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1.
Genes (Basel) ; 15(6)2024 Jun 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38927745

ABSTRACT

Brain lipid homeostasis is an absolute requirement for proper functionality of nerve cells and neurological performance. Current evidence demonstrates that lipid alterations are linked to neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). The complexity of the brain lipidome and its metabolic regulation has hampered the identification of critical processes associated with the onset and progression of AD. While most experimental studies have focused on the effects of known factors on the development of pathological hallmarks in AD, e.g., amyloid deposition, tau protein and neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, etc., studies addressing the causative effects of lipid alterations remain largely unexplored. In the present study, we have used a multifactor approach combining diets containing different amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), estrogen availabilities, and genetic backgrounds, i.e., wild type (WT) and APP/PS1 (FAD), to analyze the lipid phenotype of the frontal cortex in middle-aged female mice. First, we observed that severe n-3 PUFA deficiency impacts the brain n-3 long-chain PUFA (LCPUFA) composition, yet it was notably mitigated by hepatic de novo synthesis. n-6 LCPUFAs, ether-linked fatty acids, and saturates were also changed by the dietary condition, but the extent of changes was dependent on the genetic background and hormonal condition. Likewise, brain cortex phospholipids were mostly modified by the genotype (FAD>WT) with nuanced effects from dietary treatment. Cholesterol (but not sterol esters) was modified by the genotype (WT>FAD) and dietary condition (higher in DHA-free conditions, especially in WT mice). However, the effects of estrogen treatment were mostly observed in relation to phospholipid remodeling in a genotype-dependent manner. Analyses of lipid-derived variables indicate that nerve cell membrane biophysics were significantly affected by the three factors, with lower membrane microviscosity (higher fluidity) values obtained for FAD animals. In conclusion, our multifactor analyses revealed that the genotype, diet, and estrogen status modulate the lipid phenotype of the frontal cortex, both as independent factors and through their interactions. Altogether, the outcomes point to potential strategies based on dietary and hormonal interventions aimed at stabilizing the brain cortex lipid composition in Alzheimer's disease neuropathology.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor , Disease Models, Animal , Estrogens , Fatty Acids, Omega-3 , Frontal Lobe , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Alzheimer Disease/genetics , Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Alzheimer Disease/diet therapy , Animals , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/metabolism , Fatty Acids, Omega-3/pharmacology , Mice , Frontal Lobe/metabolism , Frontal Lobe/drug effects , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Female , Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/genetics , Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism , Estrogens/metabolism , Estrogens/pharmacology , Mice, Transgenic , Presenilin-1/genetics , Presenilin-1/metabolism , Lipid Metabolism/drug effects , Humans
2.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 100(1): 357-374, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38875035

ABSTRACT

Background: Executive dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been associated with gray matter atrophy. Prior studies have yielded limited insight into associations between gray matter volume and executive function in early and late amnestic MCI (aMCI). Objective: To examine the relative importance of predictors of executive function at 24 months and relationships between baseline regional gray matter volume and executive function performance at 24-month follow-up in non-demented older adults. Methods: 147 participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (mean age = 70.6 years) completed brain magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing and were classified as cognitively normal (n = 49), early aMCI (n = 60), or late aMCI (n = 38). Analyses explored the importance of demographic, APOEɛ4, biomarker (p-tau/Aß42, t-tau/Aß42), and gray matter regions-of-interest (ROI) variables to 24-month executive function, whether ROIs predicted executive function, and whether relationships varied by baseline diagnostic status. Results: Across all participants, baseline anterior cingulate cortex and superior parietal lobule volumes were the strongest predictors of 24-month executive function performance. In early aMCI, anterior cingulate cortex volume was the strongest predictor and demonstrated a significant interaction such that lower volume related to worse 24-month executive function in early aMCI. Educational attainment and inferior frontal gyrus volume were the strongest predictors of 24-month executive function performance for cognitively normal and late aMCI groups, respectively. Conclusions: Baseline frontoparietal gray matter regions were significant predictors of executive function performance in the context of aMCI and may identify those at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Anterior cingulate cortex volume may predict executive function performance in early aMCI.


