Altered Default Mode Network Connectivity in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Insights from Resting-State fMRI Studies.
Danqi Zhang, J. Yue, Hanbin Niu, Zeyi Wei, Dong-hong Huang, Peng Wang, Xiaoling Li, Yuhui Zhao, Qin-Hong Zhang
Current Alzheimer Research April 11, 2025 DOI: 10.2174/0115672050352061250328055829 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | The authors propose that alterations in Default Mode Network connectivity detectable with resting-state fMRI in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment may serve as early biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and that synthesizing this evidence could support earlier diagnosis and interventions to delay progression to dementia. |
Abstract
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is marked by a measurable decline in cognitive function that exceeds typical age-related changes but does not yet qualify as dementia. The brain's Default Mode Network (DMN) remains active during rest and plays a crucial role in introspective processes, such as memory retrieval and self-referential thinking. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures spontaneous fluctuations in blood oxygenation, providing insights into functional connectivity within brain networks. Investigating the DMN using rs-fMRI in individuals with MCI allows researchers to identify early neural changes associated with cognitive decline, which may serve as biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. The rs-fMRI technique has been widely used in MCI research to explore the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment. This study aims to synthesize findings from rs-fMRI studies focusing on alterations in DMN connectivity in MCI populations. This analysis deepens our understanding of the early-stage neural disruptions in MCI and holds significant implications for developing early diagnostic tools and interventions aimed at delaying the progression to dementia.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Brain's Default Mode Network | 2015 | Review | |
| Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity in Psychopathology | 2012 | Review | |
| 20 years of the default mode network: A review and synthesis | 2023 | Review | |
| On the relationship between the “default mode network” and the “social brain” | 2012 | Review | |
| The default mode network and social understanding of others: what do brain connectivity studies tell us Healthy subjects, with some studies on patients with autism and psychopathy | 2014 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- Age-related alterations in default mode network: Impact on working memory performance Neurobiology of Aging August 1, 2008
- Resting State Abnormalities of the Default Mode Network in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Journal of Alzheimer's Disease June 4, 2019
- Aberrant default mode network in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of independent component analysis studies. Neurological Sciences March 6, 2018
- Functional connectivity in the resting brain: A network analysis of the default mode hypothesis Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences December 27, 2002