Mapping the long-term delayed recall-based cortex-hippocampus network constrained by the structural and functional connectome: a case-control multimodal MRI study

BACKGROUND: Connectome mapping may reveal new treatment targets for patients with neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, the long-term delayed recall based-network with structural and functional connectome is still largely unknown. Our objectives were to (1) identify the long-term delayed recall-based cortex-hippocampus network with structural and functional connectome and (2) investigate its relationships with various cognitive functions, age, and activities of daily living. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 131 subjects (73 amnestic mild cognitive impairment [aMCI] patients and 58 age- and education-matched healthy controls [HCs]). All subjects completed a neuropsychological battery, activities of daily living assessment, and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. Nodes of the cortical-hippocampal network related to long-term delayed recall were identified by probabilistic fiber tracking and functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Then, the main and interaction effects of the network on cognitive functions were assessed by a generalized linear model. Finally, the moderating effects of the network on the relationships between long-term delayed recall and clinical features were analyzed by multiple regression and Hayes’ bootstrap method. All the effects of cortex-hippocampus network were analyzed at the connectivity and network levels. RESULTS: The result of a generalized linear model showed that the bilateral hippocampus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, right supplementary motor area, left lingual gyrus, left superior occipital gyrus, left superior parietal gyrus, left precuneus, and right temporal pole (superior temporal gyrus) are the left and right cortex-hippocampus network nodes related to long-term delayed recall (P < 0.05). Significant interaction effects were found between the Auditory Verbal Learning Test Part 5 (AVLT 5) scores and global properties of the left cortex-hippocampus network [hierarchy, clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, global efficiency, local efficiency, Sigma and synchronization (P < 0.05 Bonferroni corrected)]. Significant interaction effects were found between the general cognitive function/executive function/language and global properties of the left cortex-hippocampus network [Sigma and synchronization (P < 0.05 Bonferroni corrected)]. CONCLUSION: This study introduces a novel symptom-based network and describes relationships among cognitive functions, brain function, and age. The cortex–hippocampus network constrained by the structural and functional connectome is closely related to long-term delayed recall. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-023-01197-7.