Linking brain activity across scales with simultaneous opto- and electrophysiology

The brain enables adaptive behavior via the dynamic coordination of diverse neuronal signals across spatial and temporal scales: from fast action potential patterns in microcircuits to slower patterns of distributed activity in brain-wide networks. Understanding principles of multiscale dynamics requires simultaneous monitoring of signals in multiple, distributed network nodes. Combining optical and electrical recordings of brain activity is promising for collecting data across multiple scales and can reveal aspects of coordinated dynamics invisible to standard, single-modality approaches. We review recent progress in combining opto- and electrophysiology, focusing on mouse studies that shed new light on the function of single neurons by embedding their activity in the context of brain-wide activity patterns. Optical and electrical readouts can be tailored to desired scales to tackle specific questions. For example, fast dynamics in single cells or local populations recorded with multi-electrode arrays can be related to simultaneously acquired optical signals that report activity in specified subpopulations of neurons, in non-neuronal cells, or in neuromodulatory pathways. Conversely, two-photon imaging can be used to densely monitor activity in local circuits while sampling electrical activity in distant brain areas at the same time. The refinement of combined approaches will continue to reveal previously inaccessible and under-appreciated aspects of coordinated brain activity.

CRISPR/Cas9 system and its applications in nervous system diseases

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system is an acquired immune system of many bacteria and archaea, comprising CRISPR loci, Cas genes, and its associated proteins. This system can recognize exogenous DNA and utilize the Cas9 protein's nuclease activity to break DNA double-strand and to achieve base insertion or deletion by subsequent DNA repair. In recent years, multiple laboratory and clinical studies have revealed the therapeutic role of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in neurological diseases. This article reviews the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology and its potential for clinical application against neurological diseases.

Soluble p75 neurotrophic receptor as a reliable biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases: what is the evidence?

Neurodegenerative diseases are often misdiagnosed, especially when the diagnosis is based solely on clinical symptoms. The p75 neurotrophic receptor (p75NTR) has been studied as an index of sensory and motor nerve development and maturation. Its cleavable extracellular domain (ECD) is readily detectable in various biological fluids including plasma, serum and urine. There is evidence for increased p75NTR ECD levels in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, age-related dementia, schizophrenia, and diabetic neuropathy. Whether p75NTR ECD could be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and/or prognosis in these disorders, and whether it could potentially lead to the development of targeted therapies, remains an open question. In this review, we present and discuss published studies that have evaluated the relevance of this emerging biomarker in the context of various neurodegenerative diseases. We also highlight areas that require further investigation to better understand the role of p75NTR ECD in the clinical diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative disorders.

Visualizing Wallerian degeneration in the corticospinal tract after sensorimotor cortex ischemia in mice

Stroke can cause Wallerian degeneration in regions outside of the brain, particularly in the corticospinal tract. To investigate the fate of major glial cells and axons within affected areas of the corticospinal tract following stroke, we induced photochemical infarction of the sensorimotor cortex leading to Wallerian degeneration along the full extent of the corticospinal tract. We first used a routine, sensitive marker of axonal injury, amyloid precursor protein, to examine Wallerian degeneration of the corticospinal tract. An antibody to amyloid precursor protein mapped exclusively to proximal axonal segments within the ischemic cortex, with no positive signal in distal parts of the corticospinal tract, at all time points. To improve visualization of Wallerian degeneration, we next utilized an orthograde virus that expresses green fluorescent protein to label the corticospinal tract and then quantitatively evaluated green fluorescent protein-expressing axons. Using this approach, we found that axonal degeneration began on day 3 post-stroke and was almost complete by 7 days after stroke. In addition, microglia mobilized and activated early, from day 7 after stroke, but did not maintain a phagocytic state over time. Meanwhile, astrocytes showed relatively delayed mobilization and a moderate response to Wallerian degeneration. Moreover, no anterograde degeneration of spinal anterior horn cells was observed in response to Wallerian degeneration of the corticospinal tract. In conclusion, our data provide evidence for dynamic, pathogenic spatiotemporal changes in major cellular components of the corticospinal tract during Wallerian degeneration.

