1
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Kim IB, Kim MH, Jung S, Kim WK, Lee J, Ju YS, Webster MJ, Kim S, Kim JH, Kim HJ, Kim J, Kim S, Lee JH. Low-level brain somatic mutations in exonic regions are collectively implicated in autism with germline mutations in autism risk genes. Exp Mol Med 2024:10.1038/s12276-024-01284-1. [PMID: 39085355 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01284-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Low-level somatic mutations in the human brain are implicated in various neurological disorders. The contribution of low-level brain somatic mutations to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), however, remains poorly understood. Here, we performed high-depth exome sequencing with an average read depth of 559.3x in 181 cortical, cerebellar, and peripheral tissue samples to identify brain somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in 24 ASD subjects and 31 controls. We detected ~2.4 brain somatic SNVs per exome per single brain region, with a variant allele frequency (VAF) as low as 0.3%. The mutational profiles, including the number, signature, and type, were not significantly different between the ASD patients and controls. Intriguingly, when considering genes with low-level brain somatic SNVs and ASD risk genes with damaging germline SNVs together, the merged set of genes carrying either somatic or germline SNVs in ASD patients was significantly involved in ASD-associated pathophysiology, including dendrite spine morphogenesis (p = 0.025), mental retardation (p = 0.012), and intrauterine growth retardation (p = 0.012). Additionally, the merged gene set showed ASD-associated spatiotemporal expression in the early and mid-fetal cortex, striatum, and thalamus (all p < 0.05). Patients with damaging mutations in the merged gene set had a greater ASD risk than did controls (odds ratio = 3.92, p = 0.025, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-14.79). The findings of this study suggest that brain somatic SNVs and germline SNVs may collectively contribute to ASD-associated pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il Bin Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06135, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong-Heui Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Saehoon Jung
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Kyeong Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Junehawk Lee
- Center for Supercomputing Applications, Division of National Supercomputing, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Seok Ju
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Maree J Webster
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Suite C-050, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Sanghyeon Kim
- Stanley Medical Research Institute, Laboratory of Brain Research, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Suite C-050, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Ja Hye Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Junho Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sangwoo Kim
- Department of Biomedical Systems Informatics and Brain Korea 21 PLUS for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong Ho Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
- SoVarGen, SoVarGen, Inc., Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Nagai Y, Kirino E, Tanaka S, Usui C, Inami R, Inoue R, Hattori A, Uchida W, Kamagata K, Aoki S. Functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder evaluated using rs-fMRI and DKI. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:129-145. [PMID: 38012112 PMCID: PMC11065111 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad451] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluated functional connectivity (FC) in patients with adult autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI). We acquired rs-fMRI data from 33 individuals with ASD and 33 healthy controls (HC) and DKI data from 18 individuals with ASD and 17 HC. ASD showed attenuated FC between the right frontal pole (FP) and the bilateral temporal fusiform cortex (TFusC) and enhanced FC between the right thalamus and the bilateral inferior division of lateral occipital cortex, and between the cerebellar vermis and the right occipital fusiform gyrus (OFusG) and the right lingual gyrus, compared with HC. ASD demonstrated increased axial kurtosis (AK) and mean kurtosis (MK) in white matter (WM) tracts, including the right anterior corona radiata (ACR), forceps minor (FM), and right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). In ASD, there was also a significant negative correlation between MK and FC between the cerebellar vermis and the right OFusG in the corpus callosum, FM, right SLF and right ACR. Increased DKI metrics might represent neuroinflammation, increased complexity, or disrupted WM tissue integrity that alters long-distance connectivity. Nonetheless, protective or compensating adaptations of inflammation might lead to more abundant glial cells and cytokine activation effectively alleviating the degeneration of neurons, resulting in increased complexity. FC abnormality in ASD observed in rs-fMRI may be attributed to microstructural alterations of the commissural and long-range association tracts in WM as indicated by DKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhito Nagai
- Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Eiji Kirino
- Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, 1129 Nagaoka Izunokuni-shi Shizuoka 410-2295, Japan
- Juntendo Institute of Mental Health, 700-1 Fukuroyama Koshigaya-shi Saitama 343-0032, Japan
| | - Shoji Tanaka
- Department of Information and Communication Sciences, Sophia University, 7-1 Kioi-cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Chie Usui
- Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Rie Inami
- Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Reiichi Inoue
- Juntendo Institute of Mental Health, 700-1 Fukuroyama Koshigaya-shi Saitama 343-0032, Japan
| | - Aki Hattori
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Wataru Uchida
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Koji Kamagata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
- Faculty of Health Data Science, Juntendo University, 6-8-1 Hinode Urayasu-shi Chiba 279-0013, Japan
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Zapparrata NM, Brooks PJ, Ober TM. Slower Processing Speed in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-analytic Investigation of Time-Based Tasks. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:4618-4640. [PMID: 36112302 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05736-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting information processing across domains. The current meta-analysis investigated whether slower processing speed is associated with the ASD neurocognitive profile and whether findings hold across different time-based tasks and stimuli (social vs. nonsocial; linguistic vs. nonlinguistic). Mean RTs of ASD and age-matched neurotypical comparison groups (N = 893 ASD, 1063 neurotypical; mean age ASD group = 17 years) were compared across simple RT, choice RT, and interference control tasks (44 studies, 106 effects) using robust variance estimation meta-analysis. Simple RT tasks required participants to respond to individual stimuli, whereas choice RT tasks required forced-choice responses to two or more stimuli. Interference control tasks required a decision in the context of a distractor or priming stimulus; in an effort to minimize inhibitory demands, we extracted RTs only from baseline and congruent conditions of such tasks. All tasks required nonverbal (motor) responses. The overall effect-size estimate indicated significantly longer mean RTs in ASD groups (g = .35, 95% CI = .16; .54) than comparison groups. Task type moderated effects, with larger estimates drawn from simple RT tasks than interference control tasks. However, across all three task types, ASD groups exhibited significantly longer mean RTs than comparison groups. Stimulus type and age did not moderate effects. Generalized slowing may be a domain-general characteristic of ASD with potential consequences for social, language, and motor development. Assessing processing speed may inform development of interventions to support autistic individuals and their diverse cognitive profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Zapparrata
- The College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA.
- Educational Psychology Program, The CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Patricia J Brooks
- The College of Staten Island, City University of New York, 2800 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
- Educational Psychology Program, The CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Teresa M Ober
- University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
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Drozd CJ, Quinn CC. UNC-116 and UNC-16 function with the NEKL-3 kinase to promote axon targeting. Development 2023; 150:dev201654. [PMID: 37756604 PMCID: PMC10561693 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201654] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
KIF5C is a kinesin-1 heavy chain that has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Although the roles of kinesin-1 in axon transport are well known, little is known about how it regulates axon targeting. We report that UNC-116/KIF5C functions with the NEKL-3/NEK6/7 kinase to promote axon targeting in Caenorhabditis elegans. Loss of UNC-116 causes the axon to overshoot its target and UNC-116 gain-of-function causes premature axon termination. We find that loss of the UNC-16/JIP3 kinesin-1 cargo adaptor disrupts axon termination, but loss of kinesin-1 light chain function does not affect axon termination. Genetic analysis indicates that UNC-16 functions with the NEKL-3 kinase to promote axon termination. Consistent with this observation, imaging experiments indicate that loss of UNC-16 and UNC-116 disrupt localization of NEKL-3 in the axon. Moreover, genetic interactions suggest that NEKL-3 promotes axon termination by functioning with RPM-1, a ubiquitin ligase that regulates microtubule stability in the growth cone. These observations support a model where UNC-116 functions with UNC-16 to promote localization of NEKL-3 in the axon. NEKL-3, in turn, functions with the RPM-1 ubiquitin ligase to promote axon termination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J. Drozd
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
| | - Christopher C. Quinn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA
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5
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Sah S, Keable R, Pfundstein G, Clemens KJ, Begg D, Schachner M, Leshchyns'ka I, Sytnyk V. Deficiency in the neural cell adhesion molecule 2 (NCAM2) reduces axonal levels of beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), affects axonal organization in the hippocampus, and leads to behavioral deficits. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:10047-10065. [PMID: 37522285 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The neural cell adhesion molecule 2 (NCAM2) regulates axonal organization in the central nervous system via mechanisms that have remained poorly understood. We now show that NCAM2 increases axonal levels of beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), a protease that regulates axonal guidance. In brains of NCAM2-deficient mice, BACE1 levels are reduced in hippocampal mossy fiber projections, and the infrapyramidal bundle of these projections is shortened. This abnormal axonal organization correlates with impaired short-term spatial memory and cognitive flexibility in NCAM2-deficient male and female mice. Self-grooming, rearing, digging and olfactory acuity are increased in NCAM2-deficient male mice, when compared with littermate wild-type mice of the same sex. NCAM2-deficient female mice also show increased self-grooming, but are reduced in rearing, and do not differ from female wild-type mice in olfactory acuity and digging behavior. Our results indicate that errors in axonal guidance and organization caused by impaired BACE1 function can underlie the manifestation of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism as found in humans with deletions of the NCAM2 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saroj Sah
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Ryan Keable
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Grant Pfundstein
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Kelly J Clemens
- School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Denovan Begg
- School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Melitta Schachner
- Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08554, United States
| | - Iryna Leshchyns'ka
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Vladimir Sytnyk
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Helmy E, Elnakib A, ElNakieb Y, Khudri M, Abdelrahim M, Yousaf J, Ghazal M, Contractor S, Barnes GN, El-Baz A. Role of Artificial Intelligence for Autism Diagnosis Using DTI and fMRI: A Survey. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1858. [PMID: 37509498 PMCID: PMC10376963 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a wide range of diseases characterized by difficulties with social skills, repetitive activities, speech, and nonverbal communication. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1 in 44 American children currently suffer from ASD. The current gold standard for ASD diagnosis is based on behavior observational tests by clinicians, which suffer from being subjective and time-consuming and afford only late detection (a child must have a mental age of at least two to apply for an observation report). Alternatively, brain imaging-more specifically, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-has proven its ability to assist in fast, objective, and early ASD diagnosis and detection. With the recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques, sufficient tools have been developed for both automated ASD diagnosis and early detection. More recently, the development of deep learning (DL), a young subfield of AI based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), has successfully enabled the processing of brain MRI data with improved ASD diagnostic abilities. This survey focuses on the role of AI in autism diagnostics and detection based on two basic MRI modalities: diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI (fMRI). In addition, the survey outlines the basic findings of DTI and fMRI in autism. Furthermore, recent techniques for ASD detection using DTI and fMRI are summarized and discussed. Finally, emerging tendencies are described. The results of this study show how useful AI is for early, subjective ASD detection and diagnosis. More AI solutions that have the potential to be used in healthcare settings will be introduced in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Helmy
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Elgomheryia Street, Mansoura 3512, Egypt;
| | - Ahmed Elnakib
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Yaser ElNakieb
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Mohamed Khudri
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Mostafa Abdelrahim
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Jawad Yousaf
- Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering Department, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates; (J.Y.); (M.G.)
| | - Mohammed Ghazal
- Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering Department, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi 59911, United Arab Emirates; (J.Y.); (M.G.)
| | - Sohail Contractor
- Department of Radiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Gregory Neal Barnes
- Department of Neurology, Pediatric Research Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Ayman El-Baz
- Bioengineering Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; (A.E.); (Y.E.); (M.K.); (M.A.)
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7
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Zapparrata NM, Brooks PJ, Ober T. Developmental Language Disorder Is Associated With Slower Processing Across Domains: A Meta-Analysis of Time-Based Tasks. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023; 66:325-346. [PMID: 36603228 DOI: 10.1044/2022_jslhr-22-00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Individuals with developmental language disorder (DLD) often exhibit slower processing on time-based tasks in comparison with age-matched peers. Processing speed has been linked to various linguistic skills and might serve as a global indicator of individual differences in language abilities. Despite an extensive literature on processing speed in DLD, it remains unclear whether slower processing is domain general or restricted to linguistic and/or auditory tasks. METHOD This meta-analysis used robust variance estimation to compare response/reaction times (RTs) of DLD and age-matched groups (N = 812 DLD, 870 neurotypical; M age [DLD] = 8.9 years, range: 4.3-22.7 years). Moderators included task (simple RT, choice RT, naming, congruent/baseline conditions of interference control tasks), stimulus type (linguistic/nonlinguistic), stimulus modality (auditory/nonauditory), and response modality (verbal/nonverbal). Age and publication year were covariates. RESULTS The overall effect based on 46 studies and 144 estimates indicated longer mean RTs in DLD groups (g = .47, p < .001, 95% CI [.38, .55]). Moderator analyses indicated larger effects when tasks required verbal as opposed to nonverbal responses. No other moderators approached significance. All subgroup analyses were significant, indicating longer mean RTs in DLD groups across tasks, stimulus types, stimulus modalities, and response modalities. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with DLD exhibit longer RTs across verbal and nonverbal tasks, which may contribute to observed difficulties in language, motor skills, and executive functioning. Simple processing speed measures should be included in screening for language delays but may not be suitable for differential diagnosis, given that slower processing may occur across multiple disorders. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21809355.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia J Brooks
- Program in Educational Psychology, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY
- Department of Psychology, College of Staten Island, NY
| | - Teresa Ober
- Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, IN
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8
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Błażewicz A, Grabrucker AM. Metal Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Crosstalk between Toxic and Essential Metals. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010308. [PMID: 36613749 PMCID: PMC9820494 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Since hundreds of years ago, metals have been recognized as impacting our body's physiology. As a result, they have been studied as a potential cure for many ailments as well as a cause of acute or chronic poisoning. However, the link between aberrant metal levels and neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), is a relatively new finding, despite some evident ASD-related consequences of shortage or excess of specific metals. In this review, we will summarize past and current results explaining the pathomechanisms of toxic metals at the cellular and molecular levels that are still not fully understood. While toxic metals may interfere with dozens of physiological processes concurrently, we will focus on ASD-relevant activity such as inflammation/immune activation, mitochondrial malfunction, increased oxidative stress, impairment of axonal myelination, and synapse formation and function. In particular, we will highlight the competition with essential metals that may explain why both the presence of certain toxic metals and the absence of certain essential metals have emerged as risk factors for ASD. Although often investigated separately, through the agonistic and antagonistic effects of metals, a common metal imbalance may result in relation to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Błażewicz
- Department of Pathobiochemistry and Interdisciplinary Applications of Ion Chromatography, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Andreas M. Grabrucker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +353-61-237756
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9
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Badal KK, Puthanveettil SV. Axonal transport deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 123:103786. [PMID: 36252719 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Axonal transport is a major cellular process that mediates bidirectional signaling between the soma and synapse, enabling both intracellular and intercellular communications. Cellular materials, such as proteins, RNAs, and organelles, are transported by molecular motor proteins along cytoskeletal highways in a highly regulated manner. Several studies have demonstrated that axonal transport is central to normal neuronal function, plasticity, and memory storage. Importantly, disruptions in axonal transport result in neuronal dysfunction and are associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. However, we do not know much about axonal transport deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we briefly discuss our current understanding of the role of axonal transport in schizophrenia, bipolar and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerriann K Badal
- Department of Neuroscience, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, University of Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; Integrative Biology PhD Program, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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10
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Bathelt J, Koolschijn PCM, Geurts HM. Atypically slow processing of faces and non-faces in older autistic adults. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 26:1737-1751. [PMID: 34961340 PMCID: PMC9483195 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211065297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Face recognition is a fundamental function that requires holistic processing. Differences in face processing have been consistently identified in autistic children, but it is unknown whether these differences persist across the adult lifespan. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured holistic face processing with a rapid Mooney faces task in 50 autistic and 49 non-autistic participants (30–74 years). Behavioral tasks included a self-paced version of the same paradigm and a global–local processing task (Navon). Reduced detection rates for faces, but not non-faces, were found in autistic adults, including slower responses on all conditions. Without time constraints, differences in accuracy disappeared between groups, although reaction times in correctly identifying faces remained higher in autistic adults. The functional magnetic resonance imaging results showed lower activation in the left and right superior frontal gyrus in the autism group but no age-related differences. Overall, our findings point toward slower information processing speed rather than a face recognition deficit in autistic adults. This suggests that face-processing differences are not a core feature of autism across the adult lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Bathelt
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Royal Holloway, University of London, UK
| | | | - Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis, Youz/Parnassiagroup, The Netherlands
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11
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Maietta JE, Kuwabara HC, Cross CL, Flood SM, Kinsora TF, Ross SR, Allen DN. Influence of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders on Cognitive and Symptom Profiles: Considerations for Baseline Sport Concussion Assessment. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2021; 36:1438–1449. [PMID: 33611342 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acab006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The presence of neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders (LD) have demonstrated effects on Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) performance. No current research has directly examined whether autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has similar effects. The current study compared ImPACT cognitive and symptom profiles in athletes with self-reported ASD to other NDs and healthy controls using case-control matching. METHOD The current study compared ImPACT baselines of high school athletes with ASD to athletes with other NDs (ADHD, LD, and co-occurring ADHD/LD) and healthy controls on cognitive composites and symptom reporting. Participants included 435 athletes (87 controls, 87 with ASD, 87 with ADHD, 87 with LD, and 87 with ADHD/LD) selected from a larger naturalistic sample. Athletes were matched to the ASD group based on age, sex, and sport using randomized case-matched selection from the larger database. RESULTS Results revealed that athletes with ASD performed more poorly than healthy controls on the Visual Motor Speed composite. No differences were found for Post-concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) domain scores. Differences in cognitive and symptom profiles among the athletes with other NDs were also found. CONCLUSIONS Results elucidate patterns of baseline performance for athletes with ASD, demonstrating that there may not be significant differences between ASD and healthy controls on four of the five ImPACT composites, and no symptom reporting differences. Cognitive and symptom differences found for other NDs should be considered when interpreting baseline performance and for making return-to-play decisions in the absence of baseline assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Maietta
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Hana C Kuwabara
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Chad L Cross
- UNLV School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Sarah M Flood
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | | | - Staci R Ross
- Center for Applied Neuroscience, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Daniel N Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA
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12
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Gooijers J, De Luca A, Zivari Adab H, Leemans A, Roebroeck A, Swinnen SP. Indices of callosal axonal density and radius from diffusion MRI relate to upper and lower limb motor performance. Neuroimage 2021; 241:118433. [PMID: 34324975 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between human brain structure and functional outcome is of critical importance in systems neuroscience. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) studies show that fractional anisotropy (FA) is predictive of motor control, underscoring the importance of white matter (WM). However, as FA is a surrogate marker of WM, we aim to shed new light on the structural underpinnings of this relationship by applying a multi-compartment microstructure model providing axonal density/radius indices. Sixteen young adults (7 males / 9 females), performed a hand/foot tapping task and a Multi Limb Reaction Time task. Furthermore, diffusion (STEAM &HARDI) and fMRI (localizer hand/foot activations) data were obtained. Sphere ROIs were placed on activation clusters with highest t value to guide interhemispheric WM tractography. Axonal radius/density indices of callosal parts intersecting with tractography were calculated from STEAM, using the diffusion-time dependent AxCaliber model, and correlated with behavior. Results indicated a possible association between larger apparent axonal radii of callosal motor fibers of the hand and higher tapping scores of both hands, and faster selection-related processing (normalized reaction) times (RTs) on diagonal limb combinations. Additionally, a trend was present for faster selection-related processing (normalized reaction) times for lower limbs being related with higher axonal density of callosal foot motor fibers, and for higher FA values of callosal motor fibers in general being related with better tapping and faster selection-related processing (normalized reaction) times. Whereas FA is sensitive in demonstrating associations with motor behavior, axon radius/density (i.e., fiber geometry) measures are promising to explain the physiological source behind the observed FA changes, contributing to deeper insights into brain-behavior interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gooijers
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven (3000), Belgium; LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven (3000), Belgium.
