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Birreci D, De Riggi M, Costa D, Angelini L, Cannavacciuolo A, Passaretti M, Paparella G, Guerra A, Bologna M. The Role of Non-Invasive Brain Modulation in Identifying Disease Biomarkers for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Purposes in Parkinsonism. Brain Sci 2024; 14:695. [PMID: 39061435 PMCID: PMC11274666 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14070695] [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: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past three decades, substantial advancements have occurred in non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). These developments encompass various non-invasive techniques aimed at modulating brain function. Among the most widely utilized methods today are transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES), which include direct- or alternating-current transcranial stimulation (tDCS/tACS). In addition to these established techniques, newer modalities have emerged, broadening the scope of non-invasive neuromodulation approaches available for research and clinical applications in movement disorders, particularly for Parkinson's disease (PD) and, to a lesser extent, atypical Parkinsonism (AP). All NIBS techniques offer the opportunity to explore a wide range of neurophysiological mechanisms and exert influence over distinct brain regions implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinsonism. This paper's first aim is to provide a brief overview of the historical background and underlying physiological principles of primary NIBS techniques, focusing on their translational relevance. It aims to shed light on the potential identification of biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, by summarising available experimental data on individuals with Parkinsonism. To date, despite promising findings indicating the potential utility of NIBS techniques in Parkinsonism, their integration into clinical routine for diagnostic or therapeutic protocols remains a subject of ongoing investigation and scientific debate. In this context, this paper addresses current unsolved issues and methodological challenges concerning the use of NIBS, focusing on the importance of future research endeavours for maximizing the efficacy and relevance of NIBS strategies for individuals with Parkinsonism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Birreci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; (D.B.); (M.D.R.); (M.P.); (G.P.)
| | - Martina De Riggi
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; (D.B.); (M.D.R.); (M.P.); (G.P.)
| | - Davide Costa
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy; (D.C.); (L.A.); (A.C.)
| | - Luca Angelini
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy; (D.C.); (L.A.); (A.C.)
| | | | - Massimiliano Passaretti
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; (D.B.); (M.D.R.); (M.P.); (G.P.)
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giulia Paparella
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; (D.B.); (M.D.R.); (M.P.); (G.P.)
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy; (D.C.); (L.A.); (A.C.)
| | - Andrea Guerra
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Study Centre on Neurodegeneration (CESNE), Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Centre (PNC), University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Bologna
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; (D.B.); (M.D.R.); (M.P.); (G.P.)
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy; (D.C.); (L.A.); (A.C.)
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Oberman LM, Benussi A. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Across the Lifespan: Impact of Developmental and Degenerative Processes. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:581-591. [PMID: 37517703 PMCID: PMC10823041 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a pivotal noninvasive technique for investigating cortical excitability and plasticity across the lifespan, offering valuable insights into neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative processes. In this review, we explore the impact of TMS applications on our understanding of normal development, healthy aging, neurodevelopmental disorders, and adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases. By presenting key developmental milestones and age-related changes in TMS measures, we provide a foundation for understanding the maturation of neurotransmitter systems and the trajectory of cognitive functions throughout the lifespan. Building on this foundation, the paper delves into the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Tourette syndrome, and adolescent depression. Highlighting recent findings on altered neurotransmitter circuits and dysfunctional cortical plasticity, we underscore the potential of TMS as a valuable tool for unraveling underlying mechanisms and informing future therapeutic interventions. We also review the emerging role of TMS in investigating and treating the most common adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders and late-onset depression. By outlining the therapeutic applications of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques in these disorders, we discuss the growing body of evidence supporting their use as therapeutic tools for symptom management and potentially slowing disease progression. The insights gained from TMS studies have advanced our understanding of the underlying mechanisms in both healthy and disease states, ultimately informing the development of more targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for a wide range of neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M Oberman
- National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Olğun Y, Aksoy Poyraz C, Bozluolçay M, Gündüz A, Poyraz BÇ. A comparative transcranial magnetic stimulation study: Assessing cortical excitability and plasticity in Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and Frontotemporal dementia. Psychogeriatrics 2024; 24:272-280. [PMID: 38131520 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.13070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Here, we aimed to investigate the roles of long-term potentiation-like (LTP-like) plasticity using intermittent theta burst (iTBS) protocol and resting motor threshold (rMT) in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), diffuse dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). METHOD We enrolled 21 subjects with AD, 28 subjects with DLB, 14 subjects with FTD, and 33 elderly subjects with normal cognitive functions into the study. We recorded rMT and percentage amplitude change of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) after the iTBS protocol in each group. RESULTS In patients with AD and DLB, the percentage amplitude change of MEPs, and rMTs were significantly lower than in healthy subjects. However, no significant difference was observed in individuals with FTD. CONCLUSION Our findings showed that transcranial magnetic stimulation measures, particularly rMTs and LTP-like plasticity, may be potential biomarkers to distinguish between different dementia subtypes. Impaired motor cortical excitability and synaptic plasticity were more prominent in AD and DLB than in FTD. This aligns with the evidence that cortical motor networks are usually spared in FTDs in early-to-middle stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeşim Olğun
- Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cana Aksoy Poyraz
- Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Melda Bozluolçay
- Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayşegül Gündüz
- Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Burç Çağrı Poyraz
- Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
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Mimura Y, Tobari Y, Nakahara K, Nakajima S, Yoshida K, Mimura M, Noda Y. Transcranial magnetic stimulation neurophysiology in patients with non-Alzheimer's neurodegenerative diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 155:105451. [PMID: 37926239 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105451] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-Alzheimer's dementia (NAD) accounts for 30% of all neurodegenerative conditions and is characterized by cognitive decline beyond mere memory dysfunction. Diagnosing NAD remains challenging due to the lack of established biomarkers. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive neurophysiological tool that enables the investigation of cortical excitability in the human brain. Paired-pulse TMS paradigms include short- and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI/LICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), and short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), which can assess neurophysiological functions of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic neural circuits, respectively. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis to compare these TMS indices among patients with NAD and healthy controls. Our meta-analyses indicated that TMS neurophysiological examinations revealed decreased glutamatergic function in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and decreased GABAergic function in patients with FTD, progressive supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease, cortico-basal syndrome, and multiple system atrophy-parkinsonian type. In addition, decreased cholinergic function was found in dementia with Lewy body and vascular dementia. These results suggest the potential of TMS as an additional diagnostic tool to differentiate NAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yui Tobari
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuho Nakahara
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Nakajima
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kazunari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Pharmacogenetics Research Clinic, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Masaru Mimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Noda
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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Honda M, Shimizu T, Moriyasu S, Murakami T, Takigawa H, Ugawa Y, Hanajima R. Impaired long-term potentiation-like motor cortical plasticity in progressive supranuclear palsy. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 155:99-106. [PMID: 37596134 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate long-term potentiation (LTP)-like effects on the primary motor cortical (M1) in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and its relationships with clinical features. METHODS Participants were 18 probable/possible PSP Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS) patients and 17 healthy controls (HC). We used quadripulse stimulation (QPS) over the M1 with an interstimulus interval of 5 ms (QPS-5) to induce LTP-like effect and analyzed the correlations between the degree of LTP-like effect and clinical features. We also evaluated cortical excitability using short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF) and short interval intracortical facilitation (SICF) in 15 PSP patients and 17 HC. RESULTS LTP-like effect after QPS in PSP was smaller than HC and negatively correlated with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS-III) score, especially bradykinesia, but not with either age or any scores of cognitive functions. The SICI was abnormally reduced in PSP, but neither ICF nor SICF differed from those of normal subjects. None of these cortical excitability parameters correlated with any clinical features. CONCLUSIONS LTP induction was impaired in PSP. The degree of LTP could reflect the severity of bradykinesia. The bradykinesia may partly relate with the motor cortical dysfunction. SIGNIFICANCE The degree of motor cortical LTP could relate with the severity of motor symptoms in PSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Honda
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shimizu
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Shotaro Moriyasu
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Takenobu Murakami
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takigawa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Ritsuko Hanajima
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan.
