METHODS: A total of 758 WMH individuals completed cognitive assessment and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). The functional connectome gradient was reconstructed based on rs-fMRI by using a gradient decomposition framework. Interrelations among the spatial distribution of WMH, functional gradient measures, and specific cognitive domains were explored.
RESULTS: As the WMH volume increased, the executive function (r = -0.135, p = 0.001) and information-processing speed (r = -0.224, p = 0.001) became poorer, the gradient range (r = -0.099, p = 0.006), and variance (r = -0.121, p < 0.001) of the primary-to-transmodal gradient reduced. A narrower gradient range (r = 0.131, p = 0.001) and a smaller gradient variance (r = 0.136, p = 0.001) corresponded to a poorer executive function. In particular, the relationship between the frontal/occipital WMH and executive function was partly mediated by gradient range/variance of the primary-to-transmodal gradient.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that WMH volume, the primary-to-transmodal gradient, and cognition were interrelated. The detrimental effect of the frontal/occipital WMH on executive function was partly mediated by the decreased differentiation of the connectivity pattern between the primary and transmodal areas.
方法:共有758名WMH个体完成了认知评估和静息状态功能MRI(rs-fMRI)。通过使用梯度分解框架,基于rs-fMRI重建功能连接体梯度。WMH的空间分布之间的相互关系,功能梯度测量,并探索了特定的认知领域。
结果:随着WMH量的增加,执行功能(r=-0.135,p=0.001)和信息处理速度(r=-0.224,p=0.001)变得更差,梯度范围(r=-0.099,p=0.006),和方差(r=-0.121,p<0.001)的主要到跨模态梯度降低。较窄的梯度范围(r=0.131,p=0.001)和较小的梯度方差(r=0.136,p=0.001)对应于较差的执行功能。特别是,额叶/枕叶WMH与执行功能之间的关系部分由主要至跨模态梯度的梯度范围/方差介导.
结论:这些发现表明WMH体积,初级到跨模态的梯度,和认知是相互关联的。额叶/枕骨WMH对执行功能的不利影响部分是由主要区域和跨模态区域之间的连接模式差异降低所介导的。