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Multiplex connectomics reveal altered networks in frontotemporal dementia: A multisite study
Sunil Kumar Khokhar, Manoj Kumar, Faheem Arshad, Sheetal Goyal, M. Tiwari, Nithin Thanissery, Subasree Ramakrishnan, Chandana Nagaraj et al.. Network Neuroscience, 2025-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
A network neuroscience perspective can significantly advance the understanding of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This study employed an innovative multiplex connectomics approach, integrating cortical thickness (CTH) and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in a dual-layer model to investigate network alterations in FTD subtypes across two geographically distinct sites. The cohort included groups of behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD), primary progressive aphasia (PPA), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and cognitively normal (CN) individuals who were analyzed from two separate sites. Site 1 included 28 bvFTD, 20 PPA, and 27 MCI participants, whereas Site 2 included 26 bvFTD, 43 PPA, and 43 CN individuals, respectively. Utilizing CTH and FDG-PET data after standard preprocessing, a multiplex network pipeline in BRAPH2 toolbox was used to derive multiplex participation coefficient (MPC) between the groups. The analysis revealed an increase in global MPC as an indicator of disease in PPA at both sites. Additionally, nodal MPC alterations in the anterior cingulate, frontal, and temporal lobes in PPA were compared with bvFTD. Comparisons with the CN showed that nodal MPC alterations were more extensive in PPA when compared with bvFTD. These findings underscore the potential utility of multiplex connectomes for identifying network disruptions in neurodegenerative disorders, offering promising implications for future research and clinical applications.
Key findings
- A network neuroscience perspective can significantly advance the understanding of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
- The analysis revealed an increase in global MPC as an indicator of disease in PPA at both sites.
- Additionally, nodal MPC alterations in the anterior cingulate, frontal, and temporal lobes in PPA were compared with bvFTD.
- Comparisons with the CN showed that nodal MPC alterations were more extensive in PPA when compared with bvFTD.
- These findings underscore the potential utility of multiplex connectomes for identifying network disruptions in neurodegenerative disorders, offering promising implications for future research and clinical applications.
Why it matters
Using combined cortical thickness and FDG-PET network analysis across two sites, this study found increased global multiplex participation coefficient in primary progressive aphasia and nodal changes in frontal and temporal regions. These are imaging findings about disease patterns and do not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Participants28
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 38 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 40 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Network Neuroscience) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Network Neuroscience: journal h-index 57 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 28 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi: institution h-index 398 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40487360) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 38 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 38 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 40 out of 100. |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Khokhar, S. K., Kumar, M., Arshad, F., Goyal, S., Tiwari, M., Thanissery, N., et al. (2025). Multiplex connectomics reveal altered networks in frontotemporal dementia: A multisite study. Network Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1162/netn_a_00448
Vancouver
Khokhar SK, Kumar M, Arshad F, Goyal S, Tiwari M, Thanissery N, et al. Multiplex connectomics reveal altered networks in frontotemporal dementia: A multisite study. Network Neuroscience. 2025. doi:10.1162/netn_a_00448. PMID: 40487360.
BibTeX
@article{khokhar2025-40487360,
author = {Khokhar, Sunil Kumar and Kumar, Manoj and Arshad, Faheem and Goyal, Sheetal and Tiwari, M. and Thanissery, Nithin and Ramakrishnan, Subasree and Nagaraj, Chandana and others},
title = {{Multiplex connectomics reveal altered networks in frontotemporal dementia: A multisite study}},
journal = {Network Neuroscience},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1162/netn_a_00448},
pmid = {40487360},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1162/netn_a_00448}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.