Subject(s)
Aging , Cognitive Dysfunction , Executive Function , Gray Matter , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neuropsychological Tests , Humans , Male , Female , Executive Function/physiology , Gray Matter/diagnostic imaging , Gray Matter/pathology , Aged , Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnostic imaging , Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology , Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology , Aging/physiology , Aging/pathology , Follow-Up Studies , Parietal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Parietal Lobe/pathology , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Middle Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Organ Size
3.
Open Biol ; 14(6): 240063, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38864245

ABSTRACT

Frontotemporal lobe abnormalities are linked to neuropsychiatric disorders and cognition, but the role of cellular heterogeneity between temporal lobe (TL) and frontal lobe (FL) in the vulnerability to genetic risk factors remains to be elucidated. We integrated single-nucleus transcriptome analysis in 'fresh' human FL and TL with genetic susceptibility, gene dysregulation in neuropsychiatric disease and psychoactive drug response data. We show how intrinsic differences between TL and FL contribute to the vulnerability of specific cell types to both genetic risk factors and psychoactive drugs. Neuronal populations, specifically PVALB neurons, were most highly vulnerable to genetic risk factors for psychiatric disease. These psychiatric disease-associated genes were mostly upregulated in the TL, and dysregulated in the brain of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Among these genes, GRIN2A and SLC12A5, implicated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, were significantly upregulated in TL PVALB neurons and in psychiatric disease patients' brain. PVALB neurons from the TL were twofold more vulnerable to psychoactive drugs than to genetic risk factors, showing the influence and specificity of frontotemporal lobe differences on cell vulnerabilities. These studies provide a cell type resolved map of the impact of brain regional differences on cell type vulnerabilities in neuropsychiatric disorders.


Subject(s)
Frontal Lobe , Mental Disorders , Psychotropic Drugs , Temporal Lobe , Humans , Psychotropic Drugs/pharmacology , Frontal Lobe/metabolism , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Temporal Lobe/metabolism , Temporal Lobe/pathology , Mental Disorders/genetics , Mental Disorders/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Gene Expression Profiling , Transcriptome , Gene Expression Regulation , Schizophrenia/genetics , Schizophrenia/metabolism , Bipolar Disorder/genetics , Bipolar Disorder/metabolism
4.
J Behav Addict ; 13(2): 576-586, 2024 Jun 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38935433

ABSTRACT

Background: Changes in brain structural connections appear to be important in the pathophysiology of substance use disorders, but their role in behavioral addictions, such as gambling disorder (GD), is unclear. GD also offers a model to study addiction mechanisms without pharmacological confounding factors. Here, we used multimodal MRI data to examine the integrity of white matter connections in individuals with GD. We hypothesized that the affected areas would be in the fronto-striatal-thalamic circuit. Methods: Twenty individuals with GD (mean age: 64 years, GD duration: 15.7 years) and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent detailed clinical examinations together with brain 3T MRI scans (T1, T2, FLAIR and DWI). White matter (WM) analysis involved fractional anisotropy and lesion load, while gray matter (GM) analysis included voxel- and surface-based morphometry. These measures were compared between groups, and correlations with GD-related behavioral characteristics were examined. Results: Individuals with GD showed reduced WM integrity in the left and right frontal parts of the corona radiata and corpus callosum (pFWE < 0.05). WM gambling symptom severity (SOGS score) was negatively associated to WM integrity in these areas within the left hemisphere (p < 0.05). Individuals with GD also exhibited higher WM lesion load in the left anterior corona radiata (pFWE < 0.05). GM volume in the left thalamus and GM thickness in the left orbitofrontal cortex were reduced in the GD group (pFWE < 0.05). Conclusions: Similar to substance addictions, the fronto-striatal-thalamic circuit is also affected in GD, suggesting that this circuitry may have a crucial role in addictions, independent of pharmacological substances.


