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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Default Mode, Executive Function, and Language Functional Connectivity Networks are Compromised in Mild Alzheimer's Disease

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Author(s):
Weiler, Marina [1] ; Fukuda, Aya [1] ; Massabki, Lilian H. P. [1] ; Lopes, Tatila M. [1] ; Franco, Alexandre R. [2] ; Damasceno, Benito P. [3] ; Cendes, Fernando [1] ; Balthazar, Marcio L. F. [1, 3]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Neurol, Neuroimaging Lab, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[2] Catholic Univ Rio Grande Sul PUCRS, Brain Inst Rio Grande Sul, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil
[3] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Neurol, Unit Neuropsychol & Neurolinguist, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Current Alzheimer Research; v. 11, n. 3, p. 274-282, MAR 2014.
Web of Science Citations: 18
Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by mental and cognitive problems, particularly with memory, language, visuospatial skills (VS), and executive functions (EF). Advances in the neuroimaging of AD have highlighted dysfunctions in functional connectivity networks (FCNs), especially in the memory related default mode network (DMN). However, little is known about the integrity and clinical significance of FNCs that process other cognitive functions than memory. We evaluated 22 patients with mild AD and 26 healthy controls through a resting state functional MRI scan. We aimed to identify different FCNs: the DMN, language, EF, and VS. Seed-based functional connectivity was calculated by placing a seed in the DMN (posterior cingulate cortex), language (Broca's and Wernicke's areas), EF (right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), and VS networks (right and left associative visual cortex). We also performed regression analyses between individual connectivity maps for the different FCNs and the scores on cognitive tests. We found areas with significant decreases in functional connectivity in patients with mild AD in the DMN and Wernicke's area compared with controls. Increased connectivity in patients was observed in the EF network. Regarding multiple linear regression analyses, a significant correlation was only observed between the connectivity of the DMN and episodic memory (delayed recall) scores. In conclusion, functional connectivity alterations in mild AD are not restricted to the DMN. Other FCNs related to language and EF may be altered. However, we only found significant correlations between cognition and functional connectivity in the DMN and episodic memory performance. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/17092-0 - Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease and mild cognitive impairment: evaluation of functional magnetic resonance imaging methods, plasmatic and cerebrospinal fluid markers
Grantee:Marcio Luiz Figueredo Balthazar
Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
FAPESP's process: 13/10431-9 - Anatomical and functional connectivity in Default Mode and Salience Networks in mild dementia of Alzheimer's Disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Grantee:Marina Weiler
Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)