Altered Eigenvector Centrality is Related to Local Resting-State Network Functional Connectivity in Patients with Longstanding Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
'Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG)'
Doi
Abstract
Introduction: Longstanding type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is associated with microangiopathy
and poorer cognition. In the brain, T1DM is related to increased functional resting-state
network (RSN) connectivity in patients without, which was decreased in patients with
clinically evident microangiopathy. Subcortical structure seems affected in both patient
groups. How these localized alterations affect the hierarchy of the functional network in
T1DM is unknown. Eigenvector centrality mapping (ECM) and degree centrality are
graph theoretical methods that allow determining the relative importance (ECM) and
connectedness (degree centrality) of regions within the whole-brain network hierarchy.
Methods: Therefore, ECM and degree centrality of resting-state functional MRI-scans
was compared between 51 patients with, 53 patients without proliferative retinopathy,
and 49 controls, and associated with RSN connectivity, subcortical gray matter volume,
and cognition.
Results: In all patients versus controls, ECM and degree centrality were lower in the
bilateral thalamus and the dorsal striatum, with lowest values in patients without
proliferative retinopathy (PFWE<0.05). Increased ECM in this group versus patients with
proliferative retinopathy was seen in the bilateral lateral occipital cortex, and in the right
lateral cortex versus controls (PFWE<0.05). In all patients, ECM and degree centrality
were related to altered visual, sensorimotor, and auditory and language RSN connectivity
(PFWE0.05).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest reorganization of the hierarchy of the cortical
connectivity network in patients without proliferative retinopathy, which is lost with
disease progression. Centrality seems sensitive to capture early T1DM-related functional
connectivity alterations, but not disease progression