Abnormal Resting-state Functional Connectivity and cerebral blood flow in Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Motivation: Overactive Bladder (OAB) significantly impacts patients' quality of life. However, the brain-bladder control mechanism during the bladder filling was not known. Goal(s): To investigate abnormality of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and functional connectivity (FC) during the bladder filling in OAB patients. Approach: Arterial spin labeling (ASL) images were acquired with bladder filling volumes of 0, 50, 100, 200, 350 and 500mL. Results: We observed medio-prefrontal cortex (mPFC) CBF and mPFC-PCC (posterior cingulate cortex) FC are compromised in OAB patients during bladder filling. Impact: We offered a new perspective for the role of ASL perfusion and functional connectivity in understanding brain mechanism that controls urinary continence. ASL may be used to monitor treatment effects of OAB patients.