| | - A De Luca
- PROVIDI Lab, Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CX, Netherlands; Neurology Department, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CX, Netherlands
| | - H Zivari Adab
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven (3000), Belgium; LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven (3000), Belgium
| | - A Leemans
- PROVIDI Lab, Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CX, Netherlands
| | - A Roebroeck
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6229 EV, Netherlands
| | - S P Swinnen
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven (3000), Belgium; LBI-KU Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven (3000), Belgium
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13
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Wegscheid ML, Anastasaki C, Hartigan KA, Cobb OM, Papke JB, Traber JN, Morris SM, Gutmann DH. Patient-derived iPSC-cerebral organoid modeling of the 17q11.2 microdeletion syndrome establishes CRLF3 as a critical regulator of neurogenesis. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109315. [PMID: 34233200 PMCID: PMC8278229 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are often caused by chromosomal microdeletions comprising numerous contiguous genes. A subset of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients with severe developmental delays and intellectual disability harbors such a microdeletion event on chromosome 17q11.2, involving the NF1 gene and flanking regions (NF1 total gene deletion [NF1-TGD]). Using patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-forebrain cerebral organoids (hCOs), we identify both neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and neuronal maturation abnormalities in NF1-TGD hCOs. While increased NSC proliferation results from decreased NF1/RAS regulation, the neuronal differentiation, survival, and maturation defects are caused by reduced cytokine receptor-like factor 3 (CRLF3) expression and impaired RhoA signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrate a higher autistic trait burden in NF1 patients harboring a deleterious germline mutation in the CRLF3 gene (c.1166T>C, p.Leu389Pro). Collectively, these findings identify a causative gene within the NF1-TGD locus responsible for hCO neuronal abnormalities and autism in children with NF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Wegscheid
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Corina Anastasaki
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kelly A Hartigan
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Olivia M Cobb
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jason B Papke
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer N Traber
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Stephanie M Morris
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David H Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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14
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Andica C, Kamagata K, Kirino E, Uchida W, Irie R, Murata S, Aoki S. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging reveals white matter microstructural alterations in adults with autism. Mol Autism 2021; 12:48. [PMID: 34193257 PMCID: PMC8247240 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-021-00456-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidences suggesting the association between behavioral anomalies in autism and white matter (WM) microstructural alterations are increasing. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is widely used to infer tissue microstructure. However, due to its lack of specificity, the underlying pathology of reported differences in DTI measures in autism remains poorly understood. Herein, we applied neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) to quantify and define more specific causes of WM microstructural changes associated with autism in adults. Methods NODDI (neurite density index [NDI], orientation dispersion index, and isotropic volume fraction [ISOVF]) and DTI (fractional anisotropy [FA], mean diffusivity [MD], axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity [RD]) measures were compared between autism (N = 26; 19 males and 7 females; 32.93 ± 9.24 years old) and age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD; N = 25; 17 males and 8 females; 34.43 ± 9.02 years old) groups using tract-based spatial statistics and region-of-interest analyses. Linear discriminant analysis using leave-one-out cross-validation (LDA-LOOCV) was also performed to assess the discriminative power of diffusion measures in autism and TD. Results Significantly lower NDI and higher ISOVF, suggestive of decreased neurite density and increased extracellular free-water, respectively, were demonstrated in the autism group compared with the TD group, mainly in commissural and long-range association tracts, but with distinct predominant sides. Consistent with previous reports, the autism group showed lower FA and higher MD and RD when compared with TD group. Notably, LDA-LOOCV suggests that NDI and ISOVF have relatively higher accuracy (82%) and specificity (NDI, 84%; ISOVF, 88%) compared with that of FA, MD, and RD (accuracy, 67–73%; specificity, 68–80%). Limitations The absence of histopathological confirmation limit the interpretation of our findings. Conclusions Our results suggest that NODDI measures might be useful as imaging biomarkers to diagnose autism in adults and assess its behavioral characteristics. Furthermore, NODDI allows interpretation of previous findings on changes in WM diffusion tensor metrics in individuals with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Andica
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Koji Kamagata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eiji Kirino
- Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Wataru Uchida
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Irie
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Syo Murata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Healthy Sciences, Komazawa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Olafson E, Bedford SA, Devenyi GA, Patel R, Tullo S, Park MTM, Parent O, Anagnostou E, Baron-Cohen S, Bullmore ET, Chura LR, Craig MC, Ecker C, Floris DL, Holt RJ, Lenroot R, Lerch JP, Lombardo MV, Murphy DGM, Raznahan A, Ruigrok ANV, Spencer MD, Suckling J, Taylor MJ, Lai MC, Chakravarty MM. Examining the Boundary Sharpness Coefficient as an Index of Cortical Microstructure in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3338-3352. [PMID: 33693614 PMCID: PMC8196259 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with atypical brain development. However, the phenotype of regionally specific increased cortical thickness observed in ASD may be driven by several independent biological processes that influence the gray/white matter boundary, such as synaptic pruning, myelination, or atypical migration. Here, we propose to use the boundary sharpness coefficient (BSC), a proxy for alterations in microstructure at the cortical gray/white matter boundary, to investigate brain differences in individuals with ASD, including factors that may influence ASD-related heterogeneity (age, sex, and intelligence quotient). Using a vertex-based meta-analysis and a large multicenter structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset, with a total of 1136 individuals, 415 with ASD (112 female; 303 male), and 721 controls (283 female; 438 male), we observed that individuals with ASD had significantly greater BSC in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and left inferior frontal gyrus indicating an abrupt transition (high contrast) between white matter and cortical intensities. Individuals with ASD under 18 had significantly greater BSC in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and right postcentral gyrus; individuals with ASD over 18 had significantly increased BSC in the bilateral precuneus and superior temporal gyrus. Increases were observed in different brain regions in males and females, with larger effect sizes in females. BSC correlated with ADOS-2 Calibrated Severity Score in individuals with ASD in the right medial temporal pole. Importantly, there was a significant spatial overlap between maps of the effect of diagnosis on BSC when compared with cortical thickness. These results invite studies to use BSC as a possible new measure of cortical development in ASD and to further examine the microstructural underpinnings of BSC-related differences and their impact on measures of cortical morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Olafson
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York City, NY 10021, USA
| | - Saashi A Bedford
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Gabriel A Devenyi
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Raihaan Patel
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Stephanie Tullo
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Min Tae M Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London N6A 3K7, ON, Canada
| | - Olivier Parent
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Departement de Psychologie, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto M4G 1R8, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Lindsay R Chura
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Michael C Craig
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
- National Autism Unit, Bethlem Royal Hospital, London BR3 3BX, UK
| | - Christine Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main 60528, Germany
| | - Dorothea L Floris
- Donders Center for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen 6525 HR, The Netherlands
- Department for Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen 02.275, The Netherlands
| | - Rosemary J Holt
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Rhoshel Lenroot
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
- Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-9663, USA
| | - Amber N V Ruigrok
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - Michael D Spencer
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
| | - John Suckling
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
| | | | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8AH, UK
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto M6J 1H4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei 100229, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - M Mallar Chakravarty
- Cerebral Imaging Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal H4H 1R3, Canada
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 2B4, Canada
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16
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The Neurological Basis of Developmental Dyslexia and Related Disorders: A Reappraisal of the Temporal Hypothesis, Twenty Years on. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060708. [PMID: 34071786 PMCID: PMC8229928 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In a now-classic article published a couple of decades ago (Brain, 2000; 123: 2373-2399), I proposed an "extended temporal processing deficit hypothesis of dyslexia", suggesting that a deficit in temporal processing could explain not only language-related peculiarities usually noticed in dyslexic children, but also a wider range of symptoms related to impaired processing of time in general. In the present review paper, I will revisit this "historical" hypothesis both in the light of a new clinical perspective, including the central yet poorly explained notion of comorbidity, and also taking a new look at the most recent experimental work, mainly focusing on brain imaging data. First, consistent with daily clinical practice, I propose to distinguish three groups of children who fail to learn to read, of fairly equal occurrence, who share the same initial presentation (difficulty in mastering the rules of grapheme-phoneme correspondence) but with differing associated signs and/or comorbid conditions (language disorders in the first group, attentional deficits in the second one, and motor coordination problems in the last one), thus suggesting, at least in part, potentially different triggering mechanisms. It is then suggested, in the light of brain imaging information available to date, that the three main clinical presentations/associations of cognitive impairments that compromise reading skills acquisition correspond to three distinct patterns of miswiring or "disconnectivity" in specific brain networks which have in common their involvement in the process of learning and their heavy reliance on temporal features of information processing. With reference to the classic temporal processing deficit of dyslexia and to recent evidence of an inability of the dyslexic brain to achieve adequate coupling of oscillatory brain activity to the temporal features of external events, a general model is proposed according to which a common mechanism of temporal uncoupling between various disconnected-and/or mis-wired-processors may account for distinct forms of specific learning disorders, with reading impairment being a more or less constant feature. Finally, the potential therapeutic implications of such a view are considered, with special emphasis on methods seeking to enhance cross-modal connectivity between separate brain systems, including those using rhythmic and musical training in dyslexic patients.
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17
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Yin Y, Xu S, Li C, Li M, Liu M, Yan J, Lan Z, Zhan W, Jiang G, Tian J. Association of Reduced Tract Integrity with Social Communication Deficits in Preschool Autism Children: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2021; 17:2003-2010. [PMID: 34168457 PMCID: PMC8219119 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s306596] [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: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the changes in white matter tracts in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the correlation between these changes and social communication deficits. METHODS Diffuse tensor imaging was used to assess white matter integrity using tract-based spatial statistics in a sample of 50 right-handed children with ASD aged 2-6 years vis a reference sample of 46 typically developing children aged 2-6 years. We then correlated these significant different fiber tracts between groups with communication and social interaction scores using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised Assessment (ADI-R) Scale. RESULTS We observed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in tracts including the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), the splenium of the corpus callosum (splCC), the left corticospinal tracts, and the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) in children with ASD. Specifically, there was reduced white matter integrity of these tracts in the left cerebral hemisphere. In addition, we found that the decreased FA of left SLF and ILF was negatively associated with the ADI-R scores in children with ASD. CONCLUSION The structural integrity of some white matter tracts in the five-level anatomical model for the social communication was reduced. The reduced integrity white matter that we observed primarily in the left cerebral hemisphere may be a neural substrate of social communication deficits in preschool children with ASD, and we speculate that the reduction is associated with the severity of social interaction. The reduced FA of the splCC might be a substantial biomarker for children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yin
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shoujun Xu
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengchen Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhao Yan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihong Lan
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenfeng Zhan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Guihua Jiang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Junzhang Tian
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Imaging, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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18
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Morel-Kohlmeyer S, Thillay A, Roux S, Amado I, Brenugat L, Carteau-Martin I, Danset-Alexandre C, Gaudelus B, Graux J, Peyroux E, Prost Z, Krebs MO, Franck N, Bonnet-Brilhault F, Houy-Durand E. When Alterations in Social Cognition Meet Subjective Complaints in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evaluation With the "ClaCoS" Battery. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:643551. [PMID: 34512407 PMCID: PMC8426662 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643551] [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: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Deficit in social communication is a core feature in Autism Spectrum Disorder but remains poorly assessed in classical clinical practice, especially in adult populations. This gap between needs and practice is partly due to a lack of standardized evaluation tools. The multicentric Research group in psychiatry GDR3557 (Institut de Psychiatrie) developed a new battery for social cognitive evaluation named "ClaCoS," which allows testing the main components of social cognition: Emotion Recognition, Theory of Mind, Attributional Style, and Social Perception and Knowledge. It further provides an assessment of subjective complaints in social cognition. Methods: We compared the social cognition abilities of 45 adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder without intellectual disability and 45 neurotypically developed volunteers using the "ClaCoS" battery, in order to determine its relevance in the evaluation of social cognition impairments in autism. A correlational approach allowed us to test the links between subjective complaints and objectively measured impairments for the different components of social cognition. Results: As expected, the Autism Spectrum Disorder group showed deficits in all four components of social cognition. Moreover, they reported greater subjective complaints than controls regarding their social abilities, correlated to the neuropsychological assessments. Conclusion: The "ClaCoS" battery is an interesting tool allowing to assess social impairments in autism and to specify the altered components, for a better adjustment of tailored social cognition training programs. Our results further suggest that people with Autism Spectrum Disorder have a good social cognitive insight, i.e., awareness into social cognitive functioning, and may thus benefit from social cognitive training tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Morel-Kohlmeyer
