-term outcomes. Here, we assessed whether SCN organisation is altered in individuals with chronic moderate-severe TBI (≥ 10 years post-injury) and associations with cognitive performance. This case-control study included fifty individuals with chronic moderate-severe TBI compared to 75 healthy controls recruited from an ongoing longitudinal head injury outcome study. SCNs were constructed using grey matter volume measurements from T1-weighted MRI images. Global and regional SCN organisation in relation to group membership and cognitive ability was examined using regression analyses. Globally, TBI participants had reduced small-worldness, longer characteristic path length, higher clustering, and higher modularity globally (p < 0.05). Regionally, TBI participants had greater betweenness centrality (p < 0.05) in frontal and central areas of the cortex. No significant associations were observed between global network measures and cognitive ability in participants with TBI (p > 0.05). Chronic moderate-severe TBI was associated with a shift towards a more segregated global network topology and altered organisation in frontal and central brain regions. There was no evidence that SCNs are associated with cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia F Symons
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, 6th Floor, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
| | - Matthew C Gregg
- Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Ground Floor, 185-187 Hoddle St, Richmond, 3121, Australia
| | - Amelia J Hicks
- Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Ground Floor, 185-187 Hoddle St, Richmond, 3121, Australia
| | - Christopher C Rowe
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Sandy R Shultz
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, 6th Floor, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Health Sciences, Vancouver Island University, 900 Fifth Street, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5, Canada
| | - Jennie L Ponsford
- Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Ground Floor, 185-187 Hoddle St, Richmond, 3121, Australia
| | - Gershon Spitz
- Department of Neuroscience, Monash University, 6th Floor, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Ground Floor, 185-187 Hoddle St, Richmond, 3121, Australia
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