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Zhu C, Li H, Song Z, Jiang M, Song L, Li L, Wang X, Zheng Q. Jointly constrained group sparse connectivity representation improves early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease on routinely acquired T1-weighted imaging-based brain network. Health Inf Sci Syst 2024; 12:19. [PMID: 38464465 PMCID: PMC10917732 DOI: 10.1007/s13755-023-00269-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Radiomics-based morphological brain networks (radMBN) constructed from routinely acquired structural MRI (sMRI) data have gained attention in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the radMBN suffers from limited characterization of AD because sMRI only characterizes anatomical changes and is not a direct measure of neuronal pathology or brain activity. Purpose To establish a group sparse representation of the radMBN under a joint constraint of group-level white matter fiber connectivity and individual-level sMRI regional similarity (JCGS-radMBN). Methods Two publicly available datasets were adopted, including 120 subjects from ADNI with both T1-weighted image (T1WI) and diffusion MRI (dMRI) for JCGS-radMBN construction, 818 subjects from ADNI and 200 subjects solely with T1WI from AIBL for validation in early AD diagnosis. Specifically, the JCGS-radMBN was conducted by jointly estimating non-zero connections among subjects, with the regularization term constrained by group-level white matter fiber connectivity and individual-level sMRI regional similarity. Then, a triplet graph convolutional network was adopted for early AD diagnosis. The discriminative brain connections were identified using a two-sample t-test, and the neurobiological interpretation was validated by correlating the discriminative brain connections with cognitive scores. Results The JCGS-radMBN exhibited superior classification performance over five brain network construction methods. For the typical NC vs. AD classification, the JCGS-radMBN increased by 1-30% in accuracy over the alternatives on ADNI and AIBL. The discriminative brain connections exhibited a strong connectivity to hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and basal ganglia, and had significant correlation with MMSE scores. Conclusion The proposed JCGS-radMBN facilitated the AD characterization of brain network established on routinely acquired imaging modality of sMRI. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s13755-023-00269-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanzhen Zhu
- School of Computer and Control Engineering, Yantai University, No 30, Qingquan Road, Laishan District, Yantai, 264005 Shandong China
| | - Honglun Li
- Departments of Medical Oncology and Radiology, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College, Yantai, 264099 China
| | - Zhiwei Song
- School of Computer and Control Engineering, Yantai University, No 30, Qingquan Road, Laishan District, Yantai, 264005 Shandong China
| | - Minbo Jiang
- School of Computer and Control Engineering, Yantai University, No 30, Qingquan Road, Laishan District, Yantai, 264005 Shandong China
| | - Limei Song
- School of Medical Imaging, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261000 China
| | - Lin Li
- Yantaishan Hospital Affiliated to Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003 China
| | - Xuan Wang
- School of Computer and Control Engineering, Yantai University, No 30, Qingquan Road, Laishan District, Yantai, 264005 Shandong China
| | - Qiang Zheng
- School of Computer and Control Engineering, Yantai University, No 30, Qingquan Road, Laishan District, Yantai, 264005 Shandong China
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Gamgam G, Yıldırım Z, Kabakçıoğlu A, Gurvit H, Demiralp T, Acar B. Siamese Graph Convolutional Network quantifies increasing structure-function discrepancy over the cognitive decline continuum. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 254:108290. [PMID: 38954916 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2024.108290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD) is well known to induce alterations in both structural and functional brain connectivity. However, reported changes in connectivity are mostly limited to global/local network features, which have poor specificity for diagnostic purposes. Following recent advances in machine learning, deep neural networks, particularly Graph Neural Network (GNN) based approaches, have found applications in brain research as well. The majority of existing applications of GNNs employ a single network (uni-modal or structure/function unified), despite the widely accepted view that there is a nontrivial interdependence between the brain's structural connectivity and the neural activity patterns, which is hypothesized to be disrupted in ADD. This disruption is quantified as a discrepancy score by the proposed "structure-function discrepancy learning network" (sfDLN) and its distribution is studied over the spectrum of clinical cognitive decline. The measured discrepancy score is utilized as a diagnostic biomarker and is compared with state-of-the-art diagnostic classifiers. METHODS sfDLN is a GNN with a siamese architecture built on the hypothesis that the mismatch between structural and functional connectivity patterns increases over the cognitive decline spectrum, starting from subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), passing through a mid-stage mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and ending up with ADD. The structural brain connectome (sNET) built using diffusion MRI-based tractography and the novel, sparse (lean) functional brain connectome (ℓNET) built using fMRI are input to sfDLN. The siamese sfDLN is trained to extract connectome representations and a discrepancy (dissimilarity) score that complies with the proposed hypothesis and is blindly tested on an MCI group. RESULTS The sfDLN generated structure-function discrepancy scores show high disparity between ADD and SCI subjects. Leave-one-out experiments of SCI-ADD classification over a cohort of 42 subjects reach 88% accuracy, surpassing state-of-the-art GNN-based classifiers in the literature. Furthermore, a blind assessment over a cohort of 46 MCI subjects confirmed that it captures the intermediary character of the MCI group. GNNExplainer module employed to investigate the anatomical determinants of the observed discrepancy confirms that sfDLN attends to cortical regions neurologically relevant to ADD. CONCLUSION In support of our hypothesis, the harmony between the structural and functional organization of the brain degrades with increasing cognitive decline. This discrepancy, shown to be rooted in brain regions neurologically relevant to ADD, can be quantified by sfDLN and outperforms state-of-the-art GNN-based ADD classification methods when used as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurur Gamgam
- VAVlab, Department of Electrical And Electronics Eng., Bogazici University, Istanbul, 34342, Turkiye
| | - Zerrin Yıldırım
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34093, Turkiye
| | | | - Hakan Gurvit
- Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34093, Turkiye
| | - Tamer Demiralp
- Hulusi Behçet Life Sciences Research Lab., Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34093, Turkiye
| | - Burak Acar
- VAVlab, Department of Electrical And Electronics Eng., Bogazici University, Istanbul, 34342, Turkiye.
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Yüksel Dal D, Yıldırım Z, Gürvit H, Kabakçıoğlu A, Acar B. Reorganization of brain connectivity across the spectrum of clinical cognitive decline. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07688-1. [PMID: 39078586 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07688-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Clinical cognitive decline, leading to Alzheimer's Disease Dementia (ADD), has long been interpreted as a disconnection syndrome, hindering the information flow capacity of the brain, hence leading to the well-known symptoms of ADD. The structural and functional brain connectome analyses play a central role in studies of brain from this perspective. However, most current research implicitly assumes that the changes accompanying the progression of cognitive decline are monotonous in time, whether measured across the entire brain or in fixed cortical regions. We investigate the structural and functional connectivity-wise reorganization of the brain without such assumptions across the entire spectrum. We utilize nodal assortativity as a local topological measure of connectivity and follow a data-centric approach to identify and verify relevant local regions, as well as to understand the nature of underlying reorganization. The analysis of our preliminary experimental data points to statistically significant, hyper and hypo-assortativity regions that depend on the disease's stage, and differ for structural and functional connectomes. Our results suggest a new perspective into the dynamic, potentially a mix of degenerative and compensatory, topological alterations that occur in the brain as cognitive decline progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demet Yüksel Dal
- Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Boğaziçi University, 34342, İstanbul, Turkey.
| | - Zerrin Yıldırım
- Department of Neurology, Bağılar Training and Research Hospital, 34212, İstanbul, Turkey
- Neuroimaging Unit, Hulusi Behçet Life Sciences Research Lab, İstanbul University, 34093, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Hakan Gürvit
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, 34093, İstanbul, Turkey
- Neuroimaging Unit, Hulusi Behçet Life Sciences Research Lab, İstanbul University, 34093, İstanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Burak Acar
- Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Boğaziçi University, 34342, İstanbul, Turkey
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Ji J, Hou Z, He Y, Liu L, Xue F, Chen H, Yuan Z. Differential network knockoff filter with application to brain connectivity analysis. Stat Med 2024. [PMID: 38922944 DOI: 10.1002/sim.10155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The brain functional connectivity can typically be represented as a brain functional network, where nodes represent regions of interest (ROIs) and edges symbolize their connections. Studying group differences in brain functional connectivity can help identify brain regions and recover the brain functional network linked to neurodegenerative diseases. This process, known as differential network analysis focuses on the differences between estimated precision matrices for two groups. Current methods struggle with individual heterogeneity in measuring the brain connectivity, false discovery rate (FDR) control, and accounting for confounding factors, resulting in biased estimates and diminished power. To address these issues, we present a two-stage FDR-controlled feature selection method for differential network analysis using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. First, we create individual brain connectivity measures using a high-dimensional precision matrix estimation technique. Next, we devise a penalized logistic regression model that employs individual brain connectivity data and integrates a new knockoff filter for FDR control when detecting significant differential edges. Through extensive simulations, we showcase the superiority of our approach compared to other methods. Additionally, we apply our technique to fMRI data to identify differential edges between Alzheimer's disease and control groups. Our results are consistent with prior experimental studies, emphasizing the practical applicability of our method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadong Ji
- Institute for Financial Studies, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhendong Hou
- Institute for Financial Studies, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yong He
- Institute for Financial Studies, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Fuzhong Xue
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongshang Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Hassanzadeh R, Abrol A, Pearlson G, Turner JA, Calhoun VD. A confounder controlled machine learning approach: Group analysis and classification of schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease using resting-state functional network connectivity. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293053. [PMID: 38768123 PMCID: PMC11104643 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has increasingly been used to study both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia (SZ). While most rs-fMRI studies being conducted in AD and SZ compare patients to healthy controls, it is also of interest to directly compare AD and SZ patients with each other to identify potential biomarkers shared between the disorders. However, comparing patient groups collected in different studies can be challenging due to potential confounds, such as differences in the patient's age, scan protocols, etc. In this study, we compared and contrasted resting-state functional network connectivity (rs-FNC) of 162 patients with AD and late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI), 181 schizophrenia patients, and 315 cognitively normal (CN) subjects. We used confounder-controlled rs-FNC and applied machine learning algorithms (including support vector machine, logistic regression, random forest, and k-nearest neighbor) and deep learning models (i.e., fully-connected neural networks) to classify subjects in binary and three-class categories according to their diagnosis labels (e.g., AD, SZ, and CN). Our statistical analysis revealed that FNC between the following network pairs is stronger in AD compared to SZ: subcortical-cerebellum, subcortical-cognitive control, cognitive control-cerebellum, and visual-sensory motor networks. On the other hand, FNC is stronger in SZ than AD for the following network pairs: subcortical-visual, subcortical-auditory, subcortical-sensory motor, cerebellum-visual, sensory motor-cognitive control, and within the cerebellum networks. Furthermore, we observed that while AD and SZ disorders each have unique FNC abnormalities, they also share some common functional abnormalities that can be due to similar neurobiological mechanisms or genetic factors contributing to these disorders' development. Moreover, we achieved an accuracy of 85% in classifying subjects into AD and SZ where default mode, visual, and subcortical networks contributed the most to the classification and accuracy of 68% in classifying subjects into AD, SZ, and CN with the subcortical domain appearing as the most contributing features to the three-way classification. Finally, our findings indicated that for all classification tasks, except AD vs. SZ, males are more predictable than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reihaneh Hassanzadeh
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Anees Abrol
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Godfrey Pearlson
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Jessica A. Turner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Zhang Y, Xue L, Zhang S, Yang J, Zhang Q, Wang M, Wang L, Zhang M, Jiang J, Li Y. A novel spatiotemporal graph convolutional network framework for functional connectivity biomarkers identification of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:60. [PMID: 38481280 PMCID: PMC10938710 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01425-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional connectivity (FC) biomarkers play a crucial role in the early diagnosis and mechanistic study of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the identification of effective FC biomarkers remains challenging. In this study, we introduce a novel approach, the spatiotemporal graph convolutional network (ST-GCN) combined with the gradient-based class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) model (STGC-GCAM), to effectively identify FC biomarkers for AD. METHODS This multi-center cross-racial retrospective study involved 2,272 participants, including 1,105 cognitively normal (CN) subjects, 790 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) individuals, and 377 AD patients. All participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and T1-weighted MRI scans. In this study, firstly, we optimized the STGC-GCAM model to enhance classification accuracy. Secondly, we identified novel AD-associated biomarkers using the optimized model. Thirdly, we validated the imaging biomarkers using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Lastly, we performed correlation analysis and causal mediation analysis to confirm the physiological significance of the identified biomarkers. RESULTS The STGC-GCAM model demonstrated great classification performance (The average area under the curve (AUC) values for different categories were: CN vs MCI = 0.98, CN vs AD = 0.95, MCI vs AD = 0.96, stable MCI vs progressive MCI = 0.79). Notably, the model identified specific brain regions, including the sensorimotor network (SMN), visual network (VN), and default mode network (DMN), as key differentiators between patients and CN individuals. These brain regions exhibited significant associations with the severity of cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). Moreover, the topological features of important brain regions demonstrated excellent predictive capability for the conversion from MCI to AD (Hazard ratio = 3.885, p < 0.001). Additionally, our findings revealed that the topological features of these brain regions mediated the impact of amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition (bootstrapped average causal mediation effect: β = -0.01 [-0.025, 0.00], p < 0.001) and brain glucose metabolism (bootstrapped average causal mediation effect: β = -0.02 [-0.04, -0.001], p < 0.001) on cognitive status. CONCLUSIONS This study presents the STGC-GCAM framework, which identifies FC biomarkers using a large multi-site fMRI dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- School of Communication and Information Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Le Xue
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shuoyan Zhang
- School of Communication and Information Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Jiacheng Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Communication and Information Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Min Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Luyao Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Mingkai Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.
