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Fernández-Pena A, Martín de Blas D, Navas-Sánchez FJ, Marcos-Vidal L, M Gordaliza P, Santonja J, Janssen J, Carmona S, Desco M, Alemán-Gómez Y. ABLE: Automated Brain Lines Extraction Based on Laplacian Surface Collapse. Neuroinformatics 2023; 21:145-162. [PMID: 36008650 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-022-09601-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The archetypical folded shape of the human cortex has been a long-standing topic for neuroscientific research. Nevertheless, the accurate neuroanatomical segmentation of sulci remains a challenge. Part of the problem is the uncertainty of where a sulcus transitions into a gyrus and vice versa. This problem can be avoided by focusing on sulcal fundi and gyral crowns, which represent the topological opposites of cortical folding. We present Automated Brain Lines Extraction (ABLE), a method based on Laplacian surface collapse to reliably segment sulcal fundi and gyral crown lines. ABLE is built to work on standard FreeSurfer outputs and eludes the delineation of anastomotic sulci while maintaining sulcal fundi lines that traverse the regions with the highest depth and curvature. First, it segments the cortex into gyral and sulcal surfaces; then, each surface is spatially filtered. A Laplacian-collapse-based algorithm is applied to obtain a thinned representation of the surfaces. This surface is then used for careful detection of the endpoints of the lines. Finally, sulcal fundi and gyral crown lines are obtained by eroding the surfaces while preserving the connectivity between the endpoints. The method is validated by comparing ABLE with three other sulcal extraction methods using the Human Connectome Project (HCP) test-retest database to assess the reproducibility of the different tools. The results confirm ABLE as a reliable method for obtaining sulcal lines with an accurate representation of the sulcal topology while ignoring anastomotic branches and the overestimation of the sulcal fundi lines. ABLE is publicly available via https://github.com/HGGM-LIM/ABLE .
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Fernández-Pena
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Martín de Blas
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco J Navas-Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Marcos-Vidal
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro M Gordaliza
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Santonja
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joost Janssen
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susanna Carmona
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Desco
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Yasser Alemán-Gómez
- Connectomics Lab, Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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2
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Involvement of executive control in neural capacity related to working memory in aging: an ERP P300 study. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:1311-1333. [PMID: 35680698 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01018-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Executive control could be involved in neural capacity, which corresponds to the modulation of neural activity with increased task difficulty. Thus, by exploring the P300-an electrophysiological correlate of working memory-we examined the role played by executive control in both the age-related decline in working memory and neural capacity in aging. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while younger and older participants performed a Sternberg task with two set sizes (2 vs. 6 items), allowing us to calculate a neural capacity index. Participants also completed two control tasks (Stroop and 3-back tests), which were used to calculate a composite executive control index. Results indicated that working memory performance decreased with aging and difficulty. At the neural level, results indicated that the P300 amplitude varied with aging and also with task difficulty. In the low difficulty condition, frontal P300 amplitude was higher for older than for younger adults, whereas in the high difficulty condition, the amplitude of frontal and parietal P300 did not differ between both age groups. Results also suggest that task difficulty led to a decrease in parietal amplitude in both age groups and to an increase in frontal amplitude in younger but not older adults. Both executive control and frontal neural capacity mediated the age-related variance in working memory for older adults. Moreover, executive control mediated the age-related variance in the frontal neural capacity of older adults. Thus, the present study suggests a model for older adults in which executive control deficits with advancing age lead to less efficient frontal recruitment to cope with task difficulty (neural capacity), which in turn has a negative impact on working memory functioning.
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Kang Y, Kang W, Han KM, Tae WS, Ham BJ. Associations between cognitive impairment and cortical thickness alterations in patients with euthymic and depressive bipolar disorder. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2022; 322:111462. [PMID: 35231679 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2022.111462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Youbin Kang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wooyoung Kang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Man Han
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Suk Tae
- Korea University, Brain Convergence Research Center
| | - Byung-Joo Ham
- Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Andersson P, Li X, Persson J. The association between control of interference and white-matter integrity: A cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 114:49-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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5
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Díaz-Caneja CM, Alloza C, Gordaliza PM, Fernández-Pena A, de Hoyos L, Santonja J, Buimer EEL, van Haren NEM, Cahn W, Arango C, Kahn RS, Hulshoff Pol HE, Schnack HG, Janssen J. Sex Differences in Lifespan Trajectories and Variability of Human Sulcal and Gyral Morphology. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:5107-5120. [PMID: 34179960 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab145] [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] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in the development and aging of human sulcal morphology have been understudied. We charted sex differences in trajectories and inter-individual variability of global sulcal depth, width, and length, pial surface area, exposed (hull) gyral surface area, unexposed sulcal surface area, cortical thickness, gyral span, and cortex volume across the lifespan in a longitudinal sample (700 scans, 194 participants 2 scans, 104 three scans, age range: 16-70 years) of neurotypical males and females. After adjusting for brain volume, females had thicker cortex and steeper thickness decline until age 40 years; trajectories converged thereafter. Across sexes, sulcal shortening was faster before age 40, while sulcal shallowing and widening were faster thereafter. Although hull area remained stable, sulcal surface area declined and was more strongly associated with sulcal shortening than with sulcal shallowing and widening. Males showed greater variability for cortex volume and lower variability for sulcal width. Our findings highlight the association between loss of sulcal area, notably through sulcal shortening, with cortex volume loss. Studying sex differences in lifespan trajectories may improve knowledge of individual differences in brain development and the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Covadonga M Díaz-Caneja
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Ibiza, 43, 28009, Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Plaza Ramón y Cajal, s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Alloza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Ibiza, 43, 28009, Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro M Gordaliza
- Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Avenida de la Universidad, 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández-Pena
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Avenida de la Universidad, 30, 28911, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucía de Hoyos
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Ibiza, 43, 28009, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Santonja
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Ibiza, 43, 28009, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elizabeth E L Buimer
- Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Neeltje E M van Haren
- Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wiepke Cahn
- Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Celso Arango
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Ibiza, 43, 28009, Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Plaza Ramón y Cajal, s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Hilleke E Hulshoff Pol
- Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hugo G Schnack
- Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joost Janssen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Calle Ibiza, 43, 28009, Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del Área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Calle Doctor Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, UMCU Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Variation of HbA1c affects cognition and white matter microstructure in healthy, young adults. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1399-1408. [PMID: 31467393 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0504-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The metabolic serum marker HbA1c has been associated with both impaired cognitive performance and altered white matter integrity in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. However, it remains unclear if higher levels of HbA1c might also affect brain structure and function in healthy subjects. With the present study we therefore aimed to investigate the relationship between HbA1c levels and cognitive performance as well as white matter microstructure in healthy, young adults. To address this question, associations between HbA1c and cognitive measures (NIH Cognition Toolbox) as well as DTI-derived imaging measures of white matter microstructure were investigated in a publicly available sample of healthy, young adults as part of the Humane Connectome Project (n = 1206, mean age = 28.8 years, 45.5% male). We found that HbA1c levels (range 4.1-6.3%) were significantly inversely correlated with measures of cognitive performance. Higher HbA1c levels were associated with significant and widespread reductions in fractional anisotropy (FA) controlling for age, sex, body mass index, ethnicity, and education. FA reductions were furthermore found to covary with measures of cognitive performance. The same pattern of results could be observed in analyses restricted to participants with HBA1c levels below 5.7%. The present study demonstrates that low-grade HbA1c variation below diagnostic threshold for diabetes is related to both cognitive performance and white matter integrity in healthy, young adults. These findings highlight the detrimental impact of metabolic risk factors on brain physiology and underscore the importance of intensified preventive measures independent of the currently applied diagnostic HbA1c cutoff scores.