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Manganotti P, Michelutti M, Furlanis G, Deodato M, Buoite Stella A. Deficient GABABergic and glutamatergic excitability in the motor cortex of patients with long-COVID and cognitive impairment. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 151:83-91. [PMID: 37210757 PMCID: PMC10170904 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Attention, working memory and executive processing have been reported to be consistently impaired in Neuro-Long coronavirus disease (COVID). On the hypothesis of abnormal cortical excitability, we investigated the functional state of inhibitory and excitatory cortical regulatory circuits by single "paired-pulse" transcranial magnetic stimulation (ppTMS) and Short-latency Afferent Inhibition (SAI). METHODS We compared clinical and neurophysiological data of 18 Long COVID patients complaining of persistent cognitive impairment with 16 Healthy control (HC) subjects. Cognitive status was evaluated by means of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a neuropsychological evaluation of the executive function domain; fatigue was scored by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Resting motor threshold (RMT), the amplitude of the motor evoked potential (MEP), Short Intra-cortical Inhibition (SICI), Intra-cortical Facilitation (ICF), Long-interval Intracortical Inhibition (LICI) and Short-afferent inhibition (SAI) were investigated over the motor (M1) cortex. RESULTS MoCA corrected scores were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.023). The majority of the patients' performed sub-optimally in the neuropsychological assessment of the executive functions. The majority (77.80%) of the patients reported high levels of perceived fatigue in the FSS. RMT, MEPs, SICI and SAI were not significantly different between the two groups. On the other hand, Long COVID patients showed a reduced amount of inhibition in LICI (p = 0.003) and a significant reduction in ICF (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Neuro-Long COVID patients performing sub-optimally in the executive functions showed a reduction of LICI related to GABAb inhibition and a reduction of ICF related to glutamatergic regulation. No alteration in cholinergic circuits was found. SIGNIFICANCE These findings can help to better understand the neurophysiological characteristics of Neuro-Long COVID, and in particular, motor cortex regulation in people with "brain fog".
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Manganotti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Marco Michelutti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giovanni Furlanis
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Manuela Deodato
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alex Buoite Stella
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste - ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Vucic S, Stanley Chen KH, Kiernan MC, Hallett M, Benninger DH, Di Lazzaro V, Rossini PM, Benussi A, Berardelli A, Currà A, Krieg SM, Lefaucheur JP, Long Lo Y, Macdonell RA, Massimini M, Rosanova M, Picht T, Stinear CM, Paulus W, Ugawa Y, Ziemann U, Chen R. Clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation in neurological disorders. Updated report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 150:131-175. [PMID: 37068329 PMCID: PMC10192339 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The review provides a comprehensive update (previous report: Chen R, Cros D, Curra A, Di Lazzaro V, Lefaucheur JP, Magistris MR, et al. The clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation: report of an IFCN committee. Clin Neurophysiol 2008;119(3):504-32) on clinical diagnostic utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in neurological diseases. Most TMS measures rely on stimulation of motor cortex and recording of motor evoked potentials. Paired-pulse TMS techniques, incorporating conventional amplitude-based and threshold tracking, have established clinical utility in neurodegenerative, movement, episodic (epilepsy, migraines), chronic pain and functional diseases. Cortical hyperexcitability has emerged as a diagnostic aid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Single-pulse TMS measures are of utility in stroke, and myelopathy even in the absence of radiological changes. Short-latency afferent inhibition, related to central cholinergic transmission, is reduced in Alzheimer's disease. The triple stimulation technique (TST) may enhance diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures to detect upper motor neuron involvement. The recording of motor evoked potentials can be used to perform functional mapping of the motor cortex or in preoperative assessment of eloquent brain regions before surgical resection of brain tumors. TMS exhibits utility in assessing lumbosacral/cervical nerve root function, especially in demyelinating neuropathies, and may be of utility in localizing the site of facial nerve palsies. TMS measures also have high sensitivity in detecting subclinical corticospinal lesions in multiple sclerosis. Abnormalities in central motor conduction time or TST correlate with motor impairment and disability in MS. Cerebellar stimulation may detect lesions in the cerebellum or cerebello-dentato-thalamo-motor cortical pathways. Combining TMS with electroencephalography, provides a novel method to measure parameters altered in neurological disorders, including cortical excitability, effective connectivity, and response complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Brain, Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Kai-Hsiang Stanley Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney; and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - David H Benninger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo M Rossini
- Department of Neurosci & Neurorehab IRCCS San Raffaele-Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alfredo Berardelli
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Currà
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Alfredo Fiorini Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Terracina, LT, Italy
| | - Sandro M Krieg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, EA4391, ENT, Créteil, France; Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Henri Mondor Hospital, AP-HP, Créteil, France
| | - Yew Long Lo
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, and Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Marcello Massimini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Rosanova
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas Picht
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Cluster of Excellence: "Matters of Activity. Image Space Material," Humboldt University, Berlin Simulation and Training Center (BeST), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Cathy M Stinear
- Department of Medicine Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
| | - Walter Paulus
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Japan
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Straße 27, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Chen
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital-UHN, Division of Neurology-University of Toronto, Toronto Canada
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van den Bos MAJ, Menon P, Vucic S. Cortical hyperexcitability and plasticity in Alzheimer's disease: developments in understanding and management. Expert Rev Neurother 2022; 22:981-993. [PMID: 36683586 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2022.2170784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive neurophysiological tool that provides important insights into Alzheimer's Disease (AD). A significant body of work utilizing TMS techniques has explored the pathophysiological relevance of cortical hyperexcitability and plasticity in AD and their modulation in novel therapies. AREAS COVERED This review examines the technique of TMS, the use of TMS to examine specific features of cortical excitability and the use of TMS techniques to modulate cortical function. A search was performed utilizing the PubMed database to identify key studies utilizing TMS to examine cortical hyperexcitability and plasticity in Alzheimer's dementia. We then translate this understanding to the study of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology, examining the underlying neurophysiologic links contributing to these twin signatures, cortical hyperexcitability and abnormal plasticity, in the cortical dysfunction characterizing AD. Finally, we examine utilization of TMS excitability to guide targeted therapies and, through the use of repetitive TMS (rTMS), modulate cortical plasticity. EXPERT OPINION The examination of cortical hyperexcitability and plasticity with TMS has potential to optimize and expand the window of therapeutic interventions in AD, though remains at relatively early stage of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi A J van den Bos
- Brain and Nerve Research Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Brain and Nerve Research Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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Benussi A, Cantoni V, Rivolta J, Archetti S, Micheli A, Ashton N, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Borroni B. Classification accuracy of blood-based and neurophysiological markers in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:155. [PMID: 36229847 PMCID: PMC9558959 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-022-01094-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last decade, non-invasive blood-based and neurophysiological biomarkers have shown great potential for the discrimination of several neurodegenerative disorders. However, in the clinical workup of patients with cognitive impairment, it will be highly unlikely that any biomarker will achieve the highest potential predictive accuracy on its own, owing to the multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). METHODS In this retrospective study, performed on 202 participants, we analysed plasma neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and tau phosphorylated at amino acid 181 (p-Tau181) concentrations, as well as amyloid β42 to 40 ratio (Aβ1-42/1-40) ratio, using the ultrasensitive single-molecule array (Simoa) technique, and neurophysiological measures obtained by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), including short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), long-interval intracortical inhibition (LICI), and short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI). We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of combinations of both plasma and neurophysiological biomarkers in the differential diagnosis between healthy ageing, AD, and FTLD. RESULTS We observed significant differences in plasma NfL, GFAP, and p-Tau181 levels between the groups, but not for the Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio. For the evaluation of diagnostic accuracy, we adopted a two-step process which reflects the clinical judgement on clinical grounds. In the first step, the best single biomarker to classify "cases" vs "controls" was NfL (AUC 0.94, p < 0.001), whilst in the second step, the best single biomarker to classify AD vs FTLD was SAI (AUC 0.96, p < 0.001). The combination of multiple biomarkers significantly increased diagnostic accuracy. The best model for classifying "cases" vs "controls" included the predictors p-Tau181, GFAP, NfL, SICI, ICF, and SAI, resulting in an AUC of 0.99 (p < 0.001). For the second step, classifying AD from FTD, the best model included the combination of Aβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio, p-Tau181, SICI, ICF, and SAI, resulting in an AUC of 0.98 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The combined assessment of plasma and neurophysiological measures may greatly improve the differential diagnosis of AD and FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, ASST Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Jasmine Rivolta
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvana Archetti
- Biotechnology Laboratory and Department of Diagnostics, Civic Hospital of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Nicholas Ashton
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health & Biomedical Research Unit for Dementia at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
- Neurology Unit, ASST Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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10
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Chou YH, Sundman M, Ton That V, Green J, Trapani C. Cortical excitability and plasticity in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis of transcranial magnetic stimulation studies. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 79:101660. [PMID: 35680080 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique. When stimulation is applied over the primary motor cortex and coupled with electromyography measures, TMS can probe functions of cortical excitability and plasticity in vivo. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the utility of TMS-derived measures for differentiating patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from cognitively normal older adults (CN). METHODS Databases searched included PubMed, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Medline, and CINAHL Plus from inception to July 2021. RESULTS Sixty-one studies with a total of 2728 participants (1454 patients with AD, 163 patients with MCI, and 1111 CN) were included. Patients with AD showed significantly higher cortical excitability, lower cortical inhibition, and impaired cortical plasticity compared to the CN cohorts. Patients with MCI exhibited increased cortical excitability and reduced plasticity compared to the CN cohort. Additionally, lower cognitive performance was significantly associated with higher cortical excitability and lower inhibition. No seizure events due to TMS were reported, and the mild adverse response rate is approximately 3/1000 (i.e., 9/2728). CONCLUSIONS Findings of our meta-analysis demonstrate the potential of using TMS-derived cortical excitability and plasticity measures as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD and MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hui Chou
- Brain Imaging and TMS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA; Evelyn F McKnight Brain Institute, Arizona Center on Aging, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.
