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Lin T, Rana M, Liu P, Polk R, Heemskerk A, Weisberg SM, Bowers D, Sitaram R, Ebner NC. Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training of Selective Attention in Older Adults. Brain Sci 2024; 14:931. [PMID: 39335425 PMCID: PMC11430676 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14090931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Selective attention declines with age, due to age-related functional changes in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) neurofeedback has been used in young adults to train volitional control of brain activity, including in dACC. METHODS For the first time, this study used rtfMRI neurofeedback to train 19 young and 27 older adults in volitional up- or down-regulation of bilateral dACC during a selective attention task. RESULTS Older participants in the up-regulation condition (experimental group) showed greater reward points and dACC BOLD signal across training sessions, reflective of neurofeedback training success; and faster reaction time and better response accuracy, suggesting behavioral benefits on selective attention. These effects were not observed for older participants in the down-regulation condition (inverse condition control group), supporting specificity of volitional dACC up-regulation training in older adults. These effects were, unexpectedly, also not observed for young participants in the up-regulation condition (age control group), perhaps due to a lack of motivation to continue the training. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide promising first evidence of functional plasticity in dACC in late life via rtfMRI neurofeedback up-regulation training, enhancing selective attention, and demonstrate proof of concept of rtfMRI neurofeedback training in cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (P.L.); (R.P.); (A.H.); (S.M.W.); (N.C.E.)
| | - Mohit Rana
- Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering, Department of Psychiatry and Section of Neuroscience, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
| | - Peiwei Liu
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (P.L.); (R.P.); (A.H.); (S.M.W.); (N.C.E.)
| | - Rebecca Polk
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (P.L.); (R.P.); (A.H.); (S.M.W.); (N.C.E.)
| | - Amber Heemskerk
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (P.L.); (R.P.); (A.H.); (S.M.W.); (N.C.E.)
| | - Steven M. Weisberg
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (P.L.); (R.P.); (A.H.); (S.M.W.); (N.C.E.)
| | - Dawn Bowers
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | | | - Natalie C. Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (P.L.); (R.P.); (A.H.); (S.M.W.); (N.C.E.)
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Asadie M, Miri A, Badri T, Hosseini Nejad J, Gharechahi J. Dysregulated AEBP1 and COLEC12 Genes in Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease: Insights from Brain Cortex and Peripheral Blood Analysis. J Mol Neurosci 2024; 74:37. [PMID: 38568322 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-024-02212-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory and cognitive impairment, often accompanied by alterations in mood, confusion, and, ultimately, a state of acute mental disturbance. The cerebral cortex is considered a promising area for investigating the underlying causes of AD by analyzing transcriptional patterns, which could be complemented by investigating blood samples obtained from patients. We analyzed the RNA expression profiles of three distinct areas of the brain cortex, including the frontal cortex (FC), temporal cortex (TC), and entorhinal cortex (EC) in patients with AD. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across the three regions. The two genes with the most significant expression changes in the EC region were selected for assessing mRNA expression levels in the peripheral blood of late-onset AD patients using quantitative PCR (qPCR). We identified eight shared DEGs in these regions, including AEBP1 and COLEC12, which exhibited prominent changes in expression. Functional enrichment analysis uncovered a significant association of these DEGs with the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway and processes related to angiogenesis. Importantly, we established a robust connection between the up-regulation of AEBP1 and COLEC12 in both the brain and peripheral blood. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the potential of AEBP1 and COLEC12 genes as effective diagnostic tools for distinguishing between late-onset AD patients and healthy controls. This study unveils the intricate interplay between AEBP1 and COLEC12 in AD and underscores their potential as markers for disease detection and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamadreza Asadie
- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Miri
- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taleb Badri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Hosseini Nejad
- Neuroscience Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Gharechahi
- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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3
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Jackson LE, Han YJ, Evans LH. The efficacy of electroencephalography neurofeedback for enhancing episodic memory in healthy and clinical participants: A systematic qualitative review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105455. [PMID: 37926240 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have examined whether electroencephalography neurofeedback (EEG-NF), a self-regulatory technique where an individual receives real-time feedback on a pattern of brain activity that is theoretically linked to a target behaviour, can enhance episodic memory. The aim of this research was to i) provide a qualitative overview of the literature, and ii) conduct a meta-analysis of appropriately controlled studies to determine whether EEG-NF can enhance episodic memory. The literature search returned 46 studies, with 21 studies (44 effect sizes) meeting the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The qualitative overview revealed that, across EEG-NF studies on both healthy and clinical populations, procedures and protocols vary considerably and many studies were insufficiently powered with inadequate design features. The meta-analysis, conducted on studies with an active control, revealed a small-size, significant positive effect of EEG-NF on episodic memory performance (g = 0.31, p = 0.003), moderated by memory modality and EEG-NF self-regulation success. These results are discussed with a view towards optimising EEG-NF training and subsequent benefits to episodic memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy E Jackson
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK
| | - Yi-Jhong Han
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London SE5 9RJ, England, UK
| | - Lisa H Evans
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK.
