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Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this paper is to explore differences in resting-state functional connectivity between cognitively impaired and preserved multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Methods:

Sixty MS patients and 18 controls were assessed with the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N). A global Z score of the BRB-N was obtained and allowed us to classify MS patients as cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved (n = 30 per group). Functional connectivity was assessed by independent component analysis of resting-state networks (RSNs) related to cognition: the default mode network, left and right frontoparietal and salience network. Between-group differences were evaluated and a regression analysis was performed to describe relationships among cognitive status, functional connectivity and radiological variables.

Results:

Compared to cognitively preserved patients and healthy controls, cognitively impaired patients showed a lesser degree of functional connectivity in all RSNs explored. Cognitively preserved patients presented less connectivity than the control group in the left frontoparietal network. Global Z scores were positively and negatively correlated with brain parenchymal fraction and lesion volume, respectively.

Conclusion:

Decreased cognitive performance is accompanied by reduced resting state functional connectivity and directly related to brain damage. These results support the use of connectivity as a powerful tool to monitor and predict cognitive impairment in MS patients.

Keywords

Resting state functional connectivity cognitive impairment default network right frontoparietal network left frontoparietal network salience network

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The link between resting-state functional connectivity and cognition in MS patients

Abstract

Objective:

Methods:

Results:

Conclusion:

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References

Supplementary Material