Cerebellum abnormalities in vascular mild cognitive impairment with depression symptom patients: A multimodal magnetic resonance imaging study

Yirong Chen; Liling Chen; Liyu Hu; Jianjun Wang; Jinhuan Zhang; Hanqing Lyu; Jinping Xu; Jianxiang Chen; Haibo Yu

doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111213

Cerebellum abnormalities in vascular mild cognitive impairment with depression symptom patients: A multimodal magnetic resonance imaging study

Brain Res Bull. 2025 Jan 15:111213. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111213. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yirong Chen¹, Liling Chen², Liyu Hu², Jianjun Wang³, Jinhuan Zhang¹, Hanqing Lyu⁴, Jinping Xu⁵, Jianxiang Chen⁶, Haibo Yu⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
² The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
³ Department of Neurology and Psychology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
⁴ Department of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
⁵ Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of Radiology, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39824229
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111213

Abstract

Background: Subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) frequently occurs alongside depressive symptoms, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. While cognitive decline and depressive symptoms are linked to cerebellar changes, the specific relationship between these changes and cognitive status in svMCI patients with depression remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigates the gray matter volume and functional alterations in the cerebellum of svMCI patients, with and without depressive symptoms, and their correlation with cognitive and depressive symptoms.

Methods: We enrolled 16 svMCI patients with depressive symptoms (svMCI+D), 15 without (svMCI-D), and 12 normal controls (NC). Multimodal MRI scans were conducted, assessing gray matter volume and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in the cerebellum. Correlations between FC and clinical scores from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were analyzed.

Results: Structural analysis indicated gray matter atrophy in left cerebellar lobules I_IV and VI (Cere6.L) in svMCI patients. svMCI+D patients showed reduced RSFC between Cere6.L and left cerebellar region IX and the left superior frontal gyrus (SFGdor.L). Both svMCI+D and svMCI-D groups showed increased RSFC between Cere6.L and the right caudate nucleus. RSFC between Cere6.L and SFGdor.L correlated negatively with HAMD scores in svMCI+D and positively with MoCA scores in svMCI-D. RSFC between Cere6.L and the right caudate nucleus also correlated positively with MoCA in the svMCI-D.

Conclusion: Cerebellar abnormalities, including the gray matter atrophy and RSFC changes, are associated with svMCI, particularly when depressive symptoms are present. These results suggest potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications for svMCI and emphasize the need for further research on the cerebellum's role in cognitive and emotional disorders.

Keywords: cerebellum; depression symptoms; functional connection; gray matter volume; subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment.