Network-based statistics reveals an enhanced subnetwork in prefrontal cortex in mild cognitive impairment: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is generally considered to have a high risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease. Our study aimed to investigate the abnormal functional connectivity (FC) in prefrontal cortex (PFC) in patients with MCI and explore the relationship between the observed changes and cognitive function. Sixty-seven patients with MCI and 71 healthy individuals were recruited for this study. All participants underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) examinations. Compared with healthy controls (HC), the patients with MCI exhibited significantly lower MoCA scores (