| | - Mark Sundman
- Brain Imaging and TMS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Viet Ton That
- Brain Imaging and TMS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Jacob Green
- Brain Imaging and TMS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Chrisopher Trapani
- Brain Imaging and TMS Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
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11
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Benussi A, Pilotto A, Cantoni V, Ferrari E, Borroni B, Padovani A. Neurophysiological Correlates of Motor and Cognitive Dysfunction in Prodromal and Overt Dementia with Lewy Bodies. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 86:579-588. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-215531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: The neurophysiological correlates of cognitive and motor symptoms in prodromal and overt dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are still to be elucidated. Objective: To evaluate if cognitive and motor features of patients with prodromal and overt DLB are associated with the impairment of specific neurotransmitter circuits, evaluated in vivo with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Methods: Fifty-one patients with DLB (twenty-five prodromal; twenty-six with dementia) underwent neuropsychological and clinical evaluation, with twenty-five patients having at least one follow-up evaluation. All patients were assessed with TMS at baseline, with protocols assessing cholinergic circuits (short latency afferent inhibition, SAI), GABAergic circuits (short interval intracortical inhibition, SICI), and glutamatergic circuits (intracortical facilitation, ICF). Results: Compared to HC, SICI, ICF, and SAI resulted significantly impaired in both prodromal and overt DLB, with the latter showing a reduced SICI and SAI also compared to prodromal DLB. There was a significant correlation between motor deficits, evaluated with the UPDRS-III, and the impairment of GABAergic (SICI) (r = 0.729, p < 0.001) and glutamatergic (ICF) (r –0.608, p < 0.001) circuits; global cognition, evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination, correlated with the impairment of cholinergic (SAI) circuits (r=–0.738, p < 0.001). Worsening of cognitive functions at follow-up was associated with reduced cholinergic functions at baseline (R2 = 0.53%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that motor and cognitive dysfunctions in prodromal and overt DLB depend on specific and independent neurotransmitter circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Pilotto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferrari
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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12
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Precise Modulation Strategies for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Advances and Future Directions. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1718-1734. [PMID: 34609737 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00781-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a popular modulatory technique for the noninvasive diagnosis and therapy of neurological and psychiatric diseases. Unfortunately, current modulation strategies are only modestly effective. The literature provides strong evidence that the modulatory effects of TMS vary depending on device components and stimulation protocols. These differential effects are important when designing precise modulatory strategies for clinical or research applications. Developments in TMS have been accompanied by advances in combining TMS with neuroimaging techniques, including electroencephalography, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. Such studies appear particularly promising as they may not only allow us to probe affected brain areas during TMS but also seem to predict underlying research directions that may enable us to precisely target and remodel impaired cortices or circuits. However, few precise modulation strategies are available, and the long-term safety and efficacy of these strategies need to be confirmed. Here, we review the literature on possible technologies for precise modulation to highlight progress along with limitations with the goal of suggesting future directions for this field.
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13
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Di Lazzaro V, Bella R, Benussi A, Bologna M, Borroni B, Capone F, Chen KHS, Chen R, Chistyakov AV, Classen J, Kiernan MC, Koch G, Lanza G, Lefaucheur JP, Matsumoto H, Nguyen JP, Orth M, Pascual-Leone A, Rektorova I, Simko P, Taylor JP, Tremblay S, Ugawa Y, Dubbioso R, Ranieri F. Diagnostic contribution and therapeutic perspectives of transcranial magnetic stimulation in dementia. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:2568-2607. [PMID: 34482205 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a powerful tool to probe in vivo brain circuits, as it allows to assess several cortical properties such asexcitability, plasticity and connectivity in humans. In the last 20 years, TMS has been applied to patients with dementia, enabling the identification of potential markers of thepathophysiology and predictors of cognitive decline; moreover, applied repetitively, TMS holds promise as a potential therapeutic intervention. The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of studies that have employed TMS in dementia and to discuss potential clinical applications, from the diagnosis to the treatment. To provide a technical and theoretical framework, we first present an overview of the basic physiological mechanisms of the application of TMS to assess cortical excitability, excitation and inhibition balance, mechanisms of plasticity and cortico-cortical connectivity in the human brain. We then review the insights gained by TMS techniques into the pathophysiology and predictors of progression and response to treatment in dementias, including Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related dementias and secondary dementias. We show that while a single TMS measure offers low specificity, the use of a panel of measures and/or neurophysiological index can support the clinical diagnosis and predict progression. In the last part of the article, we discuss the therapeutic uses of TMS. So far, only repetitive TMS (rTMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and multisite rTMS associated with cognitive training have been shown to be, respectively, possibly (Level C of evidence) and probably (Level B of evidence) effective to improve cognition, apathy, memory, and language in AD patients, especially at a mild/early stage of the disease. The clinical use of this type of treatment warrants the combination of brain imaging techniques and/or electrophysiological tools to elucidate neurobiological effects of neurostimulation and to optimally tailor rTMS treatment protocols in individual patients or specific patient subgroups with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.
