1
|
Holmes S, Reyes N, Huang JJ, Galor A, Pattany PM, Felix ER, Moulton EA. Disentangling the neurological basis of chronic ocular pain using clinical, self-report, and brain imaging data: use of K-means clustering to explore patient phenotypes. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1265082. [PMID: 38033775 PMCID: PMC10687553 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1265082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The factors that mediate the expression of ocular pain and the mechanisms that promote chronic ocular pain symptoms are poorly understood. Central nervous system involvement has been postulated based on observations of pain out of proportion to nociceptive stimuli in some individuals. This investigation focused on understanding functional connectivity between brain regions implicated in chronic pain in persons reporting ocular pain symptoms. Methods We recruited a total of 53 persons divided into two cohorts: persons who reported no ocular pain, and persons who reported chronic ocular pain, irrespective of ocular surface findings. We performed a resting state fMRI investigation that was focused on subcortical brain structures including the trigeminal nucleus and performed a brief battery of ophthalmological examinations. Results Persons in the pain cohort reported higher levels of pain symptoms relating to neuropathic pain and ocular surface disease, as well as more abnormal tear metrics (stability and tear production). Functional connectivity analysis between groups evinced multiple connections exemplifying both increases and decreases in connectivity including regions such as the trigeminal nucleus, amygdala, and sub-regions of the thalamus. Exploratory analysis of the pain cohort integrating clinical and brain function metrics highlighted subpopulations that showed unique phenotypes providing insight into pain mechanisms. Discussion Study findings support centralized involvement in those reporting ocular-based pain and allude to mechanisms through which pain treatment services may be directed in future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Holmes
- Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Pediatric Pain Pathway Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nicholas Reyes
- Surgical Services, Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Jaxon J. Huang
- Surgical Services, Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Anat Galor
- Surgical Services, Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Pradip M. Pattany
- Department of Radiology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Elizabeth R. Felix
- Research Service, Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Eric A. Moulton
- Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Brain and Eye Pain Imaging Lab, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yang Z, Chen Y, Hou X, Xu Y, Bai F. Topologically convergent and divergent large scale complex networks among Alzheimer's disease spectrum patients: A systematic review. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15389. [PMID: 37101638 PMCID: PMC10123263 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with disruption at the level of a large-scale complex network. To explore the underlying mechanisms in the progression of AD, graph theory was used to quantitatively analyze the topological properties of structural and functional connections. Although an increasing number of studies have shown altered global and nodal network properties, little is known about the topologically convergent and divergent patterns between structural and functional networks among AD-spectrum patients. In this review, we summarized the topological patterns of the large-scale complex networks using multimodal neuroimaging graph theory analysis in AD spectrum patients. Convergent deficits in the connectivity characteristics were primarily in the default mode network (DMN) itself both in the structural and functional networks, while a divergent changes in the neighboring regions of the DMN were also observed between the patient groups. Together, the application of graph theory to large-scale complex brain networks provides quantitative insights into topological principles of brain network organization, which may lead to increasing attention in identifying the underlying neuroimaging pathological changes and predicting the progression of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ya Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xinle Hou
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Geriatric Medicine Center, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Correspondence to: 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zeng R, Wang J, Jiang R, Yang J, Zheng C, Wu H, Zhuo Z, Yang Q, Li J, Leung FW, Sha W, Chen H. Investigating Causality and Shared Genetic Architecture between Neurodegenerative Disorders and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Aging Dis 2022:AD.2022.12209. [PMID: 37163440 PMCID: PMC10389839 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2022.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Published observational studies have revealed the connection between neurodegenerative disorders and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), whereas the causal association remains largely unclear. Our study aims to assess the causality and identify the shared genetic architecture between neurodegenerative disorders and IBD. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were performed to assess the causality between IBD and neurodegenerative disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS], Alzheimer's disease [AD], Parkinson's disease [PD], and multiple sclerosis [MS]). Shared genetic loci, functional interpretation, and transcriptomic profiles were further investigated in ALS and IBD. We identified that genetic predisposition to IBD was suggestively associated with lower odds of ALS (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94 to 0.99). In contrast, IBD was not genetically associated with an increased risk of AD, PD, or MS (and vice versa). Two shared genetic loci (rs6571361 and rs7154847) were derived, and SCFD1, G2E3, and HEATR5A were further identified as novel risk genes with enriched functions related to membrane trafficking. G2E3 was differentially expressed and significantly correlated with SCFD1 in patients with ALS or IBD. Our study reveals the suggestively protective role of IBD on ALS, and does not support the causality of AD, PD, or MS on IBD (and vice versa). Our findings indicate possible shared genetic architecture and pathways between ALS and IBD. These results provide insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics of IBD and neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruijie Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jinghua Wang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Department of Hematology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chunwen Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Huihuan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zewei Zhuo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jingwei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Felix W Leung
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California, USA
| | - Weihong Sha
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Bioscience and Bioengineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Schwaber EJ, Thompson AC, Smilnak G, Stinnett SS, Whitson HE, Lad EM. Co-Prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Related Macular Degeneration Established by Histopathologic Diagnosis. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 76:207-215. [PMID: 32444545 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between AMD and AD, and several therapeutic agents are being developed based on this principle. However, prior studies have provided conflicting results due in part to their reliance on clinical diagnoses that are not based on gold-standard histopathology. OBJECTIVE To use histopathologic standards for diagnosis in order to determine the co-prevalence of AD among patients with and without AMD. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of 157 autopsy ocular specimens from patients with and without AMD that were greater than 75 years of age at death. Sarks staging was used to document the severity of AMD, and Braak and Braak staging was used to assess the severity of AD in corresponding brain specimens. The prevalence of AD within different severities of AMD was determined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS 58% of autopsy eyes had AMD. The prevalence of AD was lower in AMD subjects (63%) compared to non-AMD subjects (73%), even when grouped by severity (all p > 0.15). The likelihood of AD was significantly less in AMD subjects, even after adjusting for age and sex in multivariable analysis (OR 0.47, p = 0.049). CONCLUSION Histopathologic diagnoses fail to support an increase in prevalence of AD among subjects with AMD, even when disease severity is considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Schwaber
- Department of Internal Medicine, Griffin Hospital, Derby, CT, USA
| | - Atalie C Thompson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gordon Smilnak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sandra S Stinnett
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Heather E Whitson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eleonora M Lad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Si Z, Wang X. Stem Cell Therapies in Alzheimer's Disease: Applications for Disease Modeling. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 377:207-217. [PMID: 33558427 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.120.000324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease with complex pathologic and biologic characteristics. Extracellular β-amyloid deposits, such as senile plaques, and intracellular aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau, such as neurofibrillary tangles, remain the main neuropathological criteria for the diagnosis of AD. There is currently no effective treatment of the disease, and many clinical trials have failed to prove any benefits of new therapeutics. More recently, there has been increasing interest in harnessing the potential of stem cell technologies for drug discovery, disease modeling, and cell therapies, which have been used to study an array of human conditions, including AD. The recently developed and optimized induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology is a critical platform for screening anti-AD drugs and understanding mutations that modify AD. Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has been investigated as a new therapeutic approach to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also exhibit considerable potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases by secreting growth factors and exosomes, attenuating neuroinflammation. This review highlights recent progress in stem cell research and the translational applications and challenges of iPSCs, NSCs, and MSCs as treatment strategies for AD. Even though these treatments are still in relative infancy, these developing stem cell technologies hold considerable promise to combat AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that results in learning and memory defects. Although some drugs have been approved for AD treatment, fewer than 20% of patients with AD benefit from these drugs. Therapies based on stem cells, including induced pluripotent stem cells, neural stem cells, and mesenchymal stem cells, provide promising therapeutic strategies for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zizhen Si
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China (Z.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China (X.W.)
