Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging(fMRI) Study On Children With Global Developmental Delay:A Pilot Study

Objective:The purpose of this study was to use resting-state blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic imaging(RS-fMRI)and diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)data to analyze whole-brain white matter and resting state changes in patients with global developmental delay(GDD)of unknown etiology.Try to understand the pattern of brain damage and provide imaging markers for GDD.Materials and methods:22 patients with GDD were enrolled and they were evaluated by the Bayley scales of infant development(BSID),and the score was less than 69.Another 14 infants with simllar age and sex were chosen as healthy control subjects.All subjects underwent MRI scan,the scan range included all the brain.The MRI scanning sequences include conventional,RS-fMRI and DTI.The regional homogeneity(ReHo),amiplitude low frequency(ALFF)were analyzed and compared between the GDD and control group.The DTI data of the patients and control group were analysed by applying tract-based spatial statistics(TBSS).Then the fractional anisotropy(FA)and the mean diffusivity(MD)were compared between the patients and control group.Results:Compared to control group,GDD groups showed ALFF decreased regions mainly within the left middle temporal gyrus and the right cingulate gyrus;ALFF increased regions maily within the precuneus.Compared to control group,GDD groups showed ReHo decrease region maily within the frontal lobe;ReHo increased regions maily within the right frontal sup.By using TBSS,reduced FA values were detected in multiple white matter regions,mainly including white matter tracts in the bilateral corona radiata,the right anterior limb of internal capsule,the right sagittal stratum,the right frontal sup,the right fusiform,and the left fornix,the left superior longitudinal fasciculus,the left retrolenticular part of internal capsule and the left superior cerebellar peduncle;decreased FA values within the right superior longitudinal fasciculus.By using TBSS,decreased MD values within the left cerebellum,the left middle cerebellar peduncle,the left vermis,the right fusiform and the medial lemniscus;reduced MD values within the left cuneus.Conclusion:Compared to normal infants,the function of the cerebral cortex and the microstructure of the white matter fiber tracts of GDD groups are special,which may be related to the pathological basis of the disease.The study of functional neuroimaging of GDD is helpful to understand the pathogenesis of the disease,and to provide imaging parameters for early diagnostic.