| | - Jiehui Jiang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Yunxia Li
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, 2800 Gongwei Road, Shanghai, 201399, Pudong, China.
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Sun Z, Naismith SL, Meikle S, Calamante F. A novel method for PET connectomics guided by fibre-tracking MRI: Application to Alzheimer's disease. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26659. [PMID: 38491564 PMCID: PMC10943179 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26659] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
This study introduces a novel brain connectome matrix, track-weighted PET connectivity (twPC) matrix, which combines positron emission tomography (PET) and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data to compute a PET-weighted connectome at the individual subject level. The new method is applied to characterise connectivity changes in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum. The proposed twPC samples PET tracer uptake guided by the underlying white matter fibre-tracking streamline point-to-point connectivity calculated from diffusion MRI (dMRI). Using tau-PET, dMRI and T1-weighted MRI from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database, structural connectivity (SC) and twPC matrices were computed and analysed using the network-based statistic (NBS) technique to examine topological alterations in early mild cognitive impairment (MCI), late MCI and AD participants. Correlation analysis was also performed to explore the coupling between SC and twPC. The NBS analysis revealed progressive topological alterations in both SC and twPC as cognitive decline progressed along the continuum. Compared to healthy controls, networks with decreased SC were identified in late MCI and AD, and networks with increased twPC were identified in early MCI, late MCI and AD. The altered network topologies were mostly different between twPC and SC, although with several common edges largely involving the bilateral hippocampus, fusiform gyrus and entorhinal cortex. Negative correlations were observed between twPC and SC across all subject groups, although displaying an overall reduction in the strength of anti-correlation with disease progression. twPC provides a new means for analysing subject-specific PET and MRI-derived information within a hybrid connectome using established network analysis methods, providing valuable insights into the relationship between structural connections and molecular distributions. PRACTITIONER POINTS: New method is proposed to compute patient-specific PET connectome guided by MRI fibre-tracking. Track-weighted PET connectivity (twPC) matrix allows to leverage PET and structural connectivity information. twPC was applied to dementia, to characterise the PET nework abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuopin Sun
- School of Biomedical EngineeringThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Sharon L. Naismith
- Brain and Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Faculty of Science, School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Charles Perkins CenterThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Steven Meikle
- Brain and Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney ImagingThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Health SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Fernando Calamante
- School of Biomedical EngineeringThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Brain and Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Sydney ImagingThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Shirzadi S, Dadgostar M, Einalou Z, Erdoğan SB, Akin A. Sex based differences in functional connectivity during a working memory task: an fNIRS study. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1207202. [PMID: 38390414 PMCID: PMC10881810 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1207202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in corticocerebral structure and function between males and females and their effects on behavior and the prevalence of various neuropsychiatric disorders have been considered as a fundamental topic in various fields of neuroscience. Recent studies on working memory (WM) reported the impact of sex on brain connectivity patterns, which reflect the important role of functional connectivity in the sex topic. Working memory, one of the most important cognitive tasks performed by regions of the PFC, can provide evidence regarding the presence of a difference between males and females. The present study aimed to assess sex differences in brain functional connectivity during working memory-related tasks by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In this regard, nine males and nine females completed a dual n-back working memory task with two target inputs of color and location stimuli in three difficulty levels (n = 0, 1, 2). Functional connectivity matrices were extracted for each subject for each memory load level. Females made less errors than males while spending more time performing the task for all workload levels except in 0-back related to the color stimulus, where the reaction time of females was shorter than males. The results of functional connectivity reveal the inverse behavior of two hemispheres at different memory workload levels between males and females. In the left hemisphere, males exhibited stronger connectivity compared to the females, while stronger connectivity was observed in the females' right hemisphere. Furthermore, an inverse trend was detected in the channel pairs with significant connectivity in the right hemisphere of males (falling) and females (rising) by enhancing working memory load level. Considering both behavioral and functional results for two sexes demonstrated a better performance in females due to the more effective use of the brain. The results indicate that sex affects functional connectivity between different areas in both hemispheres of the brain during cognitive tasks of varying difficulty levels although the general impression is that spatial capabilities are considered as a performance of the brain's right hemisphere. These results reinforce the presence of a sex effect in the functional imaging studies of hemodynamic function and emphasize the importance of evaluating brain network connectivity for achieving a better scientific understanding of sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Shirzadi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Dadgostar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Zahra Einalou
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Sinem Burcu Erdoğan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Ata Akin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Türkiye
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Ahmed I, Reeves WD, Sun W, Dubrof ST, Zukaitis JG, West FD, Park HJ, Zhao Q. Nutritional supplement induced modulations in the functional connectivity of a porcine brain. Nutr Neurosci 2024; 27:147-158. [PMID: 36657164 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2023.2166803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional connectivity (FC) measures statistical dependence between cortical brain regions. Studies of FC facilitate understanding of the brain's function and architecture that underpin normal cognition, behavior, and changes associated with various factors (e.g. nutritional supplements) at a large scale. OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify modifications in FC patterns and targeted brain anatomies in piglets following perinatal intake of different nutritional diets using a graph theory based approach. METHODS Forty-four piglets from four groups of pregnant sows, who were treated with nutritional supplements, including control diet, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), egg yolk (EGG), and DHA + EGG, went through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). We introduced the use of differential degree test (DDT) to identify differentially connected edges (DCEs). Simulation studies were first conducted to compare the DDT with permutation test, using three network structures at different noise levels. DDT was then applied to rs-fMRI data acquired from piglets. RESULTS In simulations, the DDT showed a greater accuracy in detecting DCEs when compared with the permutation test. For empirical data, we found that the strength of internodal connectivity is significantly increased for more than 6% of edges in the EGG group and more than 8% of edges in the DHA and DHA + EGG groups, all compared to the control group. Moreover, differential wiring diagrams between group comparisons provided means to pinpoint brain hubs affected by nutritional supplements. CONCLUSION DDT showed a greater accuracy of detection of DCEs and demonstrated EGG, DHA, and DHA + EGG supplemented diets lead to an improved internodal connectivity in the developing piglet brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishfaque Ahmed
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Institute of Physics, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - William D Reeves
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Wenwu Sun
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Stephanie T Dubrof
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jillien G Zukaitis
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Franklin D West
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Hea Jin Park
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Qun Zhao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, Athens, GA, USA
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10
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Canal-Garcia A, Veréb D, Mijalkov M, Westman E, Volpe G, Pereira JB. Dynamic multilayer functional connectivity detects preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad542. [PMID: 38212285 PMCID: PMC10839846 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad542] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that patients with Alzheimer's disease present alterations in functional connectivity but previous results have not always been consistent. One of the reasons that may account for this inconsistency is the lack of consideration of temporal dynamics. To address this limitation, here we studied the dynamic modular organization on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging across different stages of Alzheimer's disease using a novel multilayer brain network approach. Participants from preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease stages were included. Temporal multilayer networks were used to assess time-varying modular organization. Logistic regression models were employed for disease stage discrimination, and partial least squares analyses examined associations between dynamic measures with cognition and pathology. Temporal multilayer functional measures distinguished all groups, particularly preclinical stages, overcoming the discriminatory power of risk factors such as age, sex, and APOE ϵ4 carriership. Dynamic multilayer functional measures exhibited strong associations with cognition as well as amyloid and tau pathology. Dynamic multilayer functional connectivity shows promise as a functional imaging biomarker for both early- and late-stage Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Canal-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
| | - Dániel Veréb
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
| | - Mite Mijalkov
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
| | - Eric Westman
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
| | - Giovanni Volpe
- Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 40530, Sweden
| | - Joana B Pereira
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
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11
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de Jong JJA, Jansen JFA, Vergoossen LWM, Schram MT, Stehouwer CDA, Wildberger JE, Linden DEJ, Backes WH. Effect of Magnetic Resonance Image Quality on Structural and Functional Brain Connectivity: The Maastricht Study. Brain Sci 2024; 14:62. [PMID: 38248277 PMCID: PMC10813868 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In population-based cohort studies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is vital for examining brain structure and function. Advanced MRI techniques, such as diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), provide insights into brain connectivity. However, biases in MRI data acquisition and processing can impact brain connectivity measures and their associations with demographic and clinical variables. This study, conducted with 5110 participants from The Maastricht Study, explored the relationship between brain connectivity and various image quality metrics (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio, head motion, and atlas-template mismatches) that were obtained from dMRI and rs-fMRI scans. Results revealed that in particular increased head motion (R2 up to 0.169, p < 0.001) and reduced signal-to-noise ratio (R2 up to 0.013, p < 0.001) negatively impacted structural and functional brain connectivity, respectively. These image quality metrics significantly affected associations of overall brain connectivity with age (up to -59%), sex (up to -25%), and body mass index (BMI) (up to +14%). Associations with diabetes status, educational level, history of cardiovascular disease, and white matter hyperintensities were generally less affected. This emphasizes the potential confounding effects of image quality in large population-based neuroimaging studies on brain connectivity and underscores the importance of accounting for it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost J. A. de Jong
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F. A. Jansen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura W. M. Vergoossen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Miranda T. Schram
- School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Cardiovascular Disease (CARIM), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Heart and Vascular Centre, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Coen D. A. Stehouwer
- School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Cardiovascular Disease (CARIM), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Heart and Vascular Centre, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Joachim E. Wildberger
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Cardiovascular Disease (CARIM), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - David E. J. Linden
- School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Walter H. Backes
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neurosciences (MHeNs), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
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12
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Nobukawa S, Ikeda T, Kikuchi M, Takahashi T. Atypical instantaneous spatio-temporal patterns of neural dynamics in Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:88. [PMID: 38167950 PMCID: PMC10761722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50265-3] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cognitive functions produced by large-scale neural integrations are the most representative 'emergence phenomena' in complex systems. A novel approach focusing on the instantaneous phase difference of brain oscillations across brain regions has succeeded in detecting moment-to-moment dynamic functional connectivity. However, it is restricted to pairwise observations of two brain regions, contrary to large-scale spatial neural integration in the whole-brain. In this study, we introduce a microstate analysis to capture whole-brain instantaneous phase distributions instead of pairwise differences. Upon applying this method to electroencephalography signals of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterised by progressive cognitive decline, the AD-specific state transition among the four states defined as the leading phase location due to the loss of brain regional interactions could be promptly characterised. In conclusion, our synthetic analysis approach, focusing on the microstate and instantaneous phase, enables the capture of the instantaneous spatiotemporal neural dynamics of brain activity and characterises its pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sou Nobukawa
- Department of Computer Science, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, 275-0016, Chiba, Japan.