- Centre Universitaire de Pédopsychiatrie, CHRU de Tours, Centre d'Excellence Autisme et Troubles du Neuro-développement-Tours exac.t, Tours, France.,UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France
| | - Alix Thillay
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Se Rétablir 37, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Sylvie Roux
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - Isabelle Amado
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,GHU-Site Sainte Anne, Paris, France.,Centre Ressource de Remédiation Cognitive et Réhabilitation Psychosociale, île de France, Paris, France
| | - Lindsay Brenugat
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,GHU-Site Sainte Anne, Paris, France.,Centre Ressource de Remédiation Cognitive et Réhabilitation Psychosociale, île de France, Paris, France
| | | | - Charlotte Danset-Alexandre
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire PEPIT, GHU Psychiatrie et Neurosciences - Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, France.,Inserm Institut Paris Neurosciences et Psychiatrie (IPNP)-UMR 1266, Paris, France
| | - Baptiste Gaudelus
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation Psychosociale, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France
| | - Jérôme Graux
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Se Rétablir 37, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Elodie Peyroux
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation Psychosociale, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France.,Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire ADIS, CRMR GénoPsy, Centre d'Excellence Autisme et Troubles du Neurodéveloppement iMind, Lyon, France
| | - Zelda Prost
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation Psychosociale, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France.,Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire ADIS, CRMR GénoPsy, Centre d'Excellence Autisme et Troubles du Neurodéveloppement iMind, Lyon, France.,Dispositif de Soins de Réhabilitation Psycho-Sociale, Centre Psychothérapique de l'Ain, Bourg-en-Bresse, France
| | - Marie-Odile Krebs
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire PEPIT, GHU Psychiatrie et Neurosciences - Hôpital Sainte Anne, Paris, France.,Inserm Institut Paris Neurosciences et Psychiatrie (IPNP)-UMR 1266, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Franck
- Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France.,Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation Psychosociale, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Bron, France.,UMR 5229 CNRS & Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Frédérique Bonnet-Brilhault
- Centre Universitaire de Pédopsychiatrie, CHRU de Tours, Centre d'Excellence Autisme et Troubles du Neuro-développement-Tours exac.t, Tours, France.,UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Houy-Durand
- Centre Universitaire de Pédopsychiatrie, CHRU de Tours, Centre d'Excellence Autisme et Troubles du Neuro-développement-Tours exac.t, Tours, France.,UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France.,Institut de Psychiatrie (CNRS GDR 3557), groupe de travail ≪ Cognition ≫, Paris, France
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19
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McKenna F, Miles L, Donaldson J, Castellanos FX, Lazar M. Diffusion kurtosis imaging of gray matter in young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21465. [PMID: 33293640 PMCID: PMC7722927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78486-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior ex vivo histological postmortem studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shown gray matter microstructural abnormalities, however, in vivo examination of gray matter microstructure in ASD has remained scarce due to the relative lack of non-invasive methods to assess it. The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of employing diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) to describe gray matter abnormalities in ASD in vivo. DKI data were examined for 16 male participants with a diagnosis of ASD and IQ>80 and 17 age- and IQ-matched male typically developing (TD) young adults 18-25 years old. Mean (MK), axial (AK), radial (RK) kurtosis and mean diffusivity (MD) metrics were calculated for lobar and sub-lobar regions of interest. Significantly decreased MK, RK, and MD were found in ASD compared to TD participants in the frontal and temporal lobes and several sub-lobar regions previously associated with ASD pathology. In ASD participants, decreased kurtosis in gray matter ROIs correlated with increased repetitive and restricted behaviors and poor social interaction symptoms. Decreased kurtosis in ASD may reflect a pathology associated with a less restrictive microstructural environment such as decreased neuronal density and size, atypically sized cortical columns, or limited dendritic arborizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye McKenna
- Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave, Fourth Floor, New York, NY, USA.
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Laura Miles
- Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave, Fourth Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey Donaldson
- Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave, Fourth Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | - F Xavier Castellanos
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Mariana Lazar
- Department of Radiology, Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine, 660 First Ave, Fourth Floor, New York, NY, USA
- Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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20
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Dimond D, Schuetze M, Smith RE, Dhollander T, Cho I, Vinette S, Ten Eycke K, Lebel C, McCrimmon A, Dewey D, Connelly A, Bray S. Reduced White Matter Fiber Density in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:1778-1788. [PMID: 30668849 PMCID: PMC6418389 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in brain networks and underlying white matter abnormalities have been suggested to underlie symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, robustly characterizing microstructural white matter differences has been challenging. In the present study, we applied an analytic technique that calculates structural metrics specific to differently-oriented fiber bundles within a voxel, termed "fixels". Fixel-based analyses were used to compare diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data from 25 individuals with ASD (mean age = 16.8 years) and 27 typically developing age-matched controls (mean age = 16.9 years). Group comparisons of fiber density (FD) and bundle morphology were run on a fixel-wise, tract-wise, and global white matter (GWM) basis. We found that individuals with ASD had reduced FD, suggestive of decreased axonal count, in several major white matter tracts, including the corpus callosum (CC), bilateral inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus, right arcuate fasciculus, and right uncinate fasciculus, as well as a GWM reduction. Secondary analyses assessed associations with social impairment in participants with ASD, and showed that lower FD in the splenium of the CC was associated with greater social impairment. Our findings suggest that reduced FD could be the primary microstructural white matter abnormality in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Dimond
- Department of Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Manuela Schuetze
- Department of Neuroscience, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Robert E Smith
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Thijs Dhollander
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Ivy Cho
- Department of Psychological Clinical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Vinette
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Kayla Ten Eycke
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Adam McCrimmon
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Alan Connelly
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne VIC, Australia.,The Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC, Australia
| | - Signe Bray
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Owerko Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Department of Radiology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada.,Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
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21
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Peled J, Cassuto H, Berger I. Processing speed as a marker to stimulant effect in clinical sample of children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Nord J Psychiatry 2020; 74:163-167. [PMID: 31686565 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1686063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Background: Patients with co-occurring Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and ASD might benefit from stimulants. There is a progressive increase in prescribing ADHD aimed medications for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), despite scarce knowledge and no distinct clinical guidelines for that matter.Aim: This study aims to analyze the effect of stimulant on processing speed performance and attention indices in children with ASD and ADHD.Methods: Forty children aged 6-18 years diagnosed with ASD who also met the criteria for ADHD were recruited. All children performed a computerized performance test for the assessment of cognitive attention performance three times: twice while they are drug naïve and once an hour after taking a single dose of 10 mg. methylphenidate (MPH). This performance was compared to a group of children diagnosed with 'ADHD only' without ASD.Results: A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found only in the parameter of measuring cognitive processing speed. This effect is significantly different from the response of the 'ADHD only' group.Conclusions: The reaction to MPH among ASD children is different than among ADHD children. In ASD, MPH significantly improved cognitive processing speed without changing other measured attention parameters. Improving processing speed, might improve every day functioning in children with ASD who also met the criteria for ADHD, in other means than expected. This unique response suggests new research targets for treatment with stimulants in ASD and ADHD children and its influence on cognitive parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Peled
- The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hanoch Cassuto
- Pediatric Neurology Clinics, Leumit HMO, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Itai Berger
- Pediatric Neurology, Assuta-Ashdod University Medical Center, The Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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22
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Haigh SM, Keller TA, Minshew NJ, Eack SM. Reduced White Matter Integrity and Deficits in Neuropsychological Functioning in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:702-714. [PMID: 32073209 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently viewed as a disorder of cortical systems connectivity, with a heavy emphasis being on the structural integrity of white matter tracts. However, the majority of the literature to date has focused on children with ASD. Understanding the integrity of white matter tracts in adults may help reveal the nature of ASD pathology in adulthood and the potential contributors to cognitive impairment. This study examined white matter water diffusion using diffusion tensor imaging in relation to neuropsychological measures of cognition in a sample of 45 adults with ASD compared to 20 age, gender, and full-scale-IQ-matched healthy volunteers. Tract-based spatial statistics were used to assess differences in diffusion along white matter tracts between groups using permutation testing. The following neuropsychological measures of cognition were assessed: processing speed, attention vigilance, working memory, verbal learning, visual learning, reasoning and problem solving, and social cognition. Results indicated that fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly reduced in adults with ASD in the anterior thalamic radiation (P = 0.022) and the right cingulum (P = 0.008). All neuropsychological measures were worse in the ASD group, but none of the measures significantly correlated with reduced FA in either tract in the adults with ASD or in the healthy volunteers. Together, this indicates that the tracts that are the most impacted in autism may not be (at least directly) responsible for the behavioral deficits in ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 702-714. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: White matter tracts are the data cables in the brain that efficiently transfer information, and damage to these tracts could be the cause for the abnormal behaviors that are associated with autism. We found that two long-range tracts (the anterior thalamic radiation and the cingulum) were both impaired in autism but were not directly related to the impairments in behavior. This suggests that the abnormal tracts and behavior are the effects of another underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Haigh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychology and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
| | - Timothy A Keller
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Nancy J Minshew
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Shaun M Eack
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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23
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An autism-causing calcium channel variant functions with selective autophagy to alter axon targeting and behavior. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008488. [PMID: 31805042 PMCID: PMC6894750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Common and rare variants of the CACNA1C voltage-gated calcium channel gene have been associated with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and ADHD. However, little is known about how CACNA1C variants affect cellular processes to alter neurodevelopment. The Timothy syndrome mutation is a rare de novo gain-of-function variant in CACNA1C that causes autism with high penetrance, providing a powerful avenue into investigating the role of CACNA1C variants in neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we use egl-19, the C. elegans homolog of CACNA1C, to investigate the role of voltage-gated calcium channels in autism. We show that an egl-19(gof) mutation that is equivalent to the Timothy syndrome mutation can alter axon targeting and affect behavior in C. elegans. We find that wildtype egl-19 negatively regulates axon termination. The egl-19(gof) mutation represses axon termination to cause axon targeting defects that lead to the misplacement of electrical synapses and alterations in habituation to light touch. Moreover, genetic interactions indicate that the egl-19(gof) mutation functions with genes that promote selective autophagy to cause defects in axon termination and behavior. These results reveal a novel genetic mechanism whereby a de novo mutation in CACNA1C can drive alterations in circuit formation and behavior. Autism is a disorder that affects neuronal development, leading to alterations in cognition and behavior. Imaging studies have revealed alterations in axonal connectivity as a key feature of autism. However, the underlying perturbations in cell biology that drive these alterations remain largely unknown. To address this issue, we have taken advantage of the Timothy syndrome mutation, a variant in a voltage-gated calcium channel that has the unusual property of causing autism with high penetrance. We identify a role for wild-type voltage-gated calcium channels in regulating axon targeting in C. elegans. Moreover, we find that two different versions of the Timothy syndrome mutation disrupt axon targeting. Our results suggest that the Timothy syndrome mutations disrupt axon targeting and behavior by interacting with genes that promote selective autophagy, the process through which cellular components are selected for degradation. These results reveal a mechanism through which variants in voltage-gated calcium channels can cause the disruptions in axonal connectivity that underlie autism.
