1
|
Reid MA, Whiteman SE, Camden AA, Jeffirs SM, Weathers FW. Prefrontal metabolite alterations in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder: a 7T magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.16.603137. [PMID: 39071259 PMCID: PMC11275712 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.16.603137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Background Evidence from animal and human studies suggests glutamatergic dysfunction in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to investigate glutamate abnormalities in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) of individuals with PTSD using 7T MRS, which has better spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio than lower field strengths, thus allowing for better spectral quality and higher sensitivity. We hypothesized that individuals with PTSD would have lower glutamate levels compared to trauma-exposed individuals without PTSD and individuals without trauma exposure. Additionally, we explored potential alterations in other neurometabolites and the relationship between glutamate and psychiatric symptoms. Methods Individuals with PTSD (n=27), trauma-exposed individuals without PTSD (n=27), and individuals without trauma exposure (n=26) underwent 7T MRS to measure glutamate and other neurometabolites in the left DLPFC. The severities of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dissociation symptoms were assessed. Results We found that glutamate was lower in the PTSD and trauma-exposed groups compared to the group without trauma exposure. Furthermore, N-acetylaspartate (NAA) was lower and lactate was higher in the PTSD group compared to the group without trauma exposure. Glutamate was negatively correlated with depression symptom severity in the PTSD group. Glutamate was not correlated with PTSD symptom severity. Conclusion In this first 7T MRS study of PTSD, we observed altered concentrations of glutamate, NAA, and lactate. Our findings provide evidence for multiple possible pathological processes in individuals with PTSD. High-field MRS offers insight into the neurometabolic alterations associated with PTSD and is a powerful tool to probe trauma- and stress-related neurotransmission and metabolism in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A. Reid
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- AU Neuroimaging Center, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Alabama Advanced Imaging Consortium, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Sarah E. Whiteman
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Abigail A. Camden
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | | | - Frank W. Weathers
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- National Center for PTSD, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hui SC, Zöllner HJ, Gong T, Hupfeld KE, Gudmundson AT, Murali-Manohar S, Davies-Jenkins CW, Song Y, Chen Y, Oeltzschner G, Wang G, Edden RAE. sLASER and PRESS perform similarly at revealing metabolite-age correlations at 3 T. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:431-442. [PMID: 37876339 PMCID: PMC10942734 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the respective ability of PRESS and sLASER to reveal biological relationships, using age as a validation covariate at 3 T. METHODS MRS data were acquired from 102 healthy volunteers using PRESS and sLASER in centrum semiovale and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Acquisition parameters included TR/TE = 2000/30 ms, 96 transients, and 2048 datapoints sampled at 2 kHz. Spectra were analyzed using Osprey. SNR, FWHM linewidth of total creatine, and metabolite concentrations were extracted. A linear model was used to compare SNR and linewidth. Paired t-tests were used to assess differences in metabolite measurements between PRESS and sLASER. Correlations were used to evaluate the relationship between PRESS and sLASER metabolite estimates, as well as the strength of each metabolite-age relationship. Coefficients of variation were calculated to assess inter-subject variability in each metabolite measurement. RESULTS SNR and linewidth were significantly higher (p < 0.01) for sLASER than PRESS in PCC. Paired t-tests showed significant differences between PRESS and sLASER in most metabolite measurements. PRESS-sLASER measurements were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) for most metabolites. Metabolite-age relationships were consistently identified using both methods. Similar coefficients of variation were observed for most metabolites. CONCLUSION The study results suggest strong agreement between PRESS and sLASER in identifying relationships between brain metabolites and age in centrum semiovale and PCC data acquired at 3 T. sLASER is technically desirable due to the reduced chemical shift displacement artifact; however, PRESS performed similarly in homogeneous brain regions at clinical field strength.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steve C.N. Hui
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Helge J. Zöllner
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tao Gong
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Kathleen E. Hupfeld
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aaron T. Gudmundson
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Saipavitra Murali-Manohar
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher W. Davies-Jenkins
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yulu Song
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yufan Chen
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Richard A. E. Edden
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Frank SM, Becker M, Malloni WM, Sasaki Y, Greenlee MW, Watanabe T. Protocol to conduct functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy in different age groups of human participants. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102493. [PMID: 37572324 PMCID: PMC10448431 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102493] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a protocol to conduct functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) in human participants before, during, and after training on a visual task. We describe steps for participant setup, volume-of-interest placement, fMRS measurement, and post-scan tests. We discuss the design, analysis, and interpretation of fMRS experiments. This protocol can be adapted to investigate the dynamics of chief excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters (glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA, respectively) while participants perform or learn perceptual, motor, or cognitive tasks. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Frank et al. (2022).1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian M Frank
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Markus Becker
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wilhelm M Malloni
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Yuka Sasaki
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Mark W Greenlee
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Takeo Watanabe
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gogishvili A, Farrher E, Doppler CEJ, Seger A, Sommerauer M, Shah NJ. Quantification of the neurochemical profile of the human putamen using STEAM MRS in a cohort of elderly subjects at 3 T and 7 T: Ruminations on the correction strategy for the tissue voxel composition. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286633. [PMID: 37267283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work is to quantify the metabolic profile of the human putamen in vivo in a cohort of elderly subjects using single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To obtain metabolite concentrations specific to the putamen, we investigated a correction method previously proposed to account for the tissue composition of the volume of interest. We compared the method with the conventional approach, which a priori assumes equal metabolite concentrations in GM and WM. Finally, we compared the concentrations acquired at 3 Tesla (T) and 7 T MRI scanners. Spectra were acquired from 15 subjects (age: 67.7 ± 8.3 years) at 3 T and 7 T, using an ultra-short echo time, stimulated echo acquisition mode sequence. To robustly estimate the WM-to-GM metabolite concentration ratio, five additional subjects were measured for whom the MRS voxel was deliberately shifted from the putamen in order to increase the covered amount of surrounding WM. The concentration and WM-to-GM concentration ratio for 16 metabolites were reliably estimated. These ratios ranged from ~0.3 for γ-aminobutyric acid to ~4 for N-acetylaspartylglutamate. The investigated correction method led to significant changes in concentrations compared to the conventional method, provided that the ratio significantly differed from unity. Finally, we demonstrated that differences in tissue voxel composition cannot fully account for the observed concentration difference between field strengths. We provide not only a fully comprehensive quantification of the neurochemical profile of the putamen in elderly subjects, but also a quantification of the WM-to-GM concentration ratio. This knowledge may serve as a basis for future studies with varying tissue voxel composition, either due to tissue atrophy, inconsistent voxel positioning or simply when pooling data from different voxel locations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gogishvili
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Engineering Physics Department, Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Ezequiel Farrher
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christopher E J Doppler
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 3, INM-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Aline Seger
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 3, INM-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Sommerauer
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 3, INM-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - N Jon Shah
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 11, INM-11, JARA, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- JARA - BRAIN - Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bishop JH, Geoly A, Khan N, Tischler C, Krueger R, Keshava P, Amin H, Baltusis L, Wu H, Spiegel D, Williams N, Sacchet MD. Real-Time Semi-Automated and Automated Voxel Placement using fMRI Targets for Repeated Acquisition Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 392:109853. [PMID: 37031764 PMCID: PMC10249508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is dependent on the investigative team to manually prescribe, or demarcate, the desired tissue volume-of-interest. The need for a new method to automate precise voxel placements is warranted to improve the utility and interpretability of MRS data. NEW METHOD We propose and validate robust and real-time methods to automate MRS voxel placement using functionally defined coordinates within the prefrontal cortex. Data were collected and analyzed using two independent prospective studies: 1) two independent imaging days with each consisting of a multi-session sandwich design (MRS data only collected on one of the days determined based on scan time) and 2) a longitudinal design. Participants with fibromyalgia syndrome (N = 50) and major depressive disorder (N = 35) underwent neuroimaging. MRS acquisitions were acquired at 3-tesla. Evaluation of the reproducibility of spatial location and tissue segmentation was assessed for: 1) manual, 2) semi-automated, and 3) automated voxel prescription approaches RESULTS: Variability of voxel grey and white matter tissue composition was reduced using automated placement protocols. Spatially, post- to pre-voxel center-of-gravity distance was reduced and voxel overlap increased significantly across datasets using automated compared to manual procedures COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Manual prescription, the current standard in the field, can produce inconsistent data across repeated acquisitions. Using automated voxel placement, we found reduced variability and more consistent voxel placement across multiple acquisitions CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the within subject reliability and reproducibility of a method for reducing variability introduced by spatial inconsistencies during MRS acquisitions. The proposed method is a meaningful advance toward improved consistency of MRS data in neuroscience and can be utilized for multi-session and longitudinal studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James H Bishop
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Geoly
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Naushaba Khan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Claudia Tischler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ruben Krueger
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Poorvi Keshava
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heer Amin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Laima Baltusis
- Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hua Wu
- Center for Cognitive and Neurobiological Imaging, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David Spiegel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nolan Williams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matthew D Sacchet
