Abnormal static and dynamic functional network connectivity in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

ObjectiveMany studies have explored the neural mechanisms of cognitive impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients using the functional MRI. However, the dynamic properties of brain functional networks are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the changes in dynamic functional network attributes and their relationship with cognitive impairment in stable COPD patients.Materials and methodsThe resting-state functional MRI and cognitive assessments were performed on 19 stable COPD patients and 19 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HC). We conducted the independent component analysis (ICA) method on the resting-state fMRI data, and obtained seven resting-state networks (RSNs). After that, the static and dynamic functional network connectivity (sFNC and dFNC) were respectively constructed, and the differences of functional connectivity (FC) were compared between the COPD patients and the HC groups. In addition, the correlation between the dynamic functional network attributes and cognitive assessments was analyzed in COPD patients.ResultsCompared to HC, there were significant differences in sFNC among COPD patients between and within networks. COPD patients showed significantly longer mean dwell time and higher fractional windows in weaker connected State I than that in HC. Besides, in comparison to HC, COPD patients had more extensive abnormal FC in weaker connected State I and State IV, and less abnormal FC in stronger connected State II and State III, which were mainly located in the default mode network, executive control network, and visual network. In addition, the dFNC properties including mean dwell time and fractional windows, were significantly correlated with some essential clinical indicators such as FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and c-reactive protein (CRP) in COPD patients.ConclusionThese findings emphasized the differences in sFNC and dFNC of COPD patients, which provided a new perspective for understanding the cognitive neural mechanisms, and these indexes may serve as neuroimaging biomarkers of cognitive performance in COPD patients.

Altered Functional Connectivity during Mild Transient Respiratory Impairment Induced by a Resistive Load

“…Patients with COPD exhibited the abnormal synchrony of regional spontaneous activity within the visual processing pathways, potentially linked to impaired visual and visuospatial memory [57]. Furthermore, reduced interaction between the visual network and other networks was speculated to cause cognitive impairment [56]. Our results, alongside these previous studies, highlight the role of the visual network as a key network hub of cognitive function during both acute and chronic respiratory impairment.…”

“…Recent studies on COPD demonstrate decreased FC within the visual network, showing a positive correlation with cognitive function [55,56]. Patients with COPD exhibited the abnormal synchrony of regional spontaneous activity within the visual processing pathways, potentially linked to impaired visual and visuospatial memory [57].…”

Abnormal dynamic functional connectivity and topological properties of cerebellar network in male obstructive sleep apnea

“… 49 OSA patients exhibit impairments in reaction time, sustained attention, visuospatial processing, and executive functions, 50 and alterations in visual information processing may engender cognitive decline in OSA. 51 The VN provides sensory guidance for the SMN, and their synergy is crucial for motor coordination in OSA patients. The increased connectivity may be used to compensate for the imbalance in motor coordination in OSA patients.…”

“…Decoupling between the SMN and DMN predicts improved cognitive performance 49 . OSA patients exhibit impairments in reaction time, sustained attention, visuospatial processing, and executive functions, 50 and alterations in visual information processing may engender cognitive decline in OSA 51 . The VN provides sensory guidance for the SMN, and their synergy is crucial for motor coordination in OSA patients.…”

Effects of integrated hospital treatment on the default mode, salience, and frontal-parietal networks in anorexia nervosa: A longitudinal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

“…Realignment, slice timing correction, and spatial co-registration were performed. According to the exclusion criteria for head motion correction in previous resting state fMRI analyses [ 36 , 37 ], translational motion parameters were verified to be less than 1 functional voxel. Rotation motion parameters were verified to be less than 2 degrees.…”