AUTHOR=Xu Wenwen , Chen Shanshan , Xue Chen , Hu Guanjie , Ma Wenying , Qi Wenzhang , Lin Xingjian , Chen Jiu 

TITLE=Functional MRI-Specific Alterations in Executive Control Network in Mild Cognitive Impairment: An ALE Meta-Analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2020.578863

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2020.578863

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is regarded as a transitional stage between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. MCI individuals with deficits in executive function are at higher risk for progressing to AD dementia. Currently, there is no consistent result for alterations in executive control network (ECN) in MCI which is difficult to early predict AD conversion. The aim of the study was to find the functional MRI-specific alterations in ECN by expounding the convergence of brain regions with functional abnormalities in ECN.  
Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science to identify neuroimaging studies by using the methods including the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation / fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, regional homogeneity, and functional connectivity in MCI patients. Based on the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) algorithm, the coordinate-based meta-analysis and functional meta-analytic connectivity modelling were conducted.
Results: Total 25 functional imaging studies with MCI patients were included in quantitative meta-analysis. By summarizing the included articles, we obtained specific brain regions changes mainly including precuneus, cuneus, lingual gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex and cerebellum posterior lobe in the ECN based on these three methods. The specific abnormal brain regions indicated that there were interactions between the ECN and other networks. 
Conclusions: This study confirmed functional imaging-specific abnormal markers in ECN and its interaction with other networks in MCI. It provides novel targets and pathways for individualized and precise interventions to delay the progression of MCI to AD.