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chen X, Song X, Öngür D, Du F. Association of default-mode network neurotransmitters and inter-network functional connectivity in first episode psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:781-788. [PMID: 36788375 PMCID: PMC10066209 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01546-y] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Multiple psychiatric disorders are characterized by a failure to suppress default-mode network (DMN) activity during tasks and by weaker anti-correlations between DMN and other brain networks at rest. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. At the cellular level, neuronal activity is regulated by multiple neurochemical processes including cycling of glutamate and GABA, the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in brain. By combining functional MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques, it has been shown that the neurotransmitter concentrations in DMN modulate not only functional activity during cognitive tasks, but also the functional connectivity between DMN and other brain networks such as frontoparietal executive control network (CN) at rest in the healthy brain. In the current study, we extend previous research to first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and their relatives. We detected higher glutamate (Glu) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) in FEP compared to healthy controls without a significant difference in GABA. We also observed a significantly lower functional anti-correlated connectivity between critical nodes within the DMN (MPFC) and CN (DLPFC) in FEP. Furthermore, the relationship between MPFC Glu and GABA concentrations and the functional anti-correlation that is seen in healthy people was absent in FEP patients. These findings imply that both the DMN Glu level and the interaction between DMN and CN are affected by the illness, as is the association between neurochemistry and functional connectivity. A better understanding of this observation could provide opportunities for developing novel treatment strategies for psychosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, CA, 02478, USA
- McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, CA, 02478, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xiaopeng Song
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, CA, 02478, USA
- McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, CA, 02478, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Wuhan Zhongke Industrial Research Institute of Medical Science, Wuhan, Hubei, 430075, China
| | - Dost Öngür
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, CA, 02478, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Fei Du
- Psychotic Disorders Division, McLean Hospital, Belmont, CA, 02478, USA
- McLean Imaging Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, CA, 02478, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hupfeld KE, Zöllner HJ, Oeltzschner G, Hyatt HW, Herrmann O, Gallegos J, Hui SCN, Harris AD, Edden RAE, Tsapkini K. Brain total creatine differs between primary progressive aphasia (PPA) subtypes and correlates with disease severity. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 122:65-75. [PMID: 36508896 PMCID: PMC9839619 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is comprised of three subtypes: logopenic (lvPPA), non-fluent (nfvPPA), and semantic (svPPA). We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure tissue-corrected metabolite levels in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and right sensorimotor cortex (SMC) from 61 PPA patients. We aimed to: (1) characterize subtype differences in metabolites; and (2) test for metabolite associations with symptom severity. tCr differed by subtype across the left IFG and right SMC. tCr levels were lowest in lvPPA and highest in svPPA. tCr levels predicted lvPPA versus svPPA diagnosis. Higher IFG tCr and lower Glx correlated with greater disease severity. As tCr is involved in brain energy metabolism, svPPA pathology might involve changes in specific cellular energy processes. Perturbations to cellular energy homeostasis in language areas may contribute to symptoms. Reduced cortical excitatory capacity (i.e. lower Glx) in language regions may also contribute to symptoms. Thus, tCr may be useful for differentiating between PPA subtypes, and both tCr and Glx might have utility in understanding PPA mechanisms and tracking progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Hupfeld
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Helge J Zöllner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hayden W Hyatt
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Olivia Herrmann
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessica Gallegos
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Steve C N Hui
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kyrana Tsapkini
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hui SC, Gong T, Zöllner HJ, Hupfeld KE, Gudmundson AT, Murali-Manohar S, Davies-Jenkins CW, Song Y, Chen Y, Oeltzschner G, Wang G, Edden RAE. sLASER and PRESS Perform Similarly at Revealing Metabolite-Age Correlations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.18.524597. [PMID: 36711794 PMCID: PMC9882274 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.18.524597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To compare the respective ability of PRESS and sLASER to reveal biological relationships, using age as a validation covariate. Methods MRS data were acquired from 102 healthy volunteers using PRESS and sLASER in centrum semiovale (CSO) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) regions. Acquisition parameters included TR/TE 2000/30 ms; 96 transients; 2048 datapoints sampled at 2 kHz.Spectra were analyzed using Osprey. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), full-width-half-maximum linewidth of tCr, and metabolite concentrations were extracted. A linear model was used to compare SNR and linewidth. Paired t-tests were used to assess differences in metabolite measurements between PRESS and sLASER. Correlations were used to evaluate the relationship between PRESS and sLASER metabolite estimates, as well as the strength of each metabolite-age relationship. Coefficients of variation were calculated to assess inter-subject variability in each metabolite measurement. Results SNR and linewidth were significantly higher (p<0.05) for sLASER than PRESS. Paired t-tests showed significant differences between PRESS and sLASER in most metabolite measurements. Metabolite measures were significantly correlated (p<0.05) for most metabolites between the two methods except GABA, Gln and Lac in CSO and GSH, Lac and NAAG in PCC. Metabolite-age relationships were consistently identified using both PRESS and sLASER. Similar CVs were observed for most metabolites. Conclusion The study results suggest strong agreement between PRESS and sLASER in identifying relationships between brain metabolites and age in CSO and PCC data acquired at 3T. sLASER is technically desirable due to the reduced chemical shift displacement artifact; however, PRESS performed similarly in 'good' brain regions at clinical field strength.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steve C.N. Hui
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tao Gong
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Helge J. Zöllner
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathleen E. Hupfeld
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aaron T. Gudmundson
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Saipavitra Murali-Manohar
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher W. Davies-Jenkins
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yulu Song
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yufan Chen
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Richard A. E. Edden
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Harris AD, Amiri H, Bento M, Cohen R, Ching CRK, Cudalbu C, Dennis EL, Doose A, Ehrlich S, Kirov II, Mekle R, Oeltzschner G, Porges E, Souza R, Tam FI, Taylor B, Thompson PM, Quidé Y, Wilde EA, Williamson J, Lin AP, Bartnik-Olson B. Harmonization of multi-scanner in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy: ENIGMA consortium task group considerations. Front Neurol 2023; 13:1045678. [PMID: 36686533 PMCID: PMC9845632 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1045678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a powerful, non-invasive, quantitative imaging technique that allows for the measurement of brain metabolites that has demonstrated utility in diagnosing and characterizing a broad range of neurological diseases. Its impact, however, has been limited due to small sample sizes and methodological variability in addition to intrinsic limitations of the method itself such as its sensitivity to motion. The lack of standardization from a data acquisition and data processing perspective makes it difficult to pool multiple studies and/or conduct multisite studies that are necessary for supporting clinically relevant findings. Based on the experience of the ENIGMA MRS work group and a review of the literature, this manuscript provides an overview of the current state of MRS data harmonization. Key factors that need to be taken into consideration when conducting both retrospective and prospective studies are described. These include (1) MRS acquisition issues such as pulse sequence, RF and B0 calibrations, echo time, and SNR; (2) data processing issues such as pre-processing steps, modeling, and quantitation; and (3) biological factors such as voxel location, age, sex, and pathology. Various approaches to MRS data harmonization are then described including meta-analysis, mega-analysis, linear modeling, ComBat and artificial intelligence approaches. The goal is to provide both novice and experienced readers with the necessary knowledge for conducting MRS data harmonization studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley D. Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Houshang Amiri
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mariana Bento
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ronald Cohen
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Christopher R. K. Ching
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christina Cudalbu
- CIBM Center for Biomedical Imaging, Lausanne, Switzerland,Animal Imaging and Technology, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emily L. Dennis
- TBI and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Arne Doose
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Ehrlich
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ivan I. Kirov
- Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ralf Mekle
- Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Eric Porges
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Roberto Souza
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada,Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Friederike I. Tam
- Division of Psychological and Social Medicine and Developmental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Brian Taylor
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Paul M. Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yann Quidé
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elisabeth A. Wilde
- TBI and Concussion Center, Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - John Williamson
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexander P. Lin
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Brenda Bartnik-Olson
- Department of Radiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Brenda Bartnik-Olson ✉
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Pasanta D, He JL, Ford T, Oeltzschner G, Lythgoe DJ, Puts NA. Functional MRS studies of GABA and glutamate/Glx - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:104940. [PMID: 36332780 PMCID: PMC9846867 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) can be used to investigate neurometabolic responses to external stimuli in-vivo, but findings are inconsistent. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on fMRS studies of the primary neurotransmitters Glutamate (Glu), Glx (Glutamate + Glutamine), and GABA. Data were extracted, grouped by metabolite, stimulus domain, and brain region, and analysed by determining standardized effect sizes. The quality of individual studies was rated. When results were analysed by metabolite type small to moderate effect sizes of 0.29-0.47 (p < 0.05) were observed for changes in Glu and Glx regardless of stimulus domain and brain region, but no significant effects were observed for GABA. Further analysis suggests that Glu, Glx and GABA responses differ by stimulus domain or task and vary depending on the time course of stimulation and data acquisition. Here, we establish effect sizes and directionality of GABA, Glu and Glx response in fMRS. This work highlights the importance of standardised reporting and minimal best practice for fMRS research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duanghathai Pasanta
