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. 2016 Apr 22;11(4):e0153493.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153493. eCollection 2016.

Characteristics of Resting-State Functional Connectivity in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder

Hea Won Ann  1   2 , Suhnyoung Jun  3 , Na-Young Shin  4 , Sanghoon Han  3 , Jin Young Ahn  1   2 , Mi Young Ahn  1   2 , Yong Duk Jeon  1   2 , In Young Jung  1 , Moo Hyun Kim  1 , Woo Yong Jeong  1 , Nam Su Ku  1   2 , June Myung Kim  1   2 , Davey M Smith  5   6 , Jun Yong Choi  1   2
Affiliations

Characteristics of Resting-State Functional Connectivity in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder

Hea Won Ann et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) can occur in patients without prior AIDS defining illness and can be debilitating. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in the patterns of intrinsic brain activity between patients with or without HAND for deepening our understanding of HAND.

Methods: We evaluated 24 HIV-infected individuals, 12 with previously diagnosed HAND and 12 previously diagnosed without HAND, and 11 seronegative individuals. These individuals then underwent repeat NP testing and a functional brain MRI scan. For functional MRI analysis, seed-based analysis with bilateral precuneus cortex seed was applied.

Results: Among the 12 individuals with previously diagnosed HAND, 3 showed improvement of their neurocognitive function and 1 was excluded for worsening liver disease. Among the 12 patients who previously had normal neurocognitive function, 2 showed neurocognitive impairment. Overall, the HAND group, who had impaired cognitive function at the time of MRI scan, showed significant decrease of resting status functional connectivity between bilateral precuneus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) compared with nonHAND group, those who had normal neurocognitive function (Corrected P<0.05). The functional connectivity with the right inferior frontal operculum and right superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with memory and learning ability.

Conclusions: This cross-sectional study found a significant difference in fMRI patterns between patients with and without HAND. Decreased functional connectivity between precuneus and PFC could be possible functional substrate for cognitive dysfunction in HIV patients, which should be characterized in a longitudinal study.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Renderd t maps of FC value.
(A, B) show the FC maps of HAND with the seed located in the left and right precuneus, respectively. (C, D) show the FC maps of nonHAND group with the seed located in the left and right precuneus (P < .005, uncorrected).
Fig 2
Fig 2. The differences of resting connectivity between HAND group and nonHAND group.
Upper images display the regions showing the FC with the left precuneus (P < .05, corrected). Lower images display the regions showing the FC with the right precuneus (P < .05, corrected).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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