Connectivity Between Brain Networks Dynamically Reflects Cognitive Status Of Parkinson’S Disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease patients display a less efficient transfer of information globally and reduced between-network connectivity of large-scale brain networks as compared to healthy controls. Between-network connectivity increases with worse cognitive status, reflecting compensatory efforts. This pattern is observed in the results of each complementary method applied: seed-based between-network connectivity analysis, partial least squares analysis and graph theory measures analysis. Longitudinal studies with longer follow-up periods might show whether distinct internetwork connectivity patterns may predict dementia conversion in Parkinson’s disease.