The Application of rs-fMRI in Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

The incidence of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) has been increasing for years and has become a major disabling factor in middle-aged and elderly populations. The pathogenesis of VCI is unclear, and there are no standard diagnostic criteria. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) can be used to detect spontaneous brain functional activity in a resting state, which facilitates in-depth investigation of the pathogenesis of VCI and provides an objective reference for early diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and prognostic evaluation. This article mainly reviews the principle and analysis of rs-fMRI data, as well as the progress of its application for VCI diagnosis.

Keywords: amplitude of low frequency fluctuation; default mode network; functional network; regional homogeneity; resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging; traumatic brain injury; vascular cognitive impairment.

Figure 1

Neural networks involved in VCI mainly include the prefrontal cortex, temporal cortex, and hippocampus. The functional changes are shown in the (A) superior view and (B) anterior view. L, left; R, right; SFG, superior frontal gyrus; MFG, middle frontal gyrus; IFG, inferior frontal gyrus; PreCG, precentral gyrus; PoCG, postcentral gyrus; SPG, superior parietal gyrus; ANG, angular gyrus; PCUN, precuneus; MOG, middle occipital gyrus; STG, superior temporal gyrus; MTG, middle temporal gyrus; ITG, inferior temporal gyrus; INS, insular cortex; CG, cingulate gyrus; CAU, caudate; HIP, hippocampus.

Figure 2

Neural networks involved in traumatic brain injury mainly include the prefrontal cortex, temporal cortex, occipital cortex, and cingulate gyrus. The functional changes are shown in the (A) superior view and (B) anterior view. L, left; R, right; SFG, superior frontal gyrus; MFG, middle frontal gyrus; IFG, inferior frontal gyrus; LOF, lateral orbitofrontal gyrus; SPG, superior parietal gyrus; SMG, supramarginal gyrus; ANG, angular gyrus; PCUN, precuneus; SOG, superior occipital gyrus; MOG, middle occipital gyrus; IOG, inferior occipital gyrus; CUN, cuneus; MTG, middle temporal gyrus; ITG, inferior temporal gyrus; PHG, parahippocampal gyrus; LING, lingual gyrus; INS, insular cortex; CG, cingulate gyrus; CAU, caudate; HIP, hippocampus.