The Default Mode Network as a Biomarker of Persistent Complaints After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal fMRI Study.

J Neurotrauma. 2017 Sep 07;:

Authors: van der Horn HJ, Scheenen ME, de Koning ME, Liemburg EJ, Spikman JM, van der Naalt J

Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine longitudinal functional connectivity of resting-state networks in patients with and without complaints after uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Second, we aimed to determine the value of network connectivity in predicting persistent complaints, anxiety, depression and long-term outcome. Thirty mTBI patients with (≥ 3) posttraumatic complaints at two weeks post-injury, 19 without complaints, and 20 matched healthy controls were selected for this study. Resting-state fMRI was performed in patients at one month and three months post-injury, and once in healthy controls. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to investigate the default mode, executive and salience networks. Persistent posttraumatic complaints, anxiety and depression were measured at three months post-injury and outcome was determined at one year post-injury. Within the group with complaints, higher functional connectivity between the anterior and posterior components of the default mode network at one month post-injury was associated with a higher number of complaints at three months post-injury (ρ=0.59, p=0.001). Minor longitudinal changes in functional connectivity were found for patients with and without complaints after mTBI, which were limited to connectivity within the precuneus component of the default mode network. No significant results were found for the executive and salience network. Current results suggest that the default mode network may serve as a biomarker of persistent complaints in patients with uncomplicated mTBI.

PMID: 28882089 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]