Title:Functional Connectivity, Physical Activity, and Neurocognitive Performances
in Patients with Vascular Cognitive Impairment, No Dementia
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Ya-Ting Chang*, Chun-Ting Liu, Shih-Wei Hsu, Chen-Chang Lee and Pei-Ching Huang
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine,
Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka
565-0871, Japan
Keywords:
Actigraphy, brain network, cognition, executive function, functional connectivity, physical activity.
Abstract: Background: Vascular Cognitive Impairment, No Dementia (VCIND) is a key stage at
which early intervention will delay or prevent dementia. The pathophysiology of VCIND posits
that a lesion in a single location in the brain has the ability to disrupt brain networks, and the subsequent
abnormal Functional Connectivity (FC) of brain networks leads to deficits in corresponding
neurobehavioral domains. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that disrupted anterior cingulate
cortex and striatal networks mediated the effects of Physical Activity (PA) on neurobehavioral
function.
Methods: In 27 patients with VCIND, FC within the brain networks and neurobehavioral dysfunction
were assessed. The relationship between the cognitive scores, FC, and PA was studied. The Fitbit
Charge 2 was used to measure step counts, distance, and calories burned. In patients with
VCIND, a cross-sectional Spearman’s correlation to analyze the relationship among patient-level
measures of PA, cognitive function scores, and FC strength within the brain networks.
Results: Average step counts and average distance were associated with Trail Making Test B (TMB)
time to completion (seconds) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) score (P <
0.05). The average calories burned were associated with IADL score (P = 0.009). The FC within
the brain networks anchored by left caudal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) seeds (x= -5, y= 0, z=
36) and (x= -5, y= -10, z= 47) were positively correlated with average step counts and average distance,
were negatively correlated with TMB time to completion (seconds), and were positively correlated
with IADL score (P < 0.05). The FC within the brain networks anchored by left subgenual
ACC seed (x= -5, y= 25, z= -10) were negatively correlated with average step counts and average
distance were positively correlated with TMB time to completion (seconds), and were negatively
correlated with IADL score (P < 0.05). The FC within the striatal networks was positively correlated
with average calories burned and IADL score (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: FC within the brain networks anchored by caudal ACC seeds was positively correlated
with more average step counts/average distance and better IADL score; negatively correlated
with longer TMB time to completion (seconds), whereas FC of subgenual ACC seed was negatively
correlated with the same parameters. FC within the brain networks anchored by putamen rather
than caudate or pallidum was positively correlated with average calories burned and IADL score.