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7
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Libero LE, Schaer M, Li DD, Amaral DG, Nordahl CW. A Longitudinal Study of Local Gyrification Index in Young Boys With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:2575-2587. [PMID: 29850803 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Local gyrification index (LGI), a metric quantifying cortical folding, was evaluated in 105 boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 49 typically developing (TD) boys at 3 and 5 years-of-age. At 3 years-of-age, boys with ASD had reduced gyrification in the fusiform gyrus compared with TD boys. A longitudinal evaluation from 3 to 5 years revealed that while TD boys had stable/decreasing LGI, boys with ASD had increasing LGI in right inferior temporal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, and stable LGI in left lingual gyrus. LGI was also examined in a previously defined neurophenotype of boys with ASD and disproportionate megalencephaly. At 3 years-of-age, this subgroup exhibited increased LGI in right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and paracentral cortex, and left cingulate cortex and superior frontal gyrus relative to TD boys and increased LGI in right paracentral lobule and parahippocampal gyrus, and left precentral gyrus compared with boys with ASD and normal brain size. In summary, this study identified alterations in the pattern and development of LGI during early childhood in ASD. Distinct patterns of alterations in subgroups of boys with ASD suggests that multiple neurophenotypes exist and boys with ASD and disproportionate megalencephaly should be evaluated separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Libero
- UC Davis MIND Institute and the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, 2230 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Marie Schaer
- Office Medico-Pedagogique, Universite de Geneve, Rue David Dafour 1, Geneva 8, Switzerland
| | - Deana D Li
- UC Davis MIND Institute and the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, 2230 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - David G Amaral
- UC Davis MIND Institute and the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, 2230 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Christine Wu Nordahl
- UC Davis MIND Institute and the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, 2230 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA, USA
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McGuire SA, Ryan MC, Sherman PM, Sladky JH, Rowland LM, Wijtenburg SA, Hong LE, Kochunov PV. White matter and hypoxic hypobaria in humans. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:3165-3173. [PMID: 30927318 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Occupational exposure to hypobaria (low atmospheric pressure) is a risk factor for reduced white matter integrity, increased white matter hyperintensive burden, and decline in cognitive function. We tested the hypothesis that a discrete hypobaric exposure will have a transient impact on cerebral physiology. Cerebral blood flow, fractional anisotropy of water diffusion in cerebral white matter, white matter hyperintensity volume, and concentrations of neurochemicals were measured at baseline and 24 hr and 72 hr postexposure in N = 64 healthy aircrew undergoing standard US Air Force altitude chamber training and compared to N = 60 controls not exposed to hypobaria. We observed that hypobaric exposure led to a significant rise in white matter cerebral blood flow (CBF) 24 hr postexposure that remained elevated, albeit not significantly, at 72 hr. No significant changes were observed in structural measurements or gray matter CBF. Subjects with higher baseline concentrations of neurochemicals associated with neuroprotection and maintenance of normal white matter physiology (glutathione, N-acetylaspartate, glutamate/glutamine) showed proportionally less white matter CBF changes. Our findings suggest that discrete hypobaric exposure may provide a model to study white matter injury associated with occupational hypobaric exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A McGuire
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Meghann C Ryan
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Paul M Sherman
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, 59MDW-USAFSAM/FHOH, San Antonio, Texas
| | - John H Sladky
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, 59MDW-USAFSAM/FHOH, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Laura M Rowland
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - S Andrea Wijtenburg
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Peter V Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Ryan MC, Kochunov P, Sherman PM, Rowland LM, Wijtenburg SA, Acheson A, Hong LE, Sladky J, McGuire S. Miniature pig magnetic resonance spectroscopy model of normal adolescent brain development. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 308:173-182. [PMID: 30099002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We are developing the miniature pig (Sus scrofa domestica), an in-vivo translational, gyrencephalic model for brain development, as an alternative to laboratory rodents/non-human primates. We analyzed longitudinal changes in adolescent pigs using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and examined the relationship with white matter (WM) integrity derived from diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). NEW METHOD Twelve female Sinclair™ pigs underwent three imaging/spectroscopy sessions every 23.95 ± 3.73 days beginning at three months of age using a clinical 3 T scanner. 1H-MRS data were collected using 1.2 × 1.0 × 3.0 cm voxels placed in left and right hemisphere WM using a Point Resolved Spectroscopy sequence (TR = 2000 ms, TE = 30 ms). Concentrations of N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol (MI), glutamate + glutamine, choline, creatine, and macromolecules (MM) 09 and 14 were averaged from both hemispheres. DWI data were collected using 15 shells of b-values (b = 0-3500 s/mm2) with 32 directions/shell and fit using the WM Tract Integrity model to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA), kurtosis anisotropy (KA) and permeability-diffusivity index. RESULTS MI and MM09 significantly declined with age. Increased FA and KA significantly correlated with decline in MI and MM09. Correlations lost significance once corrected for age. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS MRI scanners/protocols can be used to collect 1H-MRS and DWI data in pigs. Pigs have a larger, more complex, gyrencephalic brain than laboratory rodents but are less complex than non-human primates, thus satisfying the "replacement" principle of animal research. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal effects in MRS measurements were similar to those reported in adolescent humans. MRS changes correlated with diffusion measurements indicating ongoing WM myelination/maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghann C Ryan
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Paul M Sherman
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, 2510 5th Street, Building 840, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7913, United States; Department of Radiology, 59thMedical Wing, 1100 Wilford Hall Loop, Bldg 4551, Joint Base San Antonio, TX, 78236, United States.
| | - Laura M Rowland
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - S Andrea Wijtenburg
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Ashley Acheson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St., Little Rock, AR, 72205, United States.
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - John Sladky
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, 2510 5th Street, Building 840, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7913, United States; Department of Neurology, 59th Medical Wing, 1100 Wilford Hall Loop, Bldg 4551, Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland AFB, TX, 78236, United States.
| | - Stephen McGuire
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, United States.
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Cacciaglia R, Molinuevo JL, Sánchez-Benavides G, Falcón C, Gramunt N, Brugulat-Serrat A, Grau O, Gispert JD. Episodic memory and executive functions in cognitively healthy individuals display distinct neuroanatomical correlates which are differentially modulated by aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:4565-4579. [PMID: 29972619 PMCID: PMC6220988 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuroanatomical bases of episodic memory (EM) and executive functions (EFs) have been widely addressed in patients with brain damage and in individuals with neurologic disorders. These studies reported that larger brain structures support better outcomes in both cognitive domains, thereby supporting the “bigger is better” account. However, relatively few studies have explored the cerebral morphological properties underlying EM and EFs in cognitively healthy individuals and current findings indicate no unitary theoretical explanation for the structure–function relationship. Moreover, existing studies have typically restricted the analyses to a priori defined regions of interest. Here we conducted unbiased voxel‐wise analysis of the associations between regional gray as well as white matter volumes (GMv; WMv) and performance in both cognitive domains in a sample of 463 cognitively intact individuals. We found that efficiency in EM was predicted by lower GMv in brain areas belonging to the default‐mode network (DMN). By contrast, EFs performance was predicted by larger GMv in a distributed set of regions, which overlapped with the executive control network (ECN). Volume of white matter bundles supporting both cross‐cortical and interhemispheric connections was positively related to processing speed. Furthermore, aging modulated the relationship between regional volumes and cognitive performance in several areas including the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Our data extend the critical role of the DMN and ECN by showing that variability in their morphological properties, and not only their activation patterns, affects EM and EFs, respectively. Moreover, our finding that aging reverts these associations supports previously advanced theories of cognitive neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Cacciaglia
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Molinuevo
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carles Falcón
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nina Gramunt
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Brugulat-Serrat
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Grau
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Domingo Gispert
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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11
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White matter microstructural variability mediates the relation between obesity and cognition in healthy adults. Neuroimage 2018; 172:239-249. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
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12
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Ryan MC, Sherman P, Rowland LM, Wijtenburg SA, Acheson A, Fieremans E, Veraart J, Novikov DS, Hong LE, Sladky J, Peralta PD, Kochunov P, McGuire SA. Miniature pig model of human adolescent brain white matter development. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 296:99-108. [PMID: 29277719 PMCID: PMC5817010 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroscience research in brain development and disorders can benefit from an in vivo animal model that portrays normal white matter (WM) development trajectories and has a sufficiently large cerebrum for imaging with human MRI scanners and protocols. NEW METHOD Twelve three-month-old Sinclair™ miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) were longitudinally evaluated during adolescent development using advanced diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) focused on cerebral WM. Animals had three MRI scans every 23.95 ± 3.73 days using a 3-T scanner. The DWI imaging protocol closely modeled advanced human structural protocols and consisted of fifteen b-shells (b = 0-3500 s/mm2) with 32-directions/shell. DWI data were analyzed using diffusion kurtosis and bi-exponential modeling that provided measurements that included fractional anisotropy (FA), radial kurtosis, kurtosis anisotropy (KA), axial kurtosis, tortuosity, and permeability-diffusivity index (PDI). RESULTS Significant longitudinal effects of brain development were observed for whole-brain average FA, KA, and PDI (all p < 0.001). There were expected regional differences in trends, with corpus callosum fibers showing the highest rate of change. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Pigs have a large, gyrencephalic brain that can be studied using clinical MRI scanners/protocols. Pigs are less complex than non-human primates thus satisfying the "replacement" principle of animal research. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal effects were observed for whole-brain and regional diffusion measurements. The changes in diffusion measurements were interepreted as evidence for ongoing myelination and maturation of cerebral WM. Corpus callosum and superficial cortical WM showed the expected higher rates of change, mirroring results in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghann C Ryan
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States
| | - Paul Sherman
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, 2510 5th Street, Building 840, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7913, United States
| | - Laura M Rowland
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States
| | - S Andrea Wijtenburg
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States
| | - Ashley Acheson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
| | - Els Fieremans
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Jelle Veraart
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Dmitry S Novikov
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States
| | - John Sladky
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, 2510 5th Street, Building 840, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7913, United States; Department of Neurology, 59th Medical Wing, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, TX 78236, United States
| | - P Dana Peralta
- Department of Neurology, 59th Medical Wing, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, TX 78236, United States
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 55 Wade Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States.
