Abstract #1730

Graph theory-based analysis reveals neural anatomical network alterations in chronic PTSD in World Trade Center responders

Chuan Huang^1,2, Thomas Hagan³, Minos Kritikos⁴, Daniel Suite³, Tianyun Zhao^1,5, Melissa A Carr⁶, Stephanie Meija-Santiago⁷, Azzurra Invernizzi⁸, Megan Horton⁸, Roberto Lucchini^9,10, Evelyn Bromet¹¹, Roman Kotov¹¹, Sean A. P. Clouston⁴, and Benjamin Luft¹²

¹Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States, ²Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States, ³Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, ⁴Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, ⁵Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, GA, United States, ⁶Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, ⁷The Graduate Center and Queens College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States, ⁸Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States, ⁹Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States, ¹⁰Biomedical, Metabolic and Neurosciences, University of Modena, Modena, Italy, ¹¹Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States, ¹²Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders

Motivation: To uncover the neuropathological changes that influence the persistence and progression of symptoms in individuals with chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), particularly among World Trade Center (WTC) responders.

Goal(s): The goal is to identify and characterize the neuroanatomical differences associated with chronic PTSD in World Trade Center responders using diffusion tensor neuroimaging and graph theory techniques.

Approach: employing graph theory to examine network alterations using brain diffusion images.

Results: The results of the study indicated significant differences in the neuroanatomical distances between white matter nodes—measured by weighted characteristic path lengths (CPL)—in World Trade Center responders with chronic PTSD compared to those without PTSD.

Impact: The impact of this study lies in advancing the understanding of PTSD as a disorder with anatomical basis. The association of increased characteristic path lengths with PTSD suggests that the disorder might involve diminished efficiency in the brain's communication networks.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.