Brain Functional Network Analysis of Patients with Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Abstract

Objectives. Recent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have focused on glaucoma-related neuronal degeneration in structural and spontaneous functional brain activity. However, there are limited studies regarding the differences in the topological organization of the functional brain network in patients with glaucoma. In this study, we aimed to assess both potential alterations and the network efficiency in the functional brain networks of patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods. We applied resting-state fMRI data to construct the functional connectivity network of 33 patients with PACG ( 54.21 ± 7.21 years ) and 33 gender- and age-matched healthy controls ( 52.42 ± 7.80 years ). The differences in the global and regional topological brain network properties between the two groups were assessed using graph theoretical analysis. Partial correlations between the altered regional values and clinical parameters were computed for patients with PACG. Results. No significant differences in global topological measures were identified between the two groups. However, significant regional alterations were identified in the patients with PACG, including differences within visual and nonvisual (somatomotor and cognition-emotion) regions. The normalized clustering coefficient and normalized local efficiency of the right superior parietal gyrus were significantly correlated with the retinal fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and the vertical cup to disk ratio (V C/D). In addition, the normalized node betweenness of the left middle frontal gyrus (orbital portion) was significantly correlated with the V C/D in the patients with PACG. Conclusions. Our results suggest that regional inefficiency with decrease and compensatory increase in local functional properties of visual and nonvisual nodes preserved the brain network of the PACG at the global level.

Topological Organization of the Brain Network in Patients with Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma Through Graph Theory Analysis

“…The ORBsupmed-L (left superior frontal gyrus orbital region) and ORBsupmed-R (right superior frontal gyrus orbital region) are located in the prefrontal region. A study revealed the central disappearance of the left superior frontal gyrus orbital part in POAG (42), whereas another study demonstrated enhanced local indicators in this area among PACG patients (43).…”

Functional and Morphological Brain Alterations in Dysthyroid Optic Neuropathy: A Combined Resting‐State fMRI and Voxel‐Based Morphometry Study

“…In addition, this study found decreased GMV in ACC, parietal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus in DON groups. The middle temporal gyrus is a part of the dorsal visual pathway, which may be associated with visual memory, 32 indicating the dorsal visual pathway may also be involved after the loss of inhibition inputs of the primary visual cortex 33 . Furthermore, these abnormal brain regions are responsible for emotional processes, thinking processes, and higher cognitive activities 16,34 .…”

“…The middle temporal gyrus is a part of the dorsal visual pathway, which may be associated with visual memory, 32 indicating the dorsal visual pathway may also be involved after the loss of inhibition inputs of the primary visual cortex. 33 Furthermore, these abnormal brain regions are responsible for emotional processes, thinking processes, and higher cognitive activities. 16,34 A recent large sample cross-sectional study conducted in the United States has demonstrated that vision impairment is associated with a substantial proportion of dementia cases.…”

Altered static and dynamic functional network connectivity in Primary angle-closure glaucoma patients

“…Cai et al 12 found that the degree centrality (DC) values of bilateral visual cortex and left anterior central gyrus in PACG patients after surgery were signi cantly higher than those before surgery. Liu et al 13 determined that the brain networks of PACG patients had small-world properties, indicating that the brain networks of PACG patients had abnormal information transmission e ciency. The above studies suggest that patients with PACG exhibit speci c functional irregularities within interregional and global brain networks.…”