Hypoconnectivity within the cingulo-opercular network in patients with mild cognitive impairment in Chinese communities.

INTRODUCTION

At rest, the brain's higher cognitive systems engage in correlated activity patterns, forming networks. With mild cognitive impairment (MCI), it is essential to understand how functional connectivity within and between resting-state networks changes. This study used resting-state functional connectivity to identify significant differences within and between the cingulo-opercular network (CON) and default mode network (DMN).

METHODS

We assessed cognitive function in patients using the Chinese version of the Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog). A group of MCI subjects (ages 60-83 years, n = 45) was compared to age-matched healthy controls (n = 70). Resting-state functional connectivity was used to determine functional connectivity strength within and between the CON and DMN.

RESULTS

Compared to healthy controls, the MCI group showed significantly lower functional connectivity within the CON (F = 10.76, df = 1, p = 0.001, FDR adjusted p = 0.003). Additionally, the MCI group displayed no distinct differences in functional connectivity within DMN (F = 0.162, df = 1, p = 0.688, FDR adjusted p = 0.688) and between CON and DMN (F = 2.270, df = 1, p = 0.135, FDR adjusted p = 0.262). Moreover, we found no correlation between ADAS-Cog and within- or between-connectivity metrics among subjects with MCI.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that specific patterns of hypoconnectivity within CON circuitry may characterize MCI relative to healthy controls. This work improves our understanding of network dysfunction underlying MCI and could inform more targeted treatment.