Altered glucose metabolism in default mode network and prefrontal circuit in patients with Kallmann syndrome
Chun-Qing Zhou, Xueying Wang, Mei-Chao Men, Xiaoping Yi, Ke Cao, Weidan Pu, M. Hacker, Xiang Li, Min Zhao
EJNMMI Research July 11, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-025-01282-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective case-control study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | 30 patients with Kallmann syndrome and 30 matched healthy controls |
| Measures | fertility anxiety scale (FAS), health information avoidance scale (HIAS), health information overload scale (HIOS) |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | Patients with Kallmann syndrome exhibited six clusters of brain hypermetabolism, predominantly in the fronto-limbic system and default mode network, which were significantly associated with fertility anxiety, health information avoidance, and health information overload. Bilateral basal ganglia hypermetabolism mediated the relationship between health information avoidance and fertility anxiety (β = 0.274, P = 0.031). The authors propose that this distinct hypermetabolism pattern in the default mode network-prefrontal circuit functionally bridges neuroendocrine dysfunction and reproductive health anxiety. |
Abstract
This study delineates brain metabolic signatures underlying neuroendocrine-psychosocial interactions in Kallmann syndrome (KS), a rare genetic disorder characterized by congenital hypogonadism and anosmia. In this prospective case-control study, 30 KS patients and 30 matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent brain [18F]FDG PET scans, sex hormone assays, and standardized neuropsychological assessments. A voxel-wise group comparison analysis was conducted to identify clusters of brain metabolic patterns between KS patients and HCs. Subsequently, correlation and mediation analyses were performed to investigate the interrelationships and mediating effect among brain metabolic patterns, sex hormone levels, and psychosocial factors. We identified six hypermetabolic clusters in KS patients, predominantly located in the fronto-limbic system and the default mode network (DMN) in KS patients. These clusters of hypermetabolism were significantly associated fertility anxiety scale (FAS), health information avoidance scale (HIAS) and health information overload scale (HIOS). In addition, mediation analysis indicated that bilateral basal ganglia hypermetabolism acted as a significant mediator between HIAS and FAS (β = 0.274, P = 0.031). Patients with KS exhibited a distinct hypermetabolism pattern in the DMN-prefrontal circuit, which functionally bridges neuroendocrine dysfunction and reproductive health anxiety.
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 |