- Research Center for Mathematical Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, 275-0016, Chiba, Japan.
- Department of Preventive Intervention for Psychiatric Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, 187-8661, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Takashi Ikeda
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Ishikawa, Japan
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kikuchi
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Ishikawa, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Takahashi
- Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Ishikawa, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Fukui, 23-3 Matsuoka, Yoshida, 910-1193, Fukui, Japan
- Uozu Shinkei Sanatorium, 1784-1 Eguchi, Uozu, 937-0017, Toyama, Japan
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13
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Khokhar SK, Kumar M, Kumar S, Manae T, Thanissery N, Ramakrishnan S, Arshad F, Nagaraj C, Mangalore S, Alladi S, Gandhi TK, Bharath RD. Alzheimer's Disease Is Associated with Increased Network Assortativity: Evidence from Metabolic Connectivity. Brain Connect 2023; 13:610-620. [PMID: 37930734 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2023.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Unraveling the network pathobiology in neurodegenerative disorders is a popular and promising field in research. We use a relatively newer network measure of assortativity in metabolic connectivity to understand network differences in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD), compared with those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Eighty-three demographically matched patients with dementia (56 AD and 27 MCI) who underwent positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) study were recruited for this exploratory study. Global and nodal network measures obtained using the BRain Analysis using graPH theory toolbox were used to derive group-level differences (corrected p < 0.05). The methods were validated in age, and gender-matched 23 cognitively normal, 25 MCI, and 53 AD patients from the publicly available Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data. Regions that revealed significant differences were correlated with the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III) scores. Results: Patients with AD revealed significantly increased global assortativity compared with the MCI group. In addition, they also revealed increased modularity and decreased participation coefficient. These findings were validated in the ADNI data. We also found that the regional standard uptake values of the right superior parietal and left superior temporal lobes were proportional to the ACE-III memory subdomain scores. Conclusion: Global errors associated with network assortativity are found in patients with AD, making the networks more regular and less resilient. Since the regional measures of these network errors were proportional to memory deficits, these measures could be useful in understanding the network pathobiology in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Khokhar
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Tejaswini Manae
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Nithin Thanissery
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Subasree Ramakrishnan
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Faheem Arshad
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Chandana Nagaraj
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Sandhya Mangalore
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Suvarna Alladi
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Tapan K Gandhi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Rose Dawn Bharath
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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14
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Wang H, Zhu R, Tian S, Shao J, Dai Z, Xue L, Sun Y, Chen Z, Yao Z, Lu Q. Classification of bipolar disorders using the multilayer modularity in dynamic minimum spanning tree from resting state fMRI. Cogn Neurodyn 2023; 17:1609-1619. [PMID: 37974586 PMCID: PMC10640554 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-022-09907-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of bipolar disorders (BD) mainly depends on the clinical history and behavior observation, while only using clinical tools often limits the diagnosis accuracy. The study aimed to create a novel BD diagnosis framework using multilayer modularity in the dynamic minimum spanning tree (MST). We collected 45 un-medicated BD patients and 47 healthy controls (HC). The sliding window approach was utilized to construct dynamic MST via resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Firstly, we used three null models to explore the effectiveness of multilayer modularity in dynamic MST. Furthermore, the module allegiance exacted from dynamic MST was applied to train a classifier to discriminate BD patients. Finally, we explored the influence of the FC estimator and MST scale on the performance of the model. The findings indicated that multilayer modularity in the dynamic MST was not a random process in the human brain. And the model achieved an accuracy of 83.70% for identifying BD patients. In addition, we found the default mode network, subcortical network (SubC), and attention network played a key role in the classification. These findings suggested that the multilayer modularity in dynamic MST could highlight the difference between HC and BD patients, which opened up a new diagnostic tool for BD patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-022-09907-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wang
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongxin Zhu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Shui Tian
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Junneng Shao
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongpeng Dai
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Li Xue
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Yurong Sun
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhilu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Zhijian Yao
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
- Nanjing Brain Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China
| | - Qing Lu
- School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, No.2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096 Jiangsu Province China
- Child Development and Learning Science, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Nanjing, China
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15
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Simfukwe C, Han SH, Jeong HT, Youn YC. qEEG as Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease: Investigating Relative PSD Difference and Coherence Analysis. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:2423-2437. [PMID: 37965528 PMCID: PMC10642578 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s433207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-intrusive technique that provides comprehensive insights into the electrical activities of the brain's cerebral cortex. The brain signals obtained from EEGs can be used as a neuropsychological biomarker to detect different stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis. This paper investigates the difference in the abnormalities of resting state EEG (rEEG) signals between eyes-open (EOR) and eyes-closed (ECR) in AD by analyzing 19-scalp electrode EEG signals and making a comparison with healthy controls (HC). Participants and Methods The rEEG data from 534 subjects (ages 40-90) consisting of 269 HC and 265 AD subjects in South Korea were used in this study. The qEEG for EOR and ECR states were performed separately for HC and AD subjects to measure the relative power spectrum density (PSD) and coherence with functional connectivity to evaluate abnormalities. The rEEG data were preprocessed and analyzed using EEGlab and Brainstorm toolboxes in MATLAB R2021a software, and statistical analyses were carried out using ANOVA. Results Based on the Welch method, the relative PSD of the EEG EOR and ECR states difference in the AD group showed a significant increase in the delta frequency band of 19 EEG channels, particularly in the frontal, parietal, and temporal, than the HC groups. The delta power band on the source level was increased for the AD group and decreased for the HC group. In contrast, the source activities of alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands were significantly reduced in the AD group, with a high decrease in the beta frequency band in all brain areas. Furthermore, the coherence of rEEG among different EEG electrodes was analyzed in the beta frequency band. It showed that pair-wise coherence between different brain areas in the AD group is remarkably increased in the ECR state and decreased after subtracting out the EOR state. Conclusion The findings suggest that examining PSD and functional connectivity through coherence analysis could serve as a promising and comprehensive approach to differentiate individuals with AD from normal, which may benefit our understanding of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanda Simfukwe
- Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Su-Hyun Han
- Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ho Tae Jeong
- Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Chul Youn
- Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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16
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Verma P, Ranasinghe K, Prasad J, Cai C, Xie X, Lerner H, Mizuiri D, Miller B, Rankin K, Vossel K, Cheung SW, Nagarajan S, Raj A. Impaired long-range excitatory time scale predicts abnormal neural oscillations and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2579392. [PMID: 36993350 PMCID: PMC10055509 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2579392/v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, progressively impairing memory and cognition. While neuroimaging studies have revealed functional abnormalities in AD, how these relate to aberrant neuronal circuit mechanisms remains unclear. Using magnetoencephalography imaging we documented abnormal local neural synchrony patterns in patients with AD. To identify abnormal biophysical mechanisms underlying these abnormal electrophysiological patterns, we estimated the parameters of a spectral graph-theory model (SGM). SGM is an analytic model that describes how long-range fiber projections in the brain mediate the excitatory and inhibitory activity of local neuronal subpopulations. The long-range excitatory time scale was associated with greater deficits in global cognition and was able to distinguish AD patients from controls with high accuracy. These results demonstrate that long-range excitatory time scale of neuronal activity, despite being a global measure, is a key determinant in the spatiospectral signatures and cognition in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parul Verma
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kamalini Ranasinghe
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Chang Cai
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xihe Xie
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hannah Lerner
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Danielle Mizuiri
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Katherine Rankin
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Keith Vossel
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Research and Care, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Steven W Cheung
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Surgical Services, Veterans Affairs, San Francisco, USA
| | - Srikantan Nagarajan
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ashish Raj
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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17
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Jin H, Ranasinghe KG, Prabhu P, Dale C, Gao Y, Kudo K, Vossel K, Raj A, Nagarajan SS, Jiang F. Dynamic functional connectivity MEG features of Alzheimer's disease. Neuroimage 2023; 281:120358. [PMID: 37699440 PMCID: PMC10865998 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) characterizes time-varying fluctuations of functional brain network activity. While many studies have investigated static functional connectivity, it has been unclear whether features of dynamic functional connectivity are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Popular sliding-window and clustering methods for extracting dynamic RSFC have various limitations that prevent extracting reliable features to address this question. Here, we use a novel and robust time-varying dynamic network (TVDN) approach to extract the dynamic RSFC features from high resolution magnetoencephalography (MEG) data of participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and matched controls. The TVDN algorithm automatically and adaptively learns the low-dimensional spatiotemporal manifold of dynamic RSFC and detects dynamic state transitions in data. We show that amongst all the functional features we investigated, the dynamic manifold features are the most predictive of AD. These include: the temporal complexity of the brain network, given by the number of state transitions and their dwell times, and the spatial complexity of the brain network, given by the number of eigenmodes. These dynamic features have higher sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing AD from healthy subjects than the existing benchmarks do. Intriguingly, we found that AD patients generally have higher spatial complexity but lower temporal complexity compared with healthy controls. We also show that graph theoretic metrics of dynamic component of TVDN are significantly different in AD versus controls, while static graph metrics are not statistically different. These results indicate that dynamic RSFC features are impacted in neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer's disease, and may be crucial to understanding the pathophysiological trajectory of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqing Jin
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kamalini G Ranasinghe
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pooja Prabhu
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Corby Dale
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yijing Gao
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kiwamu Kudo
- Medical Imaging Business Center, Ricoh Company, Ltd., Kanazawa, 920-0177, Japan
| | - Keith Vossel
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ashish Raj
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Srikantan S Nagarajan
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Fei Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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18
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Klepl D, He F, Wu M, Blackburn DJ, Sarrigiannis P. Adaptive Gated Graph Convolutional Network for Explainable Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease Using EEG Data. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2023; 31:3978-3987. [PMID: 37792656 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2023.3321634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Graph neural network (GNN) models are increasingly being used for the classification of electroencephalography (EEG) data. However, GNN-based diagnosis of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), remains a relatively unexplored area of research. Previous studies have relied on functional connectivity methods to infer brain graph structures and used simple GNN architectures for the diagnosis of AD. In this work, we propose a novel adaptive gated graph convolutional network (AGGCN) that can provide explainable predictions. AGGCN adaptively learns graph structures by combining convolution-based node feature enhancement with a correlation-based measure of power spectral density similarity. Furthermore, the gated graph convolution can dynamically weigh the contribution of various spatial scales. The proposed model achieves high accuracy in both eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions, indicating the stability of learned representations. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed AGGCN model generates consistent explanations of its predictions that might be relevant for further study of AD-related alterations of brain networks.