| | - Xidi Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China (Z.S.) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China (X.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sergott RC, Raji A, Kost J, Sur C, Jackson S, Locco A, Patel A, Furtek C, Mattson B, Egan MF. Retinal Optical Coherence Tomography Metrics Are Unchanged in Verubecestat Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trial but Correlate with Baseline Regional Brain Atrophy. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 79:275-287. [PMID: 33252075 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We performed exploratory analyses of retinal thickness data from a clinical trial of the AβPP cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor verubecestat in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE To evaluate: 1) possible retinal thickness changes following BACE inhibition; and 2) possible association between retinal thickness and brain atrophy. METHODS Retinal thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in a 78-week randomized placebo-controlled trial of verubecestat in 1,785 patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Changes from baseline in retinal pigment epithelium, macular grid retinal nerve fiber layer, central subfield retinal thickness, and macular grid volume were evaluated for verubecestat versus placebo. Correlation analyses were performed to investigate the potential association between macular grid retinal nerve fiber layer and central subfield retinal thickness with brain volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (vMRI) data at baseline, as well as correlations for changes from baseline at Week 78 in patients receiving placebo. RESULTS Verubecestat did not significantly alter retinal thickness during the trial compared with placebo. At baseline, mean macular grid retinal nerve fiber layer and central subfield retinal thickness were weakly but significantly correlated (Pearson's r values≤0.23, p-values < 0.01) with vMRI of several brain regions including whole brain, hippocampus, and thalamus. At Week 78, correlations between retinal thickness and brain vMRI changes from baseline in the placebo group were small and mostly not statistically significant. CONCLUSION BACE inhibition by verubecestat was not associated with adverse effects on retinal thickness in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Correlations between retinal thickness and brain volume were observed at baseline. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01739348 (registered December 3, 2012; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01739348).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Sergott
- Wills Eye Hospital, and Annesley Eye Brain Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Amy Locco
- Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Stiebing C, Jahn IJ, Schmitt M, Keijzer N, Kleemann R, Kiliaan AJ, Drexler W, Leitgeb RA, Popp J. Biochemical Characterization of Mouse Retina of an Alzheimer's Disease Model by Raman Spectroscopy. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:3301-3308. [PMID: 32991138 PMCID: PMC7581290 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
The presence of biomarkers characteristic
for Alzheimer’s
disease in the retina is a controversial topic. Raman spectroscopy
offers information on the biochemical composition of tissues. Thus,
it could give valuable insight into the diagnostic value of retinal
analysis. Within the present study, retinas of a double transgenic
mouse model, that expresses a chimeric mouse/human amyloid precursor
protein and a mutant form of human presenilin 1, and corresponding
control group were subjected to ex vivo Raman imaging.
The Raman data recorded on cross sections of whole eyes highlight
the layered structure of the retina in a label-free manner. Based
on the Raman information obtained from en face mounted
retina samples, a discrimination between healthy and Alzheimer’s
disease retinal tissue can be done with an accuracy of 85.9%. For
this a partial least squares-linear discriminant analysis was applied.
Therefore, although no macromolecular changes in form of, i.e., amyloid beta plaques, can be noticed based on Raman
spectroscopy, subtle biochemical changes happening in the retina could
lead to Alzheimer’s disease identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Stiebing
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT), a member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Izabella J. Jahn
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT), a member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Schmitt
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Nanda Keijzer
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Zernikedreef 9, 2333 CK Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Kleemann
- Department of Metabolic Health Research, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Zernikedreef 9, 2333 CK Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amanda J. Kiliaan
- Department of Anatomy Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior Preclinical Imaging Center, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 21N, 6525 EZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang Drexler
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerguertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer A. Leitgeb
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerguertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Popp
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT), a member of the Leibniz Research Alliance Leibniz Health Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang X, Huang W, Su L, Xing Y, Jessen F, Sun Y, Shu N, Han Y. Neuroimaging advances regarding subjective cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2020; 15:55. [PMID: 32962744 PMCID: PMC7507636 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-020-00395-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is regarded as the first clinical manifestation in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum. Investigating populations with SCD is important for understanding the early pathological mechanisms of AD and identifying SCD-related biomarkers, which are critical for the early detection of AD. With the advent of advanced neuroimaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), accumulating evidence has revealed structural and functional brain alterations related to the symptoms of SCD. In this review, we summarize the main imaging features and key findings regarding SCD related to AD, from local and regional data to connectivity-based imaging measures, with the aim of delineating a multimodal imaging signature of SCD due to AD. Additionally, the interaction of SCD with other risk factors for dementia due to AD, such as age and the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ɛ4 status, has also been described. Finally, the possible explanations for the inconsistent and heterogeneous neuroimaging findings observed in individuals with SCD are discussed, along with future directions. Overall, the literature reveals a preferential vulnerability of AD signature regions in SCD in the context of AD, supporting the notion that individuals with SCD share a similar pattern of brain alterations with patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to AD. We conclude that these neuroimaging techniques, particularly multimodal neuroimaging techniques, have great potential for identifying the underlying pathological alterations associated with SCD. More longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes combined with more advanced imaging modeling approaches such as artificial intelligence are still warranted to establish their clinical utility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China.,Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
| | - Weijie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.,Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Su
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Sino-Britain Centre for Cognition and Ageing Research, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Xing
- Radiological Sciences, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Frank Jessen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, 50937, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.,Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China. .,Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China.
| | - Ni Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. .,Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Ying Han
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China. .,Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Xu M, Wang Z, Zhang H, Pantazis D, Wang H, Li Q. A new Graph Gaussian embedding method for analyzing the effects of cognitive training. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1008186. [PMID: 32941425 PMCID: PMC7524000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying heterogeneous cognitive impairment markers at an early stage is vital for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. However, due to complex and uncertain brain connectivity features in the cognitive domains, it remains challenging to quantify functional brain connectomic changes during non-pharmacological interventions for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients. We present a quantitative method for functional brain network analysis of fMRI data based on the multi-graph unsupervised Gaussian embedding method (MG2G). This neural network-based model can effectively learn low-dimensional Gaussian distributions from the original high-dimensional sparse functional brain networks, quantify uncertainties in link prediction, and discover the intrinsic dimensionality of brain networks. Using the Wasserstein distance to measure probabilistic changes, we discovered that brain regions in the default mode network and somatosensory/somatomotor hand, fronto-parietal task control, memory retrieval, and visual and dorsal attention systems had relatively large variations during non-pharmacological training, which might provide distinct biomarkers for fine-grained monitoring of aMCI cognitive alteration. An important finding of our study is the ability of the new method to capture subtle changes for individual patients before and after short-term intervention. More broadly, the MG2G method can be used in studying multiple brain disorders and injuries, e.g., in Parkinson's disease or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and hence it will be useful to the wider neuroscience community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Xu
- Division of Applied Mathematics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Zhijiang Wang
- Peking University Institute of Mental Health (Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory for Translational Research on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, Beijing, China
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Peking University Institute of Mental Health (Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory for Translational Research on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, Beijing, China
| | - Dimitrios Pantazis
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Huali Wang
- Peking University Institute of Mental Health (Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory for Translational Research on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, Beijing, China
| | - Quanzheng Li
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ferreira H, Martins J, Nunes A, Moreira PI, Castelo-Branco M, Ambrósio AF, Serranho P, Bernardes R. Characterization of the retinal changes of the 3×Tg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12553-020-00413-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder whose diagnosis remains a notable challenge. The literature suggests that cerebral changes precede AD symptoms by over two decades, implying a significantly advanced stage of AD by the time it is usually diagnosed. In the study herein, texture analysis was applied to computed optical coherence tomography ocular fundus images to identify differences between a group of the transgenic mouse model of the Alzheimer’s disease (3×Tg-AD) and a group of wild-type mice, at the ages of one and two-months-old. A substantial difference between groups was found at both time-points across all neuroretina’s layers. Here, the inner nuclear layer stands out both in the level of statistically significant differences and on the extension of these differences which span through the imaged area. Also, the progression of AD is suggested to be spotted by texture analysis as demonstrated by the significant difference found in the inner plexiform and the outer nuclear layers from the age of one to the age of two-months-old. These findings demonstrate the potential of the use of the retina and texture analysis to the diagnosis of AD and monitor AD progression. Besides, the differences between groups found in this study suggest that the 3×Tg-AD model may be inappropriate to study early changes associated with the AD and other animal models should be tested following the same path and rationale. Moreover, these results also suggest that the human genes present in these transgenic mice may have an impact on the neurodevelopment of offspring which would justify the significant changes found at the age of one-month-old.
