Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks
Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) often presents alongside physical illnesses, such as a high incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) in patients, highlighting the common occurrence of these comorbidities. Recent research has indicated that the presence of comorbid SHypo in...
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03995-2 |
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| author | Shuai Zhao Jindan Wu Xiaomei Liu Yishan Du Xiaoqin Wang Yi Xia Hao Sun Haowen Zou Xumiao Wang Zhilu Chen Rui Yan Hao Tang Qing Lu Zhijian Yao |
| author_facet | Shuai Zhao Jindan Wu Xiaomei Liu Yishan Du Xiaoqin Wang Yi Xia Hao Sun Haowen Zou Xumiao Wang Zhilu Chen Rui Yan Hao Tang Qing Lu Zhijian Yao |
| author_sort | Shuai Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) often presents alongside physical illnesses, such as a high incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) in patients, highlighting the common occurrence of these comorbidities. Recent research has indicated that the presence of comorbid SHypo in individuals diagnosed with MDD may result in notable alterations in both brain structure and function. This study aimed was to investigate the neurological mechanisms underlying this co-occurrence using a data-driven approach to analyze brain activity patterns. Methods Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with MDD without any comorbid conditions (nSHypo-MDD) were included in the study, along with 29 MDD patients who also had SHypo (SHypo-MDD), 26 patients with SHypo only, and 29 healthy individuals as controls (HCs). Each participant received resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans and underwent neuropsychological evaluations. Results We found significantly altered functional connectivity (FC) within the resting-state networks (RSNs) of the ventral and dorsal sensorimotor network (VSMN and DSMN) and occipital pole visual network (PVN) (p < 0.05, FDR corrected). A vital interaction effect between SHypo and MDD was detected in the PVN, showing that SHypo-MDD patients had higher FC values in the left cuneus than nSHypo-MDD patients. Serum-free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels in SHypo-MDD patients demonstrated an inverse relationship with FC values of the right supplementary motor area (SMA.R) (r = − 0.563, p = 0.003). Furthermore, the FC values in the left cuneus are positively associated with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) scores (r = 0.507, p = 0.008). Conclusions Our study reveals significant FC changes in SHypo-MDD patients, particularly in the PVN, VSMN, and DSMN, suggesting compensatory mechanisms that mitigate cognitive deficits and highlighting the need for integrated management of SHypo and MDD to improve cognitive outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ece36bbca8254c8d9b6d231be142598e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-ece36bbca8254c8d9b6d231be142598e2025-08-20T02:10:16ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152025-03-0123111110.1186/s12916-025-03995-2Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networksShuai Zhao0Jindan Wu1Xiaomei Liu2Yishan Du3Xiaoqin Wang4Yi Xia5Hao Sun6Haowen Zou7Xumiao Wang8Zhilu Chen9Rui Yan10Hao Tang11Qing Lu12Zhijian Yao13Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Endocrinology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Endocrinology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversitySchool of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityAbstract Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) often presents alongside physical illnesses, such as a high incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) in patients, highlighting the common occurrence of these comorbidities. Recent research has indicated that the presence of comorbid SHypo in individuals diagnosed with MDD may result in notable alterations in both brain structure and function. This study aimed was to investigate the neurological mechanisms underlying this co-occurrence using a data-driven approach to analyze brain activity patterns. Methods Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with MDD without any comorbid conditions (nSHypo-MDD) were included in the study, along with 29 MDD patients who also had SHypo (SHypo-MDD), 26 patients with SHypo only, and 29 healthy individuals as controls (HCs). Each participant received resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans and underwent neuropsychological evaluations. Results We found significantly altered functional connectivity (FC) within the resting-state networks (RSNs) of the ventral and dorsal sensorimotor network (VSMN and DSMN) and occipital pole visual network (PVN) (p < 0.05, FDR corrected). A vital interaction effect between SHypo and MDD was detected in the PVN, showing that SHypo-MDD patients had higher FC values in the left cuneus than nSHypo-MDD patients. Serum-free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels in SHypo-MDD patients demonstrated an inverse relationship with FC values of the right supplementary motor area (SMA.R) (r = − 0.563, p = 0.003). Furthermore, the FC values in the left cuneus are positively associated with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) scores (r = 0.507, p = 0.008). Conclusions Our study reveals significant FC changes in SHypo-MDD patients, particularly in the PVN, VSMN, and DSMN, suggesting compensatory mechanisms that mitigate cognitive deficits and highlighting the need for integrated management of SHypo and MDD to improve cognitive outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03995-2Brain NetworksSubclinical HypothyroidismMajor depressive disorder |
| spellingShingle | Shuai Zhao Jindan Wu Xiaomei Liu Yishan Du Xiaoqin Wang Yi Xia Hao Sun Haowen Zou Xumiao Wang Zhilu Chen Rui Yan Hao Tang Qing Lu Zhijian Yao Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks BMC Medicine Brain Networks Subclinical Hypothyroidism Major depressive disorder |
| title | Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks |
| title_full | Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks |
| title_short | Exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks |
| title_sort | exploring the interaction effects of subclinical hypothyroidism and major depressive disorder on brain networks |
| topic | Brain Networks Subclinical Hypothyroidism Major depressive disorder |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03995-2 |
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