Disruption of Rich-Club Connectivity in Cushing Disease

Diffusion spectrum imaging of patients with middle cerebral artery stenosis

“…The left and right MCA stenosis groups had significantly lower graph density, longer network path length (binary), lower global efficiency (binary), and lower rich club coefficient (binary: k = 5, 10; weighted: k = 20, 25) than the control group ( Table 2 ), which means that it will take more time for the MCA stenosis groups to transmit information than the control group. The rich club hub is an important hub used for information transmission in the brain ( Xu et al, 2021 ). A decreased rich club hub means that some information may not be delivered, and its communication and integration may be damaged.…”

Long‐term effects of glucocorticoid excess on the brain

“…In addition, one recent study found decreased gray matter densities in areas that are part of the ‘rich club network’, a network comprising brain areas that are simultaneously activated during cognitive tasks, located in the superior parietal lobe, superior frontal cortex, precuneus, putamen, thalamus and hippocampus. Anatomical changes in rich club nodes restored 3 months after successful surgical treatment 21 . Interestingly, an increased volume in the bilateral nucleus caudatus was found in patients with CD and was positively related to disease duration 19 .…”

“…Anatomical changes in rich club nodes restored 3 months after successful surgical treatment. 21 Interestingly, an increased volume in the bilateral nucleus caudatus was found in patients with CD and was positively related to disease duration. 19 Altogether, patients with active CS or CS in remission show mostly decreased gray matter volumes in different brain areas.…”

“…21 Paradoxically, interconnectedness between rich-club nodes and integratory processing were enhanced, as reflected by higher global efficiency and shorter path lengths. 21 After remission, changes in rich-club structures can restore 3 months after successful surgical treatment. 21 Increased activity in the medial temporal lobe, hippocampus and PFC may improve compared to active disease, but remain higher compared to healthy controls.…”

“…Resting state fMRI studies of patients with active CD showed increased spontaneous activity in the posterior cingulate cortex and left prefrontal cortex (PFC) 26 and impaired functional connectivity in areas of the rich-club network (e.g., precuneus, cingulum and inferior temporal lobe). 21 Paradoxically, interconnectedness between rich-club nodes and integratory processing were enhanced, as reflected by higher global efficiency and shorter path lengths. 21 After remission, changes in rich-club structures can restore 3 months after successful surgical treatment.…”