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Differences in structural and functional default mode network connectivity in amyloid positive mild cognitive impairment: a longitudinal study

  • Functional Neuroradiology
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Abstract

Purpose

Default mode network (DMN) has emerged as a potential biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, it is not clear whether it can differentiate amnestic mild cognitive impairment with altered amyloid (aMCI-Aβ +) who will evolve to AD. We evaluated if structural and functional connectivity (FC), hippocampal volumes (HV), and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (CSF—Aβ42, p-Tau, and t-Tau) can differentiate aMCI-Aβ + converters from non-converters.

Methods

Forty-eight individuals (18 normal controls and 30 aMCI subjects in the AD continuum — with altered Aβ42 in the CSF) were followed up for an average of 13 months. We used MultiAtlas, UF2C, and Freesurfer software to evaluate diffusion tensor imaging, FC, and HV, respectively, INNOTEST® kits to measure CSF proteins, and neuropsychological tests. Besides, we performed different MANOVAs with further univariate analyses to differentiate groups.

Results

During follow-up, 8/30 aMCI-Aβ + converted (26.6%) to AD dementia. There were no differences in multivariate analysis between groups in CSF biomarkers (p = 0.092) or at DMN functional connectivity (p = 0.814). aMCI-Aβ + converters had smaller right HV than controls (p = 0.013), and greater right cingulum parahippocampal bundle radial diffusivity than controls (p < 0.001) and non-converters (p = 0.036).

Conclusion

In this exploratory study, structural, but not functional, DMN connectivity alterations may differentiate aMCI-Aβ + subjects who converted to AD dementia.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Annamaria Rudderow for English editing and grants from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Funding

The study was financed by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). Grant number: 2017/01286–6, 2017/13906–9, 2011/17092–0, and 2018/15571–7, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neuroimaging, Department of Neurology - Medical Sciences School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo 126, Campinas, SP, 13083-887, Brazil

    Thamires Naela Cardoso Magalhães, Christian Luiz Baptista Gerbelli, Luciana Ramalho Pimentel-Silva, Brunno Machado de Campos, Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro de Rezende, Liara Rizzi, Fernando Cendes & Marcio Luiz Figueredo Balthazar

  2. Laboratory of Neurosciences, (LIM 27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil

    Helena Passarelli Giroud Joaquim, Leda Leme Talib & Orestes Vicente Forlenza

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  1. Thamires Naela Cardoso Magalhães
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  2. Christian Luiz Baptista Gerbelli
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Correspondence to Thamires Naela Cardoso Magalhães.

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The Medical Research Ethics Committee of UNICAMP Hospital approved this study (CAAE: 09,634,412.5.0000.5404). Written informed consent (either from the subjects or from their responsible caretakers, if incapable) was obtained from all participants before the commencement of the study, following the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Magalhães, T.N.C., Gerbelli, C.L.B., Pimentel-Silva, L.R. et al. Differences in structural and functional default mode network connectivity in amyloid positive mild cognitive impairment: a longitudinal study. Neuroradiology 64, 141–150 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-021-02760-5

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