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19
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Bitra VR, Challa SR, Adiukwu PC, Rapaka D. Tau trajectory in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from the connectome-based computational models. Brain Res Bull 2023; 203:110777. [PMID: 37813312 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an impairment of cognition and memory. Current research on connectomics have now related changes in the network organization in AD to the patterns of accumulation and spread of amyloid and tau, providing insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of the disease. In addition, network analysis and modeling focus on particular use of graphs to provide intuition into key organizational principles of brain structure, that stipulate how neural activity propagates along structural connections. The utility of connectome-based computational models aids in early predicting, tracking the progression of biomarker-directed AD neuropathology. In this article, we present a short review of tau trajectory, the connectome changes in tau pathology, and the dependent recent connectome-based computational modelling approaches for tau spreading, reproducing pragmatic findings, and developing significant novel tau targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veera Raghavulu Bitra
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, P/Bag-0022, Gaborone, Botswana.
| | - Siva Reddy Challa
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61614, USA; KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Paul C Adiukwu
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, P/Bag-0022, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Deepthi Rapaka
- Pharmacology Division, D.D.T. College of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana.
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20
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He Y, Li Q, Fu Z, Zeng D, Han Y, Li S. Functional gradients reveal altered functional segregation in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10836-10847. [PMID: 37718155 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment are associated with disrupted functional organization in brain networks, involved with alteration of functional segregation. Connectome gradients are a new tool representing brain functional topological organization to smoothly capture the human macroscale hierarchy. Here, we examined altered topological organization in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease by connectome gradient mapping. We further quantified functional segregation by gradient dispersion. Then, we systematically compared the alterations observed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease patients with those in normal controls in a two-dimensional functional gradient space from both the whole-brain level and module level. Compared with normal controls, the first gradient, which described the neocortical hierarchy from unimodal to transmodal regions, showed a more distributed and significant suppression in Alzheimer's disease than amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients. Furthermore, gradient dispersion showed significant decreases in Alzheimer's disease at both the global level and module level, whereas this alteration was limited only to limbic areas in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Notably, we demonstrated that suppressed gradient dispersion in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease was associated with cognitive scores. These findings provide new evidence for altered brain hierarchy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, which strengthens our understanding of the progressive mechanism of cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yirong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Qiongling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhenrong Fu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Debin Zeng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ying Han
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100050, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Shuyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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21
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Hari E, Kizilates-Evin G, Kurt E, Bayram A, Ulasoglu-Yildiz C, Gurvit H, Demiralp T. Functional and structural connectivity in the Papez circuit in different stages of Alzheimer's disease. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 153:33-45. [PMID: 37451080 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative continuum with memory impairment. We aimed to examine the detailed functional (FC) and structural connectivity (SC) pattern of the Papez circuit, known as the memory circuit, along the AD. METHODS MRI data of 15 patients diagnosed with AD dementia (ADD), 15 patients with the amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 15 patients with subjective cognitive impairment were analyzed. The FC analyses were performed between main nodes of the Papez circuit, and the SC was quantified as fractional anisotropy (FA) of the main white matter pathways of the Papez circuit. RESULTS The FC between the retrosplenial (RSC) and parahippocampal cortices (PHC) was the earliest affected FC, while a manifest SC change in the ventral cingulum and fornix was observed in the later ADD stage. The RSC-PHC FC and the ventral cingulum FA efficiently predicted the memory performance of the non-demented participants. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed the importance of the Papez circuit as target regions along the AD. SIGNIFICANCE The ventral cingulum connecting the RSC and PHC, a critical overlap area between the Papez circuit and the default mode network, seems to be a target region associated with the earliest objective memory findings in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Hari
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Istanbul University, 34216 Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey; Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Gozde Kizilates-Evin
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey; Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Elif Kurt
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey; Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Ali Bayram
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey; Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Cigdem Ulasoglu-Yildiz
- Department of Neuroscience, Aziz Sancar Institute of Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey; Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Hakan Gurvit
- Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Tamer Demiralp
- Hulusi Behcet Life Sciences Research Laboratory, Neuroimaging Unit, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Physiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
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22
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Adams JN, Chappel-Farley MG, Yaros JL, Taylor L, Harris AL, Mikhail A, McMillan L, Keator DB, Yassa MA. Functional network structure supports resilience to memory deficits in cognitively normal older adults with amyloid-β pathology. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13953. [PMID: 37626094 PMCID: PMC10457346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40092-x] [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: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Older adults may harbor large amounts of amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology, yet still perform at age-normal levels on memory assessments. We tested whether functional brain networks confer resilience or compensatory mechanisms to support memory in the face of Aβ pathology. Sixty-five cognitively normal older adults received high-resolution resting state fMRI to assess functional networks, 18F-florbetapir-PET to measure Aβ, and a memory assessment. We characterized functional networks with graph metrics of local efficiency (information transfer), modularity (specialization of functional modules), and small worldness (balance of integration and segregation). There was no difference in functional network measures between older adults with high Aβ (Aβ+) compared to those with no/low Aβ (Aβ-). However, in Aβ+ older adults, increased local efficiency, modularity, and small worldness were associated with better memory performance, while this relationship did not occur Aβ- older adults. Further, the association between increased local efficiency and better memory performance in Aβ+ older adults was localized to local efficiency of the default mode network and hippocampus, regions vulnerable to Aβ and involved in memory processing. Our results suggest functional networks with modular and efficient structures are associated with resilience to Aβ pathology, providing a functional target for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna N Adams
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA.
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Miranda G Chappel-Farley
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Jessica L Yaros
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Lisa Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1418 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
| | - Alyssa L Harris
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Abanoub Mikhail
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Liv McMillan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - David B Keator
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1418 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
| | - Michael A Yassa
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA.
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1418 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA.
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23
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Jiang J, Li W, Cui H, Zhu Z, Zhang L, Hu Q, Li H, Wang Y, Pang J, Wang J, Li Q, Li C. Feasibility of applying graph theory to diagnosing generalized anxiety disorder using machine learning models. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2023; 333:111656. [PMID: 37224661 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111656] [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: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the alterations of topological properties can facilitate the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Twenty first-episode drug-naive Chinese individuals with GAD and twenty age-sex-education-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included in the primary training set, and the results of which were validated using nineteen drug-free patients with GAD and nineteen unmatched HCs. Two 3 T scanners were used to acquire T1, diffusion tensor, and resting-state functional images. Topological properties were altered in the functional cerebral networks among patients with GAD, but not in the structural networks. Using the nodal topological properties in the anti-correlated functional networks, machine learning models distinguished drug-naive GADs from their matched HCs independent of the type of kernels and the amount of features. Although the models built with drug-naive GADs failed to distinguish drug-free GADs from HCs, the features selected for those models could be used to build new models for distinguishing drug-free GADs from HCs. Our findings suggested that it is feasible to utilize the topological characteristics of brain network to facilitate the diagnosis of GAD. However, further research with decent sample sizes, multimodal features, and improved modeling methods are needed to build more robust models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangling Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 389 Xincun Road, 200065 Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Huiru Cui
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Zhipei Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaoyan Pang
- School of Government, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, 7989 Waiqingsong Road, 201701 Shanghai, China
| | - Jijun Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China; Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China; Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, 800 Dongchuan Road, 200240 Shanghai, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Science, 320 Yue Yang Road, 200031 Shanghai, China
| | - Qingwei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, 389 Xincun Road, 200065 Shanghai, China.
| | - Chunbo Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China; Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, 200030 Shanghai, China; Brain Science and Technology Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, 800 Dongchuan Road, 200240 Shanghai, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Science, 320 Yue Yang Road, 200031 Shanghai, China.
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24
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Meschke EX, Castello MVDO, la Tour TD, Gallant JL. Model connectivity: leveraging the power of encoding models to overcome the limitations of functional connectivity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.17.549356. [PMID: 37503232 PMCID: PMC10370105 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.549356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Functional connectivity (FC) is the most popular method for recovering functional networks of brain areas with fMRI. However, because FC is defined as temporal correlations in brain activity, FC networks are confounded by noise and lack a precise functional role. To overcome these limitations, we developed model connectivity (MC). MC is defined as similarities in encoding model weights, which quantify reliable functional activity in terms of interpretable stimulus- or task-related features. To compare FC and MC, both methods were applied to a naturalistic story listening dataset. FC recovered spatially broad networks that are confounded by noise, and that lack a clear role during natural language comprehension. By contrast, MC recovered spatially localized networks that are robust to noise, and that represent distinct categories of semantic concepts. Thus, MC is a powerful data-driven approach for recovering and interpreting the functional networks that support complex cognitive processes.
