Regional brain changes in patients with diabetic optic neuropathy: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Background To evaluate functional connection density (FCD) in patients with diabetic optic neuropathy (DON) using the resting functional connectivity (FC) method, and to determine the abnormal areas of brain activity. Methods Patients with DON (n=22; 10 male, 12 female) and healthy controls (HCs; n=22; 10 male, 12 female) were included in the study. The basic characteristics of the groups were matched. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted with participants at rest, and long- and short-range FCD (long FCD and IFCD, respectively) were measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was also conducted to determine whether DON and HC participants could be distinguished using fMRI indicators. Results Compared with HCs, the long FCD values of the left lingual gyrus, right lingual gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, and medial and lateral cingulate gyri were decreased in patients with DON. Further, the IFCD values of the left superior temporal gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus, left cerebellar area 8, and right cerebellar Crus2 area were higher in patients with DON than in the HCs. Conclusions DON is associated with abnormal spontaneous brain activity. Our findings contribute to elucidating the mechanisms underlying the neuropathology of DON, and provide direction for further clinical research.