Chitosan-based thermosensitive hydrogel with long-term release of murine nerve growth factor for neurotrophic keratopathy

Neurotrophic keratopathy is a persistent defect of the corneal epithelium, with or without stromal ulceration, due to corneal nerve deficiency caused by a variety of etiologies. The treatment options for neurotrophic keratopathy are limited. In this study, an ophthalmic solution was constructed from a chitosan-based thermosensitive hydrogel with long-term release of murine nerve growth factor (CTH-mNGF). Its effectiveness was evaluated in corneal denervation (CD) mice and patients with neurotrophic keratopathy. In the preclinical setting, CTH-mNGF was assessed in a murine corneal denervation model. CTH-mNGF was transparent, thermosensitive, and ensured sustained release of mNGF for over 20 hours on the ocular surface, maintaining the local mNGF concentration around 1300 pg/mL in vivo. Corneal denervation mice treated with CTH-mNGF for 10 days showed a significant increase in corneal nerve area and total corneal nerve length compared with non-treated and CTH treated mice. A subsequent clinical trial of CTH-mNGF was conducted in patients with stage 2 or 3 neurotrophic keratopathy. Patients received topical CTH-mNGF twice daily for 8 weeks. Fluorescein sodium images, Schirmer's test, intraocular pressure, Cochet-Bonnet corneal perception test, and best corrected visual acuity were evaluated. In total, six patients (total of seven eyes) diagnosed with neurotrophic keratopathy were enrolled. After 8 weeks of CTH-mNGF treatment, all participants showed a decreased area of corneal epithelial defect, as stained by fluorescence. Overall, six out of seven eyes had fluorescence staining scores < 5. Moreover, best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, Schirmer's test and Cochet-Bonnet corneal perception test results showed no significant improvement. An increase in corneal nerve density was observed by in vivo confocal microscopy after 8 weeks of CTH-mNGF treatment in three out of seven eyes. This study demonstrates that CTH-mNGF is transparent, thermosensitive, and has sustained-release properties. Its effectiveness in healing corneal epithelial defects in all eyes with neurotrophic keratopathy suggests CTH-mNGF has promising application prospects in the treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy, being convenient and cost effective.

A review of the neurotransmitter system associated with cognitive function of the cerebellum in Parkinson's disease

The dichotomized brain system is a concept that was generalized from the 'dual syndrome hypothesis' to explain the heterogeneity of cognitive impairment, in which anterior and posterior brain systems are independent but partially overlap. The dopaminergic system acts on the anterior brain and is responsible for executive function, working memory, and planning. In contrast, the cholinergic system acts on the posterior brain and is responsible for semantic fluency and visuospatial function. Evidence from dopaminergic/cholinergic imaging or functional neuroimaging has shed significant insight relating to the involvement of the cerebellum in the cognitive process of patients with Parkinson's disease. Previous research has reported evidence that the cerebellum receives both dopaminergic and cholinergic projections. However, whether these two neurotransmitter systems are associated with cognitive function has yet to be fully elucidated. Furthermore, the precise role of the cerebellum in patients with Parkinson's disease and cognitive impairment remains unclear. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the cerebellar dopaminergic and cholinergic projections and their relationships with cognition, as reported by previous studies, and investigated the role of the cerebellum in patients with Parkinson's disease and cognitive impairment, as determined by functional neuroimaging. Our findings will help us to understand the role of the cerebellum in the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

BMPRII+ neural precursor cells isolated and characterized from organotypic neurospheres: an in vitro model of human fetal spinal cord development