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25
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Walke D, Micheel D, Schallert K, Muth T, Broneske D, Saake G, Heyer R. The importance of graph databases and graph learning for clinical applications. Database (Oxford) 2023; 2023:baad045. [PMID: 37428679 PMCID: PMC10332447 DOI: 10.1093/database/baad045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The increasing amount and complexity of clinical data require an appropriate way of storing and analyzing those data. Traditional approaches use a tabular structure (relational databases) for storing data and thereby complicate storing and retrieving interlinked data from the clinical domain. Graph databases provide a great solution for this by storing data in a graph as nodes (vertices) that are connected by edges (links). The underlying graph structure can be used for the subsequent data analysis (graph learning). Graph learning consists of two parts: graph representation learning and graph analytics. Graph representation learning aims to reduce high-dimensional input graphs to low-dimensional representations. Then, graph analytics uses the obtained representations for analytical tasks like visualization, classification, link prediction and clustering which can be used to solve domain-specific problems. In this survey, we review current state-of-the-art graph database management systems, graph learning algorithms and a variety of graph applications in the clinical domain. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive use case for a clearer understanding of complex graph learning algorithms. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Walke
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University, Universitätsplatz 2, Magdeburg 39106, Germany
- Database and Software Engineering Group, Otto von Guericke University, Universitätsplatz 2, Magdeburg 39106, Germany
| | - Daniel Micheel
- Database and Software Engineering Group, Otto von Guericke University, Universitätsplatz 2, Magdeburg 39106, Germany
| | - Kay Schallert
- Multidimensional Omics Analyses Group, Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften—ISAS—e.V., Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Straße 11, Dortmund 44139, Germany
| | - Thilo Muth
- Section eScience (S.3), Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12205, Germany
| | - David Broneske
- Infrastructure and Methods, German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), Lange Laube 12, Hannover 30159, Germany
| | - Gunter Saake
- Database and Software Engineering Group, Otto von Guericke University, Universitätsplatz 2, Magdeburg 39106, Germany
| | - Robert Heyer
- Multidimensional Omics Analyses Group, Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften—ISAS—e.V., Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Straße 11, Dortmund 44139, Germany
- Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, Bielefeld 33615, Germany
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26
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Legaz A, Prado P, Moguilner S, Báez S, Santamaría-García H, Birba A, Barttfeld P, García AM, Fittipaldi S, Ibañez A. Social and non-social working memory in neurodegeneration. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 183:106171. [PMID: 37257663 PMCID: PMC11177282 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106171] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although social functioning relies on working memory, whether a social-specific mechanism exists remains unclear. This undermines the characterization of neurodegenerative conditions with both working memory and social deficits. We assessed working memory domain-specificity across behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging dimensions in 245 participants. A novel working memory task involving social and non-social stimuli with three load levels was assessed across controls and different neurodegenerative conditions with recognized impairments in: working memory and social cognition (behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia); general cognition (Alzheimer's disease); and unspecific patterns (Parkinson's disease). We also examined resting-state theta oscillations and functional connectivity correlates of working memory domain-specificity. Results in controls and all groups together evidenced increased working memory demands for social stimuli associated with frontocinguloparietal theta oscillations and salience network connectivity. Canonical frontal theta oscillations and executive-default mode network anticorrelation indexed non-social stimuli. Behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia presented generalized working memory deficits related to posterior theta oscillations, with social stimuli linked to salience network connectivity. In Alzheimer's disease, generalized working memory impairments were related to temporoparietal theta oscillations, with non-social stimuli linked to the executive network. Parkinson's disease showed spared working memory performance and canonical brain correlates. Findings support a social-specific working memory and related disease-selective pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Legaz
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Psicología, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pavel Prado
- Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile; Escuela de Fonoaudiología, Facultad de Odontología y Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián Moguilner
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile; Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, United States; Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Hernando Santamaría-García
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Medical School, Physiology and Psychiatry Departments, Memory and Cognition Center Intellectus, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Pablo Barttfeld
- Cognitive Science Group. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIPsi), CONICET UNC, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Boulevard de la Reforma esquina Enfermera Gordillo, CP 5000. Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, United States; Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile; Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, United States; Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Agustín Ibañez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC), Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Santiago, Chile; Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, United States; Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland.
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27
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Mijalkov M, Veréb D, Canal-Garcia A, Hinault T, Volpe G, Pereira JB. Nonlinear changes in delayed functional network topology in Alzheimer's disease: relationship with amyloid and tau pathology. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:112. [PMID: 37328909 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01252-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with the abnormal deposition of pathological processes, such as amyloid-ß and tau, which produces nonlinear changes in the functional connectivity patterns between different brain regions across the Alzheimer's disease continuum. However, the mechanisms underlying these nonlinear changes remain largely unknown. Here, we address this question using a novel method based on temporal or delayed correlations and calculate new whole-brain functional networks to tackle these mechanisms. METHODS To assess our method, we evaluated 166 individuals from the ADNI database, including amyloid-beta negative and positive cognitively normal subjects, patients with mild cognitive impairment, and patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia. We used the clustering coefficient and the global efficiency to measure the functional network topology and assessed their relationship with amyloid and tau pathology measured by positron emission tomography, as well as cognitive performance using tests measuring memory, executive function, attention, and global cognition. RESULTS Our study found nonlinear changes in the global efficiency, but not in the clustering coefficient, showing that the nonlinear changes in functional connectivity are due to an altered ability of brain regions to communicate with each other through direct paths. These changes in global efficiency were most prominent in early disease stages. However, later stages of Alzheimer's disease were associated with widespread network disruptions characterized by changes in both network measures. The temporal delays required for the detection of these changes varied across the Alzheimer's disease continuum, with shorter delays necessary to detect changes in early stages and longer delays necessary to detect changes in late stages. Both global efficiency and clustering coefficient showed quadratic associations with pathological amyloid and tau burden as well as cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that global efficiency is a more sensitive indicator of network changes in Alzheimer's disease when compared to clustering coefficient. Both network properties were associated with pathology and cognitive performance, demonstrating their relevance in clinical settings. Our findings provide an insight into the mechanisms underlying nonlinear changes in functional network organization in Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that it is the lack of direct connections that drives these functional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mite Mijalkov
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Dániel Veréb
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Canal-Garcia
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Hinault
- Normandie Univ, Unicaen, PSL, Université Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, Centre Cyceron, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Giovanni Volpe
- Department of Physics, Goteborg University, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Joana B Pereira
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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28
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Klepl D, He F, Wu M, Blackburn DJ, Sarrigiannis PG. Cross-Frequency Multilayer Network Analysis with Bispectrum-based Functional Connectivity: A Study of Alzheimer's Disease. Neuroscience 2023; 521:77-88. [PMID: 37121381 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder known to affect functional connectivity (FC) across many brain regions. Linear FC measures have been applied to study the differences in AD by splitting neurophysiological signals, such as electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, into discrete frequency bands and analysing them in isolation from each other. We address this limitation by quantifying cross-frequency FC in addition to the traditional within-band approach. Cross-bispectrum, a higher-order spectral analysis approach, is used to measure the nonlinear FC and is compared with the cross-spectrum, which only measures the linear FC within bands. This work reports the reconstruction of a cross-frequency FC network where each frequency band is treated as a layer in a multilayer network with both inter- and intra-layer edges. Cross-bispectrum detects cross-frequency differences, mainly increased FC in AD cases in δ-θ coupling. Overall, increased strength of low-frequency coupling and decreased level of high-frequency coupling is observed in AD cases in comparison to healthy controls (HC). We demonstrate that a graph-theoretic analysis of cross-frequency brain networks is crucial to obtain a more detailed insight into their structure and function. Vulnerability analysis reveals that the integration and segregation properties of networks are enabled by different frequency couplings in AD networks compared to HCs. Finally, we use the reconstructed networks for classification. The extra cross-frequency coupling information can improve the classification performance significantly, suggesting an important role of cross-frequency FC. The results highlight the importance of studying nonlinearity and including cross-frequency FC in characterising AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Klepl
- Centre for Computational Science and Mathematical Modelling, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 2JH, UK; Infocomm Research, A*STAR, Singapore
| | - Fei He
- Centre for Computational Science and Mathematical Modelling, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 2JH, UK.
| | - Min Wu
- Infocomm Research, A*STAR, Singapore
| | - Daniel J Blackburn
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, SheffieldS10 2HQ, UK
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Zarghami TS, Zeidman P, Razi A, Bahrami F, Hossein‐Zadeh G. Dysconnection and cognition in schizophrenia: A spectral dynamic causal modeling study. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:2873-2896. [PMID: 36852654 PMCID: PMC10089110 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26251] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe mental disorder characterized by failure of functional integration (aka dysconnection) across the brain. Recent functional connectivity (FC) studies have adopted functional parcellations to define subnetworks of large-scale networks, and to characterize the (dys)connection between them, in normal and clinical populations. While FC examines statistical dependencies between observations, model-based effective connectivity (EC) can disclose the causal influences that underwrite the observed dependencies. In this study, we investigated resting state EC within seven large-scale networks, in 66 SZ and 74 healthy subjects from a public dataset. The results showed that a remarkable 33% of the effective connections (among subnetworks) of the cognitive control network had been pathologically modulated in SZ. Further dysconnection was identified within the visual, default mode and sensorimotor networks of SZ subjects, with 24%, 20%, and 11% aberrant couplings. Overall, the proportion of discriminative connections was remarkably larger in EC (24%) than FC (1%) analysis. Subsequently, to study the neural correlates of impaired cognition in SZ, we conducted a canonical correlation analysis between the EC parameters and the cognitive scores of the patients. As such, the self-inhibitions of supplementary motor area and paracentral lobule (in the sensorimotor network) and the excitatory connection from parahippocampal gyrus to inferior temporal gyrus (in the cognitive control network) were significantly correlated with the social cognition, reasoning/problem solving and working memory capabilities of the patients. Future research can investigate the potential of whole-brain EC as a biomarker for diagnosis of brain disorders and for neuroimaging-based cognitive assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh S. Zarghami
- Bio‐Electric Department, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of EngineeringUniversity of TeranTehranIran
- Human Motor Control and Computational Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of EngineeringUniversity of TehranTehranIran
| | - Peter Zeidman
- The Wellcome Centre for Human NeuroimagingUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Adeel Razi
- The Wellcome Centre for Human NeuroimagingUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Monash Biomedical ImagingMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, CIFARTorontoCanada
| | - Fariba Bahrami
- Bio‐Electric Department, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of EngineeringUniversity of TeranTehranIran
- Human Motor Control and Computational Neuroscience Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of EngineeringUniversity of TehranTehranIran
| | - Gholam‐Ali Hossein‐Zadeh
- Bio‐Electric Department, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of EngineeringUniversity of TeranTehranIran
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30
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Yang Z, Chen Y, Hou X, Xu Y, Bai F. Topologically convergent and divergent large scale complex networks among Alzheimer's disease spectrum patients: A systematic review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15389. [PMID: 37101638 PMCID: PMC10123263 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with disruption at the level of a large-scale complex network. To explore the underlying mechanisms in the progression of AD, graph theory was used to quantitatively analyze the topological properties of structural and functional connections. Although an increasing number of studies have shown altered global and nodal network properties, little is known about the topologically convergent and divergent patterns between structural and functional networks among AD-spectrum patients. In this review, we summarized the topological patterns of the large-scale complex networks using multimodal neuroimaging graph theory analysis in AD spectrum patients. Convergent deficits in the connectivity characteristics were primarily in the default mode network (DMN) itself both in the structural and functional networks, while a divergent changes in the neighboring regions of the DMN were also observed between the patient groups. Together, the application of graph theory to large-scale complex brain networks provides quantitative insights into topological principles of brain network organization, which may lead to increasing attention in identifying the underlying neuroimaging pathological changes and predicting the progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ya Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xinle Hou