| | - Rita Bella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Matteo Bologna
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fioravante Capone
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Kai-Hsiang S Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Robert Chen
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Brain, Imaging& Behaviour, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Joseph Classen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig University Medical Center, Germany
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit/Department of Behavioral and Clinical Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lanza
- Department of Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Department of Neurology IC, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | - Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur
- ENT Team, EA4391, Faculty of Medicine, Paris Est Créteil University, Créteil, France; Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Henri Mondor Hospital, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil, France
| | | | - Jean-Paul Nguyen
- Pain Center, clinique Bretéché, groupe ELSAN, Multidisciplinary Pain, Palliative and Supportive care Center, UIC 22/CAT2 and Laboratoire de Thérapeutique (EA3826), University Hospital, Nantes, France
| | - Michael Orth
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Swiss Huntington's Disease Centre, Siloah, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Guttmann Brain Health Institute, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irena Rektorova
- Applied Neuroscience Research Group, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University (CEITEC MU), Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Neurology, St. Anne's University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Patrik Simko
- Applied Neuroscience Research Group, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University (CEITEC MU), Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - John-Paul Taylor
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Sara Tremblay
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada; Royal Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Raffaele Dubbioso
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Federico Ranieri
- Unit of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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14
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Joseph S, Patterson R, Wang W, Blumberger DM, Rajji T, Kumar S. Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Excitability in Alzheimer's Dementia and Its Association with Clinical Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 88:867-891. [PMID: 34219724 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) due to underlying neurodegenerative pathology. Some studies using electroencephalography (EEG) have shown increased epileptiform and epileptic activity in AD. OBJECTIVE This review and meta-analyses aims to synthesize the existing evidence for quantitative abnormalities of cortical excitability in AD and their relationship with clinical symptoms. METHODS We systematically searched and reviewed publications that quantitatively assessed cortical excitability, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) resting motor threshold (rMT), active motor threshold (aMT), motor evoked potential (MEP) or directly from the cortex using TMS-EEG via TMS-evoked potential (TEP). We meta-analyzed studies that assessed rMT and aMT using random effects model. RESULTS We identified 895 publications out of which 37 were included in the qualitative review and 30 studies using rMT or aMT were included in the meta-analyses. The AD group had reduced rMT (Hedges' g = -0.99, 95%CI [-1.29, -0.68], p < 0.00001) and aMT (Hedges' g = -0.87, 95%CI [-1.50, -0.24], p < 0.00001) as compared with control groups, indicative of higher cortical excitability. Qualitative review found some evidence of increased MEP amplitude, whereas findings related to TEP were inconsistent. There was some evidence supporting an inverse association between cortical excitability and global cognition. No publications reported on the relationship between cortical excitability and NPS. CONCLUSION There is strong evidence of increased motor cortex excitability in AD and some evidence of an inverse association between excitability and cognition. Future studies should assess cortical excitability from non-motor areas using TMS-EEG and examine its relationship with cognition and NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaylyn Joseph
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rachel Patterson
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Wei Wang
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Daniel M Blumberger
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tarek Rajji
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.,University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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15
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Antczak J, Rusin G, Słowik A. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool in Various Types of Dementia. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10132875. [PMID: 34203558 PMCID: PMC8267667 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10132875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Dementia is recognized as a healthcare and social burden and remains challenging in terms of proper diagnosis and treatment. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in various neurological diseases that noninvasively investigates cortical excitability and connectivity and can induce brain plasticity. This article reviews findings on TMS in common dementia types as well as therapeutic results. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by increased cortical excitability and reduced cortical inhibition, especially as mediated by cholinergic neurons and as documented by impairment of short latency inhibition (SAI). In vascular dementia, excitability is also increased. SAI may have various outcomes, which probably reflects its frequent overlap with AD. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is associated with SAI decrease. Motor cortical excitability is usually normal, reflecting the lack of corticospinal tract involvement. DLB and other dementia types are also characterized by impairment of short interval intracortical inhibition. In frontotemporal dementia, cortical excitability is increased, but SAI is normal. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has the potential to improve cognitive function. It has been extensively studied in AD, showing promising results after multisite stimulation. TMS with electroencephalography recording opens new possibilities for improving diagnostic accuracy; however, more studies are needed to support the existing data.
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16
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Benussi A, Dell'Era V, Cantoni V, Cotelli MS, Cosseddu M, Spallazzi M, Alberici A, Padovani A, Borroni B. Neurophysiological Correlates of Positive and Negative Symptoms in Frontotemporal Dementia. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 73:1133-1142. [PMID: 31884481 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neural correlates of behavioral symptoms in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are still to be elucidated. Neurotransmitter abnormalities could be correlated to the pathophysiology of negative and positive symptoms in FTD. OBJECTIVE To evaluate if the imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory cortical circuits, evaluated with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), correlate with the magnitude of negative and positive symptoms, as measured by Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI) scores, in patients with FTD. METHODS Paired-pulse TMS was used to investigate the activity of different intracortical circuits in 186 FTD patients (130 bvFTD, 35 avPPA, 21 svPPA). We applied short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI - GABAAergic transmission), intracortical facilitation (ICF - glutamatergic transmission), long interval intracortical inhibition (LICI - GABABergic transmission), and short latency afferent inhibition (SAI - cholinergic transmission). Linear and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to determine the contribution of each neurophysiological measures to the total variance of FBI scores. RESULTS At the stepwise multivariate analysis, we observed a significant negative correlation between FBI-A scores (negative symptoms) and ICF (β = -0.57, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.32). For FBI-B scores (positive symptoms), we observed a significant positive correlation for SICI (β = 0.84, p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.56). Significant correlations were observed for single items of the FBI-A score with ICF and FBI-B scores with SICI, with a medium-large size effect for several items. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that the imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory intracortical circuits, evaluated with TMS, correlated with the magnitude of negative and positive symptoms in FTD, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | | | - Maura Cosseddu
- Neurology Unit, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Spallazzi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Neurology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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17
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Giunta M, Solje E, Gardoni F, Borroni B, Benussi A. Experimental Disease-Modifying Agents for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:359-376. [PMID: 33790662 PMCID: PMC8005747 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s262352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia is a clinically, genetically and pathologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, enclosing a wide range of different pathological entities, associated with the accumulation of proteins such as tau and TPD-43. Characterized by a high hereditability, mutations in three main genes, MAPT, GRN and C9orf72, can drive the neurodegenerative process. The connection between different genes and proteinopathies through specific mechanisms has shed light on the pathophysiology of the disease, leading to the identification of potential pharmacological targets. New experimental strategies are emerging, in both preclinical and clinical settings, which focus on small molecules rather than gene therapy. In this review, we provide an insight into the aberrant mechanisms leading to FTLD-related proteinopathies and discuss recent therapies with the potential to ameliorate neurodegeneration and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Giunta
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Fabrizio Gardoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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18
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Benussi A, Grassi M, Palluzzi F, Cantoni V, Cotelli MS, Premi E, Di Lorenzo F, Pellicciari MC, Ranieri F, Musumeci G, Marra C, Manganotti P, Nardone R, Di Lazzaro V, Koch G, Borroni B. Classification accuracy of TMS for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. Brain Stimul 2021; 14:241-249. [PMID: 33453454 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance of a Random Forest (RF) classifier on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) measures in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). METHODS We applied a RF classifier on TMS measures obtained from a multicenter cohort of patients with MCI, including MCI-Alzheimer's Disease (MCI-AD), MCI-frontotemporal dementia (MCI-FTD), MCI-dementia with Lewy bodies (MCI-DLB), and healthy controls (HC). All patients underwent TMS assessment at recruitment (index test), with application of reference clinical criteria, to predict different neurodegenerative disorders. The primary outcome measures were the classification accuracy, precision, recall and F1-score of TMS in differentiating each disorder. RESULTS 160 participants were included, namely 64 patients diagnosed as MCI-AD, 28 as MCI-FTD, 14 as MCI-DLB, and 47 as healthy controls (HC). A series of 3 binary classifiers was employed, and the prediction model exhibited high classification accuracy (ranging from 0.72 to 0.86), high precision (0.72-0.90), high recall (0.75-0.98), and high F1-scores (0.78-0.92), in differentiating each neurodegenerative disorder. By computing a new classifier, trained and validated on the current cohort of MCI patients, classification indices showed even higher accuracy (ranging from 0.83 to 0.93), precision (0.87-0.89), recall (0.83-1.00), and F1-scores (0.85-0.94). CONCLUSIONS TMS may be considered a useful additional screening tool to be used in clinical practice in the prodromal stages of neurodegenerative dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinial and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Mario Grassi
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Medical and Genomic Statistics Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fernando Palluzzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Medical and Genomic Statistics Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinial and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Premi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinial and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | - Federico Ranieri
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gabriella Musumeci
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - Camillo Marra
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Raffaele Nardone
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano-Meran, Italy; Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Stroke Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinial and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy.