Subject(s)
Gambling , Gray Matter , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , White Matter , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Gray Matter/diagnostic imaging , Gray Matter/pathology , White Matter/diagnostic imaging , White Matter/pathology , Gambling/diagnostic imaging , Gambling/pathology , Gambling/physiopathology , Female , Aged , Multimodal Imaging , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Thalamus/diagnostic imaging , Thalamus/pathology
5.
Neurology ; 103(2): e209619, 2024 Jul 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38900994

ABSTRACT

Cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions (CIMDL) are a rare complication of chronic intranasal cocaine use involving the centrofacial mucosal structures, often with nasal septum perforation and, in severe cases, involvement of neurocranial structures. Patients present with nasal obstruction, epistaxis, facial pain, nasal ulcerative lesions with crusting, and septal and palate perforation causing dysphagia and nasal reflux. CNS involvement is uncommon.We report a 47-year-old man with a history of nasal cocaine use who developed a subacute frontal syndrome secondary to cribriform plate destruction complicated by bilateral frontal lobe empyema and abscesses and extensive white matter involvement. The frequent presence of serum antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in CIMDL makes this uncommon presentation challenging to differentiate from localized granulomatosis with polyangiitis. While ANCA antibodies may play a role in CIMDL, immunosuppression is not indicated and may lead to iatrogenesis.CIMDL should be considered in patients with isolated frontal lobe syndrome. Eliciting a history of cocaine use and obtaining toxicologic studies are essential in the diagnosis of CIMDL.


Subject(s)
Cocaine-Related Disorders , Frontal Lobe , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Cocaine-Related Disorders/complications , Cocaine/adverse effects
6.
Schizophr Res ; 269: 123-129, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38772324

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Persistent auditory verbal hallucinations (pAVHs) are a fundamental manifestation of schizophrenia (SCZ), yet the exact connection between pAVHs and brain structure remains contentious. This study aims to explore the potential correlation between pAVHs and alterations in grey matter volume (GMV) within specific brain regions among individuals diagnosed with SCZ. METHODS: 76 SCZ patients with pAVHs (pAVH group), 57 SCZ patients without AVHs (non-AVH group), and 83 healthy controls (HC group) were investigated using 3 T magnetic resonance imaging. The P3 hallucination item of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to assess the severity of pAVHs. Voxel-based morphometry was used to analyze the GMV profile between the three groups. RESULTS: Compared to the non-AVH and HC groups, the pAVH group exhibited extensive reduction in GMV within the frontotemporal cortex. Conversely, no significant difference in GMV was observed between the non-AVH and HC groups. The severity of pAVHs showed a negative correlation with GMV in several regions, including the right fusiform, right inferior temporal, right medial orbitofrontal, right superior frontal, and right temporal pole (p = 0.0036, Bonferroni correction). Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that GMV in the right temporal pole (ß = -0.29, p = 0.001) and right fusiform (ß = -0.21, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with the severity of pAVHs. CONCLUSIONS: Widespread reduction in GMV is observed within the frontotemporal cortex, particularly involving the right temporal pole and right fusiform, which potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of pAVHs in individuals with chronic SCZ.


Subject(s)
Gray Matter , Hallucinations , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Schizophrenia , Temporal Lobe , Humans , Schizophrenia/diagnostic imaging , Schizophrenia/pathology , Hallucinations/diagnostic imaging , Hallucinations/etiology , Hallucinations/pathology , Hallucinations/physiopathology , Male , Female , Adult , Gray Matter/diagnostic imaging , Gray Matter/pathology , Temporal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Temporal Lobe/pathology , Chronic Disease , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Middle Aged , Young Adult , China , East Asian People
7.
Addict Biol ; 29(5): e13399, 2024 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38711213