Roof plate secretion of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) directs the cellular fate of sensory neurons during spinal cord development, including the formation of the ascending sensory columns, though their biology is not well understood. Type-II BMP receptor (BMPRII), the cognate receptor, is expressed by neural precursor cells during embryogenesis; however, an in vitro method of enriching BMPRII+ human neural precursor cells (hNPCs) from the fetal spinal cord is absent. Immunofluorescence was undertaken on intact second-trimester human fetal spinal cord using antibodies to BMPRII and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Regions of highest BMPRII+ immunofluorescence localized to sensory columns. Parenchymal and meningeal-associated BMPRII+ vascular cells were identified in both intact fetal spinal cord and cortex by co-positivity with vascular lineage markers, CD34/CD39. LIF immunostaining identified a population of somas concentrated in dorsal and ventral horn interneurons, mirroring the expression of LIF receptor/CD118. A combination of LIF supplementation and high-density culture maintained culture growth beyond 10 passages, while synergistically increasing the proportion of neurospheres with a stratified, cytoarchitecture. These neurospheres were characterized by BMPRII+/MAP2ab+/-/βIII-tubulin+/nestin-/vimentin-/GFAP-/NeuN- surface hNPCs surrounding a heterogeneous core of βIII-tubulin+/nestin+/vimentin+/GFAP+/MAP2ab-/NeuN- multipotent precursors. Dissociated cultures from tripotential neurospheres contained neuronal (βIII-tubulin+), astrocytic (GFAP+), and oligodendrocytic (O4+) lineage cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting-sorted BMPRII+ hNPCs were MAP2ab+/-/βIII-tubulin+/GFAP-/O4- in culture. This is the first isolation of BMPRII+ hNPCs identified and characterized in human fetal spinal cords. Our data show that LIF combines synergistically with high-density reaggregate cultures to support the organotypic reorganization of neurospheres, characterized by surface BMPRII+ hNPCs. Our study has provided a new methodology for an in vitro model capable of amplifying human fetal spinal cord cell numbers for > 10 passages. Investigations of the role BMPRII plays in spinal cord development have primarily relied upon mouse and rat models, with interpolations to human development being derived through inference. Because of significant species differences between murine biology and human, including anatomical dissimilarities in central nervous system (CNS) structure, the findings made in murine models cannot be presumed to apply to human spinal cord development. For these reasons, our human in vitro model offers a novel tool to better understand neurodevelopmental pathways, including BMP signaling, as well as spinal cord injury research and testing drug therapies.

Chemokine platelet factor 4 accelerates peripheral nerve regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon elongation

Schwann cells in peripheral nerves react to traumatic nerve injury by attempting to grow and regenerate. However, it is unclear what factors play a role in this process. In this study, we searched a GEO database and found that expression of platelet factor 4 was markedly up-regulated after sciatic nerve injury. Platelet factor is an important molecule in cell apoptosis, differentiation, survival, and proliferation. Further, polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the change in platelet factor 4 in the sciatic nerve at different time points after injury. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that platelet factor 4 was secreted by Schwann cells. We also found that silencing platelet factor 4 decreased the proliferation and migration of primary cultured Schwann cells, while exogenously applied platelet factor 4 stimulated Schwann cell proliferation and migration and neuronal axon growth. Furthermore, knocking out platelet factor 4 inhibited the proliferation of Schwann cells in injured rat sciatic nerve. These findings suggest that Schwann cell-secreted platelet factor 4 may facilitate peripheral nerve repair and regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon growth. Thus, platelet factor 4 may be a potential therapeutic target for traumatic peripheral nerve injury.

Macrophage Development and Function

Macrophages were first described over a hundred years ago. Throughout the years, they were shown to be essential players in their tissue-specific environment, performing various functions during homeostatic and disease conditions. Recent reports shed more light on their ontogeny as long-lived, self-maintained cells with embryonic origin in most tissues. They populate the different tissues early during development, where they help to establish and maintain homeostasis. In this chapter, the history of macrophages is discussed. Furthermore, macrophage ontogeny and core functions in the different tissues are described.

