Dynamic functional brain networks in Alzheimer’s disease and healthy ageing

Background Brain network analysis from resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) has helped us to understand cortical activity in dementia. Likewise, dynamic brain networks' analysis, which takes into account temporal fluctuations the fMRI signal, reveal patterns of activity, usually averaged out by conventional analysis. These or networks, transient (meta-stable) dynamics. Dynamic networks data shown a potential unveil clinically relevant information. Method Resting-state 187 participants belonging Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and cognitively-normal Healthy Elderly (HE) ADNI-3 database were analysed. Functional was constructed signal 120 sub-cortical regions Jülich Atlas for each participants, across two study groups. connectivity is calculated using sliding window approach compared (‘static’) within group between them. Result Significant differences when comparing AD with HE individuals found dynamic, but not static networks. restricted white matter regions, inferior superior parietal, somatosensory cortices. Conclusion Our results demonstrate existence common distinct AD, highlight importance including non-stationary information disease. References: Vuksanović V, Hövel P. changes synchrony Chaos. 2015 Feb; 25(2):023116 [https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4913526]. Moguilner S, García AM, Perl YS, Tagliazucchi E, Piguet O, Kumfor F, Reyes P, Matallana D, Sedeño L, Ibáñez A. outperform measures mirror pathophysiological profiles dementia subtypes: A multicenter study. Neuroimage. 2021 Jan 15; 225:117522 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117522]. Acknowledgments: This work supported Roland Sutton Academy Trust (Grant No. 13688)