ABSTRACT

Excessive use of the internet, which is a typical scenario of self-control failure, could lead to potential consequences such as anxiety, depression, and diminished academic performance. However, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the structural basis of self-control and internet addiction. In a cohort of 96 internet gamers, we examined the relationships among grey matter volume and white matter integrity within the frontostriatal circuits and internet addiction severity, as well as self-control measures. The results showed a significant and negative correlation between dACC grey matter volume and internet addiction severity (p < 0.001), but not with self-control. Subsequent tractography from the dACC to the bilateral ventral striatum (VS) was conducted. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity of dACC-right VS pathway was negatively (p = 0.011) and positively (p = 0.020) correlated with internet addiction severity, respectively, and the FA was also positively correlated with self-control (p = 0.036). These associations were not observed for the dACC-left VS pathway. Further mediation analysis demonstrated a significant complete mediation effect of self-control on the relationship between FA of the dACC-right VS pathway and internet addiction severity. Our findings suggest that the dACC-right VS pathway is a critical neural substrate for both internet addiction and self-control. Deficits in this pathway may lead to impaired self-regulation over internet usage, exacerbating the severity of internet addiction.


Subject(s)
Diffusion Tensor Imaging , Gray Matter , Internet Addiction Disorder , Self-Control , White Matter , Humans , White Matter/diagnostic imaging , White Matter/pathology , Male , Internet Addiction Disorder/diagnostic imaging , Internet Addiction Disorder/physiopathology , Female , Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods , Adult , Young Adult , Gray Matter/diagnostic imaging , Gray Matter/pathology , Ventral Striatum/diagnostic imaging , Ventral Striatum/physiopathology , Ventral Striatum/pathology , Severity of Illness Index , Neural Pathways/diagnostic imaging , Neural Pathways/physiopathology , Corpus Striatum/diagnostic imaging , Corpus Striatum/pathology , Corpus Striatum/physiopathology , Internet , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Frontal Lobe/physiopathology
8.
Ann Clin Transl Neurol ; 11(6): 1420-1429, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38717724

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Mitochondrial impairments have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) based on analysis of mitochondria in peripheral tissues and cultured cells. We sought to assess whether mitochondrial abnormalities present in postmortem brain tissues of patients with FXTAS are also present in plasma neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs) from living carriers of fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein1 (FMR1) gene premutations at an early asymptomatic stage of the disease continuum. METHODS: We utilized postmortem frozen cerebellar and frontal cortex samples from a cohort of eight patients with FXTAS and nine controls and measured the quantity and activity of the mitochondrial proteins complex IV and complex V. In addition, we evaluated the same measures in isolated plasma NDEVs by selective immunoaffinity capture targeting L1CAM from a separate cohort of eight FMR1 premutation carriers and four age-matched controls. RESULTS: Lower complex IV and V quantity and activity were observed in the cerebellum of FXTAS patients compared to controls, without any differences in total mitochondrial content. No patient-control differences were observed in the frontal cortex. In NDEVs, FMR1 premutation carriers compared to controls had lower activity of Complex IV and Complex V, but higher Complex V quantity. INTERPRETATION: Quantitative and functional abnormalities in mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes IV and V seen in the cerebellum of patients with FXTAS are also manifest in plasma NDEVs of FMR1 premutation carriers. Plasma NDEVs may provide further insights into mitochondrial pathologies in this syndrome and could potentially lead to the development of biomarkers for predicting symptomatic FXTAS among premutation carriers and disease monitoring.


Subject(s)
Ataxia , Extracellular Vesicles , Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein , Fragile X Syndrome , Mitochondria , Tremor , Humans , Fragile X Syndrome/genetics , Fragile X Syndrome/metabolism , Fragile X Syndrome/pathology , Fragile X Syndrome/physiopathology , Tremor/genetics , Tremor/metabolism , Tremor/physiopathology , Tremor/pathology , Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism , Ataxia/genetics , Ataxia/metabolism , Ataxia/pathology , Ataxia/physiopathology , Male , Aged , Female , Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein/genetics , Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein/metabolism , Middle Aged , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondria/pathology , Cerebellum/metabolism , Cerebellum/pathology , Aged, 80 and over , Brain/metabolism , Brain/pathology , Frontal Lobe/metabolism , Frontal Lobe/pathology
9.
Acta Neuropathol ; 147(1): 91, 2024 05 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38772917

