McColgan P, Gregory S, Razi A, Seunarine KK, Gargouri F, Durr A, Roos RAC, Leavitt BR, Scahill RI, Clark CA, Tabrizi SJ, Rees G, Coleman A, Decolongon J, Fan M, Petkau T, Jauffret C, Justo D, Lehericy S, Nigaud K, Valabrègue R, Choonderbeek A, Hart EPT, Hensman Moss DJ, Crawford H, Johnson E, Papoutsi M, Berna C, Reilmann R, Weber N, Stout J, Labuschagne I, Landwehrmeyer B, Orth M, Johnson H. White matter predicts functional connectivity in premanifest Huntington's disease.
Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2017;
4:106-118. [PMID:
28168210 PMCID:
PMC5288460 DOI:
10.1002/acn3.384]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives
The distribution of pathology in neurodegenerative disease can be predicted by the organizational characteristics of white matter in healthy brains. However, we have very little evidence for the impact these pathological changes have on brain function. Understanding any such link between structure and function is critical for understanding how underlying brain pathology influences the progressive behavioral changes associated with neurodegeneration. Here, we demonstrate such a link between structure and function in individuals with premanifest Huntington's.
Methods
Using diffusion tractography and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging to characterize white matter organization and functional connectivity, we investigate whether characteristic patterns of white matter organization in the healthy human brain shape the changes in functional coupling between brain regions in premanifest Huntington's disease.
Results
We find changes in functional connectivity in premanifest Huntington's disease that link directly to underlying patterns of white matter organization in healthy brains. Specifically, brain areas with strong structural connectivity show decreases in functional connectivity in premanifest Huntington's disease relative to controls, while regions with weak structural connectivity show increases in functional connectivity. Furthermore, we identify a pattern of dissociation in the strongest functional connections between anterior and posterior brain regions such that anterior functional connectivity increases in strength in premanifest Huntington's disease, while posterior functional connectivity decreases.
Interpretation
Our findings demonstrate that organizational principles of white matter underlie changes in functional connectivity in premanifest Huntington's disease. Furthermore, we demonstrate functional antero–posterior dissociation that is in keeping with the caudo–rostral gradient of striatal pathology in HD.
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