Amygdala Network Dysfunction Links Depressive Symptom and Memory Deficit in Elderly with Amnesic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Chunming Xie^1,2, Wenjun Li¹, Joseph Goveas¹, Piero Antuono¹, Jennifer Jones¹, Guangyu Chen¹, Malgorzata Franczak¹, Zhilin Wu¹, Shi-Jiang Li¹

The purpose of this study was to identify neural correlates of depressive symptoms and memory deficits in the amygdala functional connectivity network (AFCN) in elderly with or without amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) using the resting state functional connectivity MRI technique. aMCI subjects showed abnormal AFCN activity and the significant different correlation patterns in the distinct nodes within the AFCN correlated to depressive symptoms and memory deficits. This suggests the AFCN has dual effects that link depressive symptoms and memory deficits. The altered neural substrates of the AFCN underlying the emotional and cognitive functions mediation were associated with disease state.