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4
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Ratan Y, Rajput A, Maleysm S, Pareek A, Jain V, Pareek A, Kaur R, Singh G. An Insight into Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Pathogenesis of Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051398. [PMID: 37239068 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prominent neurodegenerative disorder in the aging population. It is characterized by cognitive decline, gradual neurodegeneration, and the development of amyloid-β (Aβ)-plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which constitute hyperphosphorylated tau. The early stages of neurodegeneration in AD include the loss of neurons, followed by synaptic impairment. Since the discovery of AD, substantial factual research has surfaced that outlines the disease's causes, molecular mechanisms, and prospective therapeutics, but a successful cure for the disease has not yet been discovered. This may be attributed to the complicated pathogenesis of AD, the absence of a well-defined molecular mechanism, and the constrained diagnostic resources and treatment options. To address the aforementioned challenges, extensive disease modeling is essential to fully comprehend the underlying mechanisms of AD, making it easier to design and develop effective treatment strategies. Emerging evidence over the past few decades supports the critical role of Aβ and tau in AD pathogenesis and the participation of glial cells in different molecular and cellular pathways. This review extensively discusses the current understanding concerning Aβ- and tau-associated molecular mechanisms and glial dysfunction in AD. Moreover, the critical risk factors associated with AD including genetics, aging, environmental variables, lifestyle habits, medical conditions, viral/bacterial infections, and psychiatric factors have been summarized. The present study will entice researchers to more thoroughly comprehend and explore the current status of the molecular mechanism of AD, which may assist in AD drug development in the forthcoming era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashumati Ratan
- Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali 304022, Rajasthan, India
| | - Aishwarya Rajput
- Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali 304022, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sushmita Maleysm
- Department of Bioscience & Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali 304022, Rajasthan, India
| | - Aaushi Pareek
- Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali 304022, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vivek Jain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur 313001, Rajasthan, India
| | - Ashutosh Pareek
- Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali 304022, Rajasthan, India
| | - Ranjeet Kaur
- Adesh Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Bathinda 151101, Punjab, India
| | - Gurjit Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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Jiang Y, Jessee W, Hoyng S, Borhani S, Liu Z, Zhao X, Price LK, High W, Suhl J, Cerel-Suhl S. Sharpening Working Memory With Real-Time Electrophysiological Brain Signals: Which Neurofeedback Paradigms Work? Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:780817. [PMID: 35418848 PMCID: PMC8995767 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.780817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence supports the idea that the ultimate biofeedback is to reward sensory pleasure (e.g., enhanced visual clarity) in real-time to neural circuits that are associated with a desired performance, such as excellent memory retrieval. Neurofeedback is biofeedback that uses real-time sensory reward to brain activity associated with a certain performance (e.g., accurate and fast recall). Working memory is a key component of human intelligence. The challenges are in our current limited understanding of neurocognitive dysfunctions as well as in technical difficulties for closed-loop feedback in true real-time. Here we review recent advancements of real time neurofeedback to improve memory training in healthy young and older adults. With new advancements in neuromarkers of specific neurophysiological functions, neurofeedback training should be better targeted beyond a single frequency approach to include frequency interactions and event-related potentials. Our review confirms the positive trend that neurofeedback training mostly works to improve memory and cognition to some extent in most studies. Yet, the training typically takes multiple weeks with 2-3 sessions per week. We review various neurofeedback reward strategies and outcome measures. A well-known issue in such training is that some people simply do not respond to neurofeedback. Thus, we also review the literature of individual differences in psychological factors e.g., placebo effects and so-called "BCI illiteracy" (Brain Computer Interface illiteracy). We recommend the use of Neural modulation sensitivity or BCI insensitivity in the neurofeedback literature. Future directions include much needed research in mild cognitive impairment, in non-Alzheimer's dementia populations, and neurofeedback using EEG features during resting and sleep for memory enhancement and as sensitive outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jiang
- Lexington Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY, United States
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - William Jessee
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Stevie Hoyng
- College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Soheil Borhani
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Ziming Liu
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Xiaopeng Zhao
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Lacey K. Price
- Lexington Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Walter High
- New Mexico Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Jeremiah Suhl
- Lexington Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Sylvia Cerel-Suhl
- Lexington Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY, United States
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6