| | - Stephen A McGuire
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aeromedical Research Department, 2510 5th Street, Building 840, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7913, United States; Department of Neurology, 59th Medical Wing, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, TX 78236, United States
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13
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Shen X, Liu T, Tao D, Fan Y, Zhang J, Li S, Jiang J, Zhu W, Wang Y, Wang Y, Brodaty H, Sachdev P, Wen W. Variation in longitudinal trajectories of cortical sulci in normal elderly. Neuroimage 2018; 166:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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14
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Matsuoka T, Kato Y, Imai A, Fujimoto H, Shibata K, Nakamura K, Yamada K, Narumoto J. Differences in the neural correlates of frontal lobe tests. Psychogeriatrics 2018; 18:42-48. [PMID: 29372597 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Executive Interview (EXIT25), the executive clock-drawing task (CLOX1), and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) are used to assess executive function at the bedside. These tests assess distinct psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the neural correlates of the EXIT25, CLOX1, and FAB based on magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS Fifty-eight subjects (30 with Alzheimer's disease, 10 with mild cognitive impairment, and 18 healthy controls) participated in this study. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the brain regions correlated with the EXIT25, CLOX1, and FAB scores. Age, gender, and years of education were included as covariates. Statistical thresholds were set to uncorrected P-values of 0.001 at the voxel level and 0.05 at the cluster level. RESULTS The EXIT25 score correlated inversely with the regional grey matter volume in the left lateral frontal lobe (Brodmann areas 6, 9, 44, and 45). The CLOX1 score correlated positively with the regional grey matter volume in the right orbitofrontal cortex (Brodmann area 11) and the left supramarginal gyrus (Brodmann area 40). The FAB score correlated positively with the regional grey matter volume in the right precentral gyrus (Brodmann area 6). The left lateral frontal lobe (Brodmann area 9) and the right lateral frontal lobe (Brodmann area 46) were identified as common brain regions that showed association with EXIT25, CLOX1, and FAB based only a voxel-level threshold. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that the EXIT25, CLOX1, and FAB may be associated with the distinct neural correlates of the frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruyuki Matsuoka
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuka Kato
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ayu Imai
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Fujimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shibata
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kaeko Nakamura
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kei Yamada
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jin Narumoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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Zamroziewicz MK, Zwilling CE, Barbey AK. Inferior Prefrontal Cortex Mediates the Relationship between Phosphatidylcholine and Executive Functions in Healthy, Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:226. [PMID: 27733825 PMCID: PMC5040143 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This study examines the neural mechanisms that mediate the relationship between phosphatidylcholine and executive functions in cognitively intact older adults. We hypothesized that higher plasma levels of phosphatidylcholine are associated with better performance on a particular component of the executive functions, namely cognitive flexibility, and that this relationship is mediated by gray matter structure of regions within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that have been implicated in cognitive flexibility. Methods: We examined 72 cognitively intact adults between the ages of 65 and 75 in an observational, cross-sectional study to investigate the relationship between blood biomarkers of phosphatidylcholine, tests of cognitive flexibility (measured by the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Trail Making Test), and gray matter structure of regions within the PFC. A three-step mediation analysis was implemented using multivariate linear regressions and we controlled for age, sex, education, income, depression status, and body mass index. Results: The mediation analysis revealed that gray matter thickness of one region within the PFC, the left inferior PFC (Brodmann's Area 45), mediates the relationship between phosphatidylcholine blood biomarkers and cognitive flexibility. Conclusion: These results suggest that particular nutrients may slow or prevent age-related cognitive decline by influencing specific structures within the brain. This report demonstrates a novel structural mediation between plasma phosphatidylcholine levels and cognitive flexibility. Future work should examine the potential mechanisms underlying this mediation, including phosphatidylcholine-dependent cell membrane integrity of the inferior PFC and phosphatidylcholine-dependent cholinergic projections to the inferior PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta K. Zamroziewicz
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
| | - Chris E. Zwilling
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
| | - Aron K. Barbey
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UrbanaIL, USA
- Carle Neuroscience Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, UrbanaIL, USA
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Merideth FL, Quinn DK. "Walking the Walk": Decisional Capacity Deficits After Right Hemisphere Subdural Hematoma. PSYCHOSOMATICS 2015; 57:102-6. [PMID: 26481960 DOI: 10.1016/j.psym.2015.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Davin K Quinn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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17
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Kochunov P, Thompson PM, Winkler A, Morrissey M, Fu M, Coyle TR, Du X, Muellerklein F, Savransky A, Gaudiot C, Sampath H, Eskandar G, Jahanshad N, Patel B, Rowland L, Nichols TE, O'Connell JR, Shuldiner AR, Mitchell BD, Hong LE. The common genetic influence over processing speed and white matter microstructure: Evidence from the Old Order Amish and Human Connectome Projects. Neuroimage 2015; 125:189-197. [PMID: 26499807 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Speed with which brain performs information processing influences overall cognition and is dependent on the white matter fibers. To understand genetic influences on processing speed and white matter FA, we assessed processing speed and diffusion imaging fractional anisotropy (FA) in related individuals from two populations. Discovery analyses were performed in 146 individuals from large Old Order Amish (OOA) families and findings were replicated in 485 twins and siblings of the Human Connectome Project (HCP). The heritability of processing speed was h(2)=43% and 49% (both p<0.005), while the heritability of whole brain FA was h(2)=87% and 88% (both p<0.001), in the OOA and HCP, respectively. Whole brain FA was significantly correlated with processing speed in the two cohorts. Quantitative genetic analysis demonstrated a significant degree to which common genes influenced joint variation in FA and brain processing speed. These estimates suggested common sets of genes influencing variation in both phenotypes, consistent with the idea that common genetic variations contributing to white matter may also support their associated cognitive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | | | - Mary Morrissey
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mao Fu
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas R Coyle
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoming Du
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Florian Muellerklein
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anya Savransky
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Gaudiot
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hemalatha Sampath
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - George Eskandar
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Neda Jahanshad
- Imaging Genetics Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Marina del Rey, CA, USA
| | - Binish Patel
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laura Rowland
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey R O'Connell
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alan R Shuldiner
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Braxton D Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Wright SN, Hong LE, Winkler AM, Chiappelli J, Nugent K, Muellerklein F, Du X, Rowland LM, Wang DJJ, Kochunov P. Perfusion shift from white to gray matter may account for processing speed deficits in schizophrenia. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 36:3793-804. [PMID: 26108347 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 05/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduced speed of cerebral information processing is a cognitive deficit associated with schizophrenia. Normal information processing speed (PS) requires intact white matter (WM) physiology to support information transfer. In a cohort of 107 subjects (47/60 patients/controls), we demonstrate that PS deficits in schizophrenia patients are explained by reduced WM integrity, which is measured using diffusion tensor imaging, mediated by the mismatch in WM/gray matter blood perfusion, and measured using arterial spin labeling. Our findings are specific to PS, and testing this hypothesis for patient-control differences in working memory produces no explanation. We demonstrate that PS deficits in schizophrenia can be explained by neurophysiological alterations in cerebral WM. Whether the disproportionately low WM integrity in schizophrenia is due to illness or secondary due to this disorder deserves further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan N Wright
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Anderson M Winkler
- Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Chiappelli
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Katie Nugent
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Florian Muellerklein
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Xioming Du
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Laura M Rowland
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland
| | - Danny J J Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Maryland
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Zamroziewicz MK, Paul EJ, Rubin RD, Barbey AK. Anterior cingulate cortex mediates the relationship between O3PUFAs and executive functions in APOE e4 carriers. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:87. [PMID: 26052283 PMCID: PMC4439554 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although diet has a substantial influence on the aging brain, the relationship between biomarkers of diet and aspects of brain health remains unclear. This study examines the neural mechanisms that mediate the relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (O3PUFAs) and executive functions in at-risk (APOE e4 carriers), cognitively intact older adults. We hypothesized that higher levels of O3PUFAs are associated with better performance in a particular component of the executive functions, namely cognitive flexibility, and that this relationship is mediated by gray matter volume of a specific region thought to be important for cognitive flexibility, the anterior cingulate cortex. METHODS We examined 40 cognitively intact adults between the ages of 65 and 75 with the APOE e4 polymorphism to investigate the relationship between biomarkers of O3PUFAs, tests of cognitive flexibility (measured by the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Trail Making Test), and gray matter volume within regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). RESULTS A mediation analysis revealed that gray matter volume within the left rostral anterior cingulate cortex partially mediates the relationship between O3PUFA biomarkers and cognitive flexibility. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the anterior cingulate cortex acts as a mediator of the relationship between O3PUFAs and cognitive flexibility in cognitively intact adults thought to be at risk for cognitive decline. Through their link to executive functions and neuronal measures of PFC volume, O3PUFAs show potential as a nutritional therapy to prevent dysfunction in the aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta K. Zamroziewicz
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of IllinoisChampaign, IL, USA
| | - Erick J. Paul
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
| | - Rachael D. Rubin
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
- Carle Neuroscience Institute, Carle Foundation HospitalUrbana, IL, USA
| | - Aron K. Barbey
- Decision Neuroscience Laboratory, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of IllinoisUrbana, IL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of IllinoisChampaign, IL, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of IllinoisChampaign, IL, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of IllinoisChampaign, IL, USA
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of IllinoisChampaign, IL, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of IllinoisChampaign, IL, USA
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Chiappelli J, Hong LE, Wijtenburg SA, Du X, Gaston F, Kochunov P, Rowland LM. Alterations in frontal white matter neurochemistry and microstructure in schizophrenia: implications for neuroinflammation. Transl Psychiatry 2015; 5:e548. [PMID: 25871973 PMCID: PMC4462606 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2015.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated in vivo neurochemical markers reflective of neuronal health and glial activation to determine if these could yield clues regarding the reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter and accelerated decline of FA with age in schizophrenia. Participants with schizophrenia and healthy controls completed diffusion tensor imaging to assess FA and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess neurochemical metabolites in the same frontal region. Frontal FA was significantly lower in the schizophrenia and declined more rapidly with age compared with the healthy control group. In both groups, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), a putative marker of neuronal integrity, and glutamate declined with age, and this decline was stronger in patients. Myo-inositol, a marker of glial cells, was negatively related to FA in both groups. The relationship between FA and age remained significant in schizophrenia even when controlling for all metabolites. The relationships of FA, NAA and myo-inositol to age appear to be independent of one another. The relationship between FA and myo-inositol was independently present in both patients and controls, even after controlling for age, indicating a potential general effect of neuroinflammation on white matter microstructure. Further studies are warranted to determine the underlying mechanism driving the accelerated FA decline with age in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chiappelli
