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.

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