Fanxing Kong, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Zaiming Lu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bing Yu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Na Liu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fanxing Meng MMed, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Qiyong Guo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To measure the changes functional connectivity between the hippocampus and other brain regions using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) in elderly patients with post-operative cognition disorders (POCD).  

Participated in this 139 patients aged 70 to 98 years, scheduled for elective orthopedic, urologic, general or vascular surgeries, under general or regional anesthesia. All the patients were evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive function in the day before surgery (Day 0). MMSE was applied again 3 days after surgery (Day 3). POCD was defined as MMSE score below 20/30 or as a difference equal to or above 4 as compared to Day 0. The resting-fMRI data of all the participantts were obtained in Day 3 using a 3T MR scanner. Hippocampal connectivity was investigated by examination of the correlation between low frequency fMRI signal fluctuations in the hippocampus and those in all other brain regions.

POCD was observed in 31 patients (22.30%). Functional connectivity between the hippocampus and a set of regions was disrupted in POCD patients compared with others, these regions are: medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), right inferotemporal cortex, right cuneus, right superior occipital gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC).

The disrupted hippocampal connectivity to the  "default mode network"(DMN)  and the visual cortices might be associated with the POCD.

Resting-state fMRI might be appropriate for studying pathophysiological changes in POCD. The disrupted hippocampal connectivity to the DMN and the visual cortices might be associated with POCD.

Kong, F, Lu, Z, Yu, B, Liu, N, Meng, F, Guo, Q, Changes in Hippocampal Connectivity and Its Correlation with Postoperative Cognition Disorders in Elderly Patients: Evidence from Resting-State FMRI.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12024340.html