Collapse
|
11
|
Affiliation(s)
- Satya Karna
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Harper DJ, Augustin M, Lichtenegger A, Gesperger J, Himmel T, Muck M, Merkle CW, Eugui P, Kummer S, Woehrer A, Glösmann M, Baumann B. Retinal analysis of a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease with multicontrast optical coherence tomography. NEUROPHOTONICS 2020; 7:015006. [PMID: 32042855 PMCID: PMC6999077 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.7.1.015006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Significance. Recent Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient studies have focused on retinal analysis, as the retina is the only part of the central nervous system that can be imaged noninvasively by optical methods. However, as this is a relatively new approach, the occurrence and role of retinal pathological features are still debated. Aim. The retina of an APP/PS1 mouse model was investigated using multicontrast optical coherence tomography (OCT) in order to provide a documentation of what was observed in both transgenic and wild-type mice. Approach. Both eyes of 24 APP/PS1 transgenic mice (age: 45 to 104 weeks) and 15 age-matched wild-type littermates were imaged by the custom-built OCT system. At the end of the experiment, retinas and brains were harvested from a subset of the mice (14 transgenic, 7 age-matched control) in order to compare the in vivo results to histological analysis and to quantify the cortical amyloid beta plaque load. Results. The system provided a combination of standard reflectivity data, polarization-sensitive data, and OCT angiograms. Qualitative and quantitative information from the resultant OCT images was extracted on retinal layer thickness and structure, presence of hyper-reflective foci, phase retardation abnormalities, and retinal vasculature. Conclusions. Although multicontrast OCT revealed abnormal structural properties and phase retardation signals in the retina of this APP/PS1 mouse model, the observations were very similar in transgenic and control mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J. Harper
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
- Address all correspondence to Danielle J. Harper, E-mail:
| | - Marco Augustin
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Antonia Lichtenegger
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johanna Gesperger
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
- General Hospital and Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Neurology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tanja Himmel
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martina Muck
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Conrad W. Merkle
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pablo Eugui
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Kummer
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Core Facility for Research and Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adelheid Woehrer
- General Hospital and Medical University of Vienna, Institute of Neurology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Glösmann
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Core Facility for Research and Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Baumann
- Medical University of Vienna, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
den Haan J, van de Kreeke JA, Konijnenberg E, ten Kate M, den Braber A, Barkhof F, van Berckel BN, Teunissen CE, Scheltens P, Visser PJ, Verbraak FD, Bouwman FH. Retinal thickness as a potential biomarker in patients with amyloid-proven early- and late-onset Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2019; 11:463-471. [PMID: 31249859 PMCID: PMC6584766 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadm.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Retinal thickness measured with optical coherence tomography has been proposed as a noninvasive biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We therefore measured retinal thickness in well-characterized AD and control participants, considering ophthalmological confounders. Methods We included 57 amyloid-proven AD cases and 85 cognitively normal, amyloid-negative controls. All subjects underwent retinal thickness measurements with spectral domain optical coherence tomography and an ophthalmological assessment to exclude ocular disease. Results Retinal thickness did not discriminate cases from controls, including stratified analyses for early- versus late-onset AD. We found significant associations between macular thickness and global cortical atrophy [β -0.358; P = .01] and parietal cortical atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging [β -0.371; P < .01] in AD cases. Discussion In this study, representing the largest optical coherence tomography cohort with amyloid-proven AD cases, we show that retinal thickness does not discriminate AD from controls, despite evident changes on clinical, neuroimaging, and CSF measures, querying the use of retinal thickness measurements as an AD biomarker.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jurre den Haan
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jacoba A. van de Kreeke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elles Konijnenberg
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mara ten Kate
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anouk den Braber
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- UCL Institutes of Neurology and Healthcare Engineering, London, UK
| | - Bart N. van Berckel
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E. Teunissen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Neurochemistry Lab and Biobank, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter Jelle Visser
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank D. Verbraak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Femke H. Bouwman
