This study is aimed at investigating the characteristics of the spontaneous brain activity in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). A total of 18 patients with DM1 and 18 healthy controls (HCs) were examined by resting-state functional MRI. Combined methods include amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFFs), the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFFs), and Wavelet transform-based ALFFs (Wavelet-ALFFs) with standardization, percent amplitude of fluctuation (PerAF) with/without standardization were applied to evaluate the spontaneous brain activity of patients with DM1. Compared with HCs, patients with DM1 showed decreased ALFFs and Wavelet-ALFFs in the bilateral precuneus (PCUN), angular gyrus (ANG), inferior parietal, but supramarginal and angular gyri (IPL), posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG), superior frontal gyrus, medial (SFGmed), middle occipital gyrus (MOG), which were mainly distributed in the brain regions of default mode network (DMN). Decreased ALFFs and Wavelet-ALFFs were also seen in bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG), inferior frontal gyrus, opercular part (IFGoperc), which were the main components of the executive control network (ECN). Patients with DM1 also showed decreased fALFFs in SFGmed.R, the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri (ACGR), bilateral MFG. Reduced PerAF in bilateral PCUN, ANG, PCG, MOG, and IPLL as well as decreased PerAF without standardization in PCUNR and bilateral PCG also existed in patients with DM1. In conclusion, patients with DM1 had decreased activity in DMN and ECN with increased fluctuations in the temporal cortex and cerebellum. Decreased brain activity in DMN was the most repeatable and reliable with PCUN and PCG being the most specific imaging biomarker of brain dysfunction in patients with DM1.
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Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
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