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24
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Haigh SM, Eack SM, Keller T, Minshew NJ, Behrmann M. White matter structure in schizophrenia and autism: Abnormal diffusion across the brain in schizophrenia. Neuropsychologia 2019; 135:107233. [PMID: 31655160 PMCID: PMC6884694 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.107233] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia and autism share many behavioral and neurological similarities, including altered white matter tract structure. However, because schizophrenia and autism are rarely compared directly, it is difficult to establish whether white matter abnormalities are disorder-specific or are common across these disorders that share some symptomatology. METHODS In the current study, we compared white matter water diffusion using tensor imaging in 25 adults with autism, 15 adults with schizophrenia, all with IQ scores above 88, and 19 neurotypical adults. RESULTS Although the three groups evinced no statistically significant differences in measures of fractional anisotropy (FA), the schizophrenia group showed significantly greater mean diffusivity (MD; Cohen's d > 0.77), due to greater radial diffusivity (RD; Cohen's d > 0.92), compared to both the autism and control groups. This effect was evident across the brain rather than specific to a particular tract. CONCLUSIONS The greater MD and RD in schizophrenia appears to be diagnosis-specific. The altered diffusion may reflect subtle abnormalities in myelination, which could be a potential mechanism underlying the widespread behavioral deficits associated with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Haigh
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, USA; Department of Psychology and Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, USA.
| | - Shaun M Eack
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Timothy Keller
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
| | - Nancy J Minshew
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Marlene Behrmann
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
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25
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Chung S, Fieremans E, Wang X, Kucukboyaci NE, Morton CJ, Babb J, Amorapanth P, Foo FYA, Novikov DS, Flanagan SR, Rath JF, Lui YW. White Matter Tract Integrity: An Indicator of Axonal Pathology after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2019; 35:1015-1020. [PMID: 29239261 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2017.5320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We seek to elucidate the underlying pathophysiology of injury sustained after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using multi-shell diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, deriving compartment-specific white matter tract integrity (WMTI) metrics. WMTI allows a more biophysical interpretation of white matter (WM) changes by describing microstructural characteristics in both intra- and extra-axonal environments. Thirty-two patients with mTBI within 30 days of injury and 21 age- and sex-matched controls were imaged on a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner. Multi-shell diffusion acquisition was performed with five b-values (250-2500 sec/mm2) along 6-60 diffusion encoding directions. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used with family-wise error (FWE) correction for multiple comparisons. TBSS results demonstrated focally lower intra-axonal diffusivity (Daxon) in mTBI patients in the splenium of the corpus callosum (sCC; p < 0.05, FWE-corrected). The area under the curve value for Daxon was 0.76 with a low sensitivity of 46.9% but 100% specificity. These results indicate that Daxon may be a useful imaging biomarker highly specific for mTBI-related WM injury. The observed decrease in Daxon suggests restriction of the diffusion along the axons occurring shortly after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohae Chung
- 1 Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York.,2 Department of Radiology, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Els Fieremans
- 1 Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York.,2 Department of Radiology, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Xiuyuan Wang
- 1 Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York.,2 Department of Radiology, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Nuri E Kucukboyaci
- 3 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Charles J Morton
- 1 Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York.,2 Department of Radiology, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - James Babb
- 1 Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York.,2 Department of Radiology, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Prin Amorapanth
- 3 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Farng-Yang A Foo
- 4 Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Health , New York, New York
| | - Dmitry S Novikov
- 1 Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York.,2 Department of Radiology, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Steven R Flanagan
- 3 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Joseph F Rath
- 3 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
| | - Yvonne W Lui
- 1 Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York.,2 Department of Radiology, Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University School of Medicine , New York, New York
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26
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Patterning of corpus callosum integrity in glioma observed by MRI: Effect of 2D bi-axial lamellar brain architecture. J Neurooncol 2019; 144:165-177. [PMID: 31264025 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-019-03217-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Corpus callosum (CC) is a main channel histologically for glioma spreading, downgrading the prognosis, the infiltration occurring through cellular reaction-diffusion process. Preliminary clinical trial indicates that CC's surgical interruption appreciably enhances clinical outcome. We aim to find how high-grade glioma phenomenology is reflected in CC parameters, including various 3D diffusion eigenvalues differentially, whereby this information may be utilized for planning radiotherapy and surgical intervention. METHODS Using 3 Tesla MRI diffusion-tensor imaging of glioma patients and matched controls, we formulated the callosal volume, fibre count, and 3D directional diffusivity eigenvalues (λ1-λ2-λ3), utilizing FDT/FMRIB-based analysis. RESULTS In glioma, the callosal volume, fibre count and normalized volume decreases (p < 0.001), while axial diffusivity λ1 and radial diffusivity component λ2 significantly increase (p = 0.03, p = 0.04). Though not expected, the other radial diffusivity component λ3 remains unchanged (p = 0.11). Increase of λ1 and λ2 is due to gliomatous migration across the two directions (eigenvectors of λ1, λ2), which correlate respectively with medio-lateral commissural fibres and dorso-ventral perforating fibres in CC. These are corroborated by collateral radiological findings and immunohistological staining of those two fibre-systems in cat and human. CONCLUSION In glioma, the two diffusivities (λ1, λ2), enhance due to fluidic edema permeation through CC's bi-axial lamina-type structural scaffold, formed by mediolateral commissural fibres and dorsoventral perforating cingulo-septal fibres. On other hand, the two radial diffusivities (λ2, λ3) are physiologically different and can be distinguished as lamellar diffusivity and focal diffusivity respectively. Lamellar diffusivity λ2 needs to be considered for MRI-assisted surgical intervention and radiotherapy planning in glioma.
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27
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White matter alterations in adult with autism spectrum disorder evaluated using diffusion kurtosis imaging. Neuroradiology 2019; 61:1343-1353. [PMID: 31209529 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-019-02238-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is related to impairment in various white matter (WM) pathways. Utility of the recently developed two-compartment model of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) to analyse axial diffusivity of WM is restricted by several limitations. The present study aims to validate the utility of model-free DKI in the evaluation of WM alterations in ASD and analyse the potential relationship between DKI-evident WM alterations and personality scales. METHODS Overall, 15 participants with ASD and 15 neurotypical (NT) controls were scanned on a 3 T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, and scores for autism quotient (AQ), systemising quotient (SQ) and empathising quotient (EQ) were obtained for both groups. Multishell diffusion-weighted MR data were acquired using two b-values (1000 and 2000 s/mm2). Differences in mean kurtosis (MK), radial kurtosis (RK) and axial kurtosis (AK) between the groups were evaluated using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Finally, the relationships between the kurtosis indices and personality quotients were examined. RESULTS The ASD group demonstrated significantly lower AK in the body and splenium of corpus callosum than the NT group; however, no other significant differences were identified. Negative correlations were found between AK and AQ or SQ, predominantly in WM areas related to social-emotional processing such as uncinate fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi. CONCLUSIONS Model-free DKI and its indices may represent a novel, objective method for detecting the disease severity and WM alterations in patients with ASD.
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28
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Paranjape SR, Nagendran T, Poole V, Harris J, Taylor AM. Compartmentalization of Human Stem Cell-Derived Neurons within Pre-Assembled Plastic Microfluidic Chips. J Vis Exp 2019. [PMID: 31107446 DOI: 10.3791/59250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Use of microfluidic devices to compartmentalize cultured neurons has become a standard method in neuroscience. This protocol shows how to use a pre-assembled multi-compartment chip made in a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) to compartmentalize neurons differentiated from human stem cells. The footprint of these COC chips are the same as a standard microscope slide and are equally compatible with high resolution microscopy. Neurons are differentiated from human neural stem cells (NSCs) into glutamatergic neurons within the chip and maintained for 5 weeks, allowing sufficient time for these neurons to develop synapses and dendritic spines. Further, we demonstrate multiple common experimental procedures using these multi-compartment chips, including viral labeling, establishing microenvironments, axotomy, and immunocytochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smita R Paranjape
- UNC Neuroscience Center; UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | - Tharkika Nagendran
- UNC Neuroscience Center; UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | | | | | - Anne Marion Taylor
- UNC Neuroscience Center; UNC/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering; Xona Microfluidics, LLC;
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29
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Braeckman K, Descamps B, Pieters L, Vral A, Caeyenberghs K, Vanhove C. Dynamic changes in hippocampal diffusion and kurtosis metrics following experimental mTBI correlate with glial reactivity. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 21:101669. [PMID: 30658945 PMCID: PMC6412089 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers can provide quantifiable information of the brain tissue after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, the commonly applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) model is not very specific to changes in the underlying cellular structures. To overcome these limitations, other diffusion models have recently emerged to provide a more complete view on the damage profile following TBI. In this study, we investigated longitudinal changes in advanced diffusion metrics following experimental mTBI, utilising three different diffusion models in a rat model of mTBI, including DTI, diffusion kurtosis imaging and a white matter model. Moreover, we investigated the association between the diffusion metrics with histological markers, including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilaments and synaptophysin in order to investigate specificity. Our results revealed significant decreases in mean diffusivity in the hippocampus and radial diffusivity and radial extra axonal diffusivity (RadEAD) in the cingulum one week post injury. Furthermore, correlation analysis showed that increased values of fractional anisotropy one day post injury in the hippocampus was highly correlated with GFAP reactivity three months post injury. Additionally, we observed a positive correlation between GFAP on one hand and the kurtosis parameters in the hippocampus on the other hand three months post injury. This result indicated that prolonged glial activation three months post injury is related to higher kurtosis values at later time points. In conclusion, our findings point out to the possible role of kurtosis metrics as well as metrics from the white matter model as prognostic biomarker to monitor prolonged glial reactivity and inflammatory responses after a mTBI not only at early timepoints but also several months after injury. Advanced diffusion metrics show longitudinal changes following mTBI Radial diffusivity (RD) and radial extra-axonal diffusivity ↓ in the cingulum Mean diffusivity ↓ in the hippocampus In the cingulum RD is continuously decreased until three months post injury Glial activity correlates with fractional anisotropy in hippocampus
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Braeckman
- Infinity Lab, Medical Imaging and Signal Processing Group, UGent, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Benedicte Descamps
- Infinity Lab, Medical Imaging and Signal Processing Group, UGent, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Leen Pieters
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, UGent, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Anne Vral
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, UGent, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Karen Caeyenberghs
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Christian Vanhove
- Infinity Lab, Medical Imaging and Signal Processing Group, UGent, Ghent, Belgium.
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Hrdlicka M, Sanda J, Urbanek T, Kudr M, Dudova I, Kickova S, Pospisilova L, Mohaplova M, Maulisova A, Krsek P, Kyncl M, Blatny M, Komarek V. Diffusion Tensor Imaging And Tractography In Autistic, Dysphasic, And Healthy Control Children. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2019; 15:2843-2852. [PMID: 31632032 PMCID: PMC6781738 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s219545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a powerful tool for investigating brain anatomical connectivity. The aim of our study was to compare brain connectivity among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental dysphasia (DD), and healthy controls (HC) in the following tracts: the arcuate fasciculus (AF), inferior frontal occipital fasciculus (IFOF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), and uncinate fasciculus (UF). METHODS Our sample consisted of 113 children with a mean age 8.7±2.2 years (77 boys, 36 girls), divided into three subgroups: ASD (n=39), DD (n=36), and HC (n=38). The International Classification of Diseases, 10th ed. was used to make clinical diagnoses. DTI images were collected using a 1.5 T Phillips Achieva MR imaging system. RESULTS Detailed analyses of fractional anisotropy (FA) revealed significant differences among the ASD, DD, and HC groups in the left AF (p=0.014) and right AF (p=0.001), the left IFOF (p<0.001) and right IFOF (p<0.001), the left ILF (p<0.001) and right ILF (p<0.001), but not in the UF. Post-hoc analyses revealed three patterns of FA differences among the groups: (1) in the right AF, right IFOF, and right ILF, FA was significantly lower in the ASD group compared to the DD and HC groups; however, there was no difference in FA between DD and HC; (2) in the left AF and left IFOF, FA was significantly lower in the ASD than in the HC group, but there were no differences between DD vs HC nor DD vs ASD; and (3) in the left ILF, no difference in FA was seen between ASD and DD, but FA in both was significantly lower than in the HC. CONCLUSION Microstructural white matter properties differed between ASD vs DD and HC subjects. The tract where FA impairment in ASD and DD subjects was the most similar was the left ILF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Hrdlicka
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Sanda
- Department of Radiology, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Urbanek
- Institute of Psychology, Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kudr
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Dudova
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Stepanka Kickova
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Pospisilova
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.,Charles University First Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marketa Mohaplova
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alice Maulisova
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Krsek
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kyncl
- Department of Radiology, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Blatny
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Komarek
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charles University Second Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
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31
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Sui YV, Donaldson J, Miles L, Babb JS, Castellanos FX, Lazar M. Diffusional kurtosis imaging of the corpus callosum in autism. Mol Autism 2018; 9:62. [PMID: 30559954 PMCID: PMC6293510 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0245-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The corpus callosum is implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, specific structural deficits and underlying mechanisms are yet to be well defined. Methods We employed diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics to characterize white matter properties within five discrete segments of the corpus callosum in 17 typically developing (TD) adults and 16 age-matched participants with ASD without co-occurring intellectual disability (ID). The DKI metrics included axonal water fraction (faxon) and intra-axonal diffusivity (Daxon), which reflect axonal density and caliber, and extra-axonal radial (RDextra) and axial (ADextra) diffusivities, which reflect myelination and microstructural organization of the extracellular space. The relationships between DKI metrics and processing speed, a cognitive feature known to be impaired in ASD, were also examined. Results ASD group had significantly decreased callosal faxon and Daxon (p = .01 and p = .045), particularly in the midbody, isthmus, and splenium. Regression analysis showed that variation in DKI metrics, primarily in the mid and posterior callosal regions explained up to 70.7% of the variance in processing speed scores for TD (p = .001) but not for ASD (p > .05). Conclusion Decreased DKI metrics suggested that ASD may be associated with axonal deficits such as reduced axonal caliber and density in the corpus callosum, especially in the mid and posterior callosal areas. These data suggest that impaired interhemispheric connectivity may contribute to decreased processing speed in ASD participants. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-018-0245-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Veronica Sui
- 1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA.,4Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Health, 660 First Ave, 4th floor, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Jeffrey Donaldson
- 1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Laura Miles
- 1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - James S Babb
- 1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Francisco Xavier Castellanos
- 2Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York, NY USA.,3Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY USA
| | - Mariana Lazar
- 1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA.,4Center for Biomedical Imaging, NYU Langone Health, 660 First Ave, 4th floor, New York, NY 10016 USA
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32
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Yu X, Hu L, Liu X, Zhan G, Mei M, Wang H, Zhang X, Qiu Z, Zhou W, Yang L. A Novel MYCN Variant Associated with Intellectual Disability Regulates Neuronal Development. Neurosci Bull 2018; 34:854-858. [PMID: 29786759 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-018-0236-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuya Yu
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Liyuan Hu
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Guodong Zhan
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Mei Mei
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Huijun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zilong Qiu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Shanghai Institute of Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Wenhao Zhou
- Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China.
- Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China.
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Wang X, Kery R, Xiong Q. Synaptopathology in autism spectrum disorders: Complex effects of synaptic genes on neural circuits. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:398-415. [PMID: 28986278 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinxing Wang
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Rachel Kery
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Qiaojie Xiong
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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34
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Manzouri A, Savic I. Cerebral sex dimorphism and sexual orientation. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:1175-1186. [PMID: 29227002 PMCID: PMC6866632 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurobiology of sexual orientation is frequently discussed in terms of cerebral sex dimorphism (defining both functional and structural sex differences). Yet, the information about possible cerebral differences between sex-matched homo and heterosexual persons is limited, particularly among women. In this multimodal MRI study, we addressed these issues by investigating possible cerebral differences between homo and heterosexual persons, and by asking whether there is any sex difference in this aspect. Measurements of cortical thickness (Cth), subcortical volumes, and functional and structural resting-state connections among 40 heterosexual males (HeM) and 40 heterosexual females (HeF) were compared with those of 30 homosexual males (HoM) and 30 homosexual females (HoF). Congruent with previous reports, sex differences were detected in heterosexual controls with regard to fractional anisotropy (FA), Cth, and several subcortical volumes. Homosexual groups did not display any sex differences in FA values. Furthermore, their functional connectivity was significantly less pronounced in the mesial prefrontal and precuneus regions. In these two particular regions, HoM also displayed thicker cerebral cortex than other groups, whereas HoF did not differ from HeF. In addition, in HoM the parietal Cth showed "sex-reversed" values, not observed in HoF. Homosexual orientation seems associated with a less pronounced sexual differentiation of white matter tracts and a less pronounced functional connectivity of the self-referential networks compared to heterosexual orientation. Analyses of Cth suggest that male and female homosexuality are not simple analogues of each other and that differences from heterosexual controls are more pronounced in HoM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Manzouri
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, and Neurology ClinicKarolinska Institutet and HospitalStickholmSE‐171 76Sweden
| | - Ivanka Savic
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, and Neurology ClinicKarolinska Institutet and HospitalStickholmSE‐171 76Sweden
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Martínez K, Merchán-Naranjo J, Pina-Camacho L, Alemán-Gómez Y, Boada L, Fraguas D, Moreno C, Arango C, Janssen J, Parellada M. Atypical age-dependency of executive function and white matter microstructure in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017; 26:1361-1376. [PMID: 28447268 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-0990-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Executive function (EF) performance is associated with measurements of white matter microstructure (WMS) in typical individuals. Impaired EF is a hallmark symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but it is unclear how impaired EF relates to variability in WMS. Twenty-one male youth (8-18 years) with ASD and without intellectual disability and twenty-one typical male participants (TP) matched for age, intelligence quotient, handedness, race and parental socioeconomic status were recruited. Five EF domains were assessed and several DTI-based measurements of WMS [fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD)] were estimated for eighteen white matter tracts. The ASD group had lower scores for attention (F = 8.37, p = 0.006) and response inhibition (F = 13.09, p = 0.001). Age-dependent changes of EF performance and WMS measurements were present in TP but attenuated in the ASD group. The strongest diagnosis-by-age effect was found for forceps minor, left anterior thalamic radiation and left cingulum angular bundle (all p's ≤ 0.002). In these tracts subjects with ASD tended to have equal or increased FA and/or reduced MD and/or RD at younger ages while controls had increased FA and/or reduced MD and/or RD thereafter. Only for TP individuals, increased FA in the left anterior thalamic radiation was associated with better response inhibition, while reduced RD in forceps minor and left cingulum angular bundle was related to better problem solving and working memory performance respectively. These findings provide novel insight into the age-dependency of EF performance and WMS in ASD, which can be instructive to cognitive training programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenia Martínez
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain. .,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain. .,Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. .,Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Edificio prefabricado, entrada por Máiquez 9, 28009, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jessica Merchán-Naranjo
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Pina-Camacho
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yasser Alemán-Gómez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Leticia Boada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Fraguas
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Moreno
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Celso Arango
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joost Janssen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mara Parellada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Madrid, Spain.,Ciber del área de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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36
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Hansen B, Khan AR, Shemesh N, Lund TE, Sangill R, Eskildsen SF, Østergaard L, Jespersen SN. White matter biomarkers from fast protocols using axially symmetric diffusion kurtosis imaging. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2017; 30:10.1002/nbm.3741. [PMID: 28543843 PMCID: PMC5557696 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
White matter tract integrity (WMTI) can characterize brain microstructure in areas with highly aligned fiber bundles. Several WMTI biomarkers have now been validated against microscopy and provided promising results in studies of brain development and aging, as well as in a number of brain disorders. Currently, WMTI is mostly used in dedicated animal studies and clinical studies of slowly progressing diseases, and has not yet emerged as a routine clinical tool. To this end, a less data intensive experimental method would be beneficial by enabling high resolution validation studies, and ease clinical applications by speeding up data acquisition compared with typical diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) protocols utilized as part of WMTI imaging. Here, we evaluate WMTI based on recently introduced axially symmetric DKI, which has lower data demand than conventional DKI. We compare WMTI parameters derived from conventional DKI with those calculated analytically from axially symmetric DKI. We employ numerical simulations, as well as data from fixed rat spinal cord (one sample) and in vivo human (three subjects) and rat brain (four animals). Our analysis shows that analytical WMTI based on axially symmetric DKI with sparse data sets (19 images) produces WMTI metrics that correlate strongly with estimates based on traditional DKI data sets (60 images or more). We demonstrate the preclinical potential of the proposed WMTI technique in in vivo rat brain (300 μm isotropic resolution with whole brain coverage in a 1 h acquisition). WMTI parameter estimates are subject to a duality leading to two solution branches dependent on a sign choice, which is currently debated. Results from both of these branches are presented and discussed throughout our analysis. The proposed fast WMTI approach may be useful for preclinical research and e.g. clinical evaluation of patients with traumatic white matter injuries or symptoms of neurovascular or neuroinflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Hansen
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) and MINDLab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ahmad R. Khan
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) and MINDLab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Noam Shemesh
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Torben E. Lund
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) and MINDLab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ryan Sangill
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) and MINDLab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Simon F. Eskildsen
