Aberrant voxel-based degree centrality and functional connectivity in Parkinson's disease patients with fatigue

AimsThe study aimed to investigate alterations in the inherent connectivity pattern of global functional networks in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with fatigue. MethodsEighteen PD patients with fatigue (PD-F), 20 PD patients without fatigue (PD-NF), and 23 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited and analyzed by the voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) and the seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Meanwhile, the surface-based morphometry (SBM) analysis was also commanded to explore the structural alternations among groups. ResultsPD-F patients displayed reduced DC values in the left postcentral gyrus relative to PD-NF and HCs groups, while increased DC values in the bilateral precuneus compared to HCs. Simultaneously, altered DC value in the left postcentral gyrus negatively corresponded to the mean fatigue severity scale (FSS) in PD-F patients. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves uncovered that the reduced DC value of the left postcentral gyrus could discriminate PD-F from PD-NF and HCs groups. Our FC analysis further revealed that altered FC was located predominantly in the sensorimotor network in the PD-F group. Moreover, we discovered no statistically significant differences between the three groups concerning cortical thickness. ConclusionOur findings indicated that the altered functional connectivity in the sensorimotor network centering on the left postcentral gyrus and the bilateral precuneus might be the potential pathogenesis of PD with fatigue.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate changes in the inherent connectivity pattern of global functional networks in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with fatigue. Voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis were conducted on 18 PD patients with fatigue (PD-F), 20 PD patients without fatigue (PD-NF), and 23 healthy controls (HCs). The results showed that PD-F patients had reduced DC values in the left postcentral gyrus and increased DC values in the bilateral precuneus. Altered FC was predominantly located in the sensorimotor network in the PD-F group. Cortical thickness did not differ significantly between the three groups.