Objective:To analyze the cognitive changes and alterations in the topological properties of functional and structural brain networks in elderly women with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and explore the relationship between brain network and cognitive function, and find the neuroimaging mechanism of cognitive decline in female patients with MCI.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted, collecting clinical data from 38 elderly women with MCI, aged 60-79, recruited between October 1, 2019 and May 31, 2021, through community visits, online advertisements, free consultations by experts at the First Hospital of China Medical University and outpatient promotions. A matched control group of 37 healthy women of similar age was also recruited. Both groups underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and MRI data collection, Brain functional and structural networks were constructed, and the corresponding global and nodal topological metrics were calculated. Differences in general demographic data, cognitive function scores, and network topology attribute indexes were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between the altered topological properties of brain networks and cognitive function differences.Results:Cognitive function assessments showed that compared to the healthy control group, elderly women with MCI scored lower on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test-N5 (AVLT-N5), Digit Span Test (DST), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) (1.95±1.02 vs 6.42±1.63, t=14.85; 7.14±1.58 vs 8.08±1.29, t=2.93; 3.30±1.12 vs 3.73±0.55, t=2.20; 15.49±3.87 vs 18.53±3.80, t=3.60; all P<0.05). The results of brain functional and structural network nodal topological properties indicated that the left inferior parietal angular gyri, left supramarginal gyrus, right orbital inferior frontal gyrus, and right insula showed incomplete white matter network structure or reduced efficiency in brain network functional transmission ( P<0.05). Conversely, regions such as the left cuneus, left superior frontal gyrus orbital part, left middle occipital gyrus, left precuneus, right superior parietal gyrus, and left paracentral lobule showed enhanced structural integrity of white matter network or increased efficiency in brain network functional transmission ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis suggested that abnormal nodal topological attributes were associated with language function (VFT), short-term memory (AVLT-N5), and visuospatial ability (CDT) in patients with MCI(All P<0.05). Conclusion:Elderly women with MCI exhibit declines in short-term memory, linguistic function, attention, and visuospatial abilities. Changes in the topological properties of brain function and structural networks occur in regions such as the orbital superior frontal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and cuneus in the elderly women.

Objective:To analyze the cognitive changes and alterations in the topological properties of functional and structural brain networks in elderly women with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and explore the relationship between brain network and cognitive function, and find the neuroimaging mechanism of cognitive decline in female patients with MCI.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted, collecting clinical data from 38 elderly women with MCI, aged 60-79, recruited between October 1, 2019 and May 31, 2021, through community visits, online advertisements, free consultations by experts at the First Hospital of China Medical University and outpatient promotions. A matched control group of 37 healthy women of similar age was also recruited. Both groups underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments and MRI data collection, Brain functional and structural networks were constructed, and the corresponding global and nodal topological metrics were calculated. Differences in general demographic data, cognitive function scores, and network topology attribute indexes were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between the altered topological properties of brain networks and cognitive function differences.Results:Cognitive function assessments showed that compared to the healthy control group, elderly women with MCI scored lower on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test-N5 (AVLT-N5), Digit Span Test (DST), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) (1.95±1.02 vs 6.42±1.63, t=14.85; 7.14±1.58 vs 8.08±1.29, t=2.93; 3.30±1.12 vs 3.73±0.55, t=2.20; 15.49±3.87 vs 18.53±3.80, t=3.60; all P<0.05). The results of brain functional and structural network nodal topological properties indicated that the left inferior parietal angular gyri, left supramarginal gyrus, right orbital inferior frontal gyrus, and right insula showed incomplete white matter network structure or reduced efficiency in brain network functional transmission ( P<0.05). Conversely, regions such as the left cuneus, left superior frontal gyrus orbital part, left middle occipital gyrus, left precuneus, right superior parietal gyrus, and left paracentral lobule showed enhanced structural integrity of white matter network or increased efficiency in brain network functional transmission ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis suggested that abnormal nodal topological attributes were associated with language function (VFT), short-term memory (AVLT-N5), and visuospatial ability (CDT) in patients with MCI(All P<0.05). Conclusion:Elderly women with MCI exhibit declines in short-term memory, linguistic function, attention, and visuospatial abilities. Changes in the topological properties of brain function and structural networks occur in regions such as the orbital superior frontal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and cuneus in the elderly women.