Exploring the interplay between brain structural and functional connectivity in Alzheimer’s disease: A multivariate approach

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the unique patterns of structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC) across AD continuum. Specifically, we aimed to comprehend the differences in SC, as measured by diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), and FC, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), among healthy individuals (CN), AD subjects, and those in intermediate stages, i.e. early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI) and early mild cognitive impairment (LMCI). Two analyses were performed. The first aimed at assessing potential statistical differences in both structural and functional connectivity between the groups under investigation. The second, serving as the primary methodology, employed the Partial Least Squares (PLS) multivariate statistical technique to quantify the associations between SC and FC.