ABSTRACT

APOEε4 is the major genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although APOEε4 is known to promote Aß pathology, recent data also support an effect of APOE polymorphism on phosphorylated Tau (pTau) pathology. To elucidate these potential effects, the pTau interactome was analyzed across APOE genotypes in the frontal cortex of 10 advanced AD cases (n = 5 APOEε3/ε3 and n = 5 APOEε4/ε4), using a combination of anti-pTau pS396/pS404 (PHF1) immunoprecipitation (IP) and mass spectrometry (MS). This proteomic approach was complemented by an analysis of anti-pTau PHF1 and anti-Aß 4G8 immunohistochemistry, performed in the frontal cortex of 21 advanced AD cases (n = 11 APOEε3/ε3 and n = 10 APOEε4/ε4). Our dataset includes 1130 and 1330 proteins enriched in IPPHF1 samples from APOEε3/ε3 and APOEε4/ε4 groups (fold change ≥ 1.50, IPPHF1 vs IPIgG ctrl). We identified 80 and 68 proteins as probable pTau interactors in APOEε3/ε3 and APOEε4/ε4 groups, respectively (SAINT score ≥ 0.80; false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 5%). A total of 47/80 proteins were identified as more likely to interact with pTau in APOEε3/ε3 vs APOEε4/ε4 cases. Functional enrichment analyses showed that they were significantly associated with the nucleoplasm compartment and involved in RNA processing. In contrast, 35/68 proteins were identified as more likely to interact with pTau in APOEε4/ε4 vs APOEε3/ε3 cases. They were significantly associated with the synaptic compartment and involved in cellular transport. A characterization of Tau pathology in the frontal cortex showed a higher density of plaque-associated neuritic crowns, made of dystrophic axons and synapses, in APOEε4 carriers. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy was more frequent and severe in APOEε4/ε4 cases. Our study supports an influence of APOE genotype on pTau-subcellular location in AD. These results suggest a facilitation of pTau progression to Aß-affected brain regions in APOEε4 carriers, paving the way to the identification of new therapeutic targets.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Apolipoprotein E4 , tau Proteins , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Alzheimer Disease/genetics , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Apolipoprotein E4/genetics , Apolipoprotein E4/metabolism , Frontal Lobe/metabolism , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Genotype , Phosphorylation , Proteomics , tau Proteins/metabolism , tau Proteins/genetics
10.
PLoS One ; 19(5): e0301267, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38753768

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relentlessly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative diseases for which at present no cure is available. Despite the extensive research the progress from diagnosis to prognosis in ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has been slow which represents suboptimal understanding of disease pathophysiological processes. In recent studies, several genes have been associated with the ALS and FTD diseases such as SOD1, TDP43, and TBK1, whereas the hexanucleotide GGGGCC repeat expansion (HRE) in C9orf72 gene is a most frequent cause of ALS and FTD, that has changed the understanding of these diseases. METHODS: The goal of this study was to identify and spatially determine differential gene expression signature differences between cerebellum and frontal cortex in C9orf72-associated ALS (C9-ALS), to study the network properties of these differentially expressed genes, and to identify miRNAs targeting the common differentially expressed genes in both the tissues. This study thus highlights underlying differential cell susceptibilities to the disease mechanisms in C9-ALS and suggesting therapeutic target selection in C9-ALS. RESULTS: In this manuscript, we have identified that the genes involved in neuron development, protein localization and transcription are mostly enriched in cerebellum of C9-ALS patients, while the UPR-related genes are enriched in the frontal cortex. Of note, UPR pathway genes were mostly dysregulated both in the C9-ALS cerebellum and frontal cortex. Overall, the data presented here show that defects in normal RNA processing and the UPR pathway are the pathological hallmarks of C9-ALS. Interestingly, the cerebellum showed more strong transcriptome changes than the frontal cortex. CONCLUSION: Interestingly, the cerebellum region showed more significant transcriptomic changes as compared to the frontal cortex region suggesting its active participation in the disease process. This nuanced understanding may offer valuable insights for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating disease progression in C9-ALS.


