Dynamic functional connectivity changes in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

We studied the dynamic functional connectivity profile of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the relationship between dynamic connectivity and the temporally transient symptoms of cognitive fluctuations and visual hallucinations in DLB. Resting state fMRI data from 31 DLB, 29 AD, and 31 healthy control participants were analysed using dual regression to determine between-network functional connectivity. We used a sliding window approach followed by k-means clustering and dynamic network analyses to study dynamic functional connectivity changes associated with AD and DLB. Network measures that showed significant group differences were tested for correlations with clinical symptom severity. AD and DLB patients spent more time than controls in sparse connectivity configurations with absence of strong positive and negative connections and a relative isolation of motor networks from other networks. Additionally, DLB patients spent less time in a more strongly connected state and the variability of global brain network efficiency was reduced in DLB compared to controls. However, there were no significant correlations between dynamic connectivity measures and clinical scores. The loss of global efficiency variability in DLB might indicate the presence of an abnormally rigid brain network and the lack of economical dynamics, factors which could contribute to an inability to respond appropriately to situational demands. However, the absence of significant clinical correlations indicates that the severity of transient cognitive symptoms such as cognitive fluctuations and visual hallucinations might not be directly related to these dynamic connectivity changes observed during a short resting state scan.