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, London SE5 8AB, United Kingdom,Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Jason L. He
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, London SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Talitha Ford
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20000, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia,Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 700. N. Broadway, 21207, Baltimore, United States,Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 N. Wolfe Street, 21205, Baltimore, United States
| | - David J. Lythgoe
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, London SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolaas A. Puts
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, London SE5 8AB, United Kingdom,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tran KH, Luki J, Hanstock S, Hanstock CC, Seres P, Aitchison K, Shandro T, Le Melledo JM. Decreased GABA+ Levels in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex of Perimenopausal Women: A 3T 1H-MRS Study. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 26:32-41. [PMID: 36146906 PMCID: PMC9850658 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Perimenopause is associated with an increased risk of developing a major depressive (MD) episode. A significant number of women develop their first MD episode during perimenopause, suggesting a unique pathophysiology of perimenopausal (PM) depression. Previous research has shown that depression is associated with decreased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) of MD patients. The objective of this study was to compare MPFC GABA+ levels in healthy reproductive-aged (RD) and PM women. METHODS A total of 18 healthy PM and 20 RD women were included in the study. MPFC GABA+ levels, which include homocarnosine and macromolecules, were measured via magnetic resonance spectroscopy using a 3 Tesla magnet. MPFC GABA+ levels were referenced to creatine + phosphocreatine (Cr+PCr). Absence of current or past psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed via a structured interview. RD participants were scanned during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. PM women were scanned outside of ovulatory cycles. RESULTS Mean MPFC GABA+ concentrations (relative to Cr+PCr) were decreased in the PM group compared with the RD group (PM mean = 0.08 ± 0.02, RD mean = 0.09 ± 0.02, t = -2.03, df = 36, P = .05) even after correcting for in percentage in gray matter (GM). Because PM women were inherently older than RD women (aged 48.8 ± 3.55 and 31.5 ± 9.66 years, respectively), the age difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P < .001). When age was treated as an independent covariate and included in the model, the difference in GABA+ between PM and RD women was no longer significant (P = .092). CONCLUSION Perimenopause is associated with decreased MPFC GABA+/Cr+PCr levels, which may contribute to the increased risk of experiencing a MD episode during PM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kim H Tran
- University of Alberta, Department of Psychiatry, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jessica Luki
- University of Alberta, Department of Psychiatry, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sarah Hanstock
- University of Alberta, Department of Psychiatry, Edmonton, AB, Canada,University of Alberta, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Christopher C Hanstock
- University of Alberta, Department of Psychiatry, Edmonton, AB, Canada,University of Alberta, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Peter Seres
- University of Alberta, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Katherine Aitchison
- University of Alberta, Department of Psychiatry, Edmonton, AB, Canada,University of Alberta, Department of Medical Genetics, Edmonton, AB, Canada,University of Alberta, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada,Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Division of Clinical Sciences, Psychiatry Section, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Tami Shandro
- Lois Hole Hospital for Women, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jean-Michel Le Melledo
- Correspondence: Jean-Michel Le Melledo, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Room 1E7.14, 8440 112 Street, Walter Mackenzie Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2B7 ()
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Dobri S, Chen JJ, Ross B. Insights from auditory cortex for GABA+ magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of aging. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4425-4444. [PMID: 35781900 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Changes in levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may underlie aging-related changes in brain function. GABA and co-edited macromolecules (GABA+) can be measured with MEGA-PRESS magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The current study investigated how changes in the aging brain impact the interpretation of GABA+ measures in bilateral auditory cortices of healthy young and older adults. Structural changes during aging appeared as decreasing proportion of grey matter in the MRS volume of interest and corresponding increase in cerebrospinal fluid. GABA+ referenced to H2 O without tissue correction declined in aging. This decline persisted after correcting for tissue differences in MR-visible H2 O and relaxation times but vanished after considering the different abundance of GABA+ in grey and white matter. However, GABA+ referenced to creatine and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), which showed no dependence on tissue composition, decreased in aging. All GABA+ measures showed hemispheric asymmetry in young but not older adults. The study also considered aging-related effects on tissue segmentation and the impact of co-edited macromolecules. Tissue segmentation differed significantly between commonly used algorithms, but aging-related effects on tissue-corrected GABA+ were consistent across methods. Auditory cortex macromolecule concentration did not change with age, indicating that a decline in GABA caused the decrease in the compound GABA+ measure. Most likely, the macromolecule contribution to GABA+ leads to underestimating an aging-related decrease in GABA. Overall, considering multiple GABA+ measures using different reference signals strengthened the support for an aging-related decline in auditory cortex GABA levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Dobri
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J Jean Chen
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bernhard Ross
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Dopamine-induced changes to thalamic GABA concentration in impulsive Parkinson disease patients. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2022; 8:37. [PMID: 35383185 PMCID: PMC8983736 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-022-00298-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Impulsivity is inherent to behavioral disorders such as substance abuse and binge eating. While the role of dopamine in impulse behavior is well established, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) therapies have promise for the treatment of maladaptive behaviors. In Parkinson disease (PD), dopaminergic therapies can result in the development of impulsive and compulsive behaviors, and this clinical syndrome shares similar pathophysiology to that seen in addiction, substance abuse, and binge-eating disorders. We hypothesized that impulsive PD patients have a reduced thalamic GABAergic response to dopamine therapy. To test this hypothesis, we employed GABA magnetic resonance spectroscopy, D2-like receptor PET imaging, and clinical and quantitative measures of impulsivity in PD patients (n = 33), before and after dopamine agonist administration. We find a blunted thalamic GABA response to dopamine agonists in patients with elevated impulsivity (p = 0.027). These results emphasize how dopamine treatment differentially augments thalamic GABA concentrations, which may modify behavioral impulsivity.
Collapse
|
14
|
Krishnamurthy LC, Paredes Spir I, Rocha NO, Soher BJ, Auerbach EJ, Crosson BA, Krishnamurthy V. The association between language-based task-functional magnetic resonance imaging hemodynamics and baseline GABA+ and glutamate-glutamine measured in pre-supplementary motor area: A pilot study in an aging model. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:904845. [PMID: 36046162 PMCID: PMC9421126 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.904845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a natural phenomenon that elicits slow and progressive cerebrovascular and neurophysiological changes that eventually lead to cognitive decline. The objective of this pilot study is to examine the association of GABA+ and glutamate-glutamine (Glx) complex with language-based blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) hemodynamics in an aging model. More specifically, using standard BOLD we will first attempt to validate whether previously reported findings for BOLD amplitude and resting neurochemical relationships hold in an aging model. Secondly, we will investigate how our recently established neurosensitized task-BOLD energetics relate to resting GABA+ and Glx, especially accounting for titration of task difficulty. To support the above endeavors, we optimize the baseline fitting for edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) difference spectra to sensitize GABA+ and Glx concentrations to aging-related differences. We identify a spline-knot spacing of 0.6ppm to yield the optimal aging-related differences in GABA+ and Glx. The optimized MRS values were then graduated to relate to task-BOLD hemodynamics. Our results did not replicate previous findings that relate task-BOLD amplitude and resting GABA+ and Glx. However, we did identify neurochemistry relationships with the vascularly-driven dispersion component of the hemodynamic response function, specifically in older participants. In terms of neuro-sensitized BOLD energetics and the underlying role of GABA+ and Glx, our data suggests that the task demands are supported by both neurometabolites depending on the difficulty of the task stimuli. Another novelty is that we developed task-based functional parcellation of pre-SMA using both groups. In sum, we are the first to demonstrate that multimodal task-fMRI and MRS studies are beneficial to improve our understanding of the aging brain physiology, and to set the platform to better inform approaches for clinical care in aging-related neurovascular diseases. We also urge future studies to replicate our findings in a larger population incorporating a lifespan framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa C Krishnamurthy
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Decatur, GA, United States.,Department of Physics & Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Isabella Paredes Spir
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Decatur, GA, United States
| | - Natalie O Rocha
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Decatur, GA, United States.,Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Brian J Soher
- Center for Advanced MR Development, Department of Radiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Edward J Auerbach
- Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.,Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Bruce A Crosson
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Decatur, GA, United States.,Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Venkatagiri Krishnamurthy
- Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta VA Healthcare System, Decatur, GA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Petitet P, Spitz G, Emir UE, Johansen-Berg H, O'Shea J. Age-related decline in cortical inhibitory tone strengthens motor memory. Neuroimage 2021; 245:118681. [PMID: 34728243 PMCID: PMC8752967 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageing disrupts the finely tuned excitation/inhibition balance (E:I) across cortex via a natural decline in inhibitory tone (γ-amino butyric acid, GABA), causing functional decrements. However, in young adults, experimentally lowering GABA in sensorimotor cortex enhances a specific domain of sensorimotor function: adaptation memory. Here, we tested the hypothesis that as sensorimotor cortical GABA declines naturally with age, adaptation memory would increase, and the former would explain the latter. Results confirmed this prediction. To probe causality, we used brain stimulation to further lower sensorimotor cortical GABA during adaptation. Across individuals, how stimulation changed memory depended on sensorimotor cortical E:I. In those with low E:I, stimulation increased memory; in those with high E:I stimulation reduced memory. Thus, we identified a form of motor memory that is naturally strengthened by age, depends causally on sensorimotor cortex neurochemistry, and may be a potent target for motor skill preservation strategies in healthy ageing and neurorehabilitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Petitet
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, Equipe Trajectoires, Inserm UMR-S 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Lyon 1, Bron, France.
