Resting-state 7T brain fMRI reveals common neurobiological changes in patients with Crohn’s disease and major depressive disorder

Psychological stress is increasingly recognized as a key factor in Crohn’s disease (CD), yet the neurobiological connections between CD and major depressive disorder (MDD) remain poorly defined. In this study, we utilize advanced neuroimaging techniques to explore these neurobiological changes. Resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI) was performed on CD patients, MDD patients, and healthy controls (HCs) using a 7 Tesla scanner. CD patients showed higher depression scores than HCs but lower than those of patients with MDD. There was also a clear link between the severity of digestive symptoms and depression scores in CD patients. RS-fMRI analysis identified both CD and MDD patients had changes in activity in the precuneus region. Additionally, the connectivity between the precuneus and anterior cingulate cortex was also similarly altered in both groups. These findings reveal overlapping neurobiological pathways and underscore the importance of integrated therapeutic strategies to address the comorbidities of CD and MDD.