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L E Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, PO Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA. E-mail: or
| | - S A Wijtenburg
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - X Du
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - F Gaston
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - P Kochunov
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L M Rowland
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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McGuire SA, Sherman PM, Wijtenburg SA, Rowland LM, Grogan PM, Sladky JH, Robinson AY, Kochunov PV. White matter hyperintensities and hypobaric exposure. Ann Neurol 2014; 76:719-26. [PMID: 25164539 DOI: 10.1002/ana.24264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Demonstrate that occupational exposure to nonhypoxic hypobaria is associated with subcortical white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS Eighty-three altitude chamber personnel (PHY), 105 U-2 pilots (U2P), and 148 age- controlled and health-matched doctorate degree controls (DOC) underwent high-resolution MRI. Subcortical WMH burden was quantified as count and volume of subcortical WMH lesions after transformation of images to the Talairach atlas-based stereotactic frame. RESULTS Subcortical WMHs were more prevalent in PHY (volume p = 0.011/count p = 0.019) and U2P (volume p < 0.001/count p < 0.001) when compared to DOC, whereas PHY were not significantly different than U2P. INTERPRETATION This study provides strong evidence that nonhypoxic hypobaric exposure may induce subcortical WMHs in a young, healthy population lacking other risk factors for WMHs and adds this occupational exposure to other environmentally related potential causes of WMHs. Ann Neurol 2014;76:719-726.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A McGuire
- US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH; Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX; Department of Neurology, 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
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Janssen J, Alemán-Gómez Y, Schnack H, Balaban E, Pina-Camacho L, Alfaro-Almagro F, Castro-Fornieles J, Otero S, Baeza I, Moreno D, Bargalló N, Parellada M, Arango C, Desco M. Cortical morphology of adolescents with bipolar disorder and with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2014; 158:91-9. [PMID: 25085384 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2014.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent evidence points to overlapping decreases in cortical thickness and gyrification in the frontal lobe of patients with adult-onset schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms, but it is not clear if these findings generalize to patients with a disease onset during adolescence and what may be the mechanisms underlying a decrease in gyrification. METHOD This study analyzed cortical morphology using surface-based morphometry in 92 subjects (age range 11-18 years, 52 healthy controls and 40 adolescents with early-onset first-episode psychosis diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=20) or bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms (n=20) based on a two year clinical follow up). Average lobar cortical thickness, surface area, gyrification index (GI) and sulcal width were compared between groups, and the relationship between the GI and sulcal width was assessed in the patient group. RESULTS Both patients groups showed decreased cortical thickness and increased sulcal width in the frontal cortex when compared to healthy controls. The schizophrenia subgroup also had increased sulcal width in all other lobes. In the frontal cortex of the combined patient group sulcal width was negatively correlated (r=-0.58, p<0.001) with the GI. CONCLUSIONS In adolescents with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms there is cortical thinning, decreased GI and increased sulcal width of the frontal cortex present at the time of the first psychotic episode. Decreased frontal GI is associated with the widening of the frontal sulci which may reduce sulcal surface area. These results suggest that abnormal growth (or more pronounced shrinkage during adolescence) of the frontal cortex represents a shared endophenotype for psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Janssen
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Yasser Alemán-Gómez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad, 30, 28911 Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hugo Schnack
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Evan Balaban
- Behavioral Neurosciences Program, McGill University, N8-15 Stewart Biological Sciences Building, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue, Montreal QC H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Laura Pina-Camacho
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, 16 de Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Fidel Alfaro-Almagro
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - Josefina Castro-Fornieles
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Institut Clinic of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Casanovas, 143, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Soraya Otero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Avda. Valdecilla nº 25, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Baeza
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Institut Clinic of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Dolores Moreno
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Bargalló
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Magnetic Resonance Image Core Facility, IDIBAPS (Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer), Barcelona, Spain; Image Diagnostic Center, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mara Parellada
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - Celso Arango
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Desco
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. de la Universidad, 30, 28911 Leganés, Madrid, Spain
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Kochunov P, Chiappelli J, Wright SN, Rowland LM, Patel B, Wijtenburg SA, Nugent K, McMahon RP, Carpenter WT, Muellerklein F, Sampath H, Hong LE. Multimodal white matter imaging to investigate reduced fractional anisotropy and its age-related decline in schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2014; 223:148-56. [PMID: 24909602 PMCID: PMC4100065 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Revised: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
We hypothesized that reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) of water diffusion and its elevated aging-related decline in schizophrenia patients may be caused by elevated hyperintensive white matter (HWM) lesions, by reduced permeability-diffusivity index (PDI), or both. We tested this hypothesis in 40/30 control/patient participants. FA values for the corpus callosum were calculated from high angular resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Whole-brain volume of HWM lesions was quantified by 3D-T2w-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging. PDI for corpus callosum was ascertained using multi b-value diffusion imaging (15 b-shells with 30 directions per shell). Patients had significantly lower corpus callosum FA values, and there was a significant age-by-diagnosis interaction. Patients also had significantly reduced PDI but no difference in HWM volume. PDI and HWM volume were significant predictors of FA and captured the diagnosis-related variance. Separately, PDI robustly explained FA variance in schizophrenia patients, but not in controls. Conversely, HWM volume made equally significant contributions to variability in FA in both groups. The diagnosis-by-age effect of FA was explained by a PDI-by-diagnosis interaction. Post hoc testing showed a similar trend for PDI of gray mater. Our study demonstrated that reduced FA and its accelerated decline with age in schizophrenia were explained by pathophysiology indexed by PDI, rather than HWM volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA; Department of Physics, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA.
| | - Joshua Chiappelli
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Susan N. Wright
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Laura M. Rowland
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Benish Patel
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - S. Andrea Wijtenburg
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Katie Nugent
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Robert P. McMahon
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - William T. Carpenter
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Florian Muellerklein
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - Hemalatha Sampath
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
| | - L. Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA
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McGuire SA, Tate DF, Wood J, Sladky JH, McDonald K, Sherman PM, Kawano ES, Rowland LM, Patel B, Wright SN, Hong E, Rasmussen J, Willis AM, Kochunov PV. Lower neurocognitive function in U-2 pilots: Relationship to white matter hyperintensities. Neurology 2014; 83:638-45. [PMID: 25008397 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000000694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Determine whether United States Air Force (USAF) U-2 pilots (U2Ps) with occupational exposure to repeated hypobaria had lower neurocognitive performance compared to pilots without repeated hypobaric exposure and whether U2P neurocognitive performance correlated with white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden. METHODS We collected Multidimensional Aptitude Battery-II (MAB-II) and MicroCog: Assessment of Cognitive Functioning (MicroCog) neurocognitive data on USAF U2Ps with a history of repeated occupational exposure to hypobaria and compared these with control data collected from USAF pilots (AFPs) without repeated hypobaric exposure (U2Ps/AFPs MAB-II 87/83; MicroCog 93/80). Additional comparisons were performed between U2Ps with high vs low WMH burden. RESULTS U2Ps with repeated hypobaric exposure had significantly lower scores than control pilots on reasoning/calculation (U2Ps/AFPs 99.4/106.5), memory (105.5/110.9), information processing accuracy (102.1/105.8), and general cognitive functioning (103.5/108.5). In addition, U2Ps with high whole-brain WMH count showed significantly lower scores on reasoning/calculation (high/low 96.8/104.1), memory (102.9/110.2), general cognitive functioning (101.5/107.2), and general cognitive proficiency (103.6/108.8) than U2Ps with low WMH burden (high/low WMH mean volume 0.213/0.003 cm(3) and mean count 14.2/0.4). CONCLUSION In these otherwise healthy, highly functioning individuals, pilots with occupational exposure to repeated hypobaria demonstrated lower neurocognitive performance, albeit demonstrable on only some tests, than pilots without repeated exposure. Furthermore, within the U2P population, higher WMH burden was associated with lower neurocognitive test performance. Hypobaric exposure may be a risk factor for subtle changes in neurocognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A McGuire
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
| | - David F Tate
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Joe Wood
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - John H Sladky
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Kent McDonald
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Paul M Sherman
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Elaine S Kawano
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Laura M Rowland
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Beenish Patel
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Susan N Wright
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Elliot Hong
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Jennifer Rasmussen
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Adam M Willis
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
| | - Peter V Kochunov
- From the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (S.A.M., J.W., K.M., E.S.K.), Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Department of Neurology (S.A.M., J.R.), University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio; Departments of Neuroradiology (P.M.S.) and Neurology (S.A.M., J.H.S., A.M.W.), 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB; Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (D.F.T.), San Antonio, TX; and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (L.M.R., B.P., S.N.W., E.H., P.V.K.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
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Prefrontal cortex and executive functions in healthy adults: a meta-analysis of structural neuroimaging studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014. [PMID: 24568942 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.02.005.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Lesion studies link the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to executive functions. However, the evidence from in vivo investigations in healthy people is mixed, and there are no quantitative estimates of the association strength. To examine the relationship between PFC volume and cortical thickness with executive cognition in healthy adults, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies that assessed executive functions and PFC volume (31 samples,) and PFC thickness (10 samples) in vivo, N=3272 participants. We found that larger PFC volume and greater PFC thickness were associated with better executive performance. Stronger associations between executive functions and PFC volume were linked to greater variance in the sample age but was unrelated to the mean age of a sample. Strength of association between cognitive and neuroanatomical indices depended on the executive task used in the study. PFC volume correlated stronger with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test than with digit backwards span, Trail Making Test and verbal fluency. Significant effect size was observed in lateral and medial but not orbital PFC. The results support the "bigger is better" hypothesis of brain-behavior relation in healthy adults and suggest different neural correlates across the neuropsychological tests used to assess executive functions.