| | - Gershon Spitz
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Uzay E Emir
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
| | - Heidi Johansen-Berg
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Jacinta O'Shea
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA), University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Verstraelen S, Cuypers K, Maes C, Hehl M, Van Malderen S, Levin O, Mikkelsen M, Meesen RLJ, Swinnen SP. Neurophysiological modulations in the (pre)motor-motor network underlying age-related increases in reaction time and the role of GABA levels - a bimodal TMS-MRS study. Neuroimage 2021; 243:118500. [PMID: 34428570 PMCID: PMC8547554 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been argued that age-related changes in the neurochemical and neurophysiological properties of the GABAergic system may underlie increases in reaction time (RT) in older adults. However, the role of GABA levels within the sensorimotor cortices (SMC) in mediating interhemispheric interactions (IHi) during the processing stage of a fast motor response, as well as how both properties explain interindividual differences in RT, are not yet fully understood. In this study, edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was combined with dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation (dsTMS) for probing GABA+ levels in bilateral SMC and task-related neurophysiological modulations in corticospinal excitability (CSE), and primary motor cortex (M1)-M1 and dorsal premotor cortex (PMd)-M1 IHi, respectively. Both CSE and IHi were assessed during the preparatory and premotor period of a delayed choice RT task. Data were collected from 25 young (aged 18-33 years) and 28 older (aged 60-74 years) healthy adults. Our results demonstrated that older as compared to younger adults exhibited a reduced bilateral CSE suppression, as well as a reduced magnitude of long latency M1-M1 and PMd-M1 disinhibition during the preparatory period, irrespective of the direction of the IHi. Importantly, in older adults, the GABA+ levels in bilateral SMC partially accounted for task-related neurophysiological modulations as well as individual differences in RT. In contrast, in young adults, neither task-related neurophysiological modulations, nor individual differences in RT were associated with SMC GABA+ levels. In conclusion, this study contributes to a comprehensive initial understanding of how age-related differences in neurochemical properties and neurophysiological processes are related to increases in RT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Verstraelen
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Koen Cuypers
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Celine Maes
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Melina Hehl
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Shanti Van Malderen
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Oron Levin
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Mark Mikkelsen
- Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Raf L J Meesen
- Neuroplasticity and Movement Control Research Group, Rehabilitation Research Institute (REVAL), Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Karlaftis VM, Giorgio J, Zamboni E, Frangou P, Rideaux R, Ziminski JJ, Kourtzi Z. Functional Interactions between Sensory and Memory Networks for Adaptive Behavior. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:5319-5330. [PMID: 34185848 PMCID: PMC8568003 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain's capacity to adapt to sensory inputs is key for processing sensory information efficiently and interacting in new environments. Following repeated exposure to the same sensory input, brain activity in sensory areas is known to decrease as inputs become familiar, a process known as adaptation. Yet, the brain-wide mechanisms that mediate adaptive processing remain largely unknown. Here, we combine multimodal brain imaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI], magnetic resonance spectroscopy) with behavioral measures of orientation-specific adaptation (i.e., tilt aftereffect) to investigate the functional and neurochemical mechanisms that support adaptive processing. Our results reveal two functional brain networks: 1) a sensory-adaptation network including occipital and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regions that show decreased fMRI responses for repeated stimuli and 2) a perceptual-memory network including regions in the parietal memory network (PMN) and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex that relate to perceptual bias (i.e., tilt aftereffect). We demonstrate that adaptation relates to increased occipito-parietal connectivity, while decreased connectivity between sensory-adaptation and perceptual-memory networks relates to GABAergic inhibition in the PMN. Thus, our findings provide evidence that suppressive interactions between sensory-adaptation (i.e., occipito-parietal) and perceptual-memory (i.e., PMN) networks support adaptive processing and behavior, proposing a key role of memory systems in efficient sensory processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph Giorgio
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elisa Zamboni
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Polytimi Frangou
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Reuben Rideaux
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Zoe Kourtzi
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Langer K, Cohen RA, Porges EC, Williamson JB, Woods AJ. Circulating Cytokines Predict 1H-Proton MRS Cerebral Metabolites in Healthy Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:690923. [PMID: 34489672 PMCID: PMC8416992 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.690923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Changes in both circulating cytokines and neurochemical concentrations have been observed in aging. Patterns of change across these factors are associated with age-related pathologies, including neurodegenerative disease. More evidence to define patterns of change that are characteristic of healthy aging is needed, as is an investigation into how age-related changes in blood cytokines and brain neurochemicals may relate to one another in a healthy older adult population. Methods: Single voxel 1H-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was collected in medial frontal and medial parietal regions. Phosphocholine and glycerophosphocholine (Cho), myo-inositol (MI), N-acetylaspertate and N-acetylasperglutamate (NAA), creatine and phosphocreatine (Cr), and glutamate and glutamine (Glx) were measured in a sample of 83 healthy, cognitively normal adults aged 52–89. Blood data were collected to quantify 12 cytokines: interleukins (IL-) 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, IL-1 β, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interferon γ (IFN-γ), and IL-17 α. Correlation analyses were performed to assess age relationships between each of these factors. Backward linear regressions were performed. Cytokine data and age were used as predictors of each cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-corrected metabolite concentration in both voxels. Results: Associations were identified between a variety of cytokines and concentrations of frontal NAA, Cr, and Glx, and of parietal MI, Cho, NAA, and Cr. In the frontal voxel, NAA was predicted by more IL-1B and less TNF-α, Cr by less TNF-α and more IL-5, and Glx by less TNF-α. In the parietal voxel, MI was predicted by more IL-10 and IL-8 and less IL-2, Cho by more TNF-α and less IL-2, NAA by more IL-1B and TNF-α and less IL-13, IL-2, and IL-7, and Cr by more IL-10 and less IL-2. Conclusions: Associations were identified between circulating cytokines and neurometabolite concentrations in this sample of older adults. The present results serve as the initial evidence of relationships between circulating cytokines and neurophysiology. Findings invite further investigation to understand the physiological consequences of aging, and how peripheral inflammatory markers may relate to neurochemical concentrations in healthy aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kailey Langer
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Ronald A Cohen
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Eric C Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John B Williamson
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Adam J Woods
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hupfeld KE, Hyatt HW, Alvarez Jerez P, Mikkelsen M, Hass CJ, Edden RAE, Seidler RD, Porges EC. In Vivo Brain Glutathione is Higher in Older Age and Correlates with Mobility. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:4576-4594. [PMID: 33959751 PMCID: PMC8408448 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain markers of oxidative damage increase with advancing age. In response, brain antioxidant levels may also increase with age, although this has not been well investigated. Here, we used edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify endogenous levels of glutathione (GSH, one of the most abundant brain antioxidants) in 37 young [mean: 21.8 (2.5) years; 19 female] and 23 older adults [mean: 72.8 (8.9) years; 19 female]. Accounting for age-related atrophy, we identified higher frontal and sensorimotor GSH levels for the older compared with the younger adults. For the older adults only, higher sensorimotor (but not frontal) GSH was correlated with poorer balance and gait. This suggests a regionally specific relationship between higher brain oxidative stress levels and motor performance declines with age. We suggest these findings reflect an upregulation of GSH in response to increasing brain oxidative stress with normal aging. Together, these results provide insight into age differences in brain antioxidant levels and implications for motor function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K E Hupfeld
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - H W Hyatt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - P Alvarez Jerez
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - M Mikkelsen
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - C J Hass
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - R A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - R D Seidler
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - E C Porges
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
GABAergic inhibition in the human visual cortex relates to eye dominance. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17022. [PMID: 34426611 PMCID: PMC8382755 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95685-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Binocular vision is created by fusing the separate inputs arriving from the left and right eyes. 'Eye dominance' provides a measure of the perceptual dominance of one eye over the other. Theoretical models suggest that eye dominance is related to reciprocal inhibition between monocular units in the primary visual cortex, the first location where the binocular input is combined. As the specific inhibitory interactions in the binocular visual system critically depend on the presence of visual input, we sought to test the role of inhibition by measuring the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA during monocular visual stimulation of the dominant and the non-dominant eye. GABA levels were measured in a single volume of interest in the early visual cortex, including V1 from both hemispheres, using a combined functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (combined fMRI-MRS) sequence on a 7-Tesla MRI scanner. Individuals with stronger eye dominance had a greater difference in GABAergic inhibition between the eyes. This relationship was present only when the visual system was actively processing sensory input and was not present at rest. We provide the first evidence that imbalances in GABA levels during ongoing sensory processing are related to eye dominance in the human visual cortex. Our finding supports the view that intracortical inhibition underlies normal eye dominance.
Collapse
|
21
|
He JL, Oeltzschner G, Mikkelsen M, Deronda A, Harris AD, Crocetti D, Wodka EL, Mostofsky SH, Edden RAE, Puts NAJ. Region-specific elevations of glutamate + glutamine correlate with the sensory symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:411. [PMID: 34326312 PMCID: PMC8322079 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals on the autism spectrum are often reported as being hyper- and/or hyporeactive to sensory input. These sensory symptoms were one of the key observations that led to the development of the altered excitation-inhibition (E-I) model of autism, which posits that an increase ratio of excitatory to inhibitory signaling may explain certain phenotypical expressions of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). While there has been strong support for the altered E-I model of autism, much of the evidence has come from animal models. With regard to in-vivo human studies, evidence for altered E-I balance in ASD come from studies adopting magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Spectral-edited MRS can be used to provide measures of the levels of GABA + (GABA + macromolecules) and Glx (glutamate + glutamine) in specific brain regions as proxy markers of inhibition and excitation respectively. In the current study, we found region-specific elevations of Glx in the primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) in ASD. There were no group differences of GABA+ in either the SM1 or thalamus. Higher levels of Glx were associated with more parent reported difficulties of sensory hyper- and hyporeactivity, as well as reduced feed-forward inhibition during tactile perception in children with ASD. Critically, the finding of elevated Glx provides strong empirical support for increased excitation in ASD. Our results also provide a clear link between Glx and the sensory symptoms of ASD at both behavioral and perceptual levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason L He
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark Mikkelsen
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alyssa Deronda
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Deana Crocetti
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ericka L Wodka
- Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stewart H Mostofsky
- Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Porges EC, Jensen G, Foster B, Edden RAE, Puts NAJ. The trajectory of cortical GABA across the lifespan, an individual participant data meta-analysis of edited MRS studies. eLife 2021; 10:e62575. [PMID: 34061022 PMCID: PMC8225386 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human brain and can be measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Conflicting accounts report decreases and increases in cortical GABA levels across the lifespan. This incompatibility may be an artifact of the size and age range of the samples utilized in these studies. No single study to date has included the entire lifespan. In this study, eight suitable datasets were integrated to generate a model of the trajectory of frontal GABA estimates (as reported through edited MRS; both expressed as ratios and in institutional units) across the lifespan. Data were fit using both a log-normal curve and a nonparametric spline as regression models using a multi-level Bayesian model utilizing the Stan language. Integrated data show that an asymmetric lifespan trajectory of frontal GABA measures involves an early period of increase, followed by a period of stability during early adulthood, with a gradual decrease during adulthood and aging that is described well by both spline and log-normal models. The information gained will provide a general framework to inform expectations of future studies based on the age of the population being studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- McKnight Brain Research Foundation, University of FloridaUnited StatesUnited States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Greg Jensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Brent Foster
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
- McKnight Brain Research Foundation, University of FloridaUnited StatesUnited States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of FloridaGainesvilleUnited States
| | - Richard AE Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger InstituteBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Nicolaas AJ Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger InstituteBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Basu SK, Pradhan S, du Plessis AJ, Ben-Ari Y, Limperopoulos C. GABA and glutamate in the preterm neonatal brain: In-vivo measurement by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neuroimage 2021; 238:118215. [PMID: 34058332 PMCID: PMC8404144 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive and behavioral disabilities in preterm infants, even without obvious brain injury on conventional neuroimaging, underscores a critical need to identify the subtle underlying microstructural and biochemical derangements. The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems undergo rapid maturation during the crucial late gestation and early postnatal life, and are at-risk of disruption after preterm birth. Animal and human autopsy studies provide the bulk of current understanding since non-invasive specialized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to measure GABA and glutamate are not routinely available for this vulnerable population due to logistical and technical challenges. We review the specialized 1H-MRS techniques including MEscher-GArwood Point Resolved Spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS), special challenges and considerations needed for interpretation of acquired data from the developing brain of preterm infants. We summarize the limited in-vivo preterm data, highlight the gaps in knowledge, and discuss future directions for optimal integration of available in-vivo approaches to understand the influence of GABA and glutamate on neurodevelopmental outcomes after preterm birth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sudeepta K Basu
- Neonatology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - Subechhya Pradhan
- Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - Adre J du Plessis
- Fetal Medicine institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - Yehezkel Ben-Ari
- Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Neurochlore, Marseille, France
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Center for the Developing Brain, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; Division of Neurology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., United States; The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., United States.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
DeMayo MM, Harris AD, Song YJC, Pokorski I, Thapa R, Patel S, Ambarchi Z, Thomas EE, Hickie IB, Guastella AJ. Age-related parietal GABA alterations in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2021; 14:859-872. [PMID: 33634588 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and is essential to the balance of cortical excitation and inhibition. Reductions in GABA are proposed to result in an overly excitatory cortex that may cause, or contribute to, symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study employed a cross-sectional design to explore GABA+ differences in ASD and the impact of age, comparing 4-12 year olds with ASD (N = 24) to typically developing children (N = 35). GABA+ concentration was measured using edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the left parietal lobe. This study used a mixed model to investigate group differences between children with ASD and typically developing children. There was a significant difference in GABA+ levels between the groups, a significant effect of age and interaction between age and diagnostic group. The ASD group showed an association between GABA+ and age, with GABA+ levels gradually increasing with age (r = 0.59, p = 0.003). Typically developing children did not show age-related change in GABA+ concentration (r = 0.09, p = 0.60). By the age of 9, children with ASD showed GABA+ levels that were comparable to their typically developing peers. This study suggests that children with ASD have initially lower levels of GABA+ in the left parietal lobe compared to typically developing children, and that these initially lower levels of GABA+ increase with age in ASD within this region. It is suggested that this developmental shift of GABA+ levels within the left parietal lobe provides a possible explanation for the previously found reductions in childhood that does not persist in adults. LAY SUMMARY: This study measured levels of GABA in the left parietal lobe using magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with ASD and typically developing children. GABA levels were initially lower in the ASD group, and increased with age, while GABA did not change with age in the typically developing group. This suggests that alterations in GABA signaling may be associated with ASD in childhood. Autism Res 2021, 14: 859-872. © 2021 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marilena M DeMayo
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Yun Ju C Song
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Izabella Pokorski
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rinku Thapa
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shrujna Patel
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zahava Ambarchi
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emma E Thomas
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam J Guastella
- Brain and Mind Centre, Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Maes C, Cuypers K, Heise KF, Edden RAE, Gooijers J, Swinnen SP. GABA levels are differentially associated with bimanual motor performance in older as compared to young adults. Neuroimage 2021; 231:117871. [PMID: 33607278 PMCID: PMC8275071 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Although gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is of particular importance for efficient motor functioning, very little is known about the relationship between regional GABA levels and motor performance. Some studies suggest this relation to be subject to age-related differences even though literature is scarce. To clarify this matter, we employed a comprehensive approach and investigated GABA levels within young and older adults across multiple motor tasks as well as multiple brain regions. Specifically, 30 young and 30 older adults completed a task battery of three different bimanual tasks. Furthermore, GABA levels were obtained within bilateral primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1), bilateral dorsal premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results indicated that older adults, as compared to their younger counterparts, performed worse on all bimanual tasks and exhibited lower GABA levels in bilateral SM1 only. Moreover, GABA levels across the motor network and DLPFC were differentially associated with performance in young as opposed to older adults on a manual dexterity and bimanual coordination task but not a finger tapping task. Specifically, whereas higher GABA levels related to better manual dexterity within older adults, higher GABA levels predicted poorer bimanual coordination performance in young adults. By determining a task-specific and age-dependent association between GABA levels across the cortical motor network and performance on distinct bimanual tasks, the current study advances insights in the role of GABA for motor performance in the context of aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celine Maes
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Tervuursevest 101 box, Leuven 1501 3001, Belgium.
| | - Koen Cuypers
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Tervuursevest 101 box, Leuven 1501 3001, Belgium; REVAL Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Kirstin-Friederike Heise
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Tervuursevest 101 box, Leuven 1501 3001, Belgium.
