Study of a precise treatment protocol for patients with consciousness disorders based on the brain network analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract

Objective: How to conduct objective and accurate individualized assessments of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) and carry out precision rehabilitation treatment technology is a major rehabilitation problem that needs to be solved urgently.

Methods: In this study, a multi-layer brain network was constructed based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze the structural and functional brain networks of patients with DOC at different levels and to find regulatory targets (imaging markers) with recovery potential for DOC. Then repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was performed in DOC patients to clinically validate.

Results: The brain network connectivity of DOC patients with different consciousness states is different, and the most obvious brain regions appeared in the olfactory cortex and precuneus. rTMS stimulation could effectively improve the consciousness level of DOC patients and stimulate the occipital lobe (specific regions found in this study) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and both parts had a good consciousness recovery effect.

Conclusion: In clinical work, personalized stimulation regimen treatment combined with the brain network characteristics of DOC patients can improve the treatment effect.