Significance of the Ventral Striatal-Network in Dialysis Patients: Structural Covariance Analysis and Relationship with Neurobehavioral Outcomes

Background Patients undergoing dialysis often experience executive dysfunctions, depressive mood and memory deficits. As the cerebral striatal network may modulate these functions, no systemic approaches have been performed. Methods In this study, we investigated the striatal structural covariance networks (SCNs) in 27 patients undergoing dialysis and compared with 27 age-matched controls. The SCNs were constructed using 3D T1 magnetic resonance imaging and seed-based analysis, focusing on six striatal networks. Detailed neuropsychiatric assessments and the geriatric depression scale served as the major outcome factors. The role of seed or peak cluster volumes, or a covariance strength showing controls > patients were tested for the network effects. Result Our results revealed a lower verbal and visual memory, slower executive speed and higher geriatric depression scale scores in the patients. The clinical correlations suggested the clinical significance of ventral inferior striatum volume in predicting depression, execution and memory domains, and ventral superior striatum volume in execution and memory domains. Conclusion ventral striatum-anchored SCN mediates the cortical degenerative process and modulates the emotional-executive profiles in patients undergoing dialysis.