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Jolien Gooijers
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Tervuursevest 101 box, Leuven 1501 3001, Belgium.
| | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Tervuursevest 101 box, Leuven 1501 3001, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Williamson JB, Lamb DG, Porges EC, Bottari S, Woods AJ, Datta S, Langer K, Cohen RA. Cerebral Metabolite Concentrations Are Associated With Cortical and Subcortical Volumes and Cognition in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:587104. [PMID: 33613261 PMCID: PMC7886995 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.587104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cerebral metabolites are associated with different physiological processes in brain aging. Cortical and limbic structures play important roles in cognitive aging; however, the relationship between these structures and age remains unclear with respect to physiological underpinnings. Regional differences in metabolite levels may be related to different structural and cognitive changes in aging. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy were obtained from 117 cognitively healthy older adults. Limbic and other key structural volumes were measured. Concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline-containing compounds (Cho) were measured in frontal and parietal regions. Neuropsychological testing was performed including measures of crystallized and fluid intelligence and memory. Results NAA in the frontal voxel was associated with limbic and cortical volumes, whereas Cho in parietal cortex was negatively associated with hippocampal and other regional volumes. Hippocampal volume was associated with forgetting, independent of age. Further, parietal Cho and hippocampal volume contributed independent variance to age corrected discrepancy between fluid and crystallized abilities. Conclusion These findings suggest that physiological changes with age in the frontal and parietal cortices may be linked to structural changes in other connected brain regions. These changes are differentially associated with cognitive performance, suggesting potentially divergent mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John B Williamson
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Damon G Lamb
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Eric C Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sarah Bottari
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Adam J Woods
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Somnath Datta
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kailey Langer
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Ronald A Cohen
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Clinical Translational Research Program, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bell T, Stokoe M, Harris AD. Macromolecule suppressed GABA levels show no relationship with age in a pediatric sample. Sci Rep 2021; 11:722. [PMID: 33436899 PMCID: PMC7804253 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays a crucial role in cortical development. Therefore, characterizing changes in GABA levels during development has important implications for the study of healthy development and developmental disorders. Brain GABA levels can be measured non-invasively using GABA-edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). However, the most commonly used editing technique to measure GABA results in contamination of the GABA signal with macromolecules (MM). Therefore, GABA measured using this technique is often referred to as GABA+ . While few in number, previous studies have shown GABA+ levels increase with age during development. However, these studies are unable to specify whether it is specifically GABA that is increasing or, instead, if levels of MM increase. In this study, we use a GABA-editing technique specifically designed to suppress the MM signal (MM-supp GABA). We find no relationship between MM-supp GABA and age in healthy children aged 7-14 years. These findings suggest that the relationship between GABA+ and age is driven by changes in MM levels, not by changes in GABA levels. Moreover, these findings highlight the importance of accounting for MM levels in MRS quantification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Bell
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Drive, Office B4-510, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A9, Canada.
| | - Mehak Stokoe
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Drive, Office B4-510, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A9, Canada
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Drive, Office B4-510, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Murley AG, Rouse MA, Jones PS, Ye R, Hezemans FH, O’Callaghan C, Frangou P, Kourtzi Z, Rua C, Carpenter TA, Rodgers CT, Rowe JB. GABA and glutamate deficits from frontotemporal lobar degeneration are associated with disinhibition. Brain 2020; 143:3449-3462. [PMID: 33141154 PMCID: PMC7719029 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural disinhibition is a common feature of the syndromes associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). It is associated with high morbidity and lacks proven symptomatic treatments. A potential therapeutic strategy is to correct the neurotransmitter deficits associated with FTLD, thereby improving behaviour. Reductions in the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA correlate with impulsive behaviour in several neuropsychiatric diseases and there is post-mortem evidence of their deficit in FTLD. Here, we tested the hypothesis that prefrontal glutamate and GABA levels are reduced by FTLD in vivo, and that their deficit is associated with impaired response inhibition. Thirty-three participants with a syndrome associated with FTLD (15 patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and 18 with progressive supranuclear palsy, including both Richardson's syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy-frontal subtypes) and 20 healthy control subjects were included. Participants undertook ultra-high field (7 T) magnetic resonance spectroscopy and a stop-signal task of response inhibition. We measured glutamate and GABA levels using semi-LASER magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the right inferior frontal gyrus, because of its strong association with response inhibition, and in the primary visual cortex, as a control region. The stop-signal reaction time was calculated using an ex-Gaussian Bayesian model. Participants with frontotemporal dementia and progressive supranuclear palsy had impaired response inhibition, with longer stop-signal reaction times compared with controls. GABA concentration was reduced in patients versus controls in the right inferior frontal gyrus, but not the occipital lobe. There was no group-wise difference in partial volume corrected glutamate concentration between patients and controls. Both GABA and glutamate concentrations in the inferior frontal gyrus correlated inversely with stop-signal reaction time, indicating greater impulsivity in proportion to the loss of each neurotransmitter. We conclude that the glutamatergic and GABAergic deficits in the frontal lobe are potential targets for symptomatic drug treatment of frontotemporal dementia and progressive supranuclear palsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Murley
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Matthew A Rouse
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - P Simon Jones
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Rong Ye
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Frank H Hezemans
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Zoe Kourtzi
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Catarina Rua
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Erchinger VJ, Miller J, Jones T, Kessler U, Bustillo J, Haavik J, Petrillo J, Ziomek G, Hammar Å, Oedegaard KJ, Calhoun VD, McClintock SM, Ersland L, Oltedal L, Abbott CC. Anterior cingulate gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations and electroconvulsive therapy. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01833. [PMID: 32940003 PMCID: PMC7667336 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The anticonvulsant hypothesis posits that ECT's mechanism of action is related to enhancement of endogenous anticonvulsant brain mechanisms. Results of prior studies investigating the role of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid ("GABA+", GABA and coedited macromolecules) in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression remain inconclusive. The aim of our study was to investigate treatment-responsive changes of GABA+ in subjects with a depressive episode receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). METHODS In total, 41 depressed subjects (DEP) and 35 healthy controls (HC) were recruited at two independent sites in Norway and the USA. MEGA-PRESS was used for investigation of GABA+ in the anterior cingulate cortex. We assessed longitudinal and cross-sectional differences between DEP and HC, as well as the relationship between GABA+ change and change in depression severity and number of ECTs. We also assessed longitudinal differences in cognitive performance and GABA+ levels. RESULTS Depressive episode did not show a difference in GABA+ relative to HC (t71 = -0.36, p = .72) or in longitudinal analysis (t36 = 0.97, p = .34). Remitters and nonremitters did not show longitudinal (t36 = 1.12, p = .27) or cross-sectional differences in GABA+. GABA+ levels were not related to changes in antidepressant response (t35 = 1.12, p = .27) or treatment number (t36 = 0.05, p = .96). An association between cognitive performance and GABA+ levels was found in DEP that completed cognitive effortful testing (t18 = 2.4, p = .03). CONCLUSION Our results failed to support GABA as a marker for depression and abnormal mood state and provide no support for the anticonvulsant hypothesis of ECT. ECT-induced change in GABA concentrations may be related to change in cognitive function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vera J Erchinger
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jeremy Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Thomas Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Ute Kessler
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Juan Bustillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jan Haavik
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jonathan Petrillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Gregory Ziomek
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Åsa Hammar
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ketil J Oedegaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia Tech, Emory, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shawn M McClintock
- Division of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Division of Brain Stimulation and Neurophysiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lars Ersland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Clinical Engineering, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre, Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Leif Oltedal
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre, Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Christopher C Abbott
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Steel A, Mikkelsen M, Edden RAE, Robertson CE. Regional balance between glutamate+glutamine and GABA+ in the resting human brain. Neuroimage 2020; 220:117112. [PMID: 32619710 PMCID: PMC9652611 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Models of healthy brain function and psychiatric conditions assume that excitatory and inhibitory activity are balanced in the human brain at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In human neuroimaging, concentrations of the major excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA) neurotransmitters are measured in vivo using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). However, despite the central importance of E/I balance to theories of brain function, a relationship between regional glutamate and GABA levels in the human brain has not been shown. We addressed this question in a large corpus of edited MRS data collected at 19 different sites (n = 220). Consistent with the notion of E/I balance, we found that levels of glutamate+glutamine (Glx) and GABA+ were highly correlated (R = 0.52, p = 2.86 x 10−14). This relationship held when controlling for site, scanner vendor, and demographics. Controlling for neurochemicals associated with neuronal density and metabolism (i.e. N-acetylaspartate and creatine) significantly reduced the correlation between GABA+ and Glx, suggesting that the levels of GABA+ and Glx may be critically linked to regional metabolism. These results are consistent with the notion that excitation and inhibition are balanced in the human brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Steel
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Mark Mikkelsen
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Caroline E Robertson
- Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Truong V, Duncan NW. Suggestions for improving the visualization of magnetic resonance spectroscopy voxels and spectra. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200600. [PMID: 32968522 PMCID: PMC7481722 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has seen an increase in popularity as a method for studying the human brain. This approach is dependent on voxel localization and spectral quality, knowledge of which are essential for judging the validity and robustness of any analysis. As such, visualization plays a central role in appropriately communicating MRS studies. The quality of data visualization has been shown to be poor in a number of biomedical fields and so we sought to appraise this in MRS papers. To do this, we conducted a survey of the psychiatric single-voxel MRS literature. This revealed a generally low standard, with a significant proportion of papers not providing the voxel location and spectral quality information required to judge their validity or replicate the experiment. Based on this, we then present a series of suggestions for a minimal standard for MRS data visualization. The primary point of these is that both voxel location and MRS spectra be presented from all participants. Participant group membership should be indicated where more than one is included in the experiment (e.g. patients and controls). A set of suggested figure layouts that fulfil these requirements are presented with sample code provided to produce these (github.com/nwd2918/MRS-voxel-plot).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vuong Truong
