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Impairment and compensation coexist in amnestic MCI default mode network

Zhigang Qi, Xia Wu, Zhiqun Wang, Nang Zhang, Huiqing Dong, Li Yao, Kuncheng Li

Neuroimage December 17, 2009 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.12.025 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational cohort Peer reviewed
Sample size 28
Population 14 amnestic MCI patients and 14 healthy elderly
Topics Default mode network
Citations 328
Key findings Compared to healthy elderly, aMCI patients show decreased DMN activity in posterior regions but increased frontal-parietal activity, possibly reflecting compensation.

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the transitional, heterogeneous continuum from healthy elderly to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that brain functional activity in the default mode network (DMN) is impaired in AD patients. However, altering DMN activity patterns in MCI patients remains largely unclear. The present study utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and an independent component analysis (ICA) approach to investigate DMN activity in 14 amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients and 14 healthy elderly. Compared to the aMCI patients, the healthy elderly exhibited increased functional activity in the DMN regions, including the bilateral precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex, right inferior parietal lobule, and left fusiform gyrus, as well as a trend towards increased right medial temporal lobe activity. The aMCI patients exhibited increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobule, and middle temporal gyrus compared to the healthy elderly. Increased frontal-parietal activity may indicate compensatory processes in the aMCI patients. These findings suggest that abnormal DMN activity could be useful as an imaging-based biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of aMCI patients.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on default mode network, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A default mode of brain function Normal adult human brain 2001 Observational study
Resting-State Functional Connectivity Reflects Structural Connectivity in the Default Mode Network Healthy subjects 2008 Observational cohort
Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls 2005 Observational cohort n = 20
Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls 2011 Observational cohort
The precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in the default mode network: Evidence from a partial correlation network analysis Healthy subjects 2008 Observational study

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Default mode network