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19
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Mimura Y, Nishida H, Nakajima S, Tsugawa S, Morita S, Yoshida K, Tarumi R, Ogyu K, Wada M, Kurose S, Miyazaki T, Blumberger DM, Daskalakis ZJ, Chen R, Mimura M, Noda Y. Neurophysiological biomarkers using transcranial magnetic stimulation in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 121:47-59. [PMID: 33307047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive neurophysiological tool that enables the investigation of cortical excitability in the human brain. Paired-pulse TMS paradigms include short- and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI/LICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), and short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), which can assess neurophysiological functions of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic neural circuits, respectively. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis to compare these TMS indices among patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls (HC). Our meta-analyses indicated that RMT, SAI, SICI, and LICI were significantly lower in patients with AD, while ICF did not show a difference in patients with AD compared with HC. In patients with MCI, RMT and SAI were significantly lower than in HC. In conclusion, motor cortical excitability was increased, while cholinergic function was decreased in AD and MCI in comparison with HC and patients with AD had decreased GABAergic and glutamatergic functions compared with HC. Our results warrant further studies to differentiate AD, MCI, and HC, employing multimodal TMS neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hana Nishida
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Nakajima
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Multimodal Imaging Group, Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Sakiko Tsugawa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Morita
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Pharmacogenetics Research Clinic, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ryosuke Tarumi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kamiyu Ogyu
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masataka Wada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Kurose
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Miyazaki
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daniel M Blumberger
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zafiris J Daskalakis
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Chen
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour - Systems Neuroscience, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Masaru Mimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Noda
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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20
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Rawji V, Latorre A, Sharma N, Rothwell JC, Rocchi L. On the Use of TMS to Investigate the Pathophysiology of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurol 2020; 11:584664. [PMID: 33224098 PMCID: PMC7669623 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.584664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a collection of disorders that result in the progressive degeneration and death of neurons. They are clinically heterogenous and can present as deficits in movement, cognition, executive function, memory, visuospatial awareness and language. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation tool that allows for the assessment of cortical function in vivo. We review how TMS has been used for the investigation of three neurodegenerative diseases that differ in their neuroanatomical axes: (1) Motor cortex-corticospinal tract (motor neuron diseases), (2) Non-motor cortical areas (dementias), and (3) Subcortical structures (parkinsonisms). We also make four recommendations that we hope will benefit the use of TMS in neurodegenerative diseases. Firstly, TMS has traditionally been limited by the lack of an objective output and so has been confined to stimulation of the motor cortex; this limitation can be overcome by the use of concurrent neuroimaging methods such as EEG. Given that neurodegenerative diseases progress over time, TMS measures should aim to track longitudinal changes, especially when the aim of the study is to look at disease progression and symptomatology. The lack of gold-standard diagnostic confirmation undermines the validity of findings in clinical populations. Consequently, diagnostic certainty should be maximized through a variety of methods including multiple, independent clinical assessments, imaging and fluids biomarkers, and post-mortem pathological confirmation where possible. There is great interest in understanding the mechanisms by which symptoms arise in neurodegenerative disorders. However, TMS assessments in patients are usually carried out during resting conditions, when the brain network engaged during these symptoms is not expressed. Rather, a context-appropriate form of TMS would be more suitable in probing the physiology driving clinical symptoms. In all, we hope that the recommendations made here will help to further understand the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lorenzo Rocchi
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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21
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Madrid J, Benninger DH. Non-invasive brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease: Clinical evidence, latest concepts and future goals: A systematic review. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 347:108957. [PMID: 33017643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is becoming a major public-health issue in an aging population. Available approaches to treat advanced PD still have limitations; new therapies are needed. The non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) may offer a complementary approach to treat advanced PD by personalized stimulation. Although NIBS is not as effective as the gold-standard levodopa, recent randomized controlled trials show promising outcomes in the treatment of PD symptoms. Nevertheless, only a few NIBS-stimulation paradigms have shown to improve PD's symptoms. Current clinical recommendations based on the level of evidence are reported in Table 1 through Table 3. Furthermore, novel technological advances hold promise and may soon enable the non-invasive stimulation of deeper brain structures for longer periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Madrid
- Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - David H Benninger
- Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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22
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Benussi A, Ashton NJ, Karikari TK, Gazzina S, Premi E, Benussi L, Ghidoni R, Rodriguez JL, Emeršič A, Binetti G, Fostinelli S, Giunta M, Gasparotti R, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Borroni B. Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) Is a Marker of Disease Severity in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 77:1129-1141. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-200608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: It is still unknown if serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a useful marker in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Objective: To assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum GFAP in a large cohort of patients with FTLD. Methods: In this retrospective study, performed on 406 participants, we measured serum GFAP concentration with an ultrasensitive Single molecule array (Simoa) method in patients with FTLD, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and in cognitively unimpaired elderly controls. We assessed the role of GFAP as marker of disease severity by analyzing the correlation with clinical variables, neurophysiological data, and cross-sectional brain imaging. Moreover, we evaluated the role of serum GFAP as a prognostic marker of disease survival. Results: We observed significantly higher levels of serum GFAP in patients with FTLD syndromes, except progressive supranuclear palsy, compared with healthy controls, but not compared with AD patients. In FTLD, serum GFAP levels correlated with measures of cognitive dysfunction and disease severity, and were associated with indirect measures of GABAergic deficit. Serum GFAP concentration was not a significant predictor of survival. Conclusion: Serum GFAP is increased in FTLD, correlates with cognition and GABAergic deficits, and thus shows promise as a biomarker of disease severity in FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicholas J. Ashton
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health & Biomedical Research Unit for Dementia at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation, London, UK
| | - Thomas K. Karikari
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | | | - Enrico Premi
- Stroke Unit, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Benussi
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta Ghidoni
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Juan Lantero Rodriguez
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Andreja Emeršič
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Giuliano Binetti
- MAC Memory Clinic and Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Fostinelli
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marcello Giunta
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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23
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Babiloni C, Pascarelli MT, Lizio R, Noce G, Lopez S, Rizzo M, Ferri R, Soricelli A, Nobili F, Arnaldi D, Famà F, Orzi F, Buttinelli C, Giubilei F, Salvetti M, Cipollini V, Bonanni L, Franciotti R, Onofrj M, Stirpe P, Fuhr P, Gschwandtner U, Ransmayr G, Aarsland D, Parnetti L, Farotti L, Marizzoni M, D'Antonio F, De Lena C, Güntekin B, Hanoğlu L, Yener G, Emek-Savaş DD, Triggiani AI, Taylor JP, McKeith I, Stocchi F, Vacca L, Hampel H, Frisoni GB, De Pandis MF, Del Percio C. Abnormal cortical neural synchronization mechanisms in quiet wakefulness are related to motor deficits, cognitive symptoms, and visual hallucinations in Parkinson's disease patients: an electroencephalographic study. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 91:88-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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24
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Turner RS, Stubbs T, Davies DA, Albensi BC. Potential New Approaches for Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Front Neurol 2020; 11:496. [PMID: 32582013 PMCID: PMC7290039 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dementia is an umbrella term-caused by a large number of specific diagnoses, including several neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is now the most common cause of dementia in advanced countries, while dementia due to neurosyphilis was the leading cause a century ago. Many challenges remain for diagnosing dementia definitively. Some of these include variability of early symptoms and overlap with similar disorders, as well as the possibility of combined, or mixed, etiologies in some cases. Newer technologies, including the incorporation of PET neuroimaging and other biomarkers (genomics and proteomics), are being incorporated into revised diagnostic criteria. However, the application of novel diagnostic methods at clinical sites is plagued by many caveats including availability and access. This review surveys new diagnostic methods as well as remaining challenges-for clinical care and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Scott Turner
- Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Terry Stubbs
- ActivMed, Practices & Research, Methuen, MA, United States
| | - Don A Davies
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Benedict C Albensi
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Research, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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25
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Benussi A, Dell'Era V, Cosseddu M, Cantoni V, Cotelli MS, Cotelli M, Manenti R, Benussi L, Brattini C, Alberici A, Borroni B. Transcranial stimulation in frontotemporal dementia: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2020; 6:e12033. [PMID: 32490143 PMCID: PMC7253155 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a progressive disease for which no curative treatment is currently available. We aimed to determine whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate intracortical connectivity and improve cognition in symptomatic FTD patients and presymptomatic FTD subjects. METHODS We performed a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial with anodal tDCS or sham stimulation over the left prefrontal cortex in 70 participants (15 presymptomatic and 55 symptomatic FTD). RESULTS We observed a significant increase of intracortical connectivity (short interval intracortical inhibition and facilitation) and improvement in clinical scores and behavioral disturbances in both symptomatic FTD patients and presymptomatic carriers after real tDCS but not after sham stimulation. DISCUSSION A 2-weeks' treatment with anodal left prefrontal tDCS improves symptoms and restores intracortical inhibitory and excitatory circuits in both symptomatic FTD patients and presymptomatic carriers. tDCS might represent a promising future therapeutic and rehabilitative approach in patients with FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology UnitDepartment of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Neurology UnitDepartment of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
| | | | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology UnitDepartment of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
| | | | - Maria Cotelli
- Neuropsychology UnitIRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio FatebenefratelliBresciaItaly
| | - Rosa Manenti
- Neuropsychology UnitIRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio FatebenefratelliBresciaItaly
| | - Luisa Benussi
- Molecular Markers LaboratoryIRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio FatebenefratelliBresciaItaly
| | - Chiara Brattini
- Neurology UnitDepartment of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
| | | | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology UnitDepartment of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
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26
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Benussi A, Premi E, Cantoni V, Compostella S, Magni E, Gilberti N, Vergani V, Delrio I, Gamba M, Spezi R, Costa A, Tinazzi M, Padovani A, Borroni B, Magoni M. Cortical Inhibitory Imbalance in Functional Paralysis. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:153. [PMID: 32457588 PMCID: PMC7220997 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional neurological disorders are characterized by neurological symptoms that have no identifiable pathology and little is known about their underlying pathophysiology. OBJECTIVES To analyze motor cortex excitability and intracortical inhibitory and excitatory circuits' imbalance in patients with flaccid functional weakness. METHODS Twenty-one consecutive patients with acute onset of flaccid functional weakness were recruited. Single and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols were used to analyze resting motor thresholds (RMT) and intracortical inhibitory (short interval intracortical inhibition - SICI) and excitatory (intracortical facilitation - ICF) circuits' imbalance between the affected and non-affected motor cortices. RESULTS We observed a significant increase in RMT and SICI in the affected motor cortex (p < 0.001), but not for ICF, compared to the contralateral unaffected side. CONCLUSION This study extends current knowledge of functional weakness, arguing for a specific central nervous system abnormality which may be involved in the symptoms' pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Premi
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Compostella
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenio Magni
- U.O. Neurologia, Fondazione Poliambulanza Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicola Gilberti
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Veronica Vergani
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ilenia Delrio
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gamba
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Raffaella Spezi
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Angelo Costa
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michele Tinazzi
- Neurology Unit, Movement Disorders Division, Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mauro Magoni
- Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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27
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Jannati A, Block G, Ryan MA, Kaye HL, Kayarian FB, Bashir S, Oberman LM, Pascual-Leone A, Rotenberg A. Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation in Children With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder and Typically Developing Children. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:13. [PMID: 32231523 PMCID: PMC7083078 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: A neurophysiologic biomarker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is highly desirable and can improve diagnosis, monitoring, and assessment of therapeutic response among children with ASD. We investigated the utility of continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) applied to the motor cortex (M1) as a biomarker for children and adolescents with high-functioning (HF) ASD compared to their age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) controls. We also compared the developmental trajectory of long-term depression- (LTD-) like plasticity in the two groups. Finally, we explored the influence of a common brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism on cTBS aftereffects in a subset of the ASD group. Methods: Twenty-nine children and adolescents (age range 10-16) in ASD (n = 11) and TD (n = 18) groups underwent M1 cTBS. Changes in MEP amplitude at 5-60 min post-cTBS and their cumulative measures in each group were calculated. We also assessed the relationship between age and maximum cTBS-induced MEP suppression (ΔMEPMax) in each group. Finally, we compared cTBS aftereffects in BDNF Val/Val (n = 4) and Val/Met (n = 4) ASD participants. Results: Cumulative cTBS aftereffects were significantly more facilitatory in the ASD group than in the TD group (P FDR's < 0.03). ΔMEPMax was negatively correlated with age in the ASD group (r = -0.67, P = 0.025), but not in the TD group (r = -0.12, P = 0.65). Cumulative cTBS aftereffects were not significantly different between the two BDNF subgroups (P-values > 0.18). Conclusions: The results support the utility of cTBS measures of cortical plasticity as a biomarker for children and adolescents with HF-ASD and an aberrant developmental trajectory of LTD-like plasticity in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Jannati
- Neuromodulation Program and Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gabrielle Block
- Neuromodulation Program and Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mary A Ryan
- Neuromodulation Program and Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Harper L Kaye
- Neuromodulation Program and Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Fae B Kayarian
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shahid Bashir
- Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lindsay M Oberman
- Neuroplasticity and Autism Spectrum Disorder Program, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, E. P. Bradley Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, East Providence, RI, United States
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Institut Guttman de Neurorehabilitació, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Alexander Rotenberg
- Neuromodulation Program and Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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28
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Martin-Rodriguez JF, Mir P. Short-afferent inhibition and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: A quantitative review and challenges. Neurosci Lett 2020; 719:133679. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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29
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Benussi A, Grassi M, Palluzzi F, Koch G, Di Lazzaro V, Nardone R, Cantoni V, Dell'Era V, Premi E, Martorana A, Lorenzo F, Bonnì S, Ranieri F, Capone F, Musumeci G, Cotelli MS, Padovani A, Borroni B. Classification Accuracy of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Dementias. Ann Neurol 2020; 87:394-404. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.25677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology UnitUniversity of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Mario Grassi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Medical and Genomic Statistics UnitUniversity of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Fernando Palluzzi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Medical and Genomic Statistics UnitUniversity of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care Santa Lucia Foundation Rome Italy
- Stroke Unit, Tor Vergata Polyclinic Rome Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, and Neurobiology, Department of MedicineCampus Bio‐Medico University Rome Italy
| | - Raffaele Nardone
- Department of NeurologyFranz Tappeiner Hospital Merano Italy
- Department of NeurologyChristian Doppler Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg Austria
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology UnitUniversity of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology UnitUniversity of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Enrico Premi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology UnitUniversity of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Alessandro Martorana
- Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care Santa Lucia Foundation Rome Italy
- Neurology Unit, Department of System MedicineUniversity of Tor Vergata Rome Italy
| | - Francesco Lorenzo
- Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care Santa Lucia Foundation Rome Italy
| | - Sonia Bonnì
- Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Unit, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and Health Care Santa Lucia Foundation Rome Italy
| | - Federico Ranieri
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement SciencesUniversity of Verona Verona Italy
| | - Fioravante Capone
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, and Neurobiology, Department of MedicineCampus Bio‐Medico University Rome Italy
| | - Gabriella Musumeci
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, and Neurobiology, Department of MedicineCampus Bio‐Medico University Rome Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology UnitUniversity of Brescia Brescia Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology UnitUniversity of Brescia Brescia Italy
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Abstract
Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is a heterogeneous spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by diverse clinical presentations, neuropathological characteristics, and underlying genetic causes. In the last few years, several advances in the knowledge of clinical and biological aspects have been accomplished and three major scenarios have emerged that will represent the core issues in the FTD scene over the next few years. Foremost, the development of cerebrospinal fluid and blood biomarkers as well as neuroimaging techniques will aid the pursuit of new diagnostic and prognostic markers able to identify the ongoing proteinopathy and predict disease progression, which is key in identifying and stratifying patients for enrolment in clinical trials as well as evaluating response to treatment. On the other hand, current research has focused on the first attempts to slow down or revert disease progression, with the identification of disease modulators associated with disease onset and the ongoing development of the first pharmacological treatments for both sporadic and genetic FTD. Future research will certainly improve our knowledge of FTD and possibly open up a new era of disease-modifying therapies for this still-orphan disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25100, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25100, Italy
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Padovani A, Benussi A, Cotelli MS, Ferrari C, Cantoni V, Dell'Era V, Turrone R, Paghera B, Borroni B. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and amyloid markers in mild cognitive impairment: impact on diagnostic confidence and diagnostic accuracy. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2019; 11:95. [PMID: 31787103 PMCID: PMC6886207 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-019-0555-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of diagnostic tools capable of accurately identifying the pathophysiology of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has become a crucial target considering the claim that disease-modifying treatments should be administered as early as possible in the disease course. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols have demonstrated analytical validity in discriminating different forms of dementia; however, its value in daily clinical practice in MCI subjects is still unknown. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical value of TMS compared to amyloid markers on diagnostic confidence and accuracy in MCI subjects, considering clinicians' expertise. METHODS One hundred seven MCI subjects were included and classified as MCI-Alzheimer disease (MCI-AD), MCI-frontotemporal dementia (MCI-FTD), MCI-dementia with Lewy bodies (MCI-DLB), or MCI-other in a three-step process based on (i) demographic, clinical, and neuropsychological evaluation (clinical work-up); (ii) clinical work-up PLUS amyloidosis markers or clinical work-up PLUS TMS measures; and (iii) clinical work-up PLUS both markers. Two blinded neurologists with different clinical expertise were asked to express a diagnostic confidence for each MCI subgroup, and ROC curve analyses were performed at each step. RESULTS The addition of TMS markers to clinical work-up significantly increased the diagnostic confidence for MCI-AD (p = 0.003), MCI-FTD (p = 0.044), and MCI-DLB (p = 0.033) compared to clinical work-up alone, but not for MCI-other (p > 0.05). No significant differences between the add-on effect of TMS and the add-on effect of amyloid markers to clinical work-up were observed (p > 0.732), while the diagnostic confidence further increased when both markers were available. The greater the clinical expertise, the greater the flexibility in considering alternative diagnosis, and the greater the ability to modify diagnostic confidence with TMS and amyloid markers. CONCLUSIONS TMS in addition to routine clinical assessment in MCI subjects has a significant effect on diagnostic accuracy and confidence, comparable to well-established biomarkers of amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Padovani
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Clinica Neurologica, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Clinica Neurologica, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Clarissa Ferrari
- Service of Statistics, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Clinica Neurologica, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Clinica Neurologica, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rosanna Turrone
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Clinica Neurologica, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Paghera
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Clinica Neurologica, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25100, Brescia, Italy.
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Benussi A, Cotelli MS, Cantoni V, Bertasi V, Turla M, Dardis A, Biasizzo J, Manenti R, Cotelli M, Padovani A, Borroni B. Clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of heterozygous NPC1 carriers. JIMD Rep 2019; 49:80-88. [PMID: 31497485 PMCID: PMC6718120 DOI: 10.1002/jmd2.12059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is an uncommon lysosomal storage disorder, which is characterized neuropathologically by cholinergic dysfunction and presents clinically with a broad series of neurological signs and symptoms. NPC is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, caused by mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 genes. However, recent reports have raised concerns on heterozygous NPC1 gene mutation carriers, which historically have been considered as clinically unaffected, occasionally presenting with clinical parkinsonian syndromes or dementia. In the present study, we aimed at comprehensively assessing clinical, biochemical, and neurophysiological features in heterozygous NPC1 gene mutation carriers. We assessed cholinergic intracortical circuits with transcranial magnetic stimulation, executive functions and plasma oxysterol levels in two families comprising two monozygotic twins with a homozygous NPC1 p.P888S mutation, four patients with a compound heterozygous p.E451K and p.G992W mutation, 10 heterozygous NPC1 p.P888S carriers, 1 heterozygous NPC1 p.E451K carrier, and 11 noncarrier family members. We observed a significant impairment in cholinergic circuits, evaluated with short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), and executive abilities in homozygous/compound heterozygous patients and heterozygous asymptomatic NPC1 carriers, compared to noncarriers. Moreover, we reported a significant correlation between executive functions performances and both plasma oxysterol levels and neurophysiological parameters. These data suggest that heterozygous NPC1 carriers show subclinical deficits in cognition, possibly mediated by an impairment of cholinergic circuits, which in turn may mediate the onset of neurological disorders in a subset of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
| | | | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child HealthUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | | | | | - Andrea Dardis
- University Hospital “Santa Maria della Misericordia”UdineItaly
| | | | - Rosa Manenti
- IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di DioBresciaItaly
| | - Maria Cotelli
- IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di DioBresciaItaly
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
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Padovani A, Benussi A, Cantoni V, Dell'Era V, Cotelli MS, Caratozzolo S, Turrone R, Rozzini L, Alberici A, Altomare D, Depari A, Flammini A, Frisoni GB, Borroni B. Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer's Disease with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 65:221-230. [PMID: 30010131 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the increasing evidence that disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) must be administered early in the disease course, the development of diagnostic tools capable of accurately identifying AD at early disease stages has become a crucial target. In this view, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has become an effective tool to discriminate between different forms of neurodegenerative dementia. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a TMS multi-paradigm approach can be used to correctly identify mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (AD MCI). METHODS A sample of 69 subjects with MCI were included and classified as AD MCI or MCI unlikely due to AD (non-AD MCI) based on 1) extensive neurological and neuropsychological evaluation, 2) MRI imaging, and 3) cerebrospinal fluid analysis or/and amyloid PET imaging. A paired-pulse TMS multi-paradigm approach assessing short interval intracortical inhibition-facilitation (SICI-ICF), dependent on GABAergic and glutamatergic intracortical circuits, respectively, and short latency afferent inhibition (SAI), dependent on cholinergic circuits, was performed. RESULTS We observed a significant impairment of SAI and unimpaired SICI and ICF in AD MCI as compared to non-AD MCI. According to ROC curve analysis, the SICI-ICF / SAI index differentiated AD MCI from non-AD MCI with a specificity of 87.9% and a sensitivity of 94.4%. CONCLUSIONS The assessment of intracortical connectivity with TMS could aid in the characterization of MCI subtypes, correctly identifying AD pathophysiology. TMS can be proposed as an adjunctive, non-invasive, inexpensive, and time-saving screening tool in MCI differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Salvatore Caratozzolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rosanna Turrone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca Rozzini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniele Altomare
- Laboratory of Alzheimer's Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Depari
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Flammini
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanni B Frisoni
- Laboratory of Alzheimer's Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.,LANVIE-Laboratory of Neuroimaging of Aging, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Memory Clinic, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Early Electrophysiological Disintegration of Hippocampal Neural Networks in a Novel Locus Coeruleus Tau-Seeding Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:6981268. [PMID: 31285742 PMCID: PMC6594257 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6981268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of synapses and disrupted functional connectivity (FC) across different brain regions. Early in AD progression, tau pathology is found in the locus coeruleus (LC) prior to amyloid-induced exacerbation of clinical symptoms. Here, a tau-seeding model in which preformed synthetic tau fibrils (K18) were unilaterally injected into the LC of P301L mice, equipped with multichannel electrodes for recording EEG in frontal cortical and CA1-CA3 hippocampal areas, was used to longitudinally quantify over 20 weeks of functional network dynamics in (1) power spectra; (2) FC using intra- and intersite phase-amplitude theta-gamma coupling (PAC); (3) coherence, partial coherence, and global coherent network efficiency (Eglob) estimates; and (4) the directionality of functional connectivity using extended partial direct coherence (PDC). A sustained leftward shift in the theta peak frequency was found early in the power spectra of hippocampal CA1 networks ipsilateral to the injection site. Strikingly, hippocampal CA1 coherence and Eglob measures were impaired in K18-treated animals. Estimation of instantaneous EEG amplitudes revealed deficiency in the propagation directionality of gamma oscillations in the CA1 circuit. Impaired PAC strength evidenced by decreased modulation of the theta frequency phase on gamma frequency amplitude further confirms impairments of the neural CA1 network. The present results demonstrate early dysfunctional hippocampal networks, despite no spreading tau pathology to the hippocampus and frontal cortex. The ability of the K18 seed in the brainstem LC to elicit such robust functional alterations in distant hippocampal structures in the absence of pathology challenges the classic view that tau pathology spread to an area is necessary to elicit functional impairments in that area.
