Open AccessBrain network alterations in Alzheimer's disease measured by Eigenvector centrality in fMRI are related to cognition and CSF biomarkers
Author(s) -
Binnewijzend Maja A.A.,
Adriaanse Sofie M.,
Flier Wiesje M.,
Teunissen Charlotte E.,
Munck Jan C.,
Stam Cornelis J.,
Scheltens Philip,
Berckel Bart N.M.,
Barkhof Frederik,
Wink Alle Meije
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.22335
Subject(s) - neuroscience , psychology , functional magnetic resonance imaging , resting state fmri , cognition , neuroimaging , posterior cingulate , alzheimer's disease , superior frontal gyrus , medicine , disease
Recent imaging studies have demonstrated functional brain network changes in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Eigenvector centrality (EC) is a graph analytical measure that identifies prominent regions in the brain network hierarchy and detects localized differences between patient populations. This study used voxel‐wise EC mapping (ECM) to analyze individual whole‐brain resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in 39 AD patients (age 67 ± 8) and 43 healthy controls (age 69 ± 7). Between‐group differences were assessed by a permutation‐based method. Associations of EC with biomarkers for AD pathology in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were assessed using Spearman correlation analysis. Decreased EC was found bilaterally in the occipital cortex in AD patients compared to controls. Regions of increased EC were identified in the anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus. Across groups, frontal and occipital EC changes were associated with pathological concentrations of CSF biomarkers and with cognition. In controls, decreased EC values in the occipital regions were related to lower MMSE scores. Our main finding is that ECM, a hypothesis‐free and computationally efficient analysis method of functional MRI (fMRI) data, identifies changes in brain network organization in AD patients that are related to cognition and underlying AD pathology. The relation between AD‐like EC changes and cognitive performance suggests that resting‐state fMRI measured EC is a potential marker of disease severity for AD. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2383–2393, 2014 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .