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Koka M, Li H, Akther R, Perlman S, Wong D, Fogel BL, Lynch DR, Chandran V. Long non-coding RNA TUG1 is downregulated in Friedreich's ataxia. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae170. [PMID: 38846537 PMCID: PMC11154142 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by reduced frataxin levels. It leads to motor and sensory impairments and has a median life expectancy of around 35 years. As the most common inherited form of ataxia, Friedreich's ataxia lacks reliable, non-invasive biomarkers, prolonging and inflating the cost of clinical trials. This study proposes TUG1, a long non-coding RNA, as a promising blood-based biomarker for Friedreich's ataxia, which is known to regulate various cellular processes. In a previous study using a frataxin knockdown mouse model, we observed several hallmark Friedreich's ataxia symptoms. Building on this, we hypothesized that a dual-source approach-comparing the data from peripheral blood samples from Friedreich's ataxia patients with tissue samples from affected areas in Friedreich's ataxia knockdown mice, tissues usually unattainable from patients-would effectively identify robust biomarkers. A comprehensive reanalysis was conducted on gene expression data from 183 age- and sex-matched peripheral blood samples of Friedreich's ataxia patients, carriers and controls and 192 tissue data sets from Friedreich's ataxia knockdown mice. Blood and tissue samples underwent RNA isolation and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and frataxin knockdown was confirmed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Tug1 RNA interaction was explored via RNA pull-down assays. Validation was performed in serum samples on an independent set of 45 controls and 45 Friedreich's ataxia patients and in blood samples from 66 heterozygous carriers and 72 Friedreich's ataxia patients. Tug1 and Slc40a1 emerged as potential blood-based biomarkers, confirmed in the Friedreich's ataxia knockdown mouse model (one-way ANOVA, P ≤ 0.05). Tug1 was consistently downregulated after Fxn knockdown and correlated strongly with Fxn levels (R 2 = 0.71 during depletion, R 2 = 0.74 during rescue). Slc40a1 showed a similar but tissue-specific pattern. Further validation of Tug1's downstream targets strengthened its biomarker candidacy. In additional human samples, TUG1 levels were significantly downregulated in both whole blood and serum of Friedreich's ataxia patients compared with controls (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P < 0.05). Regression analyses revealed a negative correlation between TUG1 fold-change and disease onset (P < 0.0037) and positive correlations with disease duration and functional disability stage score (P < 0.04). This suggests that elevated TUG1 levels correlate with earlier onset and more severe cases. This study identifies TUG1 as a potential blood-based biomarker for Friedreich's ataxia, showing consistent expression variance in human and mouse tissues related to disease severity and key Friedreich's ataxia pathways. It correlates with frataxin levels, indicating its promise as an early, non-invasive marker. TUG1 holds potential for Friedreich's ataxia monitoring and therapeutic development, meriting additional research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mert Koka
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Rumana Akther
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Susan Perlman
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Darice Wong
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Clinical Neurogenomics Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Brent L Fogel
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Clinical Neurogenomics Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - David R Lynch
- Division of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Vijayendran Chandran
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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2
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Kerestes R, Cummins H, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Selvadurai LP, Corben LA, Delatycki MB, Egan GF, Harding IH. Reduced cerebello-cerebral functional connectivity correlates with disease severity and impaired white matter integrity in Friedreich ataxia. J Neurol 2023; 270:2360-2369. [PMID: 36859626 PMCID: PMC10130106 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11637-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disease characterised in most cases by progressive and debilitating motor dysfunction. Degeneration of cerebellar white matter pathways have been previously reported, alongside indications of cerebello-cerebral functional alterations. In this work, we examine resting-state functional connectivity changes within cerebello-cerebral circuits, and their associations with disease severity (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia [SARA]), psychomotor function (speeded and paced finger tapping), and white matter integrity (diffusion tensor imaging) in 35 adults with FRDA and 45 age and sex-matched controls. Voxel-wise seed-based functional connectivity was assessed for three cerebellar cortical regions (anterior lobe, lobules I-V; superior posterior lobe, lobules VI-VIIB; inferior posterior lobe, lobules VIIIA-IX) and two dentate nucleus seeds (dorsal and ventral). Compared to controls, people with FRDA showed significantly reduced connectivity between the anterior cerebellum and bilateral pre/postcentral gyri, and between the superior posterior cerebellum and left dorsolateral PFC. Greater disease severity correlated with lower connectivity in these circuits. Lower anterior cerebellum-motor cortex functional connectivity also correlated with slower speeded finger tapping and less fractional anisotropy in the superior cerebellar peduncles, internal capsule, and precentral white matter in the FRDA cohort. There were no significant between-group differences in inferior posterior cerebellar or dentate nucleus connectivity. This study indicates that altered cerebello-cerebral functional connectivity is associated with functional status and white matter damage in cerebellar efferent pathways in people with FRDA, particularly in motor circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Kerestes
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hannah Cummins
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louisa P Selvadurai
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louise A Corben
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary F Egan
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Ian H Harding
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. .,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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Georgiou-Karistianis N, Corben LA, Reetz K, Adanyeguh IM, Corti M, Deelchand DK, Delatycki MB, Dogan I, Evans R, Farmer J, França MC, Gaetz W, Harding IH, Harris KS, Hersch S, Joules R, Joers JJ, Krishnan ML, Lax M, Lock EF, Lynch D, Mareci T, Muthuhetti Gamage S, Pandolfo M, Papoutsi M, Rezende TJR, Roberts TPL, Rosenberg JT, Romanzetti S, Schulz JB, Schilling T, Schwarz AJ, Subramony S, Yao B, Zicha S, Lenglet C, Henry PG. A natural history study to track brain and spinal cord changes in individuals with Friedreich's ataxia: TRACK-FA study protocol. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269649. [PMID: 36410013 PMCID: PMC9678384 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug development for neurodegenerative diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is limited by a lack of validated, sensitive biomarkers of pharmacodynamic response in affected tissue and disease progression. Studies employing neuroimaging measures to track FRDA have thus far been limited by their small sample sizes and limited follow up. TRACK-FA, a longitudinal, multi-site, and multi-modal neuroimaging natural history study, aims to address these shortcomings by enabling better understanding of underlying pathology and identifying sensitive, clinical trial ready, neuroimaging biomarkers for FRDA. METHODS 200 individuals with FRDA and 104 control participants will be recruited across seven international study sites. Inclusion criteria for participants with genetically confirmed FRDA involves, age of disease onset ≤ 25 years, Friedreich's Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) functional staging score of ≤ 5, and a total modified FARS (mFARS) score of ≤ 65 upon enrolment. The control cohort is matched to the FRDA cohort for age, sex, handedness, and years of education. Participants will be evaluated at three study visits over two years. Each visit comprises of a harmonized multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Spectroscopy (MRS) scan of the brain and spinal cord; clinical, cognitive, mood and speech assessments and collection of a blood sample. Primary outcome measures, informed by previous neuroimaging studies, include measures of: spinal cord and brain morphometry, spinal cord and brain microstructure (measured using diffusion MRI), brain iron accumulation (using Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping) and spinal cord biochemistry (using MRS). Secondary and exploratory outcome measures include clinical, cognitive assessments and blood biomarkers. DISCUSSION Prioritising immediate areas of need, TRACK-FA aims to deliver a set of sensitive, clinical trial-ready neuroimaging biomarkers to accelerate drug discovery efforts and better understand disease trajectory. Once validated, these potential pharmacodynamic biomarkers can be used to measure the efficacy of new therapeutics in forestalling disease progression. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrails.gov Identifier: NCT04349514.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louise A. Corben
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Isaac M. Adanyeguh
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Manuela Corti
- Powell Gene Therapy Centre, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Dinesh K. Deelchand
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Martin B. Delatycki
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Imis Dogan
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Rebecca Evans
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Farmer
- Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), Downingtown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marcondes C. França
- Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - William Gaetz
- Department of Radiology, Lurie Family Foundations MEG Imaging Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ian H. Harding
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Karen S. Harris
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven Hersch
- Neurology Business Group, Eisai Inc., Nutley, New Jersey, United States of America
| | | | - James J. Joers
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Michelle L. Krishnan
- Translational Medicine, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Eric F. Lock
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - David Lynch
- Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Thomas Mareci
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Sahan Muthuhetti Gamage
- School of Psychological Sciences, The Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Massimo Pandolfo
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | - Timothy P. L. Roberts
- Department of Radiology, Lurie Family Foundations MEG Imaging Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jens T. Rosenberg
- McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sandro Romanzetti
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg B. Schulz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Traci Schilling
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc, South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Adam J. Schwarz
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sub Subramony
- McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Bert Yao
- PTC Therapeutics, Inc, South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Stephen Zicha
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Pierre-Gilles Henry
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research and Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
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Naeije G, Schulz JB, Corben LA. The cognitive profile of Friedreich ataxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Neurol 2022; 22:97. [PMID: 35300598 PMCID: PMC8928653 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-022-02615-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Study the cognitive profile of individuals with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) and seek evidence for correlations between clinical, genetic and imaging characteristics and neuropsychological impairments. METHODS Based on PRISMA guidelines, a meta-analysis was realized using the Pubmed and Scopus databases to identify studies (1950-2021) reporting neuropsychological test results in genetically confirmed FRDA and control participants in at least one of the following cognitive domains: attention/executive, language, memory and visuo-spatial functions as well as emotion. Studies using identical outcomes in a minimum of two studies were pooled. Pooled effect sizes were calculated with Cohen's d. RESULTS Eighteen studies were included. Individuals with FRDA displayed significantly lower performance than individuals without FRDA in most language, attention, executive function, memory visuospatial function, emotion regulation and social cognitive tasks. Among the included studies, thirteen studies examined the relationship between neuropsychological test results and clinical parameters and reported significant association with disease severity and six studies reviewed the relationship between neuroimaging measures and cognitive performance and mainly reported links between reduced cognitive performance and changes in cerebellar structure. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with FRDA display significantly lower performances in many cognitive domains compared to control participants. The spectrum of the cognitive profile alterations in FRDA and its correlation with disease severity and cerebellar structural parameters suggest a cerebellar role in the pathophysiology of FRDA cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Naeije
- Laboratoire de Cartographie fonctionnelle du Cerveau (LCFC), UNI - ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 808 Lennik Street, 1070, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen, Germany.,JARA Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Louise A Corben
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.,Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
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5
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Vavla M, Arrigoni F, Peruzzo D, Montanaro D, Frijia F, Pizzighello S, De Luca A, Della Libera E, Tessarotto F, Guerra P, Harding IH, Martinuzzi A. Functional MRI Studies in Friedreich's Ataxia: A Systematic Review. Front Neurol 2022; 12:802496. [PMID: 35360279 PMCID: PMC8960250 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.802496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited neurodegenerative movement disorder with early onset, widespread cerebral and cerebellar pathology, and no cure still available. Functional MRI (fMRI) studies, although currently limited in number, have provided a better understanding of brain changes in people with FRDA. This systematic review aimed to provide a critical overview of the findings and methodologies of all fMRI studies conducted in genetically confirmed FRDA so far, and to offer recommendations for future study designs. About 12 cross-sectional and longitudinal fMRI studies, included 198 FRDA children and young adult patients and, 205 healthy controls (HCs), according to the inclusion criteria. Details regarding GAA triplet expansion and demographic and clinical severity measures were widely reported. fMRI designs included motor and cognitive task paradigms, and resting-state studies, with widespread changes in functionally activated areas and extensive variability in study methodologies. These studies highlight a mixed picture of both hypoactivation and hyperactivation in different cerebral and cerebellar brain regions depending on fMRI design and cohort characteristics. Functional changes often correlate with clinical variables. In aggregate, the findings provide support for cerebro-cerebellar loop damage and the compensatory mechanism hypothesis. Current literature indicates that fMRI is a valuable tool for gaining in vivo insights into FRDA pathology, but addressing that its limitations would be a key to improving the design, interpretation, and generalizability of studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinela Vavla
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Pieve di Soligo, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pieve di Soligo, Italy
- *Correspondence: Marinela Vavla ;
| | - Filippo Arrigoni
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Denis Peruzzo
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Domenico Montanaro
- U.O.C. Risonanza Magnetica Specialistica e Neuroradiologia, Fondazione CNR/Regione Toscana G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
- U.O.S.D. Servizio Autonomo di Risonanza Magnetica, Dipartimento Clinico di Neuroscienze dell'Età Evolutiva - IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris - Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Frijia
- U.O.C. Bioingegneria e Ing. Clinica, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Pizzighello
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Pieve di Soligo, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pieve di Soligo, Italy
| | - Alberto De Luca
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Federica Tessarotto
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Pieve di Soligo, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pieve di Soligo, Italy
| | - Paola Guerra
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Pieve di Soligo, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pieve di Soligo, Italy
| | - Ian H. Harding
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrea Martinuzzi
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Pieve di Soligo, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pieve di Soligo, Italy
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Shishegar R, Harding IH, Selvadurai LP, Corben LA, Delatycki MB, Egan GF, Georgiou-Karistianis N. Longitudinal investigation of brain activation during motor tasks in Friedreich ataxia: 24-month data from IMAGE-FRDA. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:809-819. [PMID: 34687355 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02413-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive autosomal recessive disease. While motor dysfunction is the primary neurological hallmark, little is known about the underlying neurobiological changes associated with motor deficits over the course of disease. We investigated the hypothesis that progressive functional changes in both the cerebellum and cerebrum are related to longitudinal changes in performance on complex motor tasks in individuals with FRDA. Twenty-two individuals with FRDA and 28 controls participated over 24 months. The longitudinal investigation included finger tapping tasks with different levels of complexity (i.e., visually cued, multi-finger; self-paced, single finger), performed in conjunction with fMRI acquisitions, to interrogate changes in the neurobiology of motor and attentional brain networks including the cerebellum and cerebrum. We demonstrated evidence for significant longitudinal decreased cerebral fMRI activity over time in individuals with FRDA, relative to controls, during an attentionally-demanding motor task (visually cued tapping of multiple fingers) in six cerebral regions: right and left superior frontal gyri, right superior temporal gyrus, right primary somatosensory area, right anterior cingulate cortex, and right medial frontal gyrus. Importantly, longitudinal decreased activity was associated with more severe disease status at baseline, higher GAA1 repeat length and earlier age of onset. These findings suggest a dynamic pattern of neuronal activity in motor, attention and executive control networks over time in individuals with FRDA, which is associated with increased disease severity at baseline, increased GAA1 repeat length and earlier age at onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosita Shishegar
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ian H Harding
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Louisa P Selvadurai
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Louise A Corben
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Service, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gary F Egan
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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7
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Hou Q, Wang C, Hou C, Tan J, He S, Tang L, Yong N, Ding X, Jiang G, Liu J, Wang X. Individual differences in pain sensitivity in drug-naive patients with major depressive disorder: an fMRI study. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:1335-1343. [PMID: 32712795 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00332-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) often report pain; however, the pain-related brain mechanism that contributes to MDD with pain remains largely unclear. In the current study, we aimed to observe the cortical responses by employing fMRI technique combined with thermal stimulation paradigm in 17 major depressive disorder patients with pain (MDDP), 19 major depressive disorder patients without pain (MDDNP), and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy control (HC) subjects. Participants completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD-17) and provided pain intensity ratings in response to noxious heat (51 °C) during task-fMRI scanning by visual analogue scale (VAS). In our results, there was no difference in pain intensity ratings during tonic heat stimulation between the HC group and MDDNP group (p > 0.05), while the MDDNP group had significantly higher HAMD scores compared with the HC group (p < 0.001). The MDDNP group had decreased brain activation in the postcentral gyrus (PCG) compared with the HC group, implying abnormal activation of the PCG may associate with the characterized depressive mood of painless MDD (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was no difference in HAMD scores between the MDDP group and MDDNP group (p > 0.05), while the MDDP group had significantly greater pain during tonic heat stimulation compared with the MDDNP group (p < 0.01). The MDDP group showed enhanced activation in the PCG compared with the MDDNP group (p < 0.05), which may relate to the abnormal regulation of pain in painful MDD. Our results suggested that higher PCG activation may play an important role in facilitating the occurrence of pain in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianmei Hou
- Neurology Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Wang
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, People's Republic of China
| | - Changyue Hou
- Neurology Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Tan
- Neurology Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaoyue He
- Neurology Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Tang
- Psychiatry Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Yong
- Psychiatry Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianghong Ding
- Psychiatry Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Guohui Jiang
- Neurology Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
- Research Institute of Neurological Diseases, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jixin Liu
- Center for Brain Imaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Neurology Department, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.
- Research Institute of Neurological Diseases, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.
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Control of response interference: caudate nucleus contributes to selective inhibition. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20977. [PMID: 33262369 PMCID: PMC7708449 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77744-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While the role of cortical regions in cognitive control processes is well accepted, the contribution of subcortical structures (e.g., the striatum), especially to the control of response interference, remains controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the cortical and particularly subcortical neural mechanisms of response interference control (including selective inhibition). Thirteen healthy young participants underwent event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a unimanual version of the Simon task. In this task, successful performance required the resolution of stimulus–response conflicts in incongruent trials by selectively inhibiting interfering response tendencies. The behavioral results show an asymmetrical Simon effect that was more pronounced in the contralateral hemifield. Contrasting incongruent trials with congruent trials (i.e., the overall Simon effect) significantly activated clusters in the right anterior cingulate cortex, the right posterior insula, and the caudate nucleus bilaterally. Furthermore, a region of interest analysis based on previous patient studies revealed that activation in the bilateral caudate nucleus significantly co-varied with a parameter of selective inhibition derived from distributional analyses of response times. Our results corroborate the notion that the cognitive control of response interference is supported by a fronto-striatal circuitry, with a functional contribution of the caudate nucleus to the selective inhibition of interfering response tendencies.
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9
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Shishegar R, Harding IH, Corben LA, Delatycki MB, Storey E, Egan GF, Georgiou-Karistianis N. Longitudinal Increases in Cerebral Brain Activation During Working Memory Performance in Friedreich Ataxia: 24-Month Data from IMAGE-FRDA. THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 19:182-191. [PMID: 31898277 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01094-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) has been associated with functional abnormalities in cerebral and cerebellar networks, particularly in the ventral attention network. However, how functional alterations change with disease progression remains largely unknown. Longitudinal changes in brain activation, associated with working memory performance (N-back task), and grey matter volume were assessed over 24 months in 21 individuals with FRDA and 28 healthy controls using functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Participants also completed a neurocognitive battery assessing working memory (digit span), executive function (Stroop, Haylings), and set-shifting (Trail Making Test). Individuals with FRDA displayed significantly increased brain activation over 24 months in ventral attention brain regions, including bilateral insula and inferior frontal gyrus (pars triangularis and pars opercularis), compared with controls, but there was no difference in working memory (N-back) performance between groups. Moreover, there were no significant differences in grey matter volume changes between groups. Significant correlations between brain activations and both clinical severity and age at disease onset were observed in FRDA individuals only at 24 months. There was significant longitudinal decline in Trail Making Test (TMT) difference score (B-A) in individuals with FRDA, compared with controls. These findings provide the first evidence of increased longitudinal activation over time in the cerebral cortex in FRDA, compared with controls, despite comparable working memory performance. This finding represents a possible compensatory response in the ventral attention network to help sustain working memory performance in individuals with FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosita Shishegar
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,The Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ian H Harding
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louise A Corben
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Clinical Genetics, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elsdon Storey
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary F Egan
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences and the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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10
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The neurocognitive underpinnings of the Simon effect: An integrative review of current research. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 20:1133-1172. [PMID: 33025513 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00836-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
For as long as half a century the Simon task - in which participants respond to a nonspatial stimulus feature while ignoring its position - has represented a very popular tool to study a variety of cognitive functions, such as attention, cognitive control, and response preparation processes. In particular, the task generates two theoretically interesting effects: the Simon effect proper and the sequential modulations of this effect. In the present study, we review the main theoretical explanations of both kinds of effects and the available neuroscientific studies that investigated the neural underpinnings of the cognitive processes underlying the Simon effect proper and its sequential modulation using electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related brain potentials (ERP), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Then, we relate the neurophysiological findings to the main theoretical accounts and evaluate their validity and empirical plausibility, including general implications related to processing interference and cognitive control. Overall, neurophysiological research supports claims that stimulus location triggers the creation of a spatial code, which activates a spatially compatible response that, in incompatible conditions, interferes with the response based on the task instructions. Integration of stimulus-response features plays a major role in the occurrence of the Simon effect (which is manifested in the selection of the response) and its modulation by sequential congruency effects. Additional neural mechanisms are involved in supporting the correct and inhibiting the incorrect response.
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11
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Wu T, Chen C, Spagna A, Wu X, Mackie M, Russell‐Giller S, Xu P, Luo Y, Liu X, Hof PR, Fan J. The functional anatomy of cognitive control: A domain‐general brain network for uncertainty processing. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:1265-1292. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Wu
- Department of Psychology, Queens CollegeThe City University of New York Queens New York
| | - Caiqi Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of PsychologySouth China Normal University Guangzhou China
| | - Alfredo Spagna
- Department of PsychologyColumbia University in the City of New York New York New York
| | - Xia Wu
- Faculty of PsychologyTianjin Normal University Tianjin China
| | - Melissa‐Ann Mackie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago Illinois
| | - Shira Russell‐Giller
- Department of Psychology, Queens CollegeThe City University of New York Queens New York
| | - Pengfei Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive NeuroscienceShenzhen University Shenzhen China
| | - Yue‐jia Luo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Affective and Social Neuroscience, Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive NeuroscienceShenzhen University Shenzhen China
| | - Xun Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of PsychologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York New York
| | - Jin Fan
- Department of Psychology, Queens CollegeThe City University of New York Queens New York
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12
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Selvadurai LP, Corben LA, Delatycki MB, Storey E, Egan GF, Georgiou‐Karistianis N, Harding IH. Multiple mechanisms underpin cerebral and cerebellar white matter deficits in Friedreich ataxia: The IMAGE-FRDA study. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:1920-1933. [PMID: 31904895 PMCID: PMC7267947 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with reported abnormalities in cerebellar, brainstem, and cerebral white matter. White matter structure can be measured using in vivo neuroimaging indices sensitive to different white matter features. For the first time, we examined the relative sensitivity and relationship between multiple white matter indices in Friedreich ataxia to more richly characterize disease expression and infer possible mechanisms underlying the observed white matter abnormalities. Diffusion-tensor, magnetization transfer, and T1-weighted structural images were acquired from 31 individuals with Friedreich ataxia and 36 controls. Six white matter indices were extracted: fractional anisotropy, diffusivity (mean, axial, radial), magnetization transfer ratio (microstructure), and volume (macrostructure). For each index, whole-brain voxel-wise between-group comparisons and correlations with disease severity, onset age, and gene triplet-repeat length were undertaken. Correlations between pairs of indices were assessed in the Friedreich ataxia cohort. Spatial similarities in the voxel-level pattern of between-group differences across the indices were also assessed. Microstructural abnormalities were maximal in cerebellar and brainstem regions, but evident throughout the brain, while macroscopic abnormalities were restricted to the brainstem. Poorer microstructure and reduced macrostructural volume correlated with greater disease severity and earlier onset, particularly in peri-dentate nuclei and brainstem regions. Microstructural and macrostructural abnormalities were largely independent. Reduced fractional anisotropy was most strongly associated with axial diffusivity in cerebral tracts, and magnetization transfer in cerebellar tracts. Multiple mechanisms likely underpin white matter abnormalities in Friedreich ataxia, with differential impacts in cerebellar and cerebral pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa P. Selvadurai
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Louise A. Corben
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health ResearchMurdoch Children's Research InstituteParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of PaediatricsThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Martin B. Delatycki
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health ResearchMurdoch Children's Research InstituteParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of PaediatricsThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Victorian Clinical Genetics ServicesParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Elsdon Storey
- Department of MedicineMonash UniversityPrahranVictoriaAustralia
| | - Gary F. Egan
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Monash Biomedical ImagingMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Nellie Georgiou‐Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ian H. Harding
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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13
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La Rosa P, Russo M, D'Amico J, Petrillo S, Aquilano K, Lettieri-Barbato D, Turchi R, Bertini ES, Piemonte F. Nrf2 Induction Re-establishes a Proper Neuronal Differentiation Program in Friedreich's Ataxia Neural Stem Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:356. [PMID: 31417369 PMCID: PMC6685360 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Frataxin deficiency is the pathogenic cause of Friedreich’s Ataxia, an autosomal recessive disease characterized by the increase of oxidative stress and production of free radicals in the cell. Although the onset of the pathology occurs in the second decade of life, cognitive differences and defects in brain structure and functional activation are observed in patients, suggesting developmental defects to take place during fetal neurogenesis. Here, we describe impairments in proliferation, stemness potential and differentiation in neural stem cells (NSCs) isolated from the embryonic cortex of the Frataxin Knockin/Knockout mouse, a disease animal model whose slow-evolving phenotype makes it suitable to study pre-symptomatic defects that may manifest before the clinical onset. We demonstrate that enhancing the expression and activity of the antioxidant response master regulator Nrf2 ameliorates the phenotypic defects observed in NSCs, re-establishing a proper differentiation program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piergiorgio La Rosa
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Russo
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Jessica D'Amico
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Petrillo
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Aquilano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Lettieri-Barbato
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Turchi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico S Bertini
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Piemonte
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
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14
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Vavla M, Arrigoni F, Nordio A, De Luca A, Pizzighello S, Petacchi E, Paparella G, D'Angelo MG, Brighina E, Russo E, Fantin M, Colombo P, Martinuzzi A. Functional and Structural Brain Damage in Friedreich's Ataxia. Front Neurol 2018; 9:747. [PMID: 30237783 PMCID: PMC6135889 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by a GAA repeat expansion in the FXN gene. There is still no cure or quantitative biomarkers reliaby correlating with the progression rate and disease severity. Investigation of functional and structural alterations characterizing white (WM) and gray matter (GM) in FRDA are needed prerequisite to monitor progression and response to treatment. Here we report the results of a multimodal cross-sectional MRI study of FRDA including Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM), diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), and a correlation analysis with clinical severity scores. Twenty-one early-onset FRDA patients and 18 age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were imaged at 3T. All patients underwent a complete cognitive and clinical assessment with ataxia scales. VBM analysis showed GM volume reduction in FRDA compared to HCs bilaterally in lobules V, VI, VIII (L>R), as well as in the crus of cerebellum, posterior lobe of the vermis, in the flocculi and in the left tonsil. Voxel-wise DTI analysis showed a diffuse fractional anisotropy reduction and mean, radial, axial (AD) diffusivity increase in both infratentorial and supratentorial WM. ROI-based analysis confirmed the results showing differences of the same DTI metrics in cortico-spinal-tracts, forceps major, corpus callosum, posterior thalamic radiations, cerebellar penduncles. Additionally, we observed increased AD in superior (SCP) and middle cerebellar peduncles. The WM findings correlated with age at onset (AAO), short-allelle GAA, and disease severity. The intragroup analysis of fMRI data from right-handed 14 FRDA and 15 HCs showed similar findings in both groups, including activation in M1, insula and superior cerebellar hemisphere (lobules V-VIII). Significant differences emerged only during the non-dominant hand movement, with HCs showing a stronger activation in the left superior cerebellar hemisphere compared to FRDA. Significant correlations were found between AAO and the fMRI activation in cerebellar anterior and posterior lobes, insula and temporal lobe. Our multimodal neuroimaging protocol suggests that MRI is a useful tool to document the extension of the neurological impairment in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinela Vavla
- Severe Developmental Disabilities Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Conegliano, Italy
| | - Filippo Arrigoni
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Andrea Nordio
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy.,Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto De Luca
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Silvia Pizzighello
- Severe Developmental Disabilities Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Conegliano, Italy
| | - Elisa Petacchi
- Severe Developmental Disabilities Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Conegliano, Italy
| | - Gabriella Paparella
- Severe Developmental Disabilities Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Conegliano, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia D'Angelo
- NeuroMuscular Unit, Department of NeuroRehabilitation, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Erika Brighina
- NeuroMuscular Unit, Department of NeuroRehabilitation, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Emanuela Russo
- Severe Developmental Disabilities Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Conegliano, Italy
| | - Marianna Fantin
- Severe Developmental Disabilities Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Conegliano, Italy
| | - Paola Colombo
- Neuroimaging Lab, Scientific Institute IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Andrea Martinuzzi
- Severe Developmental Disabilities Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Conegliano, Italy
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15
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Cocozza S, Costabile T, Tedeschi E, Abate F, Russo C, Liguori A, Del Vecchio W, Paciello F, Quarantelli M, Filla A, Brunetti A, Saccà F. Cognitive and functional connectivity alterations in Friedreich's ataxia. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2018; 5:677-686. [PMID: 29928651 PMCID: PMC5989773 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to perform the first resting-state functional MRI (RS-fMRI) analysis in Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) patients to assess possible brain functional connectivity (FC) differences in these patients, and test their correlations with neuropsychological performances. Methods In total, 24 FRDA patients (M/F: 15/9, mean age 31.3 ± 15.0) and 24 healthy controls (HC; M/F: 15/9, mean age 30.7 ± 15.5) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All patients underwent a thorough neuropsychological battery, investigating different cognitive domains. RS-fMRI data were analyzed using a seed-based approach, probing the FC of cortical areas potentially referable to specific executive and cognitive functions compromised in FRDA. Results Compared to HC, FRDA patients showed overall worse neuropsychological scores in several domains, including global cognitive assessment, spatial memory, visuoperception and visuospatial functions, and executive functions. Analysis of RS-fMRI data showed a higher FC in FRDA patients compared to HC between paracingulate gyri and the medial frontal gryrus, between the superior frontal gyrus and bilateral angular gyri, and between the middle temporal gyrus and the cingulate gyrus, with a reduced FC between the medial frontal gryrus and the cerebellum. Interpretation We found a reduction in FC between frontal areas and the contralateral cerebellar cortex in FRDA, in line with the known alteration in cerebello-cortical pathway in this condition. On the other hand, a higher FC between different cortical areas was shown, possibly reflecting a compensatory phenomenon. These results, in conjunction with clinical findings, may shed new light on the pattern of supratentorial and infratentorial involvement, and on dynamics of brain plasticity in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirio Cocozza
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Teresa Costabile
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Enrico Tedeschi
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Filomena Abate
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Camilla Russo
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Agnese Liguori
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Walter Del Vecchio
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging National Research Council Naples Italy
| | - Francesca Paciello
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Mario Quarantelli
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging National Research Council Naples Italy
| | - Alessandro Filla
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Arturo Brunetti
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
| | - Francesco Saccà
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences University "Federico II" Naples Italy
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16
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17
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Selvadurai LP, Harding IH, Corben LA, Georgiou-Karistianis N. Cerebral abnormalities in Friedreich ataxia: A review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 84:394-406. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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18
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Corben LA, Klopper F, Stagnitti M, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Bradshaw JL, Rance G, Delatycki MB. Measuring Inhibition and Cognitive Flexibility in Friedreich Ataxia. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2017; 16:757-763. [PMID: 28229372 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-017-0848-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder with subtle impact on cognition. Inhibitory processes and cognitive flexibility were examined in FRDA by assessing the ability to suppress a predictable verbal response. We administered the Hayling Sentence Completion Test (HSCT), the Trail Making Test, and the Stroop Test to 43 individuals with FRDA and 42 gender- and age-matched control participants. There were no significant group differences in performance on the Stroop or Trail Making Test whereas significant impairment in cognitive flexibility including the ability to predict and inhibit a pre-potent response as measured in the HSCT was evident in individuals with FRDA. These deficits did not correlate with clinical characteristics of FRDA (age of disease onset, disease duration, number of guanine-adenine-adenine repeats on the shorter or larger FXN allele, or Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale score), suggesting that such impairment may not be related to the disease process in a straightforward way. The observed specific impairment of inhibition and predictive capacity in individuals with FRDA on the HSCT task, in the absence of impairment in associated executive functions, supports cerebellar dysfunction in conjunction with disturbance to cortico-thalamo-cerebellar connectivity, perhaps via inability to access frontal areas necessary for successful task completion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise A Corben
- Experimental Neuropsychology Research Unit, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Felicity Klopper
- Experimental Neuropsychology Research Unit, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Monique Stagnitti
- Experimental Neuropsychology Research Unit, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- Experimental Neuropsychology Research Unit, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - John L Bradshaw
- Experimental Neuropsychology Research Unit, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gary Rance
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Harding IH, Corben LA, Delatycki MB, Stagnitti MR, Storey E, Egan GF, Georgiou-Karistianis N. Cerebral compensation during motor function in Friedreich ataxia: The IMAGE-FRDA study. Mov Disord 2017; 32:1221-1229. [PMID: 28556242 DOI: 10.1002/mds.27023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Friedreich ataxia is characterized by progressive motor incoordination that is linked to peripheral, spinal, and cerebellar neuropathology. Cerebral abnormalities are also reported in Friedreich ataxia, but their role in disease expression remains unclear. METHODS In this cross-sectional functional magnetic resonance imaging study, 25 individuals with Friedreich ataxia and 33 healthy controls performed simple (self-paced single-finger) and complex (visually cued multifinger) tapping tasks to respectively gauge basic and attentionally demanding motor behavior. For each task, whole brain functional activations were compared between groups and correlated with disease severity and offline measures of motor dexterity. RESULTS During simple finger tapping, cerebral hyperactivation in individuals with Friedreich ataxia at the lower end of clinical severity and cerebral hypoactivation in those more severely affected was observed in premotor/ventral attention brain regions, including the supplementary motor area and anterior insula. Greater activation in this network correlated with greater offline finger tapping precision. Complex, attentionally demanding finger tapping was also associated with cerebral hyperactivation, but in this case within dorsolateral prefrontal regions of the executive control network and superior parietal regions of the dorsal attention system. Greater offline motor precision was associated with less activation in the dorsal attention network. DISCUSSION Compensatory activity is evident in the cerebral cortex in individuals with Friedreich ataxia. Early compensation followed by later decline in premotor/ventral attention systems demonstrates capacity-limited neural reserve, while the additional engagement of higher order brain networks is indicative of compensatory task strategies. Network-level changes in cerebral brain function thus potentially serve to mitigate the impact of motor impairments in Friedreich ataxia. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian H Harding