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Prefrontal cortex and executive functions in healthy adults: a meta-analysis of structural neuroimaging studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 42:180-92. [PMID: 24568942 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 365] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2013] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Lesion studies link the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to executive functions. However, the evidence from in vivo investigations in healthy people is mixed, and there are no quantitative estimates of the association strength. To examine the relationship between PFC volume and cortical thickness with executive cognition in healthy adults, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies that assessed executive functions and PFC volume (31 samples,) and PFC thickness (10 samples) in vivo, N=3272 participants. We found that larger PFC volume and greater PFC thickness were associated with better executive performance. Stronger associations between executive functions and PFC volume were linked to greater variance in the sample age but was unrelated to the mean age of a sample. Strength of association between cognitive and neuroanatomical indices depended on the executive task used in the study. PFC volume correlated stronger with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test than with digit backwards span, Trail Making Test and verbal fluency. Significant effect size was observed in lateral and medial but not orbital PFC. The results support the "bigger is better" hypothesis of brain-behavior relation in healthy adults and suggest different neural correlates across the neuropsychological tests used to assess executive functions.
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Smolker HR, Depue BE, Reineberg AE, Orr JM, Banich MT. Individual differences in regional prefrontal gray matter morphometry and fractional anisotropy are associated with different constructs of executive function. Brain Struct Funct 2014; 220:1291-306. [PMID: 24562372 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-014-0723-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Although the relationship between structural differences within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and executive function (EF) has been widely explored in cognitively impaired populations, little is known about this relationship in healthy young adults. Using optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM), surface-based morphometry (SBM), and fractional anisotropy (FA) we determined the association between regional PFC grey matter (GM) morphometry and white matter tract diffusivity with performance on tasks that tap different aspects of EF as drawn from Miyake et al.'s three-factor model of EF. Reductions in both GM volume (VBM) and cortical folding (SBM) in the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC), ventrolateral PFC (vlPFC), and dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) predicted better common EF, shifting-specific, and updating-specific performance, respectively. Despite capturing different components of GM morphometry, voxel- and surface-based findings were highly related, exhibiting regionally overlapping relationships with EF. Increased white matter FA in fiber tracts that connect the vmPFC and vlPFC with posterior regions of the brain also predicted better common EF and shifting-specific performance, respectively. These results suggest that the neural mechanisms supporting distinct aspects of EF may differentially rely on distinct regions of the PFC, and at least in healthy young adults, are influenced by regional morphometry of the PFC and the FA of major white matter tracts that connect the PFC with posterior cortical and subcortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- H R Smolker
- The Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
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Using sulcal and gyral measures of brain structure to investigate benefits of an active lifestyle. Neuroimage 2014; 91:353-9. [PMID: 24434675 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Revised: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity is associated with brain and cognitive health in ageing. Higher levels of physical activity are linked to larger cerebral volumes, lower rates of atrophy, better cognitive function and a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Neuroimaging studies have traditionally focused on volumetric brain tissue measures to test associations between factors of interest (e.g. physical activity) and brain structure. However, cortical sulci may provide additional information to these more standard measures. METHOD Associations between physical activity, brain structure, and cognition were investigated in a large, community-based sample of cognitively healthy individuals (N=317) using both sulcal and volumetric measures. RESULTS Physical activity was associated with narrower width of the Left Superior Frontal Sulcus and the Right Central Sulcus, while volumetric measures showed no association with physical activity. In addition, Left Superior Frontal sulcal width was associated with processing speed and executive function. DISCUSSION These findings suggest sulcal measures may be a sensitive index of physical activity related to cerebral health and cognitive function in healthy older individuals. Further research is required to confirm these findings and to examine how sulcal measures may be most effectively used in neuroimaging.
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Abstract
The human cerebral cortex appears to shrink during adolescence. To delineate the dynamic morphological changes involved in this process, 52 healthy male and female adolescents (11-17 years old) were neuroimaged twice using magnetic resonance imaging, approximately 2 years apart. Using a novel morphometric analysis procedure combining the FreeSurfer and BrainVisa image software suites, we quantified global and lobar change in cortical thickness, outer surface area, the gyrification index, the average Euclidean distance between opposing sides of the white matter surface (gyral white matter thickness), the convex ("exposed") part of the outer cortical surface (hull surface area), sulcal length, depth, and width. We found that the cortical surface flattens during adolescence. Flattening was strongest in the frontal and occipital cortices, in which significant sulcal widening and decreased sulcal depth co-occurred. Globally, sulcal widening was associated with cortical thinning and, for the frontal cortex, with loss of surface area. For the other cortical lobes, thinning was related to gyral white matter expansion. The overall flattening of the macrostructural three-dimensional architecture of the human cortex during adolescence thus involves changes in gray matter and effects of the maturation of white matter.
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Wright SN, Kochunov P, Mut F, Bergamino M, Brown KM, Mazziotta JC, Toga AW, Cebral JR, Ascoli GA. Digital reconstruction and morphometric analysis of human brain arterial vasculature from magnetic resonance angiography. Neuroimage 2013; 82:170-81. [PMID: 23727319 PMCID: PMC3971907 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2013] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterization of the complex branching architecture of cerebral arteries across a representative sample of the human population is important for diagnosing, analyzing, and predicting pathological states. Brain arterial vasculature can be visualized by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). However, most MRA studies are limited to qualitative assessments, partial morphometric analyses, individual (or small numbers of) subjects, proprietary datasets, or combinations of the above limitations. Neuroinformatics tools, developed for neuronal arbor analysis, were used to quantify vascular morphology from 3T time-of-flight MRA high-resolution (620 μm isotropic) images collected in 61 healthy volunteers (36/25 F/M, average age=31.2 ± 10.7, range=19-64 years). We present in-depth morphometric analyses of the global and local anatomical features of these arbors. The overall structure and size of the vasculature did not significantly differ across genders, ages, or hemispheres. The total length of the three major arterial trees stemming from the circle of Willis (from smallest to largest: the posterior, anterior, and middle cerebral arteries; or PCAs, ACAs, and MCAs, respectively) followed an approximate 1:2:4 proportion. Arterial size co-varied across individuals: subjects with one artery longer than average tended to have all other arteries also longer than average. There was no net right-left difference across the population in any of the individual arteries, but ACAs were more lateralized than MCAs. MCAs, ACAs, and PCAs had similar branch-level properties such as bifurcation angles. Throughout the arterial vasculature, there were considerable differences between branch types: bifurcating branches were significantly shorter and straighter than terminating branches. Furthermore, the length and meandering of bifurcating branches increased with age and with path distance from the circle of Willis. All reconstructions are freely distributed through a public database to enable additional analyses and modeling (cng.gmu.edu/brava).
