Exploring functional segregation in individuals with Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment

Motivation: Investigating the neural mechanisms of cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD) is vital for early detection and intervention. Efficient, reliable tools are needed for improved diagnosis and outcomes. Goal(s): Our aim is to evaluate the relationship between functional MRI (fMRI)-derived metrics and cognitive performance in PD with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), PD with normal cognition (PD-NC), and healthy controls (HC). Approach: We analyzed fALFF and KccReHo in resting-state fMRI data and correlated them with clinical outcomes. Results: Distinct imaging patterns were observed in PD-MCI versus PD-NC, highlighting brain activity and connectivity linked to MCI. Impact: Our study demonstrates the potential of resting-state functional-MRI as a potential neuroimaging technique for diagnosing mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. Our findings highlight their role in diagnostic accuracy offering insights into brain activity and connectivity associated with cognitive decline.