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ngolab J, Honma P, Rissman RA. Reflections on the Utility of the Retina as a Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease: A Literature Review. Neurol Ther 2019; 8:57-72. [PMID: 31833024 PMCID: PMC6908534 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-019-00173-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As a part of the central nervous system, the retina may reflect both physiologic processes and abnormalities related to diseases of the brain. Indeed, a concerted effort has been put forth to understand how Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology may manifest in the retina as a means to assess the state of the AD brain. The development and refinement of ophthalmologic techniques for studying the retina in vivo have produced evidence of retinal degeneration in AD diagnosed patients. In this review, we will discuss retinal imaging techniques implemented to study the changes in AD retina as well as highlight the recent efforts made to correlate such findings to other clinical hallmarks of AD to assess the viability of the retina as a biomarker for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ngolab
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Honma
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Yan CQ, Zhou P, Wang X, Tu JF, Hu SQ, Huo JW, Wang ZY, Shi GX, Zhang YN, Li JQ, Wang J, Liu CZ. Efficacy and neural mechanism of acupuncture treatment in older adults with subjective cognitive decline: study protocol for a randomised controlled clinical trial. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e028317. [PMID: 31601583 PMCID: PMC6797373 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to individuals' perceived decline in memory and/or other cognitive abilities relative to their previous level of performance, while objective neuropsychological deficits are not observed. SCD may represent a preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease. At this very early stage of decline, intervention could slow the rate of incipient decline to prolong and preserve cognitive and functional abilities. However, there is no effective treatment recommended for individuals with SCD. Acupuncture, as a non-pharmacological intervention, has been widely employed for patients with cognitive disorders. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The proposed study is a randomised, assessor-blinded and placebo-controlled study that investigates the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in SCD. Sixty patients with SCD will be randomly allocated either into an acupuncture group or a sham acupuncture group. They will receive 24 sessions of real acupuncture treatment or identical treatment sessions using a placebo needle. Global cognitive changes based on a multidomain neuropsychological test battery will be evaluated to detect the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment at baseline and end of treatment. MRI scans will be used to explore acupuncture-related neuroplasticity changes. Correlation analyses will be performed to investigate the relationships between the changes in brain function and symptom improvement. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The trial was approved by the research ethics committee. The results of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal and will also be disseminated electronically through conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03444896.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Qun Yan
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Department of Acupuncture and moxibustion, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Feng Tu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shang-Qing Hu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Wei Huo
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Yan Wang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guang-Xia Shi
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Nan Zhang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun-Qiu Li
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Acupuncture and moxibustion, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Smilnak GJ, Deans JR, Doraiswamy PM, Stinnett S, Whitson HE, Lad EM. Comorbidity of age-related macular degeneration with Alzheimer's disease: A histopathologic case-control study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223199. [PMID: 31568508 PMCID: PMC6768473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Previous studies evaluating the association between clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have generated conflicting results. This study is the first to assess whether AMD prevalence is higher in AD patients than non-AD controls by using histopathology to definitively diagnose AD. Methods This was a retrospective case-control study utilizing diagnostic information extracted from autopsy reports of patients age 75 and above, including 115 with a neuropathological diagnosis of AD and 57 age-matched normal controls. Results The rate of AMD was not significantly higher in AD cases (53.0%) than in controls (59.6%) (z = 0.820, p = 0.794). AMD severity as determined by Sarks score was similar between AD patients and controls (χ2 = 2.96, p = 0.706). There was also no significant association between Braak stage of AD severity and AMD (χ2 = 4.55, p = 0.602). Discussion No significant effect of AD diagnosis or pathologic severity on AMD comorbidity was found, suggesting that any shared mechanisms between AMD and AD may be nondeterministic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gordon J. Smilnak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - John R. Deans
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - P. Murali Doraiswamy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Sandra Stinnett
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Heather E. Whitson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Eleonora M. Lad
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
