Tian Jinghe, Zou Quan, Cao Jiancang, Wang Liting, Tian Jing, Yang Chen, Ma Wenxiu, Huang Gang, Tan Jian, Zhang Wenwen, Zhao Lianping
Endocr Connect. 2025 May 16;14(5). doi: 10.1530/EC-25-0039. Print 2025 May 1.
This study examined the topological properties of brain white matter networks in overt hypothyroidism (OH) patients and their links to cognitive and emotional dysfunction.
Fifty OH patients and 92 healthy controls underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, clinical assessments and neuropsychological evaluations. Graph-theoretical network analysis based on diffusion tensor imaging was used to calculate global and local topological properties. Between-group differences were analyzed, and partial correlation and mediation analyses were conducted to explore relationships among topological metrics, clinical variables and neuropsychological scores.
The OH group showed significantly higher depressive and anxious scores, and lower cognitive scores. In the global topological analysis, the OH group showed decreased global efficiency, which was negatively correlated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-24 scores. Local topological abnormalities were predominantly observed in the nodal efficiency (NE), degree centrality and nodal local efficiency of several regions within the limbic system and default mode networks. Notably, NE in the left amygdala and left paracentral lobule was negatively correlated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-24 scores, and decreased NE in the right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri was positively correlated with executive function/visuospatial ability scores and the clock drawing test score.
OH patients show depression, anxiety and cognitive impairments linked to global efficiency and regional abnormalities in the limbic system and default mode network. These findings provide insights into the neuropathophysiological mechanisms underlying emotional and cognitive impairments.
本研究探讨了显性甲状腺功能减退症（OH）患者脑白质网络的拓扑特性及其与认知和情感功能障碍的联系。
50例OH患者和92名健康对照者接受了脑磁共振成像、临床评估和神经心理学评估。基于扩散张量成像的图论网络分析用于计算全局和局部拓扑特性。分析组间差异，并进行偏相关和中介分析，以探讨拓扑指标、临床变量和神经心理学评分之间的关系。
OH组的抑郁和焦虑评分显著更高，认知评分更低。在全局拓扑分析中，OH组的全局效率降低，这与汉密尔顿抑郁量表-24评分呈负相关。局部拓扑异常主要出现在边缘系统和默认模式网络内几个区域的节点效率（NE）、度中心性和节点局部效率上。值得注意的是，左杏仁核和左中央旁小叶的NE与汉密尔顿抑郁量表-24评分呈负相关，右中扣带回和旁扣带回的NE降低与执行功能/视觉空间能力评分及画钟试验评分呈正相关。
OH患者表现出与边缘系统和默认模式网络的全局效率及区域异常相关的抑郁、焦虑和认知障碍。这些发现为情感和认知障碍的神经病理生理机制提供了见解。