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Ma C, Hong F, Yang S. Amyloidosis in Alzheimer's Disease: Pathogeny, Etiology, and Related Therapeutic Directions. Molecules 2022; 27:1210. [PMID: 35209007 PMCID: PMC8876037 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease has long been the predominant theory, suggesting that Alzheimer's disease is caused by the accumulation of amyloid beta protein (Aβ) in the brain, leading to neuronal toxicity in the central nervous system (CNS). Because of breakthroughs in molecular medicine, the amyloid pathway is thought to be central to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, it is believed that altered biochemistry of the Aβ cycle remains a central biological feature of AD and is a promising target for treatment. This review provides an overview of the process of amyloid formation, explaining the transition from amyloid precursor protein to amyloid beta protein. Moreover, we also reveal the relationship between autophagy, cerebral blood flow, ACHE, expression of LRP1, and amyloidosis. In addition, we discuss the detailed pathogenesis of amyloidosis, including oxidative damage, tau protein, NFTs, and neuronal damage. Finally, we list some ways to treat AD in terms of decreasing the accumulation of Aβ in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ma
- Experimental Center of Pathogen Biology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China;
- Queen Marry College, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330036, China
| | - Fenfang Hong
- Experimental Center of Pathogen Biology, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China;
| | - Shulong Yang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Department of Physiology, Fuzhou Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 344099, China
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7
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He H, Ding S, Jiang C, Wang Y, Luo Q, Wang Y. Information Flow Pattern in Early Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients. Front Neurol 2021; 12:706631. [PMID: 34858306 PMCID: PMC8631864 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.706631] [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: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the brain information flow pattern in patients with early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI) and explore its potential ability of differentiation and prediction for EMCI. Methods: In this study, 49 patients with EMCI and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) with available resting-state functional MRI images and neurological measures [including the neuropsychological evaluation and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers] were included from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Functional MRI measures including preferred information flow direction between brain regions and preferred information flow index of each brain region parcellated by the Atlas of Intrinsic Connectivity of Homotopic Areas (AICHA) were calculated by using non-parametric multiplicative regression-Granger causality analysis (NPMR-GCA). Edge- and node-wise Student's t-test was conducted for between-group comparison. Support vector classification was performed to differentiate EMCI from HC. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression were used to evaluate the predictive ability of information flow measures for the neurological state. Results: Compared to HC, disturbed preferred information flow directions between brain regions involving default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), somatomotor network (SMN), and visual network (VN) were observed in patients with EMCI. An altered preferred information flow index in several brain regions (including the thalamus, posterior cingulate, and precentral gyrus) was also observed. Classification accuracy of 80% for differentiating patients with EMCI from HC was achieved by using the preferred information flow directions. The preferred information flow directions have a good ability to predict memory and executive function, level of amyloid β, tau protein, and phosphorylated tau protein with the high Pearson's correlation coefficients (r > 0.7) between predictive and actual neurological measures. Conclusion: Patients with EMCI were presented with a disturbed brain information flow pattern, which could help clinicians to identify patients with EMCI and assess their neurological state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijuan He
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Shuang Ding
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chunhui Jiang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qiaoya Luo
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yunling Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang, China
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8
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Trambaiolli LR, Cassani R, Mehler DMA, Falk TH. Neurofeedback and the Aging Brain: A Systematic Review of Training Protocols for Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:682683. [PMID: 34177558 PMCID: PMC8221422 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.682683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dementia describes a set of symptoms that occur in neurodegenerative disorders and that is characterized by gradual loss of cognitive and behavioral functions. Recently, non-invasive neurofeedback training has been explored as a potential complementary treatment for patients suffering from dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Here we systematically reviewed studies that explored neurofeedback training protocols based on electroencephalography or functional magnetic resonance imaging for these groups of patients. From a total of 1,912 screened studies, 10 were included in our final sample (N = 208 independent participants in experimental and N = 81 in the control groups completing the primary endpoint). We compared the clinical efficacy across studies, and evaluated their experimental designs and reporting quality. In most studies, patients showed improved scores in different cognitive tests. However, data from randomized controlled trials remains scarce, and clinical evidence based on standardized metrics is still inconclusive. In light of recent meta-research developments in the neurofeedback field and beyond, quality and reporting practices of individual studies are reviewed. We conclude with recommendations on best practices for future studies that investigate the effects of neurofeedback training in dementia and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R Trambaiolli
- Basic Neuroscience Division, McLean Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Raymundo Cassani
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique - Energy, Materials, and Telecommunications Centre (INRS-EMT), University of Québec, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - David M A Mehler
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Tiago H Falk
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique - Energy, Materials, and Telecommunications Centre (INRS-EMT), University of Québec, Montréal, QC, Canada
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