Xploring brain changes in self-reported anxiety: cutting-edge exploratory diffusion tensor imaging study reveals distinct alterations in white matter tract structure among non-clinical individuals

Abd Razak, Wan Adibah Nadiah and Shamsuddin Perisamy, Rajeev and Che Mohd Nassir, Che Mohd Nasril and Mustapha, Muzaimi and Zolkefley, Mohd Khairul Izamil (2025) Xploring brain changes in self-reported anxiety: cutting-edge exploratory diffusion tensor imaging study reveals distinct alterations in white matter tract structure among non-clinical individuals. Asian People Journal (APJ), 8 (1). pp. 181-195. E-ISSN 2600-8971

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Abstract

Previous research utilising diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has reported disruptions in white matter pathways among individualswith anxiety-related disorders. However, there is limitedresearch focusing on healthy or non-clinical groups with self-reported anxietysymptoms. This investigation aims to explore how self-reported anxiety relates to white matter microstructural differences in non-clinical adult brains. A total of twenty-nine participants took part in the study. Each participant completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and underwent a detailed high-resolution 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diffusion MRI connectometry was conducted to generate correlational tractography, identifying links between generalised fractional anisotropy (FA) values of white matter and anxiety scores derived from the DASS-21. The average anxiety score, as measured by the DASS-21, was 10.97 with a standard deviation of 7.002. Notably, a significant inverse association emerged between anxiety levels and FA values in several white matter regions, including the left and right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi, the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, the right superior longitudinalfasciculus, and the left parahippocampal cingulum bundle (p < 0.05). The local brain connectome associated with anxiety may serve as a biomarker for early diagnosis and prevention of anxiety disorders in non-clinical populations.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Anxiety; connectometry; diffusion tensor imaging; white matter; DASS-21
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental Health. Mental Illness Prevention R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Dr Rajeev Shamsuddin Perisamy
Date Deposited:	16 May 2025 15:42
Last Modified:	16 May 2025 15:47
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/121089

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