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35
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Benussi A, Dell'Era V, Cantoni V, Turrone R, Pilotto A, Alberici A, Cotelli MS, Rizzetti C, Padovani A, Borroni B. Stimulation over the cerebellum with a regular figure-of-eight coil induces reduced motor cortex inhibition in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Brain Stimul 2019; 12:1290-1297. [PMID: 31155302 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether motor cortex inhibition by stimulation over the cerebellum with a figure-of eight coil (MISC8) may be reduced in patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). METHODS Paired pulse TMS was used to evaluate MISC8, in patients with different forms of parkinsonism and dementia. The primary outcome measures were sensitivity and specificity of motor cortex inhibition, derived from receiver operator curve analysis, in discriminating PSP from other neurodegenerative disorders. RESULTS A total of 150 participants met inclusion criteria. According to clinical criteria, the study population included 19 PSP, 26 Parkinson's disease, 25 dementia with Lewy bodies, 15 corticobasal syndrome, 25 frontotemporal dementia and 15 Alzheimer's disease patients, and 25 healthy controls. PSP patients were characterized by a specific impairment of MISC8 (0.99 ± 0.08) compared to the healthy control group and to other neurodegenerative disorders (mean range = 0.63-0.80, all p-values<0.001). Using the best cut-off index, MISC8 differentiated PSP from other diagnoses with an overall sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 94%, and an accuracy of 97%. CONCLUSIONS TMS is a non-invasive procedure which reliably distinguishes PSP from other neurodegenerative disorders. MISC8 could represent a useful additional diagnostic tool to be used in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Pilotto
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation Centre FERB ONLUS S. Isidoro Hospital, Trescore Balneario, Italy
| | | | | | - Cristina Rizzetti
- Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation Centre FERB ONLUS S. Isidoro Hospital, Trescore Balneario, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Benussi A, Alberici A, Buratti E, Ghidoni R, Gardoni F, Di Luca M, Padovani A, Borroni B. Toward a Glutamate Hypothesis of Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:304. [PMID: 30983965 PMCID: PMC6449454 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a heterogenous neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by diverse clinical presentations, neuropathological characteristics and underlying genetic causes. Emerging evidence has shown that FTD is characterized by a series of changes in several neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, dopamine, GABA and, above all, glutamate. Indeed, several studies have now provided preclinical and clinical evidence that glutamate is key in the pathogenesis of FTD. Animal models of FTD have shown a selective hypofunction in N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, while in patients, glutamatergic pyramidal neurons are depleted in several areas, including the frontal and temporal cortices. Recently, a selective involvement of the AMPA GluA3 subunit has been observed in patients with autoimmune anti-GluA3 antibodies, which accounted for nearly 25% of FTD patients, leading to a decrease of the GluA3 subunit synaptic localization of the AMPA receptor and loss of dendritic spines. Other in vivo evidence of the involvement of the glutamatergic system in FTD derives from non-invasive brain stimulation studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation, in which specific stimulation protocols have indirectly identified a selective and prominent impairment in glutamatergic circuits in patients with both sporadic and genetic FTD. In view of limited disease modifying therapies to slow or revert disease progression in FTD, an important approach could consist in targeting the neurotransmitter deficits, similarly to what has been achieved in Parkinson’s disease with dopaminergic therapy or Alzheimer’s disease with cholinergic therapy. In this review, we summarize the current evidence concerning the involvement of the glutamatergic system in FTD, suggesting the development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberta Ghidoni
- IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Gardoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Di Luca
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Benussi A, Gazzina S, Premi E, Cosseddu M, Archetti S, Dell'Era V, Cantoni V, Cotelli MS, Alberici A, Micheli A, Benussi L, Ghidoni R, Padovani A, Borroni B. Clinical and biomarker changes in presymptomatic genetic frontotemporal dementia. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 76:133-140. [PMID: 30711676 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Presymptomatic carriers of GRN and C9orf72 mutations, the most frequent genetic causes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, represent the optimal target population for the development of disease-modifying drugs. Preclinical biomarkers are needed to monitor the effect of therapeutic interventions in this population. We assessed clinical, functional, and neurophysiological measures in 113 GRN or C9orf72 carriers and in 73 noncarrier first-degree relatives. For 73 patients, follow-up longitudinal data were available. Differences between carriers and noncarriers were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. We observed that biological changes and intracortical facilitation transmission abnormalities significantly antecede the emergence of clinical symptoms of at least 3 decades. These are followed by intracortical inhibition transmission deficits, detected approximately 2 decades before expected symptom onset and then followed by an increase of white matter lesions, structural brain atrophy, and cognitive impairment. These results highlight how several biomarkers can show different aspects and rates of decline, possibly correlated with the underlying physiopathological process, that arise decades before the onset of clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Gazzina
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Enrico Premi
- Department of Neurological Sciences and Vision, Neurology Unit, Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maura Cosseddu
- Department of Neurological Sciences and Vision, Neurology Unit, Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvana Archetti
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, III Laboratory of Analysis, Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Alberici
- Department of Neurological Sciences and Vision, Neurology Unit, Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Luisa Benussi
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta Ghidoni
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Benussi A, Alberici A, Ferrari C, Cantoni V, Dell'Era V, Turrone R, Cotelli MS, Binetti G, Paghera B, Koch G, Padovani A, Borroni B. The impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation on diagnostic confidence in patients with Alzheimer disease. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2018; 10:94. [PMID: 30227895 PMCID: PMC6145195 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0423-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Cholinergic dysfunction is a key abnormality in Alzheimer disease (AD) that can be detected in vivo with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols. Although TMS has clearly demonstrated analytical validity, its clinical utility is still debated. In the present study, we evaluated the incremental diagnostic value, expressed in terms of diagnostic confidence of Alzheimer disease (DCAD; range 0–100), of TMS measures in addition to the routine clinical diagnostic assessment in patients evaluated for cognitive impairment as compared with validated biomarkers of amyloidosis. Methods One hundred twenty patients with dementia were included and scored in terms of DCAD in a three-step assessment based on (1) demographic, clinical, and neuropsychological evaluations (clinical work-up); (2) clinical work-up plus amyloid markers (cerebrospinal fluid or amyloid positron emission tomographic imaging); and (3) clinical work-up plus TMS intracortical connectivity measures. Two blinded neurologists were asked to review the diagnosis and diagnostic confidence at each step. Results TMS measures increased the discrimination of DCAD in two clusters (AD-like vs FTD-like) when added to the clinical and neuropsychological evaluations with levels comparable to established biomarkers of brain amyloidosis (cluster distance of 55.1 for clinical work-up alone, 76.0 for clinical work-up plus amyloid markers, 80.0 for clinical work-up plus TMS). Classification accuracy for the “gold standard” diagnosis (dichotomous - AD vs FTD - variable) evaluated in the three-step assessment, expressed as AUC, increased from 0.82 (clinical work-up alone) to 0.98 (clinical work-up plus TMS) and to 0.99 (clinical work-up plus amyloidosis markers). Conclusions TMS in addition to routine assessment in patients with dementia has a significant effect on diagnosis and diagnostic confidence that is comparable to well-established amyloidosis biomarkers. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13195-018-0423-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Clarissa Ferrari
- IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Cantoni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Era
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rosanna Turrone
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Giuliano Binetti
- IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Paghera
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Spedali Civili Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Non Invasive Brain Stimulation Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.,Stroke Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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