Morphological disruption and visual tuning alterations in the primary visual cortex in glaucoma (DBA/2J) mice

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and previous studies have shown that, in addition to affecting the eyes, it also causes abnormalities in the brain. However, it is not yet clear how the primary visual cortex (V1) is altered in glaucoma. This study used DBA/2J mice as a model for spontaneous secondary glaucoma. The aim of the study was to compare the electrophysiological and histomorphological characteristics of neurons in the V1 between 9-month-old DBA/2J mice and age-matched C57BL/6J mice. We conducted single-unit recordings in the V1 of light-anesthetized mice to measure the visually induced responses, including single-unit spiking and gamma band oscillations. The morphology of layer II/III neurons was determined by neuronal nuclear antigen staining and Nissl staining of brain tissue sections. Eighty-seven neurons from eight DBA/2J mice and eighty-one neurons from eight C57BL/6J mice were examined. Compared with the C57BL/6J group, V1 neurons in the DBA/2J group exhibited weaker visual tuning and impaired spatial summation. Moreover, fewer neurons were observed in the V1 of DBA/2J mice compared with C57BL/6J mice. These findings suggest that DBA/2J mice have fewer neurons in the V1 compared with C57BL/6J mice, and that these neurons have impaired visual tuning. Our findings provide a better understanding of the pathological changes that occur in V1 neuron function and morphology in the DBA/2J mouse model. This study might offer some innovative perspectives regarding the treatment of glaucoma.

Homeodomain complex formation and biomolecular condensates in Hox gene regulation

Hox genes are a family of homeodomain transcription factors that regulate specialized morphological structures along the anterior-posterior axis of metazoans. Over the past few decades, researchers have focused on defining how Hox factors with similar in vitro DNA binding activities achieve sufficient target specificity to regulate distinct cell fates in vivo. In this review, we highlight how protein interactions with other transcription factors, many of which are also homeodomain proteins, result in the formation of transcription factor complexes with enhanced DNA binding specificity. These findings suggest that Hox-regulated enhancers utilize distinct combinations of homeodomain binding sites, many of which are low-affinity, to recruit specific Hox complexes. However, low-affinity sites can only yield reproducible responses with high transcription factor concentrations. To overcome this limitation, recent studies revealed how transcription factors, including Hox factors, use intrinsically disordered domains (IDRs) to form biomolecular condensates that increase protein concentrations. Moreover, Hox factors with altered IDRs have been associated with altered transcriptional activity and human disease states, demonstrating the importance of IDRs in mediating essential Hox output. Collectively, these studies highlight how Hox factors use their DNA binding domains, protein-protein interaction domains, and IDRs to form specific transcription factor complexes that yield accurate gene expression.

Altered cortical thickness and emotional dysregulation in adolescents with borderline personality disorder

Background: Emotional dysregulation is a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Previous studies have reported that abnormal grey matter volume is associated with the limbic-cortical circuit and default mode network (DMN) in patients with BPD. However, alterations of cortical thickness in adolescents with BPD have not been well evaluated.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess cortical thickness and its association with emotional dysregulation in adolescents with BPD.Method: This prospective study enrolled 52 adolescents with BPD and 39 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Assessments included brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition with structural and resting-state functional MRI data, and clinical assessment for emotional dysregulation using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Cortical thickness and seed-based functional connectivity were analysed with FreeSurfer 7.2 software. Correlation analysis between cortical thickness and the scores from emotional assessment was performed with Spearman analysis.Results: Compared to HCs, there was altered cortical thickness in the DMN and limbic-cortical circuit in adolescents with BPD (Monte Carlo correction, all p < .05). These regions with altered cortical thickness were significantly associated with emotional dysregulation (all p < .05). There were also alterations of functional connectivity, i.e. with increased connectivity of the right prefrontal cortex with bilateral occipital lobes, or with the limbic system, and with decreased connectivity among the DMN regions (voxel p < .001, cluster p < .05, family-wise error corrected).Conclusions: Our results suggest that the altered cortical thickness and altered functional connectivity in the limbic-cortical circuit and DMN may be involved in emotional dysregulation in adolescents with BPD.