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Geriatric Medicine Center, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Correspondence to: 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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31
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Mijalkov M, Veréb D, Canal-Garcia A, Volpe G, Pereira JB. Directed Functional Brain Connectivity is Altered in Sub-threshold Amyloid-β Accumulation in Cognitively Normal Individuals. Neurosci Insights 2023; 18:26331055231161625. [PMID: 37006752 PMCID: PMC10064157 DOI: 10.1177/26331055231161625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have shown that amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition below the clinically relevant cut-off levels is associated with subtle changes in cognitive function and increases the risk of developing future Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although functional MRI is sensitive to early alterations occurring during AD, sub-threshold changes in Aβ levels have not been linked to functional connectivity measures. This study aimed to apply directed functional connectivity to identify early changes in network function in cognitively unimpaired participants who, at baseline, exhibit Aβ accumulation below the clinically relevant threshold. To this end, we analyzed baseline functional MRI data from 113 cognitively unimpaired participants of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort who underwent at least one 18F-florbetapir-PET after the baseline scan. Using the longitudinal PET data, we classified these participants as Aβ negative (Aβ-) non-accumulators (n = 46) and Aβ- accumulators (n = 31). We also included 36 individuals who were amyloid-positive (Aβ+) at baseline and continued to accumulate Aβ (Aβ+ accumulators). For each participant, we calculated whole-brain directed functional connectivity networks using our own anti-symmetric correlation method and evaluated their global and nodal properties using measures of network segregation (clustering coefficient) and integration (global efficiency). When compared to Aβ- non-accumulators, the Aβ- accumulators showed lower global clustering coefficient. Moreover, the Aβ+ accumulator group exhibited reduced global efficiency and clustering coefficient, which at the nodal level mainly affected the superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, and caudate nucleus. In Aβ- accumulators, global measures were associated with lower baseline regional PET uptake values, as well as higher scores on the Modified Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite. Our findings indicate that directed connectivity network properties are sensitive to subtle changes occurring in individuals who have not yet reached the threshold for Aβ positivity, which makes them a potentially viable marker to detect negative downstream effects of very early Aβ pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mite Mijalkov
- Neuro Division, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dániel Veréb
- Neuro Division, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Canal-Garcia
- Neuro Division, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giovanni Volpe
- Department of Physics, Goteborg University, Gotebörg, Sweden
| | - Joana B Pereira
- Neuro Division, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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32
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Duroux D, Van Steen K. netANOVA: novel graph clustering technique with significance assessment via hierarchical ANOVA. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:bbad029. [PMID: 36738256 PMCID: PMC10025436 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad029] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Many problems in life sciences can be brought back to a comparison of graphs. Even though a multitude of such techniques exist, often, these assume prior knowledge about the partitioning or the number of clusters and fail to provide statistical significance of observed between-network heterogeneity. Addressing these issues, we developed an unsupervised workflow to identify groups of graphs from reliable network-based statistics. In particular, we first compute the similarity between networks via appropriate distance measures between graphs and use them in an unsupervised hierarchical algorithm to identify classes of similar networks. Then, to determine the optimal number of clusters, we recursively test for distances between two groups of networks. The test itself finds its inspiration in distance-wise ANOVA algorithms. Finally, we assess significance via the permutation of between-object distance matrices. Notably, the approach, which we will call netANOVA, is flexible since users can choose multiple options to adapt to specific contexts and network types. We demonstrate the benefits and pitfalls of our approach via extensive simulations and an application to two real-life datasets. NetANOVA achieved high performance in many simulation scenarios while controlling type I error. On non-synthetic data, comparison against state-of-the-art methods showed that netANOVA is often among the top performers. There are many application fields, including precision medicine, for which identifying disease subtypes via individual-level biological networks improves prevention programs, diagnosis and disease monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Duroux
- BIO3 - Systems Genetics, GIGA-R Medical Genomics, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Kristel Van Steen
- BIO3 - Systems Genetics, GIGA-R Medical Genomics, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
- BIO3 - Systems Medicine, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Chuang KC, Ramakrishnapillai S, Madden K, St Amant J, McKlveen K, Gwizdala K, Dhullipudi R, Bazzano L, Carmichael O. Brain effective connectivity and functional connectivity as markers of lifespan vascular exposures in middle-aged adults: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1110434. [PMID: 36998317 PMCID: PMC10043334 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1110434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionEffective connectivity (EC), the causal influence that functional activity in a source brain location exerts over functional activity in a target brain location, has the potential to provide different information about brain network dynamics than functional connectivity (FC), which quantifies activity synchrony between locations. However, head-to-head comparisons between EC and FC from either task-based or resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data are rare, especially in terms of how they associate with salient aspects of brain health.MethodsIn this study, 100 cognitively-healthy participants in the Bogalusa Heart Study aged 54.2 ± 4.3years completed Stroop task-based fMRI, resting-state fMRI. EC and FC among 24 regions of interest (ROIs) previously identified as involved in Stroop task execution (EC-task and FC-task) and among 33 default mode network ROIs (EC-rest and FC-rest) were calculated from task-based and resting-state fMRI using deep stacking networks and Pearson correlation. The EC and FC measures were thresholded to generate directed and undirected graphs, from which standard graph metrics were calculated. Linear regression models related graph metrics to demographic, cardiometabolic risk factors, and cognitive function measures.ResultsWomen and whites (compared to men and African Americans) had better EC-task metrics, and better EC-task metrics associated with lower blood pressure, white matter hyperintensity volume, and higher vocabulary score (maximum value of p = 0.043). Women had better FC-task metrics, and better FC-task metrics associated with APOE-ε4 3–3 genotype and better hemoglobin-A1c, white matter hyperintensity volume and digit span backwards score (maximum value of p = 0.047). Better EC rest metrics associated with lower age, non-drinker status, and better BMI, white matter hyperintensity volume, logical memory II total score, and word reading score (maximum value of p = 0.044). Women and non-drinkers had better FC-rest metrics (value of p = 0.004).DiscussionIn a diverse, cognitively healthy, middle-aged community sample, EC and FC based graph metrics from task-based fMRI data, and EC based graph metrics from resting-state fMRI data, were associated with recognized indicators of brain health in differing ways. Future studies of brain health should consider taking both task-based and resting-state fMRI scans and measuring both EC and FC analyses to get a more complete picture of functional networks relevant to brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Cheng Chuang
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kai-Cheng Chuang,
| | - Sreekrishna Ramakrishnapillai
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn Madden
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Julia St Amant
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Kevin McKlveen
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Kathryn Gwizdala
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | | | - Lydia Bazzano
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Owen Carmichael
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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Fan D, Wu H, Luan G, Wang Q. The distribution and heterogeneity of excitability in focal epileptic network potentially contribute to the seizure propagation. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1137704. [PMID: 36998622 PMCID: PMC10043226 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1137704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionExisting dynamical models can explain the transmigration mechanisms involved in seizures but are limited to a single modality. Combining models with networks can reproduce scaled epileptic dynamics. And the structure and coupling interactions of the network, as well as the heterogeneity of both the node and network activities, may influence the final state of the network model.MethodsWe built a fully connected network with focal nodes prominently interacting and established a timescale separated epileptic network model. The factors affecting epileptic network seizure were explored by varying the connectivity patterns of focal network nodes and modulating the distribution of network excitability.ResultsThe whole brain network topology as the brain activity foundation affects the consistent delayed clustering seizure propagation. In addition, the network size and distribution heterogeneity of the focal excitatory nodes can influence seizure frequency. With the increasing of the network size and averaged excitability level of focal network, the seizure period decreases. In contrast, the larger heterogeneity of excitability for focal network nodes can lower the functional activity level (average degree) of focal network. There are also subtle effects of focal network topologies (connection patterns of excitatory nodes) that cannot be ignored along with non-focal nodes.DiscussionUnraveling the role of excitatory factors in seizure onset and propagation can be used to understand the dynamic mechanisms and neuromodulation of epilepsy, with profound implications for the treatment of epilepsy and even for the understanding of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denggui Fan
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyu Wu
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Guoming Luan
- Epilepsy Center, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Guoming Luan, ; Qingyun Wang,
| | - Qingyun Wang
- Department of Dynamics and Control, Beihang University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Guoming Luan, ; Qingyun Wang,
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35
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Leng F, Hinz R, Gentleman S, Hampshire A, Dani M, Brooks DJ, Edison P. Neuroinflammation is independently associated with brain network dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1303-1311. [PMID: 36474000 PMCID: PMC10005956 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01878-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Brain network dysfunction is increasingly recognised in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the causes of brain connectivity disruption are still poorly understood. Recently, neuroinflammation has been identified as an important factor in AD pathogenesis. Microglia participate in the construction and maintenance of healthy neuronal networks, but pro-inflammatory microglia can also damage these circuits. We hypothesised that microglial activation is independently associated with brain connectivity disruption in AD. We performed a cross-sectional multimodal imaging study and interrogated the relationship between imaging biomarkers of neuroinflammation, Aβ deposition, brain connectivity and cognition. 42 participants (12 Aβ-positive MCI, 14 Aβ-positive AD and 16 Aβ-negative healthy controls) were recruited. Participants had 11C-PBR28 and 18F-flutemetamol PET to quantify Aβ deposition and microglial activation, T1-weighted, diffusion tensor and resting-state functional MRI to assess structural network and functional network. 11C-PBR28 uptake, structural network integrity and functional network orgnisation were compared across diagnostic groups and the relationship between neuroinflammation and brain network was tested in 26 Aβ-positive patients. Increased 11C-PBR28 uptake, decreased FA, network small-worldness and local efficiency were observed in AD patients. Cortical 11C-PBR28 uptake correlated negatively with structural integrity (standardised β = -0.375, p = 0.037) and network local efficiency (standardised β = -0.468, p < 0.001), independent of cortical thickness and Aβ deposition, while Aβ was not. Network structural integrity, small-worldness and local efficiency, and cortical thickness were positively associated with cognition. Our findings suggest cortical neuroinflammation coincide with structural and functional network disruption independent of Aβ and cortical atrophy. These findings link the brain connectivity change and pathological process in Alzheimer's disease, and suggest a pathway from neuroinflammation to systemic brain dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangda Leng
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Rainer Hinz
- Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Steve Gentleman
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Adam Hampshire
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Melanie Dani
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David J Brooks
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle, UK
| | - Paul Edison
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
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36
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Invernizzi A, Rechtman E, Oluyemi K, Renzetti S, Curtin P, Colicino E, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Patrono A, Corbo D, Cagna G, Gasparotti R, Reichenberg A, Tang CY, Smith DR, Placidi D, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Horton MK. Topological network properties of resting-state functional connectivity patterns are associated with metal mixture exposure in adolescents. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1098441. [PMID: 36814793 PMCID: PMC9939635 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1098441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Adolescent exposure to neurotoxic metals adversely impacts cognitive, motor, and behavioral development. Few studies have addressed the underlying brain mechanisms of these metal-associated developmental outcomes. Furthermore, metal exposure occurs as a mixture, yet previous studies most often consider impacts of each metal individually. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between exposure to neurotoxic metals and topological brain metrics in adolescents. Methods In 193 participants (53% females, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study, we measured concentrations of four metals (manganese, lead, copper, and chromium) in multiple biological media (blood, urine, hair, and saliva) and acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Using graph theory metrics, we computed global and local efficiency (global:GE; local:LE) in 111 brain areas (Harvard Oxford Atlas). We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to examine association between metal mixtures and each graph metric (GE or LE), adjusted for sex and age. Results We observed significant negative associations between the metal mixture and GE and LE [βGE = -0.076, 95% CI (-0.122, -0.031); βLE= -0.051, 95% CI (-0.095, -0.006)]. Lead and chromium measured in blood contributed most to this association for GE, while chromium measured in hair contributed the most for LE. Discussion Our results suggest that exposure to this metal mixture during adolescence reduces the efficiency of integrating information in brain networks at both local and global levels, informing potential neural mechanisms underlying the developmental toxicity of metals. Results further suggest these associations are due to combined joint effects to different metals, rather than to a single metal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kristie Oluyemi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Alessandra Patrono
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniele Corbo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cheuk Y. Tang
- Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Megan K. Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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37
