Brain functional network integrity sustains cognitive function despite atrophy in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia
Publication: Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Kamen A. Tsvetanov, Stefano Gazzina, P. Simon Jones, John van Swieten, Barbara Borroni, Raquel Sanchez‐Valle, Fermin Moreno, James B. Rowe et al
20 November 2020
The presymptomatic phase of neurodegenerative disease can last many years, with sustained cognitive function despite progressive atrophy. The research team investigate this phenomenon in familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
There were group differences in brain structure and function, in the absence of differences in cognitive performance. Specifically, the researchers identified behaviorally relevant structural and functional network differences. Structure‐function relationships were similar in both groups, but coupling between functional connectivity and cognition was stronger for carriers than for non‐carriers, and increased with proximity to the expected onset of disease.
The findings suggest that the maintenance of functional network connectivity enables carriers to maintain cognitive performance.