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-ShuangHo Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Niall W. Duncan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, TMU-ShuangHo Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Author for correspondence: Niall W. Duncan e-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Murari G, Liang DRS, Ali A, Chan F, Mulder-Heijstra M, Verhoeff NPLG, Herrmann N, Chen JJ, Mah L. Prefrontal GABA Levels Correlate with Memory in Older Adults at High Risk for Alzheimer's Disease. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa022. [PMID: 34296099 PMCID: PMC8152914 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, plays a significant role in aging and in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We investigated the relationship between GABA levels in the dorsomedial/dorsoanterolateral prefrontal cortex (DM/DA-PFC) and memory in high-AD risk participants. Thirty-eight participants (14 Cognitively Normal [CN], 11 with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), and 13 Mild Cognitive Impairment [MCI]) underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 Tesla. SCD and MCI participants were grouped together to form a single high-AD risk group (N = 24) for the purposes of statistical analyses. Partial correlations of GABA+/Cr level with verbal memory, assessed on California Verbal Learning Test-II, and nonverbal memory, assessed on Brief Visuospatial Memory Test and Rey-Osterrieth test, were examined separately within the high-AD risk and CN groups. GABA+/Cr levels were positively correlated with long-delayed verbal memory (r = 0.69, P = 0.009) and immediate nonverbal memory (r = 0.97, P = 0.03) in high-AD risk, but not in CN participants. These results remained significant after controlling for depression. These preliminary findings, which require replication due to the limited sample sizes, are the first report of an association between GABA+/Cr levels within the DM/DA-PFC and memory performance in high-AD risk individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Murari
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
| | | | - Aliya Ali
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
| | - Frankie Chan
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
| | | | - Nicolaas Paul L G Verhoeff
- Department of Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry Division, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Nathan Herrmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry Division, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - J Jean Chen
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
| | - Linda Mah
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Peek AL, Rebbeck T, Puts NAJ, Watson J, Aguila MER, Leaver AM. Brain GABA and glutamate levels across pain conditions: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of 1H-MRS studies using the MRS-Q quality assessment tool. Neuroimage 2020; 210:116532. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
|
34
|
Song Y, Gong T, Edden RAE, Wang G. Feasibility of Measuring GABA Levels in the Upper Brainstem in Healthy Volunteers Using Edited MRS. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:813. [PMID: 32922319 PMCID: PMC7456914 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the feasibility of small-voxel MEGA-PRESS in detecting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels of the upper brainstem in healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-two healthy volunteers, aged between 20 and 76 years were enrolled in this study, and underwent a 3.0T MRI scan using an eight-channel phased-array head coil. The MEGA-PRESS sequence was used to edit GABA signal from a 10x25x30 mm3 voxel in the upper brain stem. The detected signal includes contributions from macromolecules (MM) and homocarnosine and is therefore referred to as GABA+. All the data were processed using Gannet. RESULTS Thirty-four cases were successful in measuring GABA in the upper brainstem and 8 cases failed (based on poor modeling of spectra). The GABA+ levels were 2.66 ± 0.75 i.u. in the upper brainstem of healthy volunteers, ranging from 1.50 to 4.40 i.u. The normalized fitting residual (FitErr in Gannet) was 12.1 ± 2.8%, ranging from 7.4% to 19.1%; it was below 15.5% in 30 cases (71%). CONCLUSIONS It is possible to measure GABA levels in the upper brainstem using MEGA-PRESS with a relatively small ROI, with a moderate between-subject variance of under 30%.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulu Song
- Department of Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinn, China
| | - Tao Gong
- Department of Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinn, China
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,FM Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Department of Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinn, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
DeKosky ST, Williamson JB. The Long and the Short of Benzodiazepines and Sleep Medications: Short-Term Benefits, Long-Term Harms? Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:153-155. [PMID: 31907875 PMCID: PMC7007478 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00827-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Steven T. DeKosky
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
- Department of Neurology, UF College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA
| | - John B. Williamson
- Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders, Gainesville, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
- Brain Research and Rehabilitation Center, North Florida/South Georgia Department of Veterans Affairs, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Reductions in GABA following a tDCS-language intervention for primary progressive aphasia. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 79:75-82. [PMID: 31029018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown efficacy in augmenting the effects of language therapy in primary progressive aphasia (PPA). The mechanism of action of tDCS is not understood, but preliminary work in healthy adults suggests it modulates γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels to create an environment optimal for learning. It is unknown if this proposed mechanism translates to aging or neurodegenerative conditions. This study tested the hypothesis that tDCS reduces GABA at the stimulated tissue in PPA. We applied GABA-edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify GABA levels before and after a sham-controlled tDCS intervention with language therapy in PPA. All participants showed improvements but those receiving active tDCS showed significantly greater language improvements compared to sham both immediately after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up. GABA levels in the targeted tissue decreased from baseline after the intervention and remained decreased 2 months after the intervention. This work supports the hypothesis that tDCS modulates GABAergic inhibition to augment learning and is clinically useful for PPA combined with language therapy.
Collapse
|
37
|
Mikkelsen M, Rimbault DL, Barker PB, Bhattacharyya PK, Brix MK, Buur PF, Cecil KM, Chan KL, Chen DYT, Craven AR, Cuypers K, Dacko M, Duncan NW, Dydak U, Edmondson DA, Ende G, Ersland L, Forbes MA, Gao F, Greenhouse I, Harris AD, He N, Heba S, Hoggard N, Hsu TW, Jansen JFA, Kangarlu A, Lange T, Lebel RM, Li Y, Lin CYE, Liou JK, Lirng JF, Liu F, Long JR, Ma R, Maes C, Moreno-Ortega M, Murray SO, Noah S, Noeske R, Noseworthy MD, Oeltzschner G, Porges EC, Prisciandaro JJ, Puts NAJ, Roberts TPL, Sack M, Sailasuta N, Saleh MG, Schallmo MP, Simard N, Stoffers D, Swinnen SP, Tegenthoff M, Truong P, Wang G, Wilkinson ID, Wittsack HJ, Woods AJ, Xu H, Yan F, Zhang C, Zipunnikov V, Zöllner HJ, Edden RAE. Big GABA II: Water-referenced edited MR spectroscopy at 25 research sites. Neuroimage 2019; 191:537-548. [PMID: 30840905 PMCID: PMC6818968 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.02.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate and reliable quantification of brain metabolites measured in vivo using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a topic of continued interest. Aside from differences in the basic approach to quantification, the quantification of metabolite data acquired at different sites and on different platforms poses an additional methodological challenge. In this study, spectrally edited γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) MRS data were analyzed and GABA levels were quantified relative to an internal tissue water reference. Data from 284 volunteers scanned across 25 research sites were collected using GABA+ (GABA + co-edited macromolecules (MM)) and MM-suppressed GABA editing. The unsuppressed water signal from the volume of interest was acquired for concentration referencing. Whole-brain T1-weighted structural images were acquired and segmented to determine gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid voxel tissue fractions. Water-referenced GABA measurements were fully corrected for tissue-dependent signal relaxation and water visibility effects. The cohort-wide coefficient of variation was 17% for the GABA + data and 29% for the MM-suppressed GABA data. The mean within-site coefficient of variation was 10% for the GABA + data and 19% for the MM-suppressed GABA data. Vendor differences contributed 53% to the total variance in the GABA + data, while the remaining variance was attributed to site- (11%) and participant-level (36%) effects. For the MM-suppressed data, 54% of the variance was attributed to site differences, while the remaining 46% was attributed to participant differences. Results from an exploratory analysis suggested that the vendor differences were related to the unsuppressed water signal acquisition. Discounting the observed vendor-specific effects, water-referenced GABA measurements exhibit similar levels of variance to creatine-referenced GABA measurements. It is concluded that quantification using internal tissue water referencing is a viable and reliable method for the quantification of in vivo GABA levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Mikkelsen
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Daniel L Rimbault
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Peter B Barker
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pallab K Bhattacharyya
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA; Radiology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Maiken K Brix
- Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Pieter F Buur
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kimberly L Chan
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David Y-T Chen
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Medical University Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Alexander R Craven
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; NORMENT - Norwegian Center for Mental Disorders Research, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Koen Cuypers
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group of Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Michael Dacko
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Niall W Duncan
- Brain and Consciousness Research Centre, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ulrike Dydak
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David A Edmondson
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Gabriele Ende
- Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lars Ersland
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; NORMENT - Norwegian Center for Mental Disorders Research, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Engineering, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Megan A Forbes
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fei Gao
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ian Greenhouse
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Ashley D Harris
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Naying He
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Stefanie Heba
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nigel Hoggard
- Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Tun-Wei Hsu
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Alayar Kangarlu
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Lange
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Yan Li
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Jy-Kang Liou
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiing-Feng Lirng
- Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feng Liu
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joanna R Long
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ruoyun Ma
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Celine Maes
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group of Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Scott O Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sean Noah
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael D Noseworthy
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Georg Oeltzschner
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eric C Porges
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James J Prisciandaro
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Nicolaas A J Puts
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Timothy P L Roberts
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Markus Sack
- Department of Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Napapon Sailasuta
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Muhammad G Saleh
