Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study
IntroductionDebilitating Long-Covid symptoms occur frequently after SARS-COVID-19 infection.MethodsFunctional MRI was acquired in 10 Long Covid (LCov) and 13 healthy controls (HC) with a 7 Tesla scanner during a cognitive (Stroop color-word) task. BOLD time series were computed for 7 salience and 4...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1182607/full |
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| author | Leighton Barnden Kiran Thapaliya Kiran Thapaliya Natalie Eaton-Fitch Markus Barth Markus Barth Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik |
| author_facet | Leighton Barnden Kiran Thapaliya Kiran Thapaliya Natalie Eaton-Fitch Markus Barth Markus Barth Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik |
| author_sort | Leighton Barnden |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDebilitating Long-Covid symptoms occur frequently after SARS-COVID-19 infection.MethodsFunctional MRI was acquired in 10 Long Covid (LCov) and 13 healthy controls (HC) with a 7 Tesla scanner during a cognitive (Stroop color-word) task. BOLD time series were computed for 7 salience and 4 default-mode network hubs, 2 hippocampus and 7 brainstem regions (ROIs). Connectivity was characterized by the correlation coefficient between each pair of ROI BOLD time series. We tested for HC versus LCov differences in connectivity between each pair of the 20 regions (ROI-to-ROI) and between each ROI and the rest of the brain (ROI-to-voxel). For LCov, we also performed regressions of ROI-to-ROI connectivity with clinical scores.ResultsTwo ROI-to-ROI connectivities differed between HC and LCov. Both involved the brainstem rostral medulla, one connection to the midbrain, another to a DM network hub. Both were stronger in LCov than HC. ROI-to-voxel analysis detected multiple other regions where LCov connectivity differed from HC located in all major lobes. Most, but not all connections, were weaker in LCov than HC. LCov, but not HC connectivity, was correlated with clinical scores for disability and autonomic function and involved brainstem ROI.DiscussionMultiple connectivity differences and clinical correlations involved brainstem ROIs. Stronger connectivity in LCov between the medulla and midbrain may reflect a compensatory response. This brainstem circuit regulates cortical arousal, autonomic function and the sleep–wake cycle. In contrast, this circuit exhibited weaker connectivity in ME/CFS. LCov connectivity regressions with disability and autonomic scores were consistent with altered brainstem connectivity in LCov. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:53:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78abdc737bee47daaa967fec21450ea6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T03:53:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-78abdc737bee47daaa967fec21450ea62023-06-22T08:00:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2023-06-011710.3389/fnins.2023.11826071182607Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot studyLeighton Barnden0Kiran Thapaliya1Kiran Thapaliya2Natalie Eaton-Fitch3Markus Barth4Markus Barth5Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik6National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaNational Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaCentre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaNational Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaCentre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaNational Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, AustraliaIntroductionDebilitating Long-Covid symptoms occur frequently after SARS-COVID-19 infection.MethodsFunctional MRI was acquired in 10 Long Covid (LCov) and 13 healthy controls (HC) with a 7 Tesla scanner during a cognitive (Stroop color-word) task. BOLD time series were computed for 7 salience and 4 default-mode network hubs, 2 hippocampus and 7 brainstem regions (ROIs). Connectivity was characterized by the correlation coefficient between each pair of ROI BOLD time series. We tested for HC versus LCov differences in connectivity between each pair of the 20 regions (ROI-to-ROI) and between each ROI and the rest of the brain (ROI-to-voxel). For LCov, we also performed regressions of ROI-to-ROI connectivity with clinical scores.ResultsTwo ROI-to-ROI connectivities differed between HC and LCov. Both involved the brainstem rostral medulla, one connection to the midbrain, another to a DM network hub. Both were stronger in LCov than HC. ROI-to-voxel analysis detected multiple other regions where LCov connectivity differed from HC located in all major lobes. Most, but not all connections, were weaker in LCov than HC. LCov, but not HC connectivity, was correlated with clinical scores for disability and autonomic function and involved brainstem ROI.DiscussionMultiple connectivity differences and clinical correlations involved brainstem ROIs. Stronger connectivity in LCov between the medulla and midbrain may reflect a compensatory response. This brainstem circuit regulates cortical arousal, autonomic function and the sleep–wake cycle. In contrast, this circuit exhibited weaker connectivity in ME/CFS. LCov connectivity regressions with disability and autonomic scores were consistent with altered brainstem connectivity in LCov.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1182607/fullLong CovidfMRIconnectivitybrainstemmedullamidbrain |
| spellingShingle | Leighton Barnden Kiran Thapaliya Kiran Thapaliya Natalie Eaton-Fitch Markus Barth Markus Barth Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study Frontiers in Neuroscience Long Covid fMRI connectivity brainstem medulla midbrain |
| title | Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study |
| title_full | Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study |
| title_short | Altered brain connectivity in Long Covid during cognitive exertion: a pilot study |
| title_sort | altered brain connectivity in long covid during cognitive exertion a pilot study |
| topic | Long Covid fMRI connectivity brainstem medulla midbrain |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1182607/full |
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