Irregular Baseline Brain Activity in Coronary Artery Disease Patients with Cognitive Impairment: A Resting-state Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract

Objective: Cognitive impairment has been suggested to be associated with coronary artery disease [CAD] however, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Our current study aimed to explore the brain activity in CAD patients when compared with healthy controls [HCs]. Methods: Twenty-two CAD patients and 23 HCs were enrolled in our study. A low-frequency oscillation at the voxel level in all participants based on the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations [ALFF] was measured using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. All participants underwent neuropsychological examinations [Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE and Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA] and visual acuity examination. Results: CAD patients showed significantly lower ALFF values [P < 0.05] in the right precuneus gyrus [Precuneus_R], left supramarginal gyrus [Supramarginal_L], left angular gyrus [Angular_L], and left middle cingulum gyrus [Cingulum_Mid_L] than healthy controls. Lower MoCA scores in CAD patients significantly correlated with lower Supramarginal_L [P = 0.001] and Cingulate_Mid_L [P = 0.004] ALFF values. Reduced visual acuity significantly correlated with lower Precuneus_R [P = 0.019] and Cingulate_Mid_L [P = 0.011] ALFF values in CAD patients. Conclusion: These findings may provide further insight into the underlying neuropathophysiology of CAD with cognitive impairment.

Effect of cardiovascular diseases on brain functional changes and cognition: a systematic review of fMRI studies

“…While in case of MoCA, the lowest score reported was 17.18 ± 3.13 and the highest was 28.18 ± 1.33 [25]. Furthermore, it was noted that HCs demonstrated better cognitive functioning than individuals with CVD or at risk of CVD [17,25]. One study [16] speci cally grouped neuropsychological measures into ve cognitive domains and measured the test scores for each domain which are global cognitive functioning (MMSE and WASI Full Scale IQ), language functions (WASI Vocabulary Subtest and Category Fluency for Animals), visual-spatial abilities (RCF copy and WASI Matrix Reasoning Subtest), memory functions (CVLT-II immediate recall, delayed recall, and recognition discrimination, RCF immediate recall, delayed recall, and recognition discrimination), and nally attentionexecutive-psychomotor functions (Trail Making A and B time to completion, COWAT, WAIS-III Digit Span Subtest, and Grooved Pegboard-Dominant Hand time to completion).…”

“…Page 8/13 MMSE (n = 6) and MoCA (n = 3) were the most commonly practiced neuropsychological assessment tools across all studies either independently or collectively alongside other cognitive tests. The highest mean score attained in MMSE was 29.00 ± 2.00 [18] and the lowest score was 20.45 ± 4.01 [25]. While in case of MoCA, the lowest score reported was 17.18 ± 3.13 and the highest was 28.18 ± 1.33 [25].…”

“…The highest mean score attained in MMSE was 29.00 ± 2.00 [18] and the lowest score was 20.45 ± 4.01 [25]. While in case of MoCA, the lowest score reported was 17.18 ± 3.13 and the highest was 28.18 ± 1.33 [25]. Furthermore, it was noted that HCs demonstrated better cognitive functioning than individuals with CVD or at risk of CVD [17,25].…”