Subject(s)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis , Cerebellum , Frontal Lobe , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/genetics , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/pathology , Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/metabolism , C9orf72 Protein/genetics , C9orf72 Protein/metabolism , Cerebellum/metabolism , Cerebellum/pathology , Frontal Lobe/metabolism , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Frontotemporal Dementia/genetics , Frontotemporal Dementia/pathology , Frontotemporal Dementia/metabolism , MicroRNAs/genetics , MicroRNAs/metabolism
11.
Brain ; 147(6): 2214-2229, 2024 Jun 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38802114

ABSTRACT

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has emerged as a potential risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Blast mTBI, caused by exposure to a pressure wave from an explosion, is predominantly experienced by military personnel and has increased in prevalence and severity in recent decades. Yet the underlying pathology of blast mTBI is largely unknown. We examined the expression and localization of AQP4 in human post-mortem frontal cortex and observed distinct laminar differences in AQP4 expression following blast exposure. We also observed similar laminar changes in AQP4 expression and localization and delayed impairment of glymphatic function that emerged 28 days following blast injury in a mouse model of repetitive blast mTBI. In a cohort of veterans with blast mTBI, we observed that blast exposure was associated with an increased burden of frontal cortical MRI-visible perivascular spaces, a putative neuroimaging marker of glymphatic perivascular dysfunction. These findings suggest that changes in AQP4 and delayed glymphatic impairment following blast injury may render the post-traumatic brain vulnerable to post-concussive symptoms and chronic neurodegeneration.


Subject(s)
Aquaporin 4 , Blast Injuries , Glymphatic System , Adult , Aged , Animals , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Middle Aged , Aquaporin 4/metabolism , Blast Injuries/complications , Blast Injuries/pathology , Blast Injuries/metabolism , Brain Concussion/metabolism , Brain Concussion/complications , Brain Concussion/pathology , Brain Concussion/physiopathology , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/complications , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/pathology , Frontal Lobe/metabolism , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Glymphatic System/metabolism , Glymphatic System/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Veterans
12.
Neurocase ; 30(1): 32-38, 2024 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38752838

ABSTRACT

We report a patient with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia who developed agraphia, irritability, perseverative and stereotyped behavior, and dietary changes. MRI revealed bilateral frontal convexity atrophy. Neuropsychological examination showed fluent aphasia with perseverative allographic agraphia, mild semantic impairment, and dysexecutive syndrome. Allographic agraphia featured unidirectional conversion from hiragana (cursive form of Japanese phonograms) and kanji (Japanese morphograms) to katakana (square form of Japanese phonograms), as opposed to mutual (bidirectional) conversion between hiragana and katakana in parieto-occipital gyri lesions. Furthermore, all letters of the word were converted and this whole-word conversion may be characteristic of perseverative behavior in frontotemporal dementia.


Subject(s)
Agraphia , Frontotemporal Dementia , Humans , Frontotemporal Dementia/pathology , Frontotemporal Dementia/diagnostic imaging , Frontotemporal Dementia/physiopathology , Frontotemporal Dementia/complications , Agraphia/etiology , Agraphia/physiopathology , Male , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Atrophy/pathology
13.
Transl Psychiatry ; 14(1): 194, 2024 Apr 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38649377

ABSTRACT

Recent research has highlighted the role of complement genes in shaping the microstructure of the brain during early development, and in contributing to common allele risk for Schizophrenia. We hypothesised that common risk variants for schizophrenia within complement genes will associate with structural changes in white matter microstructure within tracts innervating the frontal lobe. Results showed that risk alleles within the complement gene set, but also intergenic alleles, significantly predict axonal density in white matter tracts connecting frontal cortex with parietal, temporal and occipital cortices. Specifically, risk alleles within the Major Histocompatibility Complex region in chromosome 6 appeared to drive these associations. No significant associations were found for the orientation dispersion index. These results suggest that changes in axonal packing - but not in axonal coherence - determined by common risk alleles within the MHC genomic region - including variants related to the Complement system - appear as a potential neurobiological mechanism for schizophrenia.