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) and MINDLab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Leif Østergaard
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) and MINDLab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Sune N. Jespersen
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN) and MINDLab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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37
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Demopoulos C, Yu N, Tripp J, Mota N, Brandes-Aitken AN, Desai SS, Hill SS, Antovich AD, Harris J, Honma S, Mizuiri D, Nagarajan SS, Marco EJ. Magnetoencephalographic Imaging of Auditory and Somatosensory Cortical Responses in Children with Autism and Sensory Processing Dysfunction. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:259. [PMID: 28603492 PMCID: PMC5445128 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study compared magnetoencephalographic (MEG) imaging-derived indices of auditory and somatosensory cortical processing in children aged 8–12 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; N = 18), those with sensory processing dysfunction (SPD; N = 13) who do not meet ASD criteria, and typically developing control (TDC; N = 19) participants. The magnitude of responses to both auditory and tactile stimulation was comparable across all three groups; however, the M200 latency response from the left auditory cortex was significantly delayed in the ASD group relative to both the TDC and SPD groups, whereas the somatosensory response of the ASD group was only delayed relative to TDC participants. The SPD group did not significantly differ from either group in terms of somatosensory latency, suggesting that participants with SPD may have an intermediate phenotype between ASD and TDC with regard to somatosensory processing. For the ASD group, correlation analyses indicated that the left M200 latency delay was significantly associated with performance on the WISC-IV Verbal Comprehension Index as well as the DSTP Acoustic-Linguistic index. Further, these cortical auditory response delays were not associated with somatosensory cortical response delays or cognitive processing speed in the ASD group, suggesting that auditory delays in ASD are domain specific rather than associated with generalized processing delays. The specificity of these auditory delays to the ASD group, in addition to their correlation with verbal abilities, suggests that auditory sensory dysfunction may be implicated in communication symptoms in ASD, motivating further research aimed at understanding the impact of sensory dysfunction on the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Demopoulos
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Nina Yu
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer Tripp
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Nayara Mota
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Anne N Brandes-Aitken
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Shivani S Desai
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Susanna S Hill
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ashley D Antovich
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Julia Harris
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Susanne Honma
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Danielle Mizuiri
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Srikantan S Nagarajan
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Elysa J Marco
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA, United States
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38
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Jensen JH, McKinnon ET, Glenn GR, Helpern JA. Evaluating kurtosis-based diffusion MRI tissue models for white matter with fiber ball imaging. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2017; 30:10.1002/nbm.3689. [PMID: 28085211 PMCID: PMC5867517 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In order to quantify well-defined microstructural properties of brain tissue from diffusion MRI (dMRI) data, tissue models are typically employed that relate biological features, such as cell morphology and cell membrane permeability, to the diffusion dynamics. A variety of such models have been proposed for white matter, and their validation is a topic of active interest. In this paper, three different tissue models are tested by comparing their predictions for a specific microstructural parameter to a value measured independently with a recently proposed dMRI method known as fiber ball imaging (FBI). The three tissue models are all constructed with the diffusion and kurtosis tensors, and they are hence compatible with diffusional kurtosis imaging. Nevertheless, the models differ significantly in their details and predictions. For voxels with fractional anisotropies (FAs) exceeding 0.5, all three are reasonably consistent with FBI. However, for lower FA values, one of these, called the white matter tract integrity (WMTI) model, is found to be in much better accord with FBI than the other two, suggesting that the WMTI model has a broader range of applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens H. Jensen
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Corresponding Author: Jens H. Jensen, Ph.D., Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, MSC 323, Charleston, SC 29425-0323, Tel: (843) 876-2467,
| | - Emilie T. McKinnon
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - G. Russell Glenn
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph A. Helpern
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Carper RA, Treiber JM, White NS, Kohli JS, Müller RA. Restriction Spectrum Imaging As a Potential Measure of Cortical Neurite Density in Autism. Front Neurosci 2017; 10:610. [PMID: 28149269 PMCID: PMC5241303 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism postmortem studies have shown various cytoarchitectural anomalies in cortical and limbic areas including increased cell packing density, laminar disorganization, and narrowed minicolumns. However, there is little evidence on dendritic and axonal organization in ASD. Recent imaging techniques have the potential for non-invasive, in vivo studies of small-scale structure in the human brain, including gray matter. Here, Restriction Spectrum Imaging (RSI), a multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging technique, was used to examine gray matter microstructure in 24 children with ASD (5 female) and 20 matched typically developing (TD) participants (2 female), ages 7–17 years. RSI extends the spherical deconvolution model to multiple length scales to characterize neurite density (ND) and organization. Measures were examined in 48 cortical regions of interest per hemisphere. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a multi-compartmental diffusion model has been applied to cortical gray matter in ASD. The ND measure detected robust age effects showing a significant positive relationship to age in all lobes except left temporal when groups were combined. Results were also suggestive of group differences (ASD<TD) in anterior cingulate, right superior temporal lobe and much of the parietal lobes, but these fell short of statistical significance. For MD, significant group differences (ASD>TD) in bilateral parietal regions as well as widespread age effects were detected. Our findings support the value of multi-shell diffusion imaging for assays of cortical gray matter. This approach has the potential to add to postmortem literature, examining intracortical organization, intracortical axonal content, myelination, or caliber. Robust age effects further support the validity of the ND metric for in vivo examination of gray matter microstructure in ASD and across development. While diffusion MRI does not approach the precision of histological studies, in vivo imaging measures of microstructure can complement postmortem studies, by allowing access to large sample sizes, a whole-brain field of view, longitudinal designs, and combination with behavioral and functional assays. This makes multi-shell diffusion imaging a promising technique for understanding the underlying cytoarchitecture of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth A Carper
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Treiber
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nathan S White
- Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jiwandeep S Kohli
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University San Diego, CA, USA
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40
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Singh R, Turner RC, Nguyen L, Motwani K, Swatek M, Lucke-Wold BP. Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Autism: Elucidating Shared Mechanisms. Behav Neurol 2016; 2016:8781725. [PMID: 28074078 PMCID: PMC5198096 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8781725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two serious conditions that affect youth. Recent data, both preclinical and clinical, show that pediatric TBI and ASD share not only similar symptoms but also some of the same biologic mechanisms that cause these symptoms. Prominent symptoms for both disorders include gastrointestinal problems, learning difficulties, seizures, and sensory processing disruption. In this review, we highlight some of these shared mechanisms in order to discuss potential treatment options that might be applied for each condition. We discuss potential therapeutic and pharmacologic options as well as potential novel drug targets. Furthermore, we highlight advances in understanding of brain circuitry that is being propelled by improved imaging modalities. Going forward, advanced imaging will help in diagnosis and treatment planning strategies for pediatric patients. Lessons from each field can be applied to design better and more rigorous trials that can be used to improve guidelines for pediatric patients suffering from TBI or ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh
- Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Ryan C. Turner
- Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Linda Nguyen
- Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Kartik Motwani
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Florida School of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Michelle Swatek
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Brandon P. Lucke-Wold
- Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
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41
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Lee Masson H, Wallraven C, Petit L. "Can touch this": Cross-modal shape categorization performance is associated with microstructural characteristics of white matter association pathways. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 38:842-854. [PMID: 27696592 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies on visuo-haptic shape processing provide evidence that visually learned shape information can transfer to the haptic domain. In particular, recent neuroimaging studies have shown that visually learned novel objects that were haptically tested recruited parts of the ventral pathway from early visual cortex to the temporal lobe. Interestingly, in such tasks considerable individual variation in cross-modal transfer performance was observed. Here, we investigate whether this individual variation may be reflected in microstructural characteristics of white-matter (WM) pathways. We first trained participants on a fine-grained categorization task of novel shapes in the visual domain, followed by a haptic categorization test. We then correlated visual training-performance and haptic test-performance, as well as performance on a symbol-coding task requiring visuo-motor dexterity with microstructural properties of WM bundles potentially involved in visuo-haptic processing (the inferior longitudinal fasciculus [ILF], the fronto-temporal part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus [SLFft ] and the vertical occipital fasciculus [VOF]). Behavioral results showed that haptic categorization performance was good on average but exhibited large inter-individual variability. Haptic performance also was correlated with performance in the symbol-coding task. WM analyses showed that fast visual learners exhibited higher fractional anisotropy (FA) in left SLFft and left VOF. Importantly, haptic test-performance (and symbol-coding performance) correlated with FA in ILF and with axial diffusivity in SLFft . These findings provide clear evidence that individual variation in visuo-haptic performance can be linked to microstructural characteristics of WM pathways. Hum Brain Mapp 38:842-854, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haemy Lee Masson
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 136-713, Korea
| | - Christian Wallraven
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 136-713, Korea
| | - Laurent Petit
- Groupe d'Imagerie Neurofonctionnelle, Institut Des Maladies Neurodégénératives - UMR 5293, CNRS, CEA University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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42
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Libero LE, Burge WK, Deshpande HD, Pestilli F, Kana RK. White Matter Diffusion of Major Fiber Tracts Implicated in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Connect 2016; 6:691-699. [PMID: 27555361 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2016.0442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder found to have widespread alterations in the function and synchrony of brain regions. These differences may underlie alterations in microstructural organization, such as in white matter pathways. To investigate the diffusion of major white matter tracts, the current study examined multiple indices of white matter diffusion in 42 children and adults with ASD and 44 typically developing (TD) age- and IQ-matched peers using diffusion tensor imaging. Diffusivity measures were compared between groups for the following tracts: bilateral cingulum bundle, corpus callosum, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus. Results indicate a significant reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) for the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (LSLF) in ASD children and adults compared with TD peers. A significant increase in radial diffusivity for ASD participants was also found in the same cluster along the LSLF. In addition, a significant positive correlation emerged for all subjects between FA for the LSLF and age, with FA increasing with age. These findings point to a significant alteration in long-distance white matter connectivity in children and adults with ASD, potentially underscoring the relationship between alterations in white matter diffusion and the ASD phenotype. These results also suggest that the white matter alterations in autism may be subtle and related to the developmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Libero
- 1 UC Davis MIND Institute , Sacramento, California.,2 UC Davis Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences , Sacramento, California
| | - Wesley K Burge
- 3 Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
| | | | - Franco Pestilli
- 5 Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Rajesh K Kana
- 3 Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
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43
