Increased Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Patients With Autoimmune Addison Disease

• Context Individuals with autoimmune Addison disease (AAD) take replacement medication for the lack of adrenal-derived glucocorticoid (GC) and mineralocorticoid hormones from diagnosis. The brain is highly sensitive to these hormones, but the consequence of having AAD for brain health has not been widely addressed.Objective The present study compared resting-state functional connectivity (rs-fc) of the brain between individuals with AAD and healthy controls.Methods Fifty-seven patients with AAD (33 female) and 69 healthy controls (39 female), aged 19 to 43 years were scanned with 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Results Independent component and subsequent dual regression analyses revealed that individuals with AAD had stronger rs-fc compared to controls in 3 networks: the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the left medial visual and left posterior default mode network. A higher GC replacement dose was associated with stronger rs-fc in a small part of the left OFC in patients. We did not find any clear associations between rs-fc and executive functions or mental fatigue.Conclusion Our results suggest that having AAD affects the baseline functional organization of the brain and that current treatment strategies of AAD may be one risk factor.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Addison disease

cortisol

resting-state functional connectivity

default mode network

orbitofrontal

default-mode network

primary adrenal insufficiency

medial prefrontal

cortex

orbitofrontal cortex

cushings-disease

modified-release

working-memory

human brain

ica-aroma

robust

Endocrinology & Metabolism

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)