Resting-state functional connectivity alteration in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis and declined cognition: An observational study

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study is designed to investigate the brain function changed regions in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to explore the relationship between neuropsychological tests and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) network to clarify the possible mechanism underlying cognitive changes in KOA patients.Materials and methodsFifty-two patients aged ≥ 65 with KOA and twenty-two healthy-matched controls were recruited in this study. All participants were given rs-fMRI check. We used graph theory analysis to characterize functional connectivity (FC) and topological organization of the brain structural network. The relationship between FC values, topological properties, and the neuropsychological test scores was analyzed.ResultsCompared with the controls, fourteen edges with lower functional connectivity were noted in the KOA group. Local efficiency and small-worldness of KOA patients decreased compared to the healthy controls. No significant alterations of nodal topological properties were found between the two groups. There was a significant positive correlation between the AVLT-H (L) and the internetwork of default mode network (DMN) (left/right orbitofrontal Superior cortex) and limbic/cortical areas (left/right caudate, right amygdala). AVLT-H(L) was positively correlated with small-worldness and local efficiency.ConclusionThe results indicated that for elderly KOA patients with declined cognition, topological properties, FC between DMN and subcortical limbic network related regions are significantly decreased compared to healthy controls. These alterations demonstrated a significant correlation with the neuropsychological test scores.

WITHDRAWN: Associations of cognitive decline, peripheral inflammatory factors and hippocampal subregions volume in knee osteoarthritis - a longitudinal MRI study

“…Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disabling disease in adults worldwide, resulting in functional limitations, disability, and signi cant healthcare costs. Recent advances in neurophysiology provided new insights into the relationship between KOA and cognitive function, suggesting a decline in cognitive function in patients with KOA, particularly in the elderly (Lin et al, 2022). Memory impairment is the most typical and common type of cognitive decline in older adults (Zahodne et al, 2015), but evidence on the dimension of memory decline in KOA patients has been lacking.…”

“…Neuroimaging research has shown that the presence of brain imaging changes in patients with KOA is associated with cognitive decline (Lin et al, 2022). Previous studies suggested that cognitive function in patients with KOA may be related to the brain regions structural change (Tanner et al, 2022).…”

Thalamocortical dysconnectivity in knee osteoarthritis

“…We didn't nd signi cant abnormalities as for the global topological properties including the small-world and network e ciency in patients with KOA when compared with healthy controls. In previous studies, decreased local e ciency and small worldness have been suggested in elderly KOA patients (age ≥ 65) as compared to healthy controls (Lin et al, 2022). However, in our cohort, the KOA participant are relatively younger (mean age: 55.1± 8.9 years).…”

“…Previous studies have suggested altered temporal-frontal (dorsolateral superior frontal, middle frontal, and left medial superior frontal gyrus) rsFC in patients with end-stage KOA (Kang et al, 2022). Lower functional connectivity of the temporal cortex has been suggested in KOA (Lin et al, 2022). Exercise can decrease the rsFC of the parietal, temporal and occipital cortices in KOA (Liu et al, 2019).…”