den Haan J, Csinscik L, Parker T, Paterson RW, Slattery CF, Foulkes A, Bouwman FH, Verbraak FD, Scheltens P, Peto T, Lengyel I, Schott JM, Crutch SJ, Shakespeare TJ, Yong KXX. Retinal thickness as potential biomarker in posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2019; 11:62. [PMID: 31319885 PMCID: PMC6639972 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-019-0516-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal thickness can be measured non-invasively with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and may offer compelling potential as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Retinal thinning is hypothesized to be a result of retrograde atrophy and/or parallel neurodegenerative processes. Changes in the visual pathway are of particular interest in posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), the most common atypical AD phenotype predominantly affecting the parietal-occipital cortices. We therefore evaluated retinal thickness as non-invasive biomarker of neurodegeneration in well-characterized participants with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and typical Alzheimer's disease (tAD). METHODS Retinal thickness measures were acquired from 48 patient participants (N = 25 PCA; N = 23 tAD) fulfilling consensus diagnostic criteria and 70 age-matched controls. Participants were recruited between 2014 and 2016. All participants underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, including measurement of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness and total macular thickness (mRT). Participants did not show evidence of any significant ophthalmological conditions. Subgroup analyses were performed in participants with available MRI and CSF measures, providing evidence of neurodegeneration and underlying AD pathology respectively. RESULTS There was no evidence of overall between-group differences in pRNFL thickness (mean PCA 98.7 ± 12.2; tAD 99.9 ± 8.7; controls 99.6 ± 10.0 μm, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) p = 0.92) or total mRT (mean PCA 266.9 ± 16.3; tAD 267.8 ± 13.6; controls 269.3 ± 13.6 μm, one-way ANOVA p = 0.75). Similarly, subgroup analysis with MRI biomarkers (PCA = 18, tAD = 17, controls = 31) showing neurodegeneration, and CSF biomarkers (PCA = 18, tAD = 14, controls = 13) supporting underlying AD pathology did not provide evidence of overall between-group differences in pRNFL or mRT measures (all p > 0.3). CONCLUSIONS Retinal thickness did not discriminate tAD and PCA from controls or from one another despite unequivocal differences on standard clinical, neuro-imaging and CSF measures. Findings from this well-characterized sample, including cases with PCA, do not support the hypothesis that retinal neurodegeneration, measured using conventional OCT, is a useful biomarker for AD or PCA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jurre den Haan
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Mailbox 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lajos Csinscik
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology UCL, London, UK
| | - Tom Parker
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Ross W. Paterson
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | - Alexander Foulkes
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Femke H. Bouwman
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Mailbox 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank D. Verbraak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Mailbox 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tunde Peto
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL, London, UK
| | - Imre Lengyel
- Centre for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology UCL, London, UK
| | - Jonathan M. Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Sebastian J. Crutch
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | - Keir X. X. Yong
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Guo J, Ni S, Li Q, Wang JZ, Yang Y. Folate/Vitamin B Alleviates Hyperhomocysteinemia-Induced Alzheimer-Like Pathologies in Rat Retina. Neurosci Bull 2019; 35:325-335. [PMID: 30264378 PMCID: PMC6426902 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-018-0293-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) is an independent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Visual dysfunction is commonly found and is positively correlated with the severity of cognitive defects in AD patients. Our previous study demonstrated that Hhcy induces memory deficits with AD-like tau and amyloid-β (Aβ) pathologies in the hippocampus, and supplementation with folate and vitamin B12 (FB) prevents the Hhcy-induced AD-like pathologies in the hippocampus. Here, we investigated whether Hhcy also induces AD-like pathologies in the retina and the effects of FB. An Hhcy rat model was produced by vena caudalis injection of homocysteine for 14 days, and the effects of FB were assessed by simultaneous supplementation with FB in drinking water. We found that Hhcy induced vessel damage with Aβ and tau pathologies in the retina, while simultaneous supplementation with FB remarkably attenuated the Hhcy-induced tau hyperphosphorylation at multiple AD-related sites and Aβ accumulation in the retina. The mechanisms involved downregulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1, beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1, and protein phosphatase-2A. Our data suggest that the retina may serve as a window for evaluating the effects of FB on hyperhomocysteinemia-induced Alzheimer-like pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory for Neurological Disorders of the Ministry of Education of China, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shaozhou Ni
- Emergency Department, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Qihang Li
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory for Neurological Disorders of the Ministry of Education of China, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226000, China.