Subject(s)
Alleles , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Major Histocompatibility Complex , Schizophrenia , White Matter , Humans , Schizophrenia/genetics , Schizophrenia/pathology , White Matter/pathology , White Matter/diagnostic imaging , Female , Male , Adult , Major Histocompatibility Complex/genetics , Young Adult , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Middle Aged , Diffusion Tensor Imaging , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6/genetics , Axons/pathology , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
14.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 98(4): 1515-1532, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38578893

ABSTRACT

Background: Although sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of unknown etiology, familial AD is associated with specific gene mutations. A commonality between these forms of AD is that both display multiple pathogenic events including cholinergic and lipid dysregulation. Objective: We aimed to identify the relevant lipids and the activity of their related receptors in the frontal cortex and correlating them with cognition during the progression of AD. Methods: MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and functional autoradiography was used to evaluate the distribution of phospholipids/sphingolipids and the activity of cannabinoid 1 (CB1), sphingosine 1-phosphate 1 (S1P1), and muscarinic M2/M4 receptors in the frontal cortex (FC) of people that come to autopsy with premortem clinical diagnosis of AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and no cognitive impairment (NCI). Results: MALDI-MSI revealed an increase in myelin-related lipids, such as diacylglycerol (DG) 36:1, DG 38:5, and phosphatidic acid (PA) 40:6 in the white matter (WM) in MCI compared to NCI, and a downregulation of WM phosphatidylinositol (PI) 38:4 and PI 38:5 levels in AD compared to NCI. Elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine (PC) 32:1, PC 34:0, and sphingomyelin 38:1 were observed in discrete lipid accumulations in the FC supragranular layers during disease progression. Muscarinic M2/M4 receptor activation in layers V-VI decreased in AD compared to MCI. CB1 receptor activity was upregulated in layers V-VI, while S1P1 was downregulated within WM in AD relative to NCI. Conclusions: FC WM lipidomic alterations are associated with myelin dyshomeostasis in prodromal AD, suggesting WM lipid maintenance as a potential therapeutic target for dementia.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Cognitive Dysfunction , Humans , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Cognitive Dysfunction/pathology , Receptor, Muscarinic M4 , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Cholinergic Agents , Lipids
16.
J Clin Neurosci ; 122: 103-109, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38493700

ABSTRACT

In contrast to sex (a biological distinction), little is known about the associations between gender (a societal construct) and brain structure in the general population. In response to this knowledge gap, we examined the associations of sex vs. gender with FreeSurfer-generated cortical thickness and proportion-adjusted subcortical brain volume regions-of-interest (ROIs) in healthy adults (n = 88) screened for general medical conditions, mental illness, substance abuse, and intracranial pathologies. Gender role endorsement was assessed using the well-established and validated Bem Sex Role Inventory. For our main objectives, we calculated a continuum score as a composite measure of gender. For our secondary objectives, we examined sex-specific associations of the masculine vs. feminine gender role endorsement domains with brain structural outcomes. We found that female sex, independent of continuum scores, was associated with larger proportion-adjusted volumes for the basal ganglia, hippocampus, and ventral diencephalon. Higher continuum scores, independent of sex, were associated with thicker cortical thickness for the left and right superior frontal cortex, caudal and rostral middle frontal cortex, and right pars orbitalis. Female sex and higher continuum scores were independently associated with larger corpus callosum volumes. Post-hoc testing showed sex-specific associations between higher femininity scores and thicker prefrontal cortical thickness for the ROIs in females, but not in males. In conclusion, sex and gender showed semi-independent associations with brain structure in a general population sample. Our research supports the disaggregation of sex and gender to provide a more nuanced perspective on brain structural differences between men and women.


