Aberrant brain structural-functional connectivity coupling in euthymic bipolar disorder.

Aberrant structural (diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imagining connectivity are core features of bipolar disorder. However, few studies have explored the integrity agreement between structural and functional connectivity (SC-FC) in bipolar disorder. We examine SC connectivity coupling index whether could potentially provide additional clinical predictive value for bipolar disorder spectrum disorders besides the intramodality network measures. By examining the structural (DTI) and resting-state functional network properties, as well as their coupling index, among 57 euthymic bipolar disorder patients (age 13-28 years, 18 females) and 42 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (age 13-28 years, 16 females), we found that compared to controls, bipolar disorder patients showed increased structural rich-club connectivity as well as decreased functional modularity. Importantly, the coupling strength between structural and functional connectome was decreased in patients compared to controls, which emerged as the most powerful feature discriminating the two groups. Our findings suggest that structural-functional coupling strength could serve as a valuable biological trait-like feature for bipolar disorder over and above the intramodality network measures. Such measure can have important clinical implications for early identification of bipolar disorder individuals, and inform strategies for prevention of bipolar disorder onset and relapse.

Effect of body anthropometrics on brain structure of offspring of parents with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Offspring of individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) are at greater risk for developing BD. Adiponectin (ADP), a hormone produced by adipocytes, plays a central role in energy homeostasis, insulin sensitivity and inflammatory response. ADP is negatively correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and is abnormal in patients with BD. Understanding the role of ADP among these offspring may help identify those likely to develop BD. The primary objective of this paper was to compare ADP levels among offspring of individuals with BD (symptomatic [SO], and asymptomatic [AO]) to offspring of healthy parents (HC). The role of ADP on cognition and ROI-based gray matter values in SO and AO offspring was secondarily assessed and compared to HC. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in China by the Guangzhou Brain Hospital in offspring of individuals with and without BD. Participants underwent neuropsychiatric and cognitive assessments, MRI scans and blood analyses. BMI z-scores (zBMI) were calculated adjusting for age and gender. RESULTS: Analyses included 117 participants (HC = 48, AO = 36, SO = 33). No significant differences were observed in plasma levels of ADP optical density (OD) among HC, AO and SO participants. No significant interaction effects on cognition were observed between symptomatic status and ADP OD, symptomatic status and BMI z-score, nor symptomatic status, zBMI and ADP OD. Multivariate tests revealed a significant interaction between offspring symptomatic status, ADP OD, and zBMI on gray matter volume in the right cerebellum (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that an interaction exists between BMI and CNS structure.