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan N. Wright
- Krasnow Inst. for Advanced Study, George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Univ. of Texas, Health Science Center in San Antonio, USA
| | - Fernando Mut
- Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics, George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | - Kerry M. Brown
- Krasnow Inst. for Advanced Study, George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Juan R. Cebral
- Krasnow Inst. for Advanced Study, George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA, USA
- Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics, George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Giorgio A. Ascoli
- Krasnow Inst. for Advanced Study, George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA, USA
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McGuire S, Sherman P, Profenna L, Grogan P, Sladky J, Brown A, Robinson A, Rowland L, Hong E, Patel B, Tate D, Kawano ES, Fox P, Kochunov P. White matter hyperintensities on MRI in high-altitude U-2 pilots. Neurology 2013; 81:729-35. [PMID: 23960192 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182a1ab12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To demonstrate that U-2 pilot occupational exposure to hypobaria leads to increased incidence of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) with a more uniform distribution throughout the brain irrespective of clinical neurologic decompression sickness history. METHODS We evaluated imaging findings in 102 U-2 pilots and 91 controls matched for age, health, and education levels. Three-dimensional, T2-weighted, high-resolution (1-mm isotropic) imaging data were collected using fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence on a 3-tesla MRI scanner. Whole-brain and regional WMH volume and number were compared between groups using a 2-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS U-2 pilots demonstrated an increase in volume (394%; p = 0.004) and number (295%; p < 0.001) of WMH. Analysis of regional distribution demonstrated WMH more uniformly distributed throughout the brain in U-2 pilots compared with mainly frontal distribution in controls. CONCLUSION Pilots with occupational exposure to hypobaria showed a significant increase in WMH lesion volume and number. Unlike the healthy controls with predominantly WMH in the frontal white matter, WMH in pilots were more uniformly distributed throughout the brain. This is consistent with our hypothesized pattern of damage produced by interaction between microemboli and cerebral tissue, leading to thrombosis, coagulation, inflammation, and/or activation of innate immune response, although further studies will be necessary to clarify the pathologic mechanisms responsible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen McGuire
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA.
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Fleischman DA, Leurgans S, Arfanakis K, Arvanitakis Z, Barnes LL, Boyle PA, Han SD, Bennett DA. Gray-matter macrostructure in cognitively healthy older persons: associations with age and cognition. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:2029-49. [PMID: 23955313 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-013-0622-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A deeper understanding of brain macrostructure and its associations with cognition in persons who are considered cognitively healthy is critical to the early detection of persons at risk of developing dementia. Few studies have examined the associations of all three gray-matter macrostructural brain indices (volume, thickness, surface area) with age and cognition, in the same persons who are over the age of 65 and do not have cognitive impairment. We performed automated morphometric reconstruction of total gray matter, cortical gray matter, subcortical gray matter and 84 individual regions in 186 persons (60 % over the age of 80) without cognitive impairment. Morphometric measures were scaled and expressed as difference per decade of age and an adjusted score was created to identify those regions in which there was greater atrophy per decade of age compared to cortical or subcortical brain averages. The results showed that there is substantial total volume loss and cortical thinning in cognitively healthy older persons. Thinning was more widespread than volume loss, but volume loss, particularly in temporoparietal and hippocampal regions, was more strongly associated with cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Fleischman
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Armour Academic Center Offices, 600 S. Paulina Suite 1038, 1653 W. Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA,
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Kochunov P, Charlesworth J, Winkler A, Hong LE, Nichols TE, Curran JE, Sprooten E, Jahanshad N, Thompson PM, Johnson MP, Kent JW, Landman BA, Mitchell B, Cole SA, Dyer TD, Moses EK, Goring HHH, Almasy L, Duggirala R, Olvera RL, Glahn DC, Blangero J. Transcriptomics of cortical gray matter thickness decline during normal aging. Neuroimage 2013; 82:273-83. [PMID: 23707588 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.05.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We performed a whole-transcriptome correlation analysis, followed by the pathway enrichment and testing of innate immune response pathway analyses to evaluate the hypothesis that transcriptional activity can predict cortical gray matter thickness (GMT) variability during normal cerebral aging. METHODS Transcriptome and GMT data were available for 379 individuals (age range=28-85) community-dwelling members of large extended Mexican American families. Collection of transcriptome data preceded that of neuroimaging data by 17 years. Genome-wide gene transcriptome data consisted of 20,413 heritable lymphocytes-based transcripts. GMT measurements were performed from high-resolution (isotropic 800 μm) T1-weighted MRI. Transcriptome-wide and pathway enrichment analysis was used to classify genes correlated with GMT. Transcripts for sixty genes from seven innate immune pathways were tested as specific predictors of GMT variability. RESULTS Transcripts for eight genes (IGFBP3, LRRN3, CRIP2, SCD, IDS, TCF4, GATA3, and HN1) passed the transcriptome-wide significance threshold. Four orthogonal factors extracted from this set predicted 31.9% of the variability in the whole-brain and between 23.4 and 35% of regional GMT measurements. Pathway enrichment analysis identified six functional categories including cellular proliferation, aggregation, differentiation, viral infection, and metabolism. The integrin signaling pathway was significantly (p<10(-6)) enriched with GMT. Finally, three innate immune pathways (complement signaling, toll-receptors and scavenger and immunoglobulins) were significantly associated with GMT. CONCLUSION Expression activity for the genes that regulate cellular proliferation, adhesion, differentiation and inflammation can explain a significant proportion of individual variability in cortical GMT. Our findings suggest that normal cerebral aging is the product of a progressive decline in regenerative capacity and increased neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
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McGuire SA, Sherman PM, Brown AC, Robinson AY, Tate DF, Fox PT, Kochunov PV. Hyperintense white matter lesions in 50 high-altitude pilots with neurologic decompression sickness. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 83:1117-22. [PMID: 23316539 DOI: 10.3357/asem.3395.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neurologic decompression sickness (NDCS) can affect high-altitude pilots, causing variable central nervous system symptoms. Five recent severe episodes prompted further investigation. METHODS We report the hyperintense white matter (HWM) lesion imaging findings in 50 U-2 pilot volunteers, and compare 12 U-2 pilots who experienced clinical NDCS to 38 U-2 pilots who did not. The imaging data were collected using a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner and high-resolution (1-mm isotropic) three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence. Whole-brain and regional lesion volume and number were compared between groups. RESULTS The NDCS group had significantly increased whole brain and insular volumes of HWM lesions. The intergroup difference in lesion numbers was not significant. CONCLUSION A clinical episode of NDCS was associated with a significant increase in HWM lesion volume, especially in the insula. We postulate this to be due to hypobaric exposure rather than hypoxia since all pilots were maintained on 100% oxygen throughout the flight. Further studies will be necessary to better understand the pathophysiology underlying these lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A McGuire
- U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Aerospace Medicine Consultation Division, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA.