- School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louise A Corben
- School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Clinical Genetics, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Monique R Stagnitti
- School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elsdon Storey
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary F Egan
- School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences & Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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20
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Selvadurai LP, Harding IH, Corben LA, Stagnitti MR, Storey E, Egan GF, Delatycki MB, Georgiou-Karistianis N. Cerebral and cerebellar grey matter atrophy in Friedreich ataxia: the IMAGE-FRDA study. J Neurol 2016; 263:2215-2223. [PMID: 27522354 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-016-8252-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is traditionally associated with neuropathology in the cerebellar dentate nucleus and spinal cord. Growing evidence also suggests involvement of the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, although reports of structural abnormalities remain mixed. This study assessed the structural integrity of cortical grey matter in FRDA, focussing on regions in which pathology may underlie the motor deficits characteristic of this disorder. T1-weighted anatomical magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 31 individuals with FRDA and 37 healthy controls. Cortical thickness (FreeSurfer) and cortical volume (SPM-VBM) were measured in cerebral motor regions-of-interest (primary motor, dorsal and ventral premotor, and supplementary motor areas) alongside unconstrained exploratory analyses of the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. Correlations were assessed between cortical thickness/volume measures and each of disease severity, length of the causative genetic triplet-repeat expansion, and finger-tapping behavioural measures. Individuals with FRDA had significantly reduced cortical thickness, relative to controls, in the premotor and supplementary motor areas. Reduced cortical thickness and/or volume were also observed in the cuneus and precuneus, posterior aspects of the medial and lateral prefrontal cortices, insula, temporal poles, and cerebellar lobules V, VI, and VII. Measures of clinical severity, genetic abnormality, and motor dysfunction correlated with volume loss in the lateral cerebellar hemispheres. These results suggest that atrophy preferentially affects premotor relative to primary areas of the cortical motor system, and also extends to a range of non-motor brain regions. Furthermore, cortical thickness and cortical volume findings were largely divergent, suggesting that each is sensitive to different aspects of neuropathology in FRDA. Overall, this study supports a disease model involving neural aberrations within the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, beyond those traditionally associated with this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa P Selvadurai
- School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Ian H Harding
- School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Louise A Corben
- School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.,Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Monique R Stagnitti
- School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Elsdon Storey
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary F Egan
- School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.,Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.,Bruce Lefroy Centre for Genetic Health Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Clinical Genetics, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences and Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
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21
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Dogan I, Tinnemann E, Romanzetti S, Mirzazade S, Costa AS, Werner CJ, Heim S, Fedosov K, Schulz S, Timmann D, Giordano IA, Klockgether T, Schulz JB, Reetz K. Cognition in Friedreich's ataxia: a behavioral and multimodal imaging study. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2016; 3:572-87. [PMID: 27606341 PMCID: PMC4999591 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a spinocerebellar degenerative disorder, in which cognitive deficits are sparsely explored. In this behavioral and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study, we investigated the neurocognitive profile and cortico‐cerebellar dysfunctions underlying executive functioning in individuals with FRDA. Methods 22 FRDA patients and 22 controls were clinically and neuropsychologically examined. Fifteen of each underwent structural and functional MRI using a verbal‐fluency task with phonemic and semantic conditions. Gray (GM) and white matter (WM) alterations were assessed by means of voxel‐based morphometry and diffusion‐tensor imaging. Results The neuropsychological profile demonstrated deficits in verbal fluency, working memory and social cognition. Functional MRI data showed most pronounced group‐differences in phonemic fluency with patients exhibiting enhanced activity in the cerebellum (VI, Crus I), fronto‐insular, premotor and temporo‐occipital regions. The semantic condition only revealed reduced activity in the anterior cerebellum; for overt speech, we found increased activity in the motor cortex. Functional connectivity‐analysis showed higher co‐activation within cerebellar and cortical regions, respectively, and impaired interregional coupling between the cerebellum and fronto‐insular cortex for phonemic processing, which was also related to poorer task performance. GM reduction in FRDA was mainly found in lobule VI, whereas WM degeneration was more pronounced including brainstem, cerebellum, and cortex. Decreased cerebellar GM was associated with enhanced activity in the fronto‐insular cortex, while loss of WM integrity may translate cortico‐cerebellar pathway disruptions. Interpretation The pattern of increased neural response with both cerebellar and cortical involvement underlying executive functioning indicates functional reorganization driven by disease‐related structural damage in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imis Dogan
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany
| | | | - Sandro Romanzetti
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany
| | - Shahram Mirzazade
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany
| | - Ana S Costa
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany; Neurocognition Unit Department of Neurology Hospital de Braga Braga Portugal
| | - Cornelius J Werner
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany
| | - Stefan Heim
- JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany; JARA BRAIN Institute IIInstitute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1) Research Center Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics RWTH Aachen Aachen
Germany
| | - Kathrin Fedosov
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany
| | - Stefanie Schulz
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology Essen University Hospital Essen Germany
| | - Ilaria A Giordano
- Department of Neurology University Hospital of Bonn Bonn Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Bonn Germany
| | - Thomas Klockgether
- Department of Neurology University Hospital of Bonn Bonn Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Bonn Germany
| | - Jörg B Schulz
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany; JARA BRAIN Institute IIInstitute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1)Research Center Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine Aachen and Jülich Germany; JARA BRAIN Institute IIInstitute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1)Research Center Jülich GmbH Jülich Germany
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22
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Luo C, Proctor RW. Transfer of an implied incompatible spatial mapping to a Simon task. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2016; 164:81-9. [PMID: 26745369 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2015.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
When location words left and right are presented in left and right locations and mapped to left and right keypress responses in the Hedge and Marsh (1975) task (Arend & Wandmacher, 1987), a compatible mapping of words to responses yields a benefit for stimulus-response location correspondence (sometimes called the Simon effect), whereas an incompatible mapping yields a benefit for noncorrespondence (called the Hedge and Marsh reversal). Experiment 1 replicated the correspondence benefit and its reversal by using Chinese location words [symbol: see text] (left) and [symbol: see text] (right) in the Hedge and Marsh task. Experiments 2 and 3 examined whether the tendency to respond with the noncorresponding response when the mapping is incompatible transfers to the task version in which the mapping is compatible, and Experiment 4 examined whether transfer similarly occurs from the compatible mapping to the task version with incompatible mapping. Transfer of the incompatible relation was apparent in a lack of correspondence benefit when the mapping was changed to compatible, but transfer of the compatible relation to the incompatible mapping did not occur. The results suggest that an association between noncorresponding stimulus-response locations is acquired when the word-response mapping is incompatible, even though this relation is only implicit, regardless of whether through misapplication of a logical recoding rule or spatial representations shared by the locations and words. These associations then continue to affect processing of location when the mapping is compatible.
