28 июля 2025
Neural network mechanisms of emotional dysregulation in cerebral small vessel disease
Olga R. Dobrushina, Larisa A. Dobrynina, Galina A. Arina, Evgenia S. Novikova, Mariia M. Tsypushtanova, Angelina G. Makarova, Mariia V. Gubanova, Viktoriya V. Trubitsyna, Vlada V. Kolomoitseva, Daria A. Kazantseva, Elena I. Kremneva, Marina V. Krotenkova
Neurobiology of Aging 155 (2025) 78–86 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.07.013
Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a prevalent age-related disorder that leads to progressive white matter
damage, resulting in cognitive decline and depression. This study explored the neural network mechanisms of
emotional dysregulation in CSVD, focusing on both depression and alexithymia and considering the broader
context of studies on emotional cardiovascular risk factors. Study participants (n = 196, age 37–75) were
assessed for CSVD, arterial hypertension, depressive symptoms, and alexithymia. Emotional dysregulation,
defined by depression and alexithymia, was estimated using a structural equation model accounting for the
potential of bidirectional links with CSVD. To investigate the connectivity of networks involved in emotional
processing, 167 participants underwent resting-state functional MRI. The study showed that emotional dysregulation was associated with reduced functional connectivity between the salience and language networks and
within the language network. Age was associated with reduced functional connectivity within the salience and
language networks, suggesting a possibility of synergistic deleterious effects. The revealed alterations in brain
connectivity might reflect the dysfunction of the system of allostasis, explaining the observed symptoms of
depression and alexithymia, as well as the previous findings on emotional cardiovascular risk factors.