Longitudinal Changes in Hippocampal-Default Mode Network Connectivity and Cognition During Electroacupuncture Intervention in Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Cognitive Decline: A Pilot Resting-State fMRI Study

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated cognitive dysfunction (T2DACD) is strongly linked to disruption of cognition-supporting brain networks. Electroacupuncture (EA) has increasingly been examined as a nonpharmacological intervention targeting cognitive impairment; however, the longitudinal neurobiological patterns accompanying EA in T2DACD have not been fully characterized. In this exploratory pilot study, we evaluated alterations in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) across hippocampal subregions and default mode network (DMN) nodes in individuals with T2DACD.