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23
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Harding IH, Corben LA, Storey E, Egan GF, Stagnitti MR, Poudel GR, Delatycki MB, Georgiou-Karistianis N. Fronto-cerebellar dysfunction and dysconnectivity underlying cognition in friedreich ataxia: The IMAGE-FRDA study. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 37:338-50. [PMID: 26502936 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder defined by pathology within the cerebellum and spinal tracts. Although FRDA is most readily linked to motor and sensory dysfunctions, reported impairments in working memory and executive functions indicate that abnormalities may also extend to associations regions of the cerebral cortex and/or cerebello-cerebral interactions. To test this hypothesis, 29 individuals with genetically confirmed FRDA and 34 healthy controls performed a verbal n-back working memory task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging. No significant group differences were evident in task performance. However, individuals with FRDA had deficits in brain activations both in the lateral cerebellar hemispheres, principally encompassing lobule VI, and the prefrontal cortex, including regions of the anterior insular and rostrolateral prefrontal cortices. Functional connectivity between these brain regions was also impaired, supporting a putative link between primary cerebellar dysfunction and subsequent cerebral abnormalities. Disease severity and genetic markers of disease liability were correlated specifically with cerebellar dysfunction, while correlations between behavioural performance and both cerebral activations and cerebello-cerebral connectivity were observed in controls, but not in the FRDA cohort. Taken together, these findings support a diaschisis model of brain dysfunction, whereby primary disease effects in the cerebellum result in functional changes in downstream fronto-cerebellar networks. These fronto-cerebellar disturbances provide a putative biological basis for the nonmotor symptoms observed in FRDA, and reflect the consequence of localized cerebellar pathology to distributed brain function underlying higher-order cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian H Harding
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louise A Corben
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Friedreich Ataxia Clinic, Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elsdon Storey
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gary F Egan
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Govinda R Poudel
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Martin B Delatycki
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
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24
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Harding IH, Yücel M, Harrison BJ, Pantelis C, Breakspear M. Effective connectivity within the frontoparietal control network differentiates cognitive control and working memory. Neuroimage 2014; 106:144-53. [PMID: 25463464 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control and working memory rely upon a common fronto-parietal network that includes the inferior frontal junction (IFJ), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), pre-supplementary motor area/dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (pSMA/dACC), and intraparietal sulcus (IPS). This network is able to flexibly adapt its function in response to changing behavioral goals, mediating a wide range of cognitive demands. Here we apply dynamic causal modeling to functional magnetic resonance imaging data to characterize task-related alterations in the strength of network interactions across distinct cognitive processes. Evidence in favor of task-related connectivity dynamics was accrued across a very large space of possible network structures. Cognitive control and working memory demands were manipulated using a factorial combination of the multi-source interference task and a verbal 2-back working memory task, respectively. Both were found to alter the sensitivity of the IFJ to perceptual information, and to increase IFJ-to-pSMA/dACC connectivity. In contrast, increased connectivity from the pSMA/dACC to the IPS, as well as from the dlPFC to the IFJ, was uniquely driven by cognitive control demands; a task-induced negative influence of the dlPFC on the pSMA/dACC was specific to working memory demands. These results reflect a system of both shared and unique context-dependent dynamics within the fronto-parietal network. Mechanisms supporting cognitive engagement, response selection, and action evaluation may be shared across cognitive domains, while dynamic updating of task and context representations within this network are potentially specific to changing demands on cognitive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian H Harding
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia; Monash Clinical and Imaging Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Murat Yücel
- Monash Clinical and Imaging Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ben J Harrison
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christos Pantelis
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael Breakspear
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Metro North Mental Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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25
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Cieslik EC, Mueller VI, Eickhoff CR, Langner R, Eickhoff SB. Three key regions for supervisory attentional control: evidence from neuroimaging meta-analyses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2014; 48:22-34. [PMID: 25446951 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The supervisory attentional system has been proposed to mediate non-routine, goal-oriented behaviour by guiding the selection and maintenance of the goal-relevant task schema. Here, we aimed to delineate the brain regions that mediate these high-level control processes via neuroimaging meta-analysis. In particular, we investigated the core neural correlates of a wide range of tasks requiring supervisory control for the suppression of a routine action in favour of another, non-routine one. Our sample comprised n=173 experiments employing go/no-go, stop-signal, Stroop or spatial interference tasks. Consistent convergence across all four paradigm classes was restricted to right anterior insula and inferior frontal junction, with anterior midcingulate cortex and pre-supplementary motor area being consistently involved in all but the go/no-go task. Taken together with lesion studies in patients, our findings suggest that the controlled activation and maintenance of adequate task schemata relies, across paradigms, on a right-dominant midcingulo-insular-inferior frontal core network. This also implies that the role of other prefrontal and parietal regions may be less domain-general than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edna C Cieslik
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1) Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Straße, 52428 Jülich, Germany.