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Nyberg L, Lövdén M, Riklund K, Lindenberger U, Bäckman L. Memory aging and brain maintenance. Trends Cogn Sci 2012; 16:292-305. [PMID: 22542563 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2012.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 688] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Revised: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/06/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Episodic memory and working memory decline with advancing age. Nevertheless, large-scale population-based studies document well-preserved memory functioning in some older individuals. The influential ‘reserve’ notion holds that individual differences in brain characteristics or in the manner people process tasks allow some individuals to cope better than others with brain pathology and hence show preserved memory performance. Here, we discuss a complementary concept, that of brain maintenance (or relative lack of brain pathology), and argue that it constitutes the primary determinant of successful memory aging. We discuss evidence for brain maintenance at different levels: cellular, neurochemical, gray- and white-matter integrity, and systems-level activation patterns. Various genetic and lifestyle factors support brain maintenance in aging and interventions may be designed to promote maintenance of brain structure and function in late life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Nyberg
- Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Kochunov P, Rogers W, Mangin JF, Lancaster J. A library of cortical morphology analysis tools to study development, aging and genetics of cerebral cortex. Neuroinformatics 2012; 10:81-96. [PMID: 21698393 DOI: 10.1007/s12021-011-9127-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sharing of analysis techniques and tools is among the main driving forces of modern neuroscience. We describe a library of tools developed to quantify global and regional differences in cortical anatomy in high resolution structural MR images. This library is distributed as a plug-in application for popular structural analysis software, BrainVisa (BV). It contains tools to measure global and regional gyrification, gray matter thickness and sulcal and gyral white matter spans. We provide a description of each tool and examples for several case studies to demonstrate their use. These examples show how the BV library was used to study cortical folding process during antenatal development and recapitulation of this process during cerebral aging. Further, the BV library was used to perform translation research in humans and non-human primates on the genetics of cerebral gyrification. This library, including source code and self-contained binaries for popular computer platforms, is available from the NIH-Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse (NITRC) resource ( http://www.nitrc.org/projects/brainvisa_ext ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Capuana LJ, Dywan J, Tays WJ, Segalowitz SJ. Cardiac workload and inhibitory control in younger and older adults. Biol Psychol 2012; 90:60-70. [PMID: 22410265 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2011] [Revised: 02/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Our goal was to investigate age differences in the role played by cardiovascular regulation in response control. We questioned whether pre-test respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; an index of phasic vagal cardiac control) and/or rate pressure product (RPP; a measure of cardiac workload) were associated with error rate and/or error-related electrocortical responses (ERPs) during a Go/NoGo inhibitory control task across three levels of working memory load. ERPs, RSA and RPP were indirectly associated with performance in young adults. Within the older group, higher resting RPP was directly associated with NoGo errors at all levels of load, an association not seen in the younger group. Thus, for older adults, excessive hemodynamic demands at rest were more relevant than on-task electrocortical responses in the prediction of inhibitory control errors. These data support the relevance of autonomic regulation in understanding age-related change in higher-order neurocognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesley J Capuana
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Venkatraman VK, Aizenstein HJ, Newman AB, Yaffe K, Harris T, Kritchevsky S, Ayonayon HN, Rosano C. Lower Digit Symbol Substitution Score in the Oldest Old is Related to Magnetization Transfer and Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the White Matter. Front Aging Neurosci 2011; 3:11. [PMID: 21991255 PMCID: PMC3180637 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2011.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Slowing information processing is common among community-dwelling elderly and it predicts greater mortality and disability risk. Slowing information processing is related to brain macro-structural abnormalities. Specifically, greater global atrophy and greater small vessel disease of the white matter (WM) have been associated with slower processing speed. However, community-dwelling elderly with such macro-structural abnormalities can maintain processing speed. The roles of brain micro-structure for slow processing in very old adults living in the community is uncertain, as epidemiological studies relating these brain markers to cognition and in the context of other health characteristics are sparse. Hypothesis: Information processing is cross-sectionally associated with WM micro-structure independent of overt macro-structural abnormalities and also independent of health related characteristics. Methods: Imaging indices of micro-structure diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetization transfer imaging (MTI), macro-structure white matter hyperintensities (WMH), gray matter (GM) volume, digit symbol substitution test (DSST), and health characteristics were measured in 272 elderly (mean age 83 years old, 43% men, 40% black) living in the community. Results: The DTI- and MTI-indices of micro-structure from the normal appearing WM and not from the normal appearing GM were associated with DSST score independent of WMH and GM volumes. Associations were also independent of age, race, gender, mini-mental score, systolic blood pressure, and prevalent myocardial infarction. Interpretation: DTI and MTI-indices of normal appearing WM are indicators of information processing speed in this cohort of very old adults living in the community. Since processing slowing is a potent index of mortality and disability, these indices may serve as biomarkers in prevention or treatment trials of disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay K Venkatraman
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Pereira JB, Ibarretxe-Bilbao N, Marti MJ, Compta Y, Junqué C, Bargallo N, Tolosa E. Assessment of cortical degeneration in patients with Parkinson's disease by voxel-based morphometry, cortical folding, and cortical thickness. Hum Brain Mapp 2011; 33:2521-34. [PMID: 21898679 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2011] [Revised: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive brain imaging methods provide useful information on cerebral involution and degenerative processes. Here we assessed cortical degeneration in 20 nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 20 healthy controls using three quantitative neuroanatomical approaches: voxel-based morphometry (VBM), cortical folding (BrainVisa), and cortical thickness (FreeSurfer). We examined the relationship between global and regional gray matter (GM) volumes, sulcal indices, and thickness measures derived from the previous methods as well as their association with cognitive performance, age, severity of motor symptoms, and disease stage. VBM analyses showed GM volume reductions in the left temporal gyrus in patients compared with controls. Cortical folding measures revealed significant decreases in the left frontal and right collateral sulci in patients. Finally, analysis of cortical thickness showed widespread cortical thinning in right lateral occipital, parietal and left temporal, frontal, and premotor regions. We found that, in patients, all global anatomical measures correlated with age, while GM volume and cortical thickness significantly correlated with disease stage. In controls, a significant association was found between global GM volume and cortical folding with age. Overall these results suggest that the three different methods provide complementary and related information on neurodegenerative changes occurring in PD, however, surface-based measures of cortical folding and especially cortical thickness seem to be more sensitive than VBM to identify regional GM changes associated to PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Braga Pereira
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain
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40
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Burzynska AZ, Nagel IE, Preuschhof C, Gluth S, Bäckman L, Li SC, Lindenberger U, Heekeren HR. Cortical thickness is linked to executive functioning in adulthood and aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2011; 33:1607-20. [PMID: 21739526 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.21311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2010] [Revised: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Executive functions that are dependent upon the frontal-parietal network decline considerably during the course of normal aging. To delineate neuroanatomical correlates of age-related executive impairment, we investigated the relation between cortical thickness and executive functioning in 73 younger (20-32 years) and 56 older (60-71 years) healthy adults. Executive functioning was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Cortical thickness was measured at each location of the cortical mantle using surface-based segmentation procedures on high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. For regions involved in WCST performance, such as the lateral prefrontal and parietal cortices, we found that thicker cortex was related to higher accuracy. Follow-up ROI-based analyses revealed that these associations were stronger in older than in younger adults. Moreover, among older adults, high and low performers differed in cortical thickness within regions generally linked to WCST performance. Our results indicate that the structural cortical correlates of executive functioning largely overlap with previously identified functional patterns. We conclude that structural preservation of relevant brain regions is associated with higher levels of executive performance in old age, and underscore the need to consider the heterogeneity of brain aging in relation to cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Z Burzynska
- The Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Frisoni GB, Redolfi A, Manset D, Rousseau MÉ, Toga A, Evans AC. Virtual imaging laboratories for marker discovery in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurol 2011; 7:429-38. [PMID: 21727938 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2011.99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The unprecedented growth, availability and accessibility of imaging data from people with neurodegenerative conditions has led to the development of computational infrastructures, which offer scientists access to large image databases and e-Science services such as sophisticated image analysis algorithm pipelines and powerful computational resources, as well as three-dimensional visualization and statistical tools. Scientific e-infrastructures have been and are being developed in Europe and North America that offer a suite of services for computational neuroscientists. The convergence of these initiatives represents a worldwide infrastructure that will constitute a global virtual imaging laboratory. This will provide computational neuroscientists with a virtual space that is accessible through an ordinary web browser, where image data sets and related clinical variables, algorithm pipelines, computational resources, and statistical and visualization tools will be transparently accessible to users irrespective of their physical location. Such an experimental environment will be instrumental to the success of ambitious scientific initiatives with high societal impact, such as the prevention of Alzheimer disease. In this article, we provide an overview of the currently available e-infrastructures and consider how computational neuroscience in neurodegenerative disease might evolve in the future.
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Netto TM, Greca DV, Ferracini R, Pereira DB, Bizzo B, Doring T, Kubo T, Bahia PRV, Fonseca RP, Gasparetto EL. Correlação entre espessura cortical frontal e desempenho de funções executivas em pacientes com infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana. Radiol Bras 2011. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-39842011000100006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJETIVO: Investigar a relação entre a espessura cortical medida pela ressonância magnética em regiões frontais e o desempenho em instrumentos que avaliam funções executivas em pacientes com HIV positivo. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 22 pacientes HIV-positivos, com déficits em funções executivas, sob terapia antirretroviral, idades entre 45 e 65 anos e escolaridade entre 3 e 20 anos. Foi realizada ressonância magnética com sequências convencionais, T1 3D, processado pelo Freesurfer para verificar espessura cortical. Instrumentos de avaliação das funções executivas: Teste de Trilhas, Wisconsin, Hayling, Dígitos (WAIS-III), fluência verbal ortográfica e Stroop. Para análise da relação espessura versus cognição, utilizou-se coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. RESULTADOS: Correlações significativas foram encontradas entre escores de: Wisconsin e espessura das regiões pré-central e orbitofrontal lateral à direita e pré-central esquerda; Teste de Trilhas e espessura da área pré-central direita e cíngulo anterior caudal esquerdo; e Teste Hayling e espessura da área lateral orbitofrontal esquerda. CONCLUSÃO: As correlações existentes entre medidas de espessura cortical pela ressonância magnética e desempenho cognitivo sugerem que os déficits executivos em pacientes HIV-positivos relacionam-se a uma redução da espessura cortical das regiões frontais.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tadeu Kubo
- Clínica de Diagnóstico Por Imagem, Brasil
| | - Paulo R. V. Bahia
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Clínica Menezes da Costa, Brasil
| | | | - Emerson L. Gasparetto
- Clínica de Diagnóstico Por Imagem, Brasil; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
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Abstract
The structure of the brain is constantly changing from birth throughout the lifetime, meaning that normal aging, free from dementia, is associated with structural brain changes. This paper reviews recent evidence from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies about age-related changes in the brain. The main conclusions are that (1) the brain shrinks in volume and the ventricular system expands in healthy aging. However, the pattern of changes is highly heterogeneous, with the largest changes seen in the frontal and temporal cortex, and in the putamen, thalamus, and accumbens. With modern approaches to analysis of MRI data, changes in cortical thickness and subcortical volume can be tracked over periods as short as one year, with annual reductions of between 0.5% and 1.0% in most brain areas. (2) The volumetric brain reductions in healthy aging are likely only to a minor extent related to neuronal loss. Rather, shrinkage of neurons, reductions of synaptic spines, and lower numbers of synapses probably account for the reductions in grey matter. In addition, the length of myelinated axons is greatly reduced, up to almost 50%. (3) Reductions in specific cognitive abilities--for instance processing speed, executive functions, and episodic memory--are seen in healthy aging. Such reductions are to a substantial degree mediated by neuroanatomical changes, meaning that between 25% and 100% of the differences between young and old participants in selected cognitive functions can be explained by group differences in structural brain characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders M Fjell
- Center for the Study of Human Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.