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Lopez S, Del Percio C, Lizio R, Noce G, Padovani A, Nobili F, Arnaldi D, Famà F, Moretti DV, Cagnin A, Koch G, Benussi A, Onofrj M, Borroni B, Soricelli A, Ferri R, Buttinelli C, Giubilei F, Güntekin B, Yener G, Stocchi F, Vacca L, Bonanni L, Babiloni C. Patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia show partially preserved parietal 'hubs' modeled from resting-state alpha electroencephalographic rhythms. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:780014. [PMID: 36776437 PMCID: PMC9908964 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.780014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Graph theory models a network by its nodes (the fundamental unit by which graphs are formed) and connections. 'Degree' hubs reflect node centrality (the connection rate), while 'connector' hubs are those linked to several clusters of nodes (mainly long-range connections). Methods Here, we compared hubs modeled from measures of interdependencies of between-electrode resting-state eyes-closed electroencephalography (rsEEG) rhythms in normal elderly (Nold) and Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD) participants. At least 5 min of rsEEG was recorded and analyzed. As ADD is considered a 'network disease' and is typically associated with abnormal rsEEG delta (<4 Hz) and alpha rhythms (8-12 Hz) over associative posterior areas, we tested the hypothesis of abnormal posterior hubs from measures of interdependencies of rsEEG rhythms from delta to gamma bands (2-40 Hz) using eLORETA bivariate and multivariate-directional techniques in ADD participants versus Nold participants. Three different definitions of 'connector' hub were used. Results Convergent results showed that in both the Nold and ADD groups there were significant parietal 'degree' and 'connector' hubs derived from alpha rhythms. These hubs had a prominent outward 'directionality' in the two groups, but that 'directionality' was lower in ADD participants than in Nold participants. Discussion In conclusion, independent methodologies and hub definitions suggest that ADD patients may be characterized by low outward 'directionality' of partially preserved parietal 'degree' and 'connector' hubs derived from rsEEG alpha rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Lopez
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy,*Correspondence: Susanna Lopez, ✉
| | - Claudio Del Percio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Lizio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Flavio Nobili
- Clinica Neurologica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy,Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Oftalmologia, Genetica, Riabilitazione e Scienze Materno-infantili (DiNOGMI), Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Dario Arnaldi
- Clinica Neurologica, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy,Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Oftalmologia, Genetica, Riabilitazione e Scienze Materno-infantili (DiNOGMI), Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Famà
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Oftalmologia, Genetica, Riabilitazione e Scienze Materno-infantili (DiNOGMI), Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Davide V. Moretti
- Alzheimer’s Disease Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Giacomo Koch
- Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit/Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Stroke Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Tor Vergata Policlinic, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Onofrj
- Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences and CESI, University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Soricelli
- IRCCS Synlab SDN, Naples, Italy,Department of Motor Sciences and Healthiness, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Carla Buttinelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Giubilei
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Bahar Güntekin
- Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Türkiye,Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Görsev Yener
- Department of Neurology, Dokuz Eylül University Medical School, Izmir, Türkiye,Faculty of Medicine, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Fabrizio Stocchi
- Institute for Research and Medical Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy,Telematic University San Raffaele, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Vacca
- Institute for Research and Medical Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bonanni
- Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University G. D’Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudio Babiloni
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy,San Raffaele of Cassino, Cassino, Italy
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Penalba-Sánchez L, Oliveira-Silva P, Sumich AL, Cifre I. Increased functional connectivity patterns in mild Alzheimer's disease: A rsfMRI study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 14:1037347. [PMID: 36698861 PMCID: PMC9869068 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1037347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. In view of our rapidly aging population, there is an urgent need to identify Alzheimer's disease (AD) at an early stage. A potential way to do so is by assessing the functional connectivity (FC), i.e., the statistical dependency between two or more brain regions, through novel analysis techniques. Methods In the present study, we assessed the static and dynamic FC using different approaches. A resting state (rs)fMRI dataset from the Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI) was used (n = 128). The blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals from 116 regions of 4 groups of participants, i.e., healthy controls (HC; n = 35), early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI; n = 29), late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI; n = 30), and Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 34) were extracted and analyzed. FC and dynamic FC were extracted using Pearson's correlation, sliding-windows correlation analysis (SWA), and the point process analysis (PPA). Additionally, graph theory measures to explore network segregation and integration were computed. Results Our results showed a longer characteristic path length and a decreased degree of EMCI in comparison to the other groups. Additionally, an increased FC in several regions in LMCI and AD in contrast to HC and EMCI was detected. These results suggest a maladaptive short-term mechanism to maintain cognition. Conclusion The increased pattern of FC in several regions in LMCI and AD is observable in all the analyses; however, the PPA enabled us to reduce the computational demands and offered new specific dynamic FC findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Penalba-Sánchez
- Facultat de Psicologia, Ciències de l’educació i de l’Esport, Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain,Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory (HNL), Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH), Faculdade de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal,NTU Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Lucía Penalba-Sánchez,
| | - Patrícia Oliveira-Silva
- Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory (HNL), Research Centre for Human Development (CEDH), Faculdade de Educação e Psicologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexander Luke Sumich
- NTU Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ignacio Cifre
- Facultat de Psicologia, Ciències de l’educació i de l’Esport, Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
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Lau CI, Yeh JH, Tsai YF, Hsiao CY, Wu YT, Jao CW. Decreased Brain Structural Network Connectivity in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Novel Fractal Dimension Analysis. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13010093. [PMID: 36672073 PMCID: PMC9856782 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is widely regarded to be the intermediate stage to Alzheimer's disease. Cerebral morphological alteration in cortical subregions can provide an accurate predictor for early recognition of MCI. Thirty patients with MCI and thirty healthy control subjects participated in this study. The Desikan-Killiany cortical atlas was applied to segment participants' cerebral cortex into 68 subregions. A complexity measure termed fractal dimension (FD) was applied to assess morphological changes in cortical subregions of participants. The MCI group revealed significantly decreased FD values in the bilateral temporal lobes, right parietal lobe including the medial temporal, fusiform, para hippocampal, and also the orbitofrontal lobes. We further proposed a novel FD-based brain structural network to compare network parameters, including intra- and inter-lobular connectivity between groups. The control group had five modules, and the MCI group had six modules in their brain networks. The MCI group demonstrated shrinkage of modular sizes with fewer components integrated, and significantly decreased global modularity in the brain network. The MCI group had lower intra- and inter-lobular connectivity in all lobes. Between cerebral lobes, the MCI patients may maintain nodal connections between both hemispheres to reduce connectivity loss in the lateral hemispheres. The method and results presented in this study could be a suitable tool for early detection of MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Ieong Lau
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 242, Taiwan
- Dementia Center, Department of Neurology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 111, Taiwan
- Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Group, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AZ, UK
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Taipa 999078, Macau
| | - Jiann-Horng Yeh
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 242, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 111, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-Feng Tsai
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei 242, Taiwan
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 111, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yu Hsiao
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 111, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Te Wu
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (Y.-T.W.); (C.-W.J.); Tel.: +886-02-28267169 (Y.-T.W.); +886-02-28267394 (C.-W.J.)
| | - Chi-Wen Jao
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Department of Research, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei 111, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (Y.-T.W.); (C.-W.J.); Tel.: +886-02-28267169 (Y.-T.W.); +886-02-28267394 (C.-W.J.)
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Filippi M, Spinelli EG, Cividini C, Ghirelli A, Basaia S, Agosta F. The human functional connectome in neurodegenerative diseases: relationship to pathology and clinical progression. Expert Rev Neurother 2023; 23:59-73. [PMID: 36710600 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2174016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neurodegenerative diseases can be considered as 'disconnection syndromes,' in which a communication breakdown prompts cognitive or motor dysfunction. Mathematical models applied to functional resting-state MRI allow for the organization of the brain into nodes and edges, which interact to form the functional brain connectome. AREAS COVERED The authors discuss the recent applications of functional connectomics to neurodegenerative diseases, from preclinical diagnosis, to follow up along with the progressive changes in network organization, to the prediction of the progressive spread of neurodegeneration, to stratification of patients into prognostic groups, and to record responses to treatment. The authors searched PubMed using the terms 'neurodegenerative diseases' AND 'fMRI' AND 'functional connectome' OR 'functional connectivity' AND 'connectomics' OR 'graph metrics' OR 'graph analysis.' The time range covered the past 20 years. EXPERT OPINION Considering the great pathological and phenotypical heterogeneity of neurodegenerative diseases, identifying a common framework to diagnose, monitor and elaborate prognostic models is challenging. Graph analysis can describe the complexity of brain architectural rearrangements supporting the network-based hypothesis as unifying pathogenetic mechanism. Although a multidisciplinary team is needed to overcome the limit of methodologic complexity in clinical application, advanced methodologies are valuable tools to better characterize functional disconnection in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Filippi
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Gioele Spinelli
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Cividini
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alma Ghirelli
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Basaia
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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41
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Krämer C, Stumme J, da Costa Campos L, Rubbert C, Caspers J, Caspers S, Jockwitz C. Classification and prediction of cognitive performance differences in older age based on brain network patterns using a machine learning approach. Netw Neurosci 2023; 7:122-147. [PMID: 37339286 PMCID: PMC10270720 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related cognitive decline varies greatly in healthy older adults, which may partly be explained by differences in the functional architecture of brain networks. Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) derived network parameters as widely used markers describing this architecture have even been successfully used to support diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. The current study aimed at examining whether these parameters may also be useful in classifying and predicting cognitive performance differences in the normally aging brain by using machine learning (ML). Classifiability and predictability of global and domain-specific cognitive performance differences from nodal and network-level RSFC strength measures were examined in healthy older adults from the 1000BRAINS study (age range: 55-85 years). ML performance was systematically evaluated across different analytic choices in a robust cross-validation scheme. Across these analyses, classification performance did not exceed 60% accuracy for global and domain-specific cognition. Prediction performance was equally low with high mean absolute errors (MAEs ≥ 0.75) and low to none explained variance (R2 ≤ 0.07) for different cognitive targets, feature sets, and pipeline configurations. Current results highlight limited potential of functional network parameters to serve as sole biomarker for cognitive aging and emphasize that predicting cognition from functional network patterns may be challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Krämer
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Johanna Stumme
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lucas da Costa Campos
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Rubbert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julian Caspers
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Svenja Caspers
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christiane Jockwitz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Guo Z, Liu K, Li J, Zhu H, Chen B, Liu X. Disrupted topological organization of functional brain networks in Alzheimer's disease patients with depressive symptoms. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:810. [PMID: 36539729 PMCID: PMC9764564 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04450-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the underlying neural mechanism is unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the topological properties of AD patients with depressive symptoms (D-AD) using graph theoretical analysis. METHODS We obtained 3-Tesla rsfMRI data from 24 D-AD patients, 20 non-depressed AD patients (nD-AD), and 20 normal controls (NC). Resting state networks were identified using graph theory analysis. ANOVA with a two-sample t-test post hoc analysis in GRETNA was used to assess the topological measurements. RESULTS Our results demonstrate that the three groups show characteristic properties of a small-world network. NCs showed significantly larger global and local efficiency than D-AD and nD-AD patients. Compared with nD-AD patients, D-AD patients showed decreased nodal centrality in the pallidum, putamen, and right superior temporal gyrus. They also showed increased nodal centrality in the right superior parietal gyrus, the medial orbital portion of the right superior frontal gyrus, and the orbital portion of the right superior frontal gyrus. Compared with nD-AD patients, NC showed decreased nodal betweenness in the right superior temporal gyrus, and increased nodal betweenness in medial orbital part of the right superior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that D-AD is associated with alterations of topological structure. Our study provides new insights into the brain mechanisms underlying D-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwei Guo
- grid.417168.d0000 0004 4666 9789Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission, Hangzhou, 310012 China
| | - Kun Liu
- grid.417384.d0000 0004 1764 2632The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027 China
| | - Jiapeng Li
- grid.417168.d0000 0004 4666 9789Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission, Hangzhou, 310012 China
| | - Haokai Zhu
- grid.268505.c0000 0000 8744 8924The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou, 310000 China
| | - Bo Chen
- Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission, Hangzhou, 310012, China.
| | - Xiaozheng Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China.