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael-Paul Schallmo
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nicholas Simard
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, Group of Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martin Tegenthoff
- Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Peter Truong
- Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Guangbin Wang
- Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Iain D Wilkinson
- Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Hans-Jörg Wittsack
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Adam J Woods
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hongmin Xu
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fuhua Yan
- Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chencheng Zhang
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Vadim Zipunnikov
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Helge J Zöllner
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany; Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Spurny B, Heckova E, Seiger R, Moser P, Klöbl M, Vanicek T, Spies M, Bogner W, Lanzenberger R. Automated ROI-Based Labeling for Multi-Voxel Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Data Using FreeSurfer. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:28. [PMID: 30837839 PMCID: PMC6382749 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Advanced analysis methods for multi-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) are crucial for neurotransmitter quantification, especially for neurotransmitters showing different distributions across tissue types. So far, only a handful of studies have used region of interest (ROI)-based labeling approaches for multi-voxel MRS data. Hence, this study aims to provide an automated ROI-based labeling tool for 3D-multi-voxel MRS data. Methods: MRS data, for automated ROI-based labeling, was acquired in two different spatial resolutions using a spiral-encoded, LASER-localized 3D-MRS imaging sequence with and without MEGA-editing. To calculate the mean metabolite distribution within selected ROIs, masks of individual brain regions were extracted from structural T1-weighted images using FreeSurfer. For reliability testing of automated labeling a comparison to manual labeling and single voxel selection approaches was performed for six different subcortical regions. Results: Automated ROI-based labeling showed high consistency [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.8] for all regions compared to manual labeling. Higher variation was shown when selected voxels, chosen from a multi-voxel grid, uncorrected for voxel composition, were compared to labeling methods using spatial averaging based on anatomical features within gray matter (GM) volumes. Conclusion: We provide an automated ROI-based analysis approach for various types of 3D-multi-voxel MRS data, which dramatically reduces hands-on time compared to manual labeling without any possible inter-rater bias.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Spurny
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Heckova
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, High Field MR Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rene Seiger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Moser
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, High Field MR Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Vanicek
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marie Spies
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Bogner
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, High Field MR Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Flores-Ramos M, Alcauter S, López-Titla M, Bernal-Santamaría N, Calva-Coraza E, Edden RAE. Testosterone is related to GABA+ levels in the posterior-cingulate in unmedicated depressed women during reproductive life. J Affect Disord 2019; 242:143-149. [PMID: 30195172 PMCID: PMC6484862 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of testosterone (T) in the pathophysiology of affective disorders and anxiety is broadly supported. Evidence suggests that T has anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. One proposed route for the central effects of T is its interaction with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. We explored the relationship between T levels and GABA+ levels in anterior-cingulate (ACC) and the posterior-cingulate (PCC) regions in depressed women, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). METHODS Twenty-one depressed patients with regularly cycling who were not taking hormonal or psychotropic drugs were recruited. We assessed severity of depression using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Blood samples were taken for quantification of free (FT) and total testosterone (TT) on the day of the magnetic resonance (MR) scan. We evaluated GABA+ levels in the PCC and ACC, using the Hadamard Encoding and Reconstruction of MEGA-Edited Spectroscopy (HERMES) sequence. Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the association between FT, TT, GABA+ concentrations, and HDRS scores. RESULTS TT and FT levels were positively correlated with GABA+ levels in the PCC. No correlation was observed between T levels and GABA+ levels in the ACC. The HDRS total scores correlated negatively with FT levels. LIMITATIONS Limitations include the cross-sectional evaluation and the lack of a comparative healthy group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the potential anxiolytic and antidepressant properties of T are related to increased GABA+ levels in the PCC. This observation may contribute to increased understanding of the role of T in depressive and anxiety symptoms in women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Flores-Ramos
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONACyT, Avenida Insurgentes Sur 1582, Col. Crédito Constructor, Ciudad de México, México; Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, México.
| | - S Alcauter
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro 76230, México
| | - M López-Titla
- Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, México; Universidad Veracruzana, División de estudios de Posgrado. Veracruz, Veracruz. México
| | - N Bernal-Santamaría
- Departamento de Servicio Social, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000. Ciudad de México, México
| | - Edgar Calva-Coraza
- Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, México
| | - R A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F.M. Kirby Center for Functional MRI, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Role of gamma-amino-butyric acid in the dorsal anterior cingulate in age-associated changes in cognition. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:2285-2291. [PMID: 30050047 PMCID: PMC6135795 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0134-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
GABAergic mechanisms have been shown to contribute to cognitive aging in animal models, but there is currently limited in vivo evidence to support this relationship in humans. It is also unclear whether aging is associated with changes in GABA levels measured with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Spectral-editing MRS at 3 T was used to measure GABA in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) for a large sample of healthy volunteers (N = 229) aged 18-55. In a subset of 171 participants, age effects on several cognitive tasks were studied. We formally tested whether the MRS measures mediated the relationship between age and cognition. Robust associations of age with performance were found for the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ([WCST], p < 0.0001). Age was also significantly associated with declining levels of GABA in the dACC (p < 0.001), and GABA levels significantly predicted WCST performance (p < 0.0004). Mediation analysis revealed that GABA in the dACC mediated the effect of age on WCST performance (p < 0.01). Other metabolites were similarly associated with age, but only GABA and creatine levels were significantly associated with WCST performance. No association with age or cognitive performance was found in a frontal white matter control region in a subset of participants. The association of GABA with WCST performance was not related to the amount of brain atrophy associated with aging as measured by the proportion of CSF, gray, and white matter in the MRS voxel. These results implicate GABAergic and possibly energetic metabolism in the dACC as mechanisms of age effects in executive function.
Collapse
|
41
|
Brain GABA Levels Are Associated with Inhibitory Control Deficits in Older Adults. J Neurosci 2018; 38:7844-7851. [PMID: 30064995 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0760-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy aging is accompanied by motor inhibition deficits that involve a slower process of stopping a prepotent motor response (i.e., reactive inhibition) rather than a diminished ability to anticipate stopping (i.e., proactive inhibition). Some studies suggest that efficient motor inhibition is related to GABAergic function. Since age-related alterations in the GABA system have also been reported, motor inhibition impairments might be linked to GABAergic alterations in the cortico-subcortical network that mediates motor inhibition. Thirty young human adults (mean age, 23.2 years; age range, 18-34 years; 14 men) and 29 older human adults (mean age, 67.5 years; age range, 60-74 years; 13 men) performed a stop-signal task with varying levels of stop-signal probability. GABA+ levels were measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in right inferior frontal cortex, pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA), left sensorimotor cortex, bilateral striatum, and occipital cortex. We found that reactive inhibition was worse in older adults compared with young adults, as indicated by longer stop-signal reaction times (SSRTs). No group differences in proactive inhibition were observed as both groups slowed down their response to a similar degree with increasing stop-signal probability. The MRS results showed that tissue-corrected GABA+ levels were on average lower in older as compared with young adults. Moreover, older adults with lower GABA+ levels in the pre-SMA were slower at stopping (i.e., had longer SSRTs). These findings suggest a role for the GABA system in reactive inhibition deficits.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Inhibitory control has been shown to diminish as a consequence of aging. We investigated whether the ability to stop a prepotent motor response and the ability to prepare to stop were related to GABA levels in different regions of the network that was previously identified to mediate inhibitory control. Overall, we found lower GABA levels in older adults compared with young adults. Importantly, those older adults who were slower at stopping had less GABA in the pre-supplementary motor area, a key node of the inhibitory control network. We propose that deficits in the stop process in part depend on the integrity of the GABA system.
Collapse
|
42
|
Woods AJ, Cohen R, Marsiske M, Alexander GE, Czaja SJ, Wu S. Augmenting cognitive training in older adults (The ACT Study): Design and Methods of a Phase III tDCS and cognitive training trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2018; 65:19-32. [PMID: 29313802 PMCID: PMC5803439 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adults over age 65 represent the fastest growing population in the US. Decline in cognitive abilities is a hallmark of advanced age and is associated with loss of independence and dementia risk. There is a pressing need to develop effective interventions for slowing or reversing the cognitive aging process. While certain forms of cognitive training have shown promise in this area, effects only sometimes transfer to neuropsychological tests within or outside the trained domain. This paper describes a NIA-funded Phase III adaptive multisite randomized clinical trial, examining whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of frontal cortices enhances neurocognitive outcomes achieved from cognitive training in older adults experiencing age-related cognitive decline: the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults study (ACT). METHODS ACT will enroll 360 participants aged 65 to 89 with age-related cognitive decline, but not dementia. Participants will undergo cognitive training intervention or education training-control combined with tDCS or sham tDCS control. Cognitive training employs a suite of eight adaptive training tasks focused on attention/speed of processing and working memory from Posit Science BrainHQ. Training control involves exposure to educational nature/history videos and related content questions of the same interval/duration as the cognitive training. Participants are assessed at baseline, after training (12weeks), and 12-month follow-up on our primary outcome measure, NIH Toolbox Fluid Cognition Composite Score, as well as a comprehensive neurocognitive, functional, clinical and multimodal neuroimaging battery. SIGNIFICANCE The findings from this study have the potential to significantly enhance efforts to ameliorate cognitive aging and slow dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Woods
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Cognitive Aging and Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, United States.
| | - Ronald Cohen
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Cognitive Aging and Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, United States
| | - Michael Marsiske
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Cognitive Aging and Memory Clinical Translational Research Program, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, United States
| | - Gene E Alexander
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, BIO5 Institute, and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Sara J Czaja
- Center on Aging, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McKnight Brain Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, United States
| | - Samuel Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, United States
| |
Collapse
|