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44
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Kochunov P, Glahn D, Lancaster J, Winkler A, Kent JW, Olvera RL, Cole SA, Dyer TD, Almasy L, Duggirala R, Fox PT, Blangero J. Whole brain and regional hyperintense white matter volume and blood pressure: overlap of genetic loci produced by bivariate, whole-genome linkage analyses. Stroke 2010; 41:2137-42. [PMID: 20724716 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.110.590943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The volume of T2-hyperintense white matter (HWM) is an important neuroimaging marker of cerebral integrity with a demonstrated high heritability. Pathophysiology studies have shown that the regional, ependymal, and subcortical HWM lesions are associated with elevated arterial pulse pressure and arterial blood pressure (BP), respectively. We performed bivariate, whole-genome linkage analyses for HWM volumes and BP measurements to identify chromosomal regions that contribute jointly to both traits in a population of healthy Mexican Americans. Our aims were to localize novel quantitative trait loci acting pleiotropically on these phenotypes and to replicate previous genetic findings on whole brain HWM volume and BP measurements. METHODS BP measurements and volumes of whole-brain (WB), subcortical, and ependymal HWM lesions, measured from high-resolution (1 mm(3)) 3-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, served as focal quantitative phenotypes. Data were collected from 357 (218 females; mean age=47.9±13.2 years) members of large extended families who participated in the San Antonio Family Heart Study. RESULTS Bivariate genomewide linkage analyses localized a significant quantitative trait locus influencing WB and regional (ependymal) HWM volumes and pulse pressure and systolic BP to chromosomal location 1q24 between markers D1S196 and D1S1619. Several other chromosomal regions (1q42, 10q24-q26, and 15q26) exhibited suggestive linkages. The results of the post hoc analyses that excluded 55 subjects taking antihypertensive medication showed no substantive differences from the results obtained in the full cohort. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms several previously observed quantitative trait loci influencing BP and cerebral integrity and identifies a novel significant quantitative trait locus at chromosome 1q24. The genetic results strongly support a role for pleiotropically acting genes jointly influencing BP and cerebral white matter integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kochunov
- Dip ABMP, Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78284, USA.
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Kochunov P, Williamson DE, Lancaster J, Fox P, Cornell J, Blangero J, Glahn DC. Fractional anisotropy of water diffusion in cerebral white matter across the lifespan. Neurobiol Aging 2010; 33:9-20. [PMID: 20122755 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2009] [Revised: 01/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/18/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Determining the time of peak of cerebral maturation is vital for our understanding of when cerebral maturation ceases and the cerebral degeneration in healthy aging begins. We carefully mapped changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) of water diffusion for eleven major cerebral white matter tracts in a large group (831) of healthy human subjects aged 11-90. FA is a neuroimaging index of micro-structural white matter integrity, sensitive to age-related changes in cerebral myelin levels, measured using diffusion tensor imaging. The average FA values of cerebral white matter (WM) reached peak at the age 32 ± 6 years. FA measurements for all but one major cortical white matter tract (cortico-spinal) reached peaks between 23 and 39 years of age. The maturation rates, prior to age-of-peak were significantly correlated (r=0.74; p=0.01) with the rates of decline, past age-of-peak. Regional analysis of corpus callosum (CC) showed that thinly-myelinated, densely packed fibers in the genu, that connect pre-frontal areas, maturated later and showed higher decline in aging than the more thickly myelinated motor and sensory areas in the body and splenium of CC. Our findings can be summarized as: associative, cerebral WM tracts that reach their peak FA values later in life also show progressively higher age-related decline than earlier maturing motor and sensory tracts. These findings carry multiple and diverse implications for both theoretical studies of the neurobiology of maturation and aging and for the clinical studies of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Kochunov
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX 78284, United States.
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Kochunov P, Coyle T, Lancaster J, Robin DA, Hardies J, Kochunov V, Bartzokis G, Stanley J, Royall D, Schlosser AE, Null M, Fox PT. Processing speed is correlated with cerebral health markers in the frontal lobes as quantified by neuroimaging. Neuroimage 2010; 49:1190-9. [PMID: 19796691 PMCID: PMC2789896 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2009] [Revised: 08/08/2009] [Accepted: 09/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored relationships between decline in cognitive processing speed (CPS) and change in frontal lobe MRI/MRS-based indices of cerebral integrity in 38 healthy adults (age 57-90 years). CPS was assessed using a battery of four timed neuropsychological tests: Grooved Pegboard, Coding, Symbol Digit Modalities Test and Category Fluency (Fruits and Furniture). The neuropsychological tests were factor analyzed to extract two components of CPS: psychomotor (PM) and psychophysical (PP). MRI-based indices of cerebral integrity included three cortical measurements per hemisphere (GM thickness, intergyral and sulcal spans) and two subcortical indices (fractional anisotropy (FA), measured using track-based spatial statistics (TBSS), and the volume of hyperintense WM (HWM)). MRS indices included levels of choline-containing compounds (GPC+PC), phosphocreatine plus creatine (PCr+Cr), and N-acetylaspartate (NAA), measured bilaterally in the frontal WM bundles. A substantial fraction of the variance in the PM-CPS (58%) was attributed to atrophic changes in frontal WM, observed as increases in sulcal span, declines in FA values and reductions in concentrations of NAA and choline-containing compounds. A smaller proportion (20%) of variance in the PP-CPS could be explained by bilateral increases in frontal sulcal span and increases in HWM volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Kochunov
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Research Imaging Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78284, USA.
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Kochunov P, Glahn D, Winkler A, Duggirala R, Olvera RL, Cole S, Dyer TD, Almasy L, Fox PT, Blangero J. Analysis of genetic variability and whole genome linkage of whole-brain, subcortical, and ependymal hyperintense white matter volume. Stroke 2009; 40:3685-90. [PMID: 19834011 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.109.565390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cerebral volume of T2-hyperintense white matter (HWM) is an important neuroimaging marker of cerebral integrity. Pathophysiology studies identified that subcortical and ependymal HWM are produced by 2 different mechanisms but shared a common risk factor: high arterial pulse pressure. Recent studies have demonstrated high heritability of the whole-brain HMW volume and reported significant and suggestive evidence of genetic linkage. We performed heritability and whole-genome linkage analysis to replicate previous reported findings and to study shared genetic variance, and possible overlap for specific loci, between subcortical and ependymal HWM volumes in a population of healthy Mexican Americans. METHODS The volumes of subcortical and ependymal HWM regions were measured from high-resolution (1 mm(3)), 3-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images acquired for 459 (283 females, 176 males) active participants in the San Antonio Family Heart Study. Subjects ranged in age from 19 to 85 years of age (47.9+/-13.5 years) and were part of 49 families (9.4+/-8.5 individuals per family). RESULTS The volumes of whole-brain, subcortical, and ependymal HWM were highly heritable (h(2)=0.72, 0.66, and 0.73, respectively). The subcortical and ependymal HWM volumes shared 21% of genetic variability indicating significant pleiotropy. Genomewide linkage analysis showed only a suggestive bivariate linkage for subcortical and ependymal HWM volumes (log of odds=2.12) on chromosome 1 at 288 cM. CONCLUSIONS We replicated previous findings of high heritability for the whole-brain HWM volume. We also showed that subcortical and ependymal volume shared a significant portion of genetic variability and the bivarate linkage analysis produced a suggestive linkage near the locus previously identified in a study of whole-brain HWM volume and arterial pulse pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kochunov
- Research Imaging Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78284, USA.
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Loss of cerebral white matter structural integrity tracks the gray matter metabolic decline in normal aging. Neuroimage 2008; 45:17-28. [PMID: 19095067 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2008] [Revised: 11/03/2008] [Accepted: 11/10/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Relationships between structural MRI-based markers of declining cerebral integrity, and regional PET measurements of (18)FDG uptake have not been studied well in normal aging. In this manuscript we relate changes in cerebral morphology to regional cerebral glucose uptake for 14 major cortical areas in 19 healthy older individuals (age 59-92 years). Measurements of cerebral integrity included gray matter (GM) thickness, sulcal and intergyral spans, fractional anisotropy (FA) of water diffusion and volume of hyperintense WM (HWM) lesions. (18)FDG-PET measurements were converted to standard uptake values and corrected for partial volume artifact. Following this, cortical FDG uptake was significantly correlated with several indices of WM integrity that we previously observed to be sensitive to cognitive decline in executive function, including intergyral span and HWM volumes. Our findings suggest that the age-related decline in white matter integrity, observed as increases in HWM lesions, intergyral spans and reduction in FA, correlated with a decline in the global and regional cerebral glucose uptake. Our findings support the emerging consensus that WM integrity indices are sensitive predictors of declining cerebral health in normal aging. Specifically, age-related WM degradation in the thinly myelinated association tracts appears to track the decreases in global and regional rates of glucose uptake.
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