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Key Laboratory for Neurological Disorders of the Ministry of Education of China, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Veys L, Vandenabeele M, Ortuño-Lizarán I, Baekelandt V, Cuenca N, Moons L, De Groef L. Retinal α-synuclein deposits in Parkinson's disease patients and animal models. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:379-395. [PMID: 30721408 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-01956-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of research, accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease remains a challenge, and disease-modifying treatments are still lacking. Research into the early (presymptomatic) stages of Parkinson's disease and the discovery of novel biomarkers is of utmost importance to reduce this burden and to come to a more accurate diagnosis at the very onset of the disease. Many have speculated that non-motor symptoms could provide a breakthrough in the quest for early biomarkers of Parkinson's disease, including the visual disturbances and retinal abnormalities that are seen in the majority of Parkinson's disease patients. An expanding number of clinical studies have investigated the use of in vivo assessments of retinal structure, electrophysiological function, and vision-driven tasks as novel means for identifying patients at risk that need further neurological examination and for longitudinal follow-up of disease progression in Parkinson's disease patients. Often, the results of these studies have been interpreted in relation to α-synuclein deposits and dopamine deficiency in the retina, mirroring the defining pathological features of Parkinson's disease in the brain. To better understand the visual defects seen in Parkinson's disease patients and to propel the use of retinal changes as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease, however, more conclusive neuropathological evidence for the presence of retinal α-synuclein aggregates, and its relation to the cerebral α-synuclein burden, is urgently needed. This review provides a comprehensive and critical overview of the research conducted to unveil α-synuclein aggregates in the retina of Parkinson's disease patients and animal models, and thereby aims to aid the ongoing discussion about the potential use of the retinal changes and/or visual symptoms as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
|
20
|
Ocular amyloid imaging at the crossroad of Alzheimer's disease and age-related macular degeneration: implications for diagnosis and therapy. J Neurol 2018; 266:1566-1577. [PMID: 30155741 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-018-9028-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are important disorders of aging, but significant challenges remain in diagnosis and therapy. Amyloid-beta (Aβ), found in the brain and a defining feature of AD, has also been observed in the retina in both AD and AMD. While current diagnostic modalities for detecting Aβ in the brain are costly or invasive, Aβ in the retina can be noninvasively and conveniently imaged using modern photonic imaging systems such as optical coherence tomography (OCT). Moreover, since many of these retinal changes occur before degenerative changes can be detected in the brain, ocular amyloid biomarkers could be utilized to detect AD as well as AMD in their earliest stages when therapy may be most effective in halting disease progression. Novel technologies to quantify retinal biomarkers have the potential to facilitate early diagnosis and noninvasive monitoring of disease progression with important therapeutic implications.
Collapse
|
21
|
Rodriguez L, Mdzomba JB, Joly S, Boudreau-Laprise M, Planel E, Pernet V. Human Tau Expression Does Not Induce Mouse Retina Neurodegeneration, Suggesting Differential Toxicity of Tau in Brain vs. Retinal Neurons. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:293. [PMID: 30197586 PMCID: PMC6117378 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The implication of the microtubule-associated protein (MAP) Tau in the ocular manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is elusive due to the lack of relevant animal model. However, signs of AD have been reported in the brain of transgenic mice expressing human Tau (hTau). To assess whether hTau is sufficient to induce AD pathogenesis in the retina as well, in the present study, we compared the retinal structure and function of KO mice deprived of Tau (mTKO) with those of transgenic mice expressing hTau. Our results revealed that hTau is particularly abundant in the inner nuclear layer (INL) cells of the retina. By electroretinogram (ERG) recording, light-induced retinal cell activation was not altered in hTau compared with mTKO littermates. Surprisingly, the ERG response mediated by cone photoreceptor stimulation was even stronger in hTau than in mTKO retinae. Immunofluorescent analysis of retinal sections allowed us to observe thicker inner retina in hTau than in mTKO eyes. By Western Blotting (WB), the upregulation of mTOR that was found in hTau mice may underlie retinal structure and function increases. Taken together, our results not only indicate that hTau expression is not toxic for retinal cells but they also suggest that it may play a positive role in visual physiology. The use of hTau may be envisaged to improve visual recovery in ocular diseases affecting the retinal function such as glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Léa Rodriguez
- CUO-Recherche, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Département d'ophtalmologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Julius Baya Mdzomba
- CUO-Recherche, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Département d'ophtalmologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Sandrine Joly
- CUO-Recherche, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Département d'ophtalmologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Mélissa Boudreau-Laprise
- CUO-Recherche, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Département d'ophtalmologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Département de Psychiatrie et de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent Pernet
- CUO-Recherche, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Département d'ophtalmologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|