Anti-allodynic and medullary modulatory effects of a single dose of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in neuropathic rats tolerant to morphine

Neuropathic pain (NP) is often treated with opioids, the prolonged use of which causes tolerance to their analgesic effect and can potentially cause death by overdose. The phytocannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may be an effective alternative analgesic to treat NP in morphine-tolerant subjects. Male Wistar rats developed NP after spared nerve injury, and were then treated with increasing doses of THC (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), which reduced mechanical allodynia at the dose of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg. Another group of NP rats were treated with morphine (5 mg/kg, twice daily for 7 days, subcutaneously), until tolerance developed, and on day 8 received a single dose of THC (2.5 mg/kg), which significantly reduced mechanical allodynia. To evaluate the modulation of THC in the descending pain pathway, in vivo electrophysiological recordings of pronociceptive ON cells and antinociceptive OFF cells in the rostroventral medulla (RVM) were recorded after intra-PAG microinjection of THC (10 μg/μl). NP rats with morphine tolerance, compared to the control one, showed a tonic reduction of the spontaneous firing rate of ON cells by 44%, but the THC was able to further decrease it (a hallmark of many analgesic drugs acting at supraspinal level). On the other hand, the firing rate, of the antinociceptive OFF cells was increased after morphine tolerance by 133%, but the THC failed to further activate it. Altogether, these findings indicate that a single dose of THC produces antiallodynic effect in individuals with NP who are tolerant to morphine, acting mostly on the ON cells of the descending pain pathways, but not on OFF cells.

Maternal diet during early gestation influences postnatal taste activity-dependent pruning by microglia

A key process in central sensory circuit development involves activity-dependent pruning of exuberant terminals. Here, we studied gustatory terminal field maturation in the postnatal mouse nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) during normal development and in mice where their mothers were fed a low NaCl diet for a limited period soon after conception. Pruning of terminal fields of gustatory nerves in controls involved the complement system and is likely driven by NaCl-elicited taste activity. In contrast, offspring of mothers with an early dietary manipulation failed to prune gustatory terminal fields even though peripheral taste activity developed normally. The ability to prune in these mice was rescued by activating myeloid cells postnatally, and conversely, pruning was arrested in controls with the loss of myeloid cell function. The altered pruning and myeloid cell function appear to be programmed before the peripheral gustatory system is assembled and corresponds to the embryonic period when microglia progenitors derived from the yolk sac migrate to and colonize the brain.

Identification and characterization of a Reeler domain containing protein in Procambarus clarkii provides new insights into antibacterial immunity in crustacean

Crayfish, as an invertebrate, relies only on the innate immune system to resist external pathogens. In this study, a molecule containing a single Reeler domain was identified from red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (named as PcReeler). Tissue distribution analysis showed that PcReeler was highly expressed in gills and its expression was induced by bacterial stimulation. Inhibiting the expression of PcReeler by RNA interference led to a significant increase in the bacterial abundance in the gills of crayfish, and a significant increase in the crayfish mortality. Silencing of PcReeler influenced the stability of the microbiota in the gills revealed by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. Recombinant PcReeler showed the ability to bind microbial polysaccharide and bacteria and to inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilms. These results provided direct evidence for the involvement of PcReeler in the antibacterial immune mechanism of P. clarkii.

Durable vision improvement after a single intravitreal treatment with antisense oligonucleotide in CEP290-LCA: Replication in two eyes

Purpose

An intravitreally injected antisense oligonucleotide, sepofarsen, was designed to modulate splicing within retinas of patients with severe vision loss due to deep intronic c.2991 + 1655A > G variant in the CEP290 gene. A previous report showed vision improvements following a single injection in one eye with unexpected durability lasting at least 15 months. The current study evaluated durability of efficacy beyond 15 months in the previously treated left eye. In addition, peak efficacy and durability were evaluated in the treatment-naive right eye, and re-injection of the left eye 4 years after the first injection.

