IMG-135. Relationship between cognitive performance and central executive network functional connectivity in lower grade glioma

BACKGROUND Patients with lower-grade gliomas often face cognitive impairments, particularly in regions reliant on distributed networks and intact white matter tracts. These issues may arise from disruptions in the fronto-parietal central executive network (CEN). This study investigated the functional connectivity (FC) of the CEN in relation to executive functions of inhibition (DKEFS Stroop interference) and working memory (WAIS Working Memory Index), as well as processing speed (Oral Symbol Digit). METHODS 12 patients with lower-grade glioma (LrGG) (7 astrocytomas, 4 oligodendrogliomas, and 1 NOS) and 6 healthy controls were recruited. Resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) was processed and analyzed using the CONN toolbox, with a focus on the CEN, utilizing seeds in the posterior parietal cortex and the lateral prefrontal cortex. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare the relationship across groups (p <.05 with FDR correction). RESULTS LrGG patients scored lower than controls in executive function (-.113 vs 0.0), working memory (-.27 vs.578), and processing speed (-1.02 vs -.04). Inhibition was associated with significantly stronger FC between all regions of the CEN and the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), precuneus, cuneus, lateral occipital cortex, and cerebellum in controls than LrGG patients (p<.05). Working memory was associated with significantly stronger FC between the parietal regions of the CEN and the cerebellum in controls than LrGG patients (p<.05). In contrast, processing speed was associated with significantly weaker FC between the right prefrontal region of the CEN and the left parahippocampal gyrus and bilateral cerebellum in controls than LrGG patients (p<.05). CONCLUSION Altered coordination between the CEN and the precuneus (a hub of the default mode network), the ACC (a hub of the salience network), and the cerebellum highlights the impacts that LrGG and related treatment can have on FC and cognitive performance.