Transcriptional signatures relevance of cortical morphometric similarity network in infants with external hydrocephalus and motor impairment

Motivation: External hydrocephalus (EH) has been linked with motor impairment(MI) in 9.2% of cases. However, due to the natural developmental widening of the subarachnoid space in healthy infants, distinguishing pathological EH from benign conditions remains clinically challenging. Goal(s): To improve differentiation between pathological and benign EH, facilitating earlier intervention in at-risk infants. Approach: This study integrates morphometric similarity networks with transcriptomic data to explore structural and molecular alterations in infants with EH-related MI. Results: We identified significant regional morphometric differences and synaptic signaling pathway enrichment, suggesting their involvement in the pathogenesis of EH-related MI. Impact: Integrating neuroimaging and transcriptomics enhances understanding of EH-related MI pathogenesis, revealing potential imaging biomarkers for early diagnosis and novel targets for therapeutic intervention.