Observations

Visual function was evaluated with best corrected standard and low-luminance visual acuities, microperimetry, dark-adapted chromatic perimetry, and full-field sensitivity testing. Retinal structure was evaluated with OCT imaging. At the fovea, all visual function measures and IS/OS intensity of the OCT showed transient improvements peaking at 3-6 months, remaining better than baseline at ∼2 years, and returning to baseline by 3-4 years after each single injection.

Conclusions and Importance

These results suggest that sepofarsen reinjection intervals may need to be longer than 2 years.

Influence of the vestibular system on the neonatal motor behaviors in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Marsupials are born very immature yet must be sufficiently autonomous to crawl on the mother's belly, find a teat and attach to it to pursue their development. Sensory inputs are necessary to guide the newborn to a teat and induce attachment. The vestibular system, which perceives gravity and head movements, is one of the senses proposed to guide newborns towards the teats but there are conflicting observations about its functionality at birth (postnatal day (P) 0). To test if the vestibular system of opossum newborns is functional and can influence locomotion, we used two approaches. First, we stimulated the vestibular apparatus in in vitro preparations from opossums aged from P1 to P12 and recorded motor responses: at all ages studied, mechanical pressures applied on the vestibular organs induced spinal roots activity whereas head tilts did not induce forelimb muscle contractions. Second, using immunofluorescence, we assessed the presence of Piezo2, a protein involved in mechanotransduction in vestibular hair cells. Piezo2 labeling was scant in the utricular macula at birth, but observed in all vestibular organs at P7, its intensity increasing up to P14; it seemed to stay the same at P21. Our results indicate that neural pathways from the labyrinth to the spinal cord are already in place around birth but that the vestibular organs are too immature to influence motor activity before the end of the second postnatal week in the opossum. It may be the rule in marsupial species that the vestibular system becomes functional only after birth.

The role of natural flavonoids on neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease: a narrative review

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects a large proportion of older adult people and is characterized by memory loss, progressive cognitive impairment, and various behavioral disturbances. Although the pathological mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease are complex and remain unclear, previous research has identified two widely accepted pathological characteristics: extracellular neuritic plaques containing amyloid beta peptide, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing tau. Furthermore, research has revealed the significant role played by neuroinflammation over recent years. The inflammatory microenvironment mainly consists of microglia, astrocytes, the complement system, chemokines, cytokines, and reactive oxygen intermediates; collectively, these factors can promote the pathological process and aggravate the severity of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the development of new drugs that can target neuroinflammation will be a significant step forward for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Flavonoids are plant-derived secondary metabolites that possess various bioactivities. Previous research found that multiple natural flavonoids could exert satisfactory treatment effects on the neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we describe the pathogenesis and neuroinflammatory processes of Alzheimer's disease, and summarize the effects and mechanisms of 13 natural flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin, morin, kaempferol, fisetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, rutin, icariin, mangiferin, and anthocyanin) derived from plants or medicinal herbs on neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. As an important resource for the development of novel compounds for the treatment of critical diseases, it is essential that we focus on the exploitation of natural products. In particular, it is vital that we investigate the effects of flavonoids on the neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease in greater detail.

A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: Impact on core symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and executive functioning

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is garnering increasing empirical interest as an intervention for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), although no studies of mindfulness as a standalone treatment have included a sample composed entirely of patients with BDD or a comparison group. The aim of this study was to investigate the improvement of MBCT intervention on the core symptoms, emotional dysfunction, and executive function of BDD patients, as well as the feasibility and acceptability of MBCT training.

METHOD

Patients with BDD were randomized into an 8-week MBCT group (n = 58) or treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group (n = 58) and were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Participants who received MBCT showed greater improvement on self-reported and clinician ratings of BDD symptoms, self-reported emotion dysregulation symptoms and executive function compared with TAU participants. Improvement for executive function tasks was partially supported. In addition, feasibility and acceptability of MBCT training were positive.

LIMITATIONS

There is no systematic assessment of the severity of key potential outcome variables associated with BDD.

CONCLUSION

MBCT may be a useful intervention for patients with BDD, improving patients' BDD symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and executive functioning.