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43
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Morris EL, He K, Kang J. Scalar on network regression via boosting. Ann Appl Stat 2022; 16:2755-2773. [DOI: 10.1214/22-aoas1612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin He
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan
| | - Jian Kang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan
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44
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Pourmotahari F, Doosti H, Borumandnia N, Tabatabaei SM, Alavi Majd H. Group-level comparison of brain connectivity networks. BMC Med Res Methodol 2022; 22:273. [PMID: 36253728 PMCID: PMC9575214 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-022-01712-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional connectivity (FC) studies are often performed to discern different patterns of brain connectivity networks between healthy and patient groups. Since many neuropsychiatric disorders are related to the change in these patterns, accurate modelling of FC data can provide useful information about disease pathologies. However, analysing functional connectivity data faces several challenges, including the correlations of the connectivity edges associated with network topological characteristics, the large number of parameters in the covariance matrix, and taking into account the heterogeneity across subjects. METHODS This study provides a new statistical approach to compare the FC networks between subgroups that consider the network topological structure of brain regions and subject heterogeneity. RESULTS The power based on the heterogeneity structure of identity scaled in a sample size of 25 exhibited values greater than 0.90 without influencing the degree of correlation, heterogeneity, and the number of regions. This index had values above 0.80 in the small sample size and high correlation. In most scenarios, the type I error was close to 0.05. Moreover, the application of this model on real data related to autism was also investigated, which indicated no significant difference in FC networks between healthy and patient individuals. CONCLUSIONS The results from simulation data indicated that the proposed model has high power and near-nominal type I error rates in most scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Pourmotahari
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Doosti
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Macquarie University, Macquarie, Australia
| | - Nasrin Borumandnia
- Urology and Nephrology Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed Mohammad Tabatabaei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid Alavi Majd
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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45
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Alamdari SB, Sadeghi Damavandi M, Zarei M, Khosrowabadi R. Cognitive theories of autism based on the interactions between brain functional networks. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:828985. [PMID: 36310850 PMCID: PMC9614840 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.828985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive functions are directly related to interactions between the brain's functional networks. This functional organization changes in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the heterogeneous nature of autism brings inconsistency in the findings, and specific pattern of changes based on the cognitive theories of ASD still requires to be well-understood. In this study, we hypothesized that the theory of mind (ToM), and the weak central coherence theory must follow an alteration pattern in the network level of functional interactions. The main aim is to understand this pattern by evaluating interactions between all the brain functional networks. Moreover, the association between the significantly altered interactions and cognitive dysfunctions in autism is also investigated. We used resting-state fMRI data of 106 subjects (5–14 years, 46 ASD: five female, 60 HC: 18 female) to define the brain functional networks. Functional networks were calculated by applying four parcellation masks and their interactions were estimated using Pearson's correlation between pairs of them. Subsequently, for each mask, a graph was formed based on the connectome of interactions. Then, the local and global parameters of the graph were calculated. Finally, statistical analysis was performed using a two-sample t-test to highlight the significant differences between autistic and healthy control groups. Our corrected results show significant changes in the interaction of default mode, sensorimotor, visuospatial, visual, and language networks with other functional networks that can support the main cognitive theories of autism. We hope this finding sheds light on a better understanding of the neural underpinning of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mojtaba Zarei
- University of Southern Denmark, Neurology Unit, Odense, Denmark
- Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Khosrowabadi
- Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Reza Khosrowabadi
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Klepl D, He F, Wu M, Blackburn DJ, Sarrigiannis P. EEG-Based Graph Neural Network Classification of Alzheimer's Disease: An Empirical Evaluation of Functional Connectivity Methods. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2022; 30:2651-2660. [PMID: 36067099 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2022.3204913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading form of dementia worldwide. AD disrupts neuronal pathways and thus is commonly viewed as a network disorder. Many studies demonstrate the power of functional connectivity (FC) graph-based biomarkers for automated diagnosis of AD using electroencephalography (EEG). However, various FC measures are commonly utilised, as each aims to quantify a unique aspect of brain coupling. Graph neural networks (GNN) provide a powerful framework for learning on graphs. While a growing number of studies use GNN to classify EEG brain graphs, it is unclear which method should be utilised to estimate the brain graph. We use eight FC measures to estimate FC brain graphs from sensor-level EEG signals. GNN models are trained in order to compare the performance of the selected FC measures. Additionally, three baseline models based on literature are trained for comparison. We show that GNN models perform significantly better than the other baseline models. Moreover, using FC measures to estimate brain graphs improves the performance of GNN compared to models trained using a fixed graph based on the spatial distance between the EEG sensors. However, no FC measure performs consistently better than the other measures. The best GNN reaches 0.984 area under sensitivity-specificity curve (AUC) and 92% accuracy, whereas the best baseline model, a convolutional neural network, has 0.924 AUC and 84.7% accuracy.
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Associations of lifetime concussion history and repetitive head impact exposure with resting-state functional connectivity in former collegiate American football players: An NCAA 15-year follow-up study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273918. [PMID: 36084077 PMCID: PMC9462826 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine associations of lifetime concussion history (CHx) and an advanced metric of lifetime repetitive head impact exposure with resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) across the whole-brain and among large-scale functional networks (Default Mode; Dorsal Attention; and Frontoparietal Control) in former collegiate football players. Individuals who completed at least one year of varsity collegiate football were eligible to participate in this observational cohort study (n = 48; aged 36–41 years; 79.2% white/Caucasian; 12.5±4.4 years of football played; all men). Individuals were excluded if they reported history/suspicion of psychotic disorder with active symptoms, contraindications to participation in study procedures (e.g., MRI safety concern), or inability to travel. Each participant provided concussion and football playing histories. Self-reported concussion history was analyzed in two different ways based on prior research: dichotomous “High” (≥3 concussions; n = 28) versus “Low” (<3 concussions; n = 20); and four ordinal categories (0–1 concussion [n = 19]; 2–4 concussions [n = 8]; 5–7 concussions [n = 9]; and ≥8 concussions [n = 12]). The Head Impact Exposure Estimate (HIEE) was calculated from football playing history captured via structured interview. Resting-state fMRI and T1-weighted MRI were acquired and preprocessed using established pipelines. Next, rsFC was calculated using the Seitzman et al., (2020) 300-ROI functional atlas. Whole-brain, within-network, and between-network rsFC were calculated using all ROIs and network-specific ROIs, respectively. Effects of CHx and HIEE on rsFC values were examined using separate multivariable linear regression models, with a-priori α set to 0.05. We observed no statistically significant associations between rsFC outcomes and either CHx or HIEE (ps ≥ .12). Neither CHx nor HIEE were associated with neural signatures that have been observed in studies of typical and pathological aging. While CHx and repetitive head impacts have been associated with changes in brain health in older former athletes, our preliminary results suggest that associations with rsFC may not be present in early midlife former football players.
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48
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Fathian A, Jamali Y, Raoufy MR. The trend of disruption in the functional brain network topology of Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14998. [PMID: 36056059 PMCID: PMC9440254 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18987-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disorder associated with cognitive dysfunction that alters the brain's functional connectivity. Assessing these alterations has become a topic of increasing interest. However, a few studies have examined different stages of AD from a complex network perspective that cover different topological scales. This study used resting state fMRI data to analyze the trend of functional connectivity alterations from a cognitively normal (CN) state through early and late mild cognitive impairment (EMCI and LMCI) and to Alzheimer's disease. The analyses had been done at the local (hubs and activated links and areas), meso (clustering, assortativity, and rich-club), and global (small-world, small-worldness, and efficiency) topological scales. The results showed that the trends of changes in the topological architecture of the functional brain network were not entirely proportional to the AD progression. There were network characteristics that have changed non-linearly regarding the disease progression, especially at the earliest stage of the disease, i.e., EMCI. Further, it has been indicated that the diseased groups engaged somatomotor, frontoparietal, and default mode modules compared to the CN group. The diseased groups also shifted the functional network towards more random architecture. In the end, the methods introduced in this paper enable us to gain an extensive understanding of the pathological changes of the AD process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Fathian
- Biomathematics Laboratory, Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yousef Jamali
- Biomathematics Laboratory, Department of Applied Mathematics, School of Mathematical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany.
| | - Mohammad Reza Raoufy
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Yang Z, Li L, Peng Y, Qin Y, Li M. The pyramid representation of the functional network using resting-state fMRI. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2022; 2:100-112. [PMID: 38665601 PMCID: PMC10917161 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) has been proved to be a useful tool to study the brain mechanism in the quest to probe the distinct pattern of inter-region interactions in the brain. As an important application of RS-fMRI, the graph-based approach characterizes the brain as a complex network. However, the network is susceptible to its scale that determines the trade-off between sensitivity and anatomical variability. Objective To balance sensitivity and anatomical variability, a pyramid representation of the functional network is proposed, which is composed of five individual networks reconstructed at multiple scales. Methods The pyramid representation of the functional network was applied to two groups of participants, including patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normal elderly (NC) individuals, as a demonstration. Features were extracted from the multi-scale networks and were evaluated with their inter-group differences between AD and NC, as well as the discriminative power in recognizing AD. Moreover, the proposed method was also validated by another dataset from people with autism. Results The different features reflect the highest sensitivity to distinguish AD at different scales. In addition, the combined features have higher accuracy than any single scale-based feature. These findings highlight the potential use of multi-scale features as markers of the disrupted topological organization in AD networks. Conclusion We believe that multi-scale metrics could provide a more comprehensive characterization of the functional network and thus provide a promising solution for representing the underlying functional mechanism in the human brain on a multi-scale basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Yang
- College of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610225, China
| | - Luying Li
- College of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610225, China
| | - Yaxi Peng
- College of Electronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610225, China
| | - Yuanyuan Qin
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Muwei Li
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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Matsui T, Yamashita KI. Static and Dynamic Functional Connectivity Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease and Neuropsychiatric Diseases. Brain Connect 2022. [PMID: 35994384 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2022.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, numerous studies have documented various alterations in resting brain activity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neuropsychiatric diseases. In particular, disease-related alterations of functional connectivity (FC) in the resting state networks (RSN) have been documented. Altered FC in RSN is useful not only for interpreting the phenotype of diseases but also for diagnosing the diseases. More recently, several studies proposed the dynamics of resting-brain activity as a useful marker for detecting altered RSNs related to AD and other diseases. In contrast to previous studies, which focused on FC calculated using an entire fMRI scan (static FC), these newer studies focused the on temporal dynamics of FC within the scan (dynamic FC) to provide more sensitive measures to characterize RSNs. However, despite the increasing popularity of dFC, several studies cautioned that the results obtained in commonly used analyses for dFC require careful interpretation. In this mini-review, we review recent studies exploring alterations of static and dynamic functional connectivity in AD and other neuropsychiatric diseases. We then discuss how to utilize and interpret dFC for studying resting brain activity in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teppei Matsui
- Okayama University - Tsushima Campus, Tsushima-kita 1-1-1, Okayama, Japan, 700-8530;
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