Work

Dynamic Alterations of Functional Systems in Alzheimer's Disease: A Co‐Activation Pattern Analysis

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: While resting-state brain dysfunctions have been extensively investigated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), the dynamic alterations of functional systems remain poorly understood. We employed co-activation pattern (CAP) analysis to characterize the functional-state alterations in 243 participants using resting-state fMRI data and applied graph theory analysis to estimate corresponding topological properties. The CAP analysis identified five distinct brain states across groups: State 1 (limbic network dominated), State 2 (dorsal attention network (DAN) and central executive network dominated), State 3 (default mode network and central executive network dominated), State 4 (somatomotor network and ventral attention network dominated), and State 5 (DAN, sensorimotor, and visual networks dominated). Compared to cognitively unimpaired individuals, State 3 demonstrated significantly reduced persistence and resilience in both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD groups. Additionally, both clinical groups (MCI and AD) exhibited decreased transitions from State 2 to State 5 and reduced self-transitions within State 3. Graph theory analysis revealed that compared to cognitively unimpaired individuals, MCI and AD individuals had increased node degree centrality and node efficiency, alongside decreased node local efficiency in regions within the default mode network (DAN) and visual network, which corresponded well with CAP analysis results. Our findings provide a multiscale framework linking dynamic state instability to static network reorganization, advancing understanding of the dynamic functional alterations underlying cognitive decline in AD spectrum disorders.

Source: Human Brain Mapping

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.70509

Authors: Pan Wang, Mengfan Xue, Yingyin Mao, Chunyan Wang, Xing Yao, Bharat B. Biswal

Institutions: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Functional Brain Connectivity Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,520