| | - Veronika I Mueller
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1) Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Straße, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Claudia R Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1) Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Straße, 52428 Jülich, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen, University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Robert Langner
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1) Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Straße, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1) Research Centre Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Straße, 52428 Jülich, Germany
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26
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Bai F, Liao W, Yue C, Pu M, Shi Y, Yu H, Yuan Y, Geng L, Zhang Z. Genetics pathway-based imaging approaches in Chinese Han population with Alzheimer's disease risk. Brain Struct Funct 2014; 221:433-46. [PMID: 25344117 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-014-0916-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The tau hypothesis has been raised with regard to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with a high risk for developing AD. However, no study has directly examined the brain topological alterations based on combined effects of tau protein pathway genes in MCI population. Forty-three patients with MCI and 30 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in Chinese Han, and a tau protein pathway-based imaging approaches (7 candidate genes: 17 SNPs) were used to investigate changes in the topological organisation of brain activation associated with MCI. Impaired regional activation is related to tau protein pathway genes (5/7 candidate genes) in patients with MCI and likely in topologically convergent and divergent functional alterations patterns associated with genes, and combined effects of tau protein pathway genes disrupt the topological architecture of cortico-cerebellar loops. The associations between the loops and behaviours further suggest that tau protein pathway genes do play a significant role in non-episodic memory impairment. Tau pathway-based imaging approaches might strengthen the credibility in imaging genetic associations and generate pathway frameworks that might provide powerful new insights into the neural mechanisms that underlie MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, The Institute of Neuropsychiatry of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Wei Liao
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Chunxian Yue
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Mengjia Pu
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yongmei Shi
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, The Institute of Neuropsychiatry of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hui Yu
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yonggui Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, The Institute of Neuropsychiatry of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Leiyu Geng
- Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, The Institute of Neuropsychiatry of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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27
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Akhlaghi H, Yu J, Corben L, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Bradshaw JL, Storey E, Delatycki MB, Egan GF. Cognitive deficits in Friedreich ataxia correlate with micro-structural changes in dentatorubral tract. THE CEREBELLUM 2014; 13:187-98. [PMID: 24085646 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-013-0525-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Atrophy of the dentate nucleus is one of the major neuropathological changes in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). Neuroimaging studies demonstrated white matter (WM) degeneration in FRDA. In this study, we used advanced tractography techniques to quantitatively measure WM changes in the dentato-thalamic and dentato-rubral tracts, and correlated these changes with cognitive profiles of FRDA. We also analysed diffusivity changes of the thalamo-cortical tract to assess whether neurological degeneration of WM extends beyond the primary site of involvement in FRDA. Twelve genetically proven individuals with FRDA and 14 controls were recruited. Sixty directions diffusion tensor images were acquired. The WM bundles from the dentate nucleus were estimated using a constrained spherical deconvolution method and the diffusivity characteristics measured. The Simon task was used to assess cognitive profile of FRDA. The dentato-rubral, dentato-thalamic and thalamo-cortical tracts manifested significantly lower fractional anisotropy, higher mean diffusivity and increased radial diffusivity in FRDA compared with controls. There was no difference in axial diffusivity between the two groups. The mean and radial diffusivity of the dentato-rubral tract was positively correlated with choice reaction time, congruent reaction time, incongruent reaction time and Simon effect reaction time and negatively with the larger GAA repeat. Significant changes in diffusivity characteristics were observed in the dentato-thalamic and thalamo-cortical tracts, suggesting extensive WM degeneration and affected WM structures in FRDA. Correlation of WM changes in the dentato-rubral tract with the cognitive assessment suggested that this tract is an important contributor to cognitive disturbances in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Akhlaghi
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia,
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28
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Saccade reprogramming in Friedreich ataxia reveals impairments in the cognitive control of saccadic eye movement. Brain Cogn 2014; 87:161-7. [PMID: 24752035 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2014.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Revised: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although cerebellar dysfunction has known effects on motor function in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), it remains unclear the extent to which the reprogramming of eye movements (saccades) and inhibition of well-learned automatic responses are similarly compromised in affected individuals. Here we examined saccade reprogramming to assess the ability of people with FRDA to respond toward unexpected changes in either the amplitude or direction of an "oddball" target. Thirteen individuals with genetically confirmed FRDA and 12 age-matched controls participated in the study. The saccade reprogramming paradigm was used to examine the effect of an unpredictable "oddball" target on saccade latencies and accuracy when compared to a well-learned sequence of reciprocating movements. Horizontal eye movements were recorded using a scleral search coil eye tracking technique. The results showed a proportionally greater increase in latencies for reprogrammed saccades toward an oddball-direction target in the FRDA group when compared to controls. The FRDA group were also less accurate in primary saccade gain (i.e. ratio of saccade amplitude to target amplitude) when reprogramming saccades toward an unexpected change in direction. No significant group differences were found on any of the oddball-amplitude targets. Significant correlations were revealed between latency and disease severity as measured by the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale. These findings provide further support to the view that cognitive changes in FRDA may arise from disruption of cerebellar connections to cortical structures.
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29
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Zalesky A, Akhlaghi H, Corben LA, Bradshaw JL, Delatycki MB, Storey E, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Egan GF. Cerebello-cerebral connectivity deficits in Friedreich ataxia. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:969-81. [PMID: 23563750 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-013-0547-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Brain pathology in Friedreich ataxia is characterized by progressive degeneration of nervous tissue in the brainstem, cerebellum and cerebellar peduncles. Evidence of cerebral involvement is however equivocal. This brain imaging study investigates cerebello-cerebral white matter connectivity in Friedreich ataxia with diffusion MRI and tractography performed in 13 individuals homozygous for a GAA expansion in intron one of the frataxin gene and 14 age- and gender-matched control participants. New evidence is presented for disrupted cerebello-cerebral connectivity in the disease, leading to secondary effects in distant cortical and subcortical regions. Remote regions affected by primary cerebellar and brainstem pathology include the supplementary motor area, cingulate cortex, frontal cortices, putamen and other subcortical nuclei. The connectivity disruptions identified provide an explanation for some of the non-ataxic symptoms observed in the disease and support the notion of reverse cerebellar diaschisis. This is the first study to comprehensively map white matter connectivity disruptions in Friedreich ataxia using tractography, connectomic techniques and super-resolution track density imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Zalesky
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne, Level 3, Alan Gilbert Building, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia,
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30
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Low SC, Corben LA, Delatycki MB, Ternes AM, Addamo PK, Georgiou-Karistianis N. Excessive motor overflow reveals abnormal inter-hemispheric connectivity in Friedreich ataxia. J Neurol 2013; 260:1757-64. [PMID: 23463366 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-013-6869-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Revised: 01/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study sought to characterise force variability and motor overflow in 12 individuals with Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) and 12 age- and gender-matched controls. Participants performed a finger-pressing task by exerting 30 and 70 % of their maximum finger force using the index finger of the right and left hand. Control of force production was measured as force variability, while any involuntary movements occurring on the finger of the other, passive hand, was measured as motor overflow. Significantly greater force variability in individuals with FRDA compared with controls is indicative of cortico-cerebellar disruption affecting motor control. Meanwhile, significantly greater motor overflow in this group provides the first evidence of possible abnormal inter-hemispheric activity that may be attributable to asymmetrical neuronal loss in the dentate nucleus. Overall, this study demonstrated a differential engagement in the underlying default processes of the motor system in FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze-Cheen Low
- Experimental Neuropsychology Research Unit, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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