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Koolschijn PCMP, Caan MWA, Teeuw J, Olabarriaga SD, Geurts HM. Age-related differences in autism: The case of white matter microstructure. Hum Brain Mapp 2016; 38:82-96. [PMID: 27511627 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is typified as a brain connectivity disorder in which white matter abnormalities are already present early on in life. However, it is unknown if and to which extent these abnormalities are hard-wired in (older) adults with ASD and how this interacts with age-related white matter changes as observed in typical aging. The aim of this first cross-sectional study in mid- and late-aged adults with ASD was to characterize white matter microstructure and its relationship with age. We utilized diffusion tensor imaging with head motion control in 48 adults with ASD and 48 age-matched controls (30-74 years), who also completed a Flanker task. Intra-individual variability of reaction times (IIVRT) measures based on performance on the Flanker interference task were used to assess IIVRT-white matter microstructure associations. We observed primarily higher mean and radial diffusivity in white matter microstructure in ASD, particularly in long-range fibers, which persisted after taking head motion into account. Importantly, group-by-age interactions revealed higher age-related mean and radial diffusivity in ASD, in projection and association fiber tracts. Subtle dissociations were observed in IIVRT-white matter microstructure relations between groups, with the IIVRT-white matter association pattern in ASD resembling observations in cognitive aging. The observed white matter microstructure differences are lending support to the structural underconnectivity hypothesis in ASD. These reductions seem to have behavioral percussions given the atypical relationship with IIVRT. Taken together, the current results may indicate different age-related patterns of white matter microstructure in adults with ASD. Hum Brain Mapp 38:82-96, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cédric M P Koolschijn
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matthan W A Caan
- Department of Radiology, Brain Imaging Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jalmar Teeuw
- Department of Radiology, Brain Imaging Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sílvia D Olabarriaga
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde M Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Dr Leo Kannerhuis, The Netherlands
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44
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Catani M, Dell'Acqua F, Budisavljevic S, Howells H, Thiebaut de Schotten M, Froudist-Walsh S, D'Anna L, Thompson A, Sandrone S, Bullmore ET, Suckling J, Baron-Cohen S, Lombardo MV, Wheelwright SJ, Chakrabarti B, Lai MC, Ruigrok ANV, Leemans A, Ecker C, Consortium MA, Craig MC, Murphy DGM. Frontal networks in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Brain 2016; 139:616-30. [PMID: 26912520 PMCID: PMC4805089 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been postulated that autism spectrum disorder is underpinned by an 'atypical connectivity' involving higher-order association brain regions. To test this hypothesis in a large cohort of adults with autism spectrum disorder we compared the white matter networks of 61 adult males with autism spectrum disorder and 61 neurotypical controls, using two complementary approaches to diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. First, we applied tract-based spatial statistics, a 'whole brain' non-hypothesis driven method, to identify differences in white matter networks in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Following this we used a tract-specific analysis, based on tractography, to carry out a more detailed analysis of individual tracts identified by tract-based spatial statistics. Finally, within the autism spectrum disorder group, we studied the relationship between diffusion measures and autistic symptom severity. Tract-based spatial statistics revealed that autism spectrum disorder was associated with significantly reduced fractional anisotropy in regions that included frontal lobe pathways. Tractography analysis of these specific pathways showed increased mean and perpendicular diffusivity, and reduced number of streamlines in the anterior and long segments of the arcuate fasciculus, cingulum and uncinate--predominantly in the left hemisphere. Abnormalities were also evident in the anterior portions of the corpus callosum connecting left and right frontal lobes. The degree of microstructural alteration of the arcuate and uncinate fasciculi was associated with severity of symptoms in language and social reciprocity in childhood. Our results indicated that autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition associated with abnormal connectivity of the frontal lobes. Furthermore our findings showed that male adults with autism spectrum disorder have regional differences in brain anatomy, which correlate with specific aspects of autistic symptoms. Overall these results suggest that autism spectrum disorder is a condition linked to aberrant developmental trajectories of the frontal networks that persist in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Catani
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK 2 NatBrainLab, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Flavio Dell'Acqua
- 2 NatBrainLab, Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Sanja Budisavljevic
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Henrietta Howells
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Michel Thiebaut de Schotten
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Seán Froudist-Walsh
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Lucio D'Anna
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Abigail Thompson
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Stefano Sandrone
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- 3 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust 4 Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - John Suckling
- 3 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust 4 Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK 5 Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- 3 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust 5 Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- 5 Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK 6 Department of Psychology and Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
| | - Sally J Wheelwright
- 5 Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Bhismadev Chakrabarti
- 5 Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK 7 Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- 5 Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK 8 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada 9 Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taiwan
| | - Amber N V Ruigrok
- 5 Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Alexander Leemans
- 10 Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Ecker
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | | | - Michael C Craig
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK 11 National Autism Unit, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Beckenham, UK
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- 1 Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, and Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
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45
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Davenport EM, Apkarian K, Whitlow CT, Urban JE, Jensen JH, Szuch E, Espeland MA, Jung Y, Rosenbaum DA, Gioia GA, Powers AK, Stitzel JD, Maldjian JA. Abnormalities in Diffusional Kurtosis Metrics Related to Head Impact Exposure in a Season of High School Varsity Football. J Neurotrauma 2016; 33:2133-2146. [PMID: 27042763 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2015.4267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the effects of cumulative head impacts during a season of high school football produce changes in diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics in the absence of clinically diagnosed concussion. Subjects were recruited from a high school football team and were outfitted with the Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS) during all practices and games. Biomechanical head impact exposure metrics were calculated, including: total impacts, summed acceleration, and Risk Weighted Cumulative Exposure (RWE). Twenty-four players completed pre- and post-season magnetic resonance imaging, including DKI; players who experienced clinical concussion were excluded. Fourteen subjects completed pre- and post-season Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT). DKI-derived metrics included mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (K axial), and radial kurtosis (K radial), and white matter modeling (WMM) parameters included axonal water fraction, tortuosity of the extra-axonal space, extra-axonal diffusivity (De axial and radial), and intra-axonal diffusivity (Da). These metrics were used to determine the total number of abnormal voxels, defined as 2 standard deviations above or below the group mean. Linear regression analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between RWE combined probability (RWECP) and MK. Secondary analysis of other DKI-derived and WMM metrics demonstrated statistically significant linear relationships with RWECP after covariate adjustment. These results were compared with the results of DTI-derived metrics from the same imaging sessions in this exact same cohort. Several of the DKI-derived scalars (Da, MK, K axial, and K radial) explained more variance, compared with RWECP, suggesting that DKI may be more sensitive to subconcussive head impacts. No significant relationships between DKI-derived metrics and ImPACT measures were found. It is important to note that the pathological implications of these metrics are not well understood. In summary, we demonstrate a single season of high school football can produce DKI measurable changes in the absence of clinically diagnosed concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Davenport
- 1 Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,2 Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Kalyna Apkarian
- 4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Christopher T Whitlow
- 3 Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,8 Translational Science Institute, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Jillian E Urban
- 4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,9 Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Jens H Jensen
- 13 Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Center for Biomedical Imaging, Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Eliza Szuch
- 10 MD Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Mark A Espeland
- 5 Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Youngkyoo Jung
- 3 Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,9 Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Daryl A Rosenbaum
- 4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Gerard A Gioia
- 12 Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University School of Medicine , Rockville, Maryland
| | - Alexander K Powers
- 7 Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,11 Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Joel D Stitzel
- 4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,8 Translational Science Institute, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,9 Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Joseph A Maldjian
- 1 Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina.,2 Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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46
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Chen YC, Chiang SW, Chi CH, Liou M, Kuo DP, Kao HW, Chung HW, Ma HI, Peng GS, Wu YT, Chen CY. Early Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Patients With Neuropsychological Impairment Are Associated With Increased Fractional Anisotropy in the Anterior Thalamic Nucleus. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e3636. [PMID: 27175677 PMCID: PMC4902519 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000003636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the reactive changes in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived diffusion metrics of the anterior thalamic nucleus (AN), a relaying center for the Papez circuit, in early idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients with memory impairment, as well as its correlation with the patients' neuropsychological performances. In total, 28 probable iNPH patients with symptom onset within 1 year and 17 control subjects were prospectively recruited between 2010 and 2013 for this institutional review board-approved study. Imaging studies including DTI and a neuropsychological assessment battery were performed in all subjects. Diffusion metrics were measured from the region of the AN using tract-deterministic seeding method by reconstructing the mammillo-thalamo-cingulate connections within the Papez circuit. Differences in diffusion metrics and memory assessment scores between the patient and control group were examined via the Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation analyses were performed to examine associations between diffusion metrics of AN and neuropsychological tests within the patient group. We discovered that early iNPH patients exhibited marked elevations in fractional anisotropy, pure diffusion anisotropy, and axial diffusivity (all P < 0.01), as well as lower neuropsychological test scores including verbal and nonverbal memory (all P < 0.05) compared with normal control. Spearman rank correlation analyses did not disclose significant correlations between AN diffusion metrics and neuropsychological test scores in the patient group, whereas ranked scatter plots clearly demonstrated a dichotic sample distribution between patient and control samples. In summary, our study highlighted the potential compensatory role of the AN by increasing thalamocortical connectivity within the Papez circuit because memory function declines in early iNPH when early shunt treatment may potentially reverse the memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Chieh Chen
- From the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences (Y-CC, Y-TW), National Yang-Ming University; Department of Radiology (S-WC, H-WK, C-YC), Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electrics and Bioinformatics (S-WC, H-WC), National Taiwan University; Department of Psychiatry (C-HC), Tri-Service General Hospital; Institute of Statistical Science (ML), Academia Sinica, Taipei; Department of Radiology (D-PK), Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan; Department of Neurosurgery (HIM); Department of Neurology (G-SP), Tri-Service General Hospital; Department of Medical Imaging and Imaging Research Center (C-YC), Taipei Medical University Hospital; and Department of Radiology (C-YC), College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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47
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Jelescu IO, Zurek M, Winters KV, Veraart J, Rajaratnam A, Kim NS, Babb JS, Shepherd TM, Novikov DS, Kim SG, Fieremans E. In vivo quantification of demyelination and recovery using compartment-specific diffusion MRI metrics validated by electron microscopy. Neuroimage 2016; 132:104-114. [PMID: 26876473 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a need for accurate quantitative non-invasive biomarkers to monitor myelin pathology in vivo and distinguish myelin changes from other pathological features including inflammation and axonal loss. Conventional MRI metrics such as T2, magnetization transfer ratio and radial diffusivity have proven sensitivity but not specificity. In highly coherent white matter bundles, compartment-specific white matter tract integrity (WMTI) metrics can be directly derived from the diffusion and kurtosis tensors: axonal water fraction, intra-axonal diffusivity, and extra-axonal radial and axial diffusivities. We evaluate the potential of WMTI to quantify demyelination by monitoring the effects of both acute (6weeks) and chronic (12weeks) cuprizone intoxication and subsequent recovery in the mouse corpus callosum, and compare its performance with that of conventional metrics (T2, magnetization transfer, and DTI parameters). The changes observed in vivo correlated with those obtained from quantitative electron microscopy image analysis. A 6-week intoxication produced a significant decrease in axonal water fraction (p<0.001), with only mild changes in extra-axonal radial diffusivity, consistent with patchy demyelination, while a 12-week intoxication caused a more marked decrease in extra-axonal radial diffusivity (p=0.0135), consistent with more severe demyelination and clearance of the extra-axonal space. Results thus revealed