Subject(s)
Brain , Frontal Lobe , Male , Adult , Humans , Female , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Hippocampus , Basal Ganglia , Head , Magnetic Resonance Imaging
18.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 98(2): 539-547, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38393911

ABSTRACT

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in patients with dementia lead to caregiver burdens and worsen the patient's prognosis. Although many neuroimaging studies have been conducted, the etiology of NPS remains complex. We hypothesize that brain structural asymmetry could play a role in the appearance of NPS. Objective: This study explores the relationship between NPS and brain asymmetry in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: Demographic and MRI data for 121 mild AD cases were extracted from a multicenter Japanese database. Brain asymmetry was assessed by comparing the volumes of gray matter in the left and right brain regions. NPS was evaluated using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Subsequently, a comprehensive assessment of the correlation between brain asymmetry and NPS was conducted. Results: Among each NPS, aggressive NPS showed a significant correlation with asymmetry in the frontal lobe, indicative of right-side atrophy (r = 0.235, p = 0.009). This correlation remained statistically significant even after adjustments for multiple comparisons (p < 0.01). Post-hoc analysis further confirmed this association (p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant correlations were found for other NPS subtypes, including affective and apathetic symptoms. Conclusions: The study suggests frontal lobe asymmetry, particularly relative atrophy in the right hemisphere, may be linked to aggressive behaviors in early AD. These findings shed light on the neurobiological underpinnings of NPS, contributing to the development of potential interventions.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Humans , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Atrophy/pathology , Brain/pathology , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging
19.
Neurol Neurochir Pol ; 58(1): 106-111, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38230757

ABSTRACT

AIM OF THE STUDY: To present differences in frontal aslant tract (FAT) tractography among patients diagnosed with primary brain tumours and metastatic brain tumours. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis included 38 patients diagnosed with a frontal brain tumour. A control group of 30 healthy patients was also considered. The FAT was delineated, taking into account ROI 1 - the superior frontal gyrus, and ROI 2 - SMA. Endpoints were determined on the pars opercularis and pars triangularis of the inferior frontal gyrus. FAT was delineated in four different ways for each patient. RESULTS: In the group of patients with a brain tumour, a lower volume of FAT and a reduced quantity of fibres were observed compared to the control group. Comparison of the examined parameters between patients with glioblastoma and metastasis revealed statistically significant differences for MD (p < 0.001) regardless of the selected projection. CONCLUSIONS: The difference in MD (mean diffusivity) among patients with metastatic tumours may be related to an increased oedema zone.


Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms , Diffusion Tensor Imaging , Humans , Brain Mapping , Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Brain/pathology , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology
20.
J Neuropathol Exp Neurol ; 83(2): 94-106, 2024 01 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38164986

ABSTRACT

This research assesses the capability of texture analysis (TA) derived from high-resolution (HR) T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to identify primary sequelae following 1-5 hours of controlled cortical impact mild or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the left frontal cortex (focal impact) and secondary (diffuse) sequelae in the right frontal cortex, bilateral corpus callosum, and hippocampus in rats. The TA technique comprised first-order (histogram-based) and second-order statistics (including gray-level co-occurrence matrix, gray-level run length matrix, and neighborhood gray-level difference matrix). Edema in the left frontal impact region developed within 1 hour and continued throughout the 5-hour assessments. The TA features from HR images confirmed the focal injury. There was no significant difference among radiomics features between the left and right corpus callosum or hippocampus from 1 to 5 hours following a mild or severe impact. The adjacent corpus callosum region and the distal hippocampus region (s), showed no diffuse injury 1-5 hours after mild or severe TBI. These results suggest that combining HR images with TA may enhance detection of early primary and secondary sequelae following TBI.


Subject(s)
Brain Injuries, Traumatic , Brain Injuries , Rats , Animals , Brain/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/complications , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/diagnostic imaging , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/pathology , Brain Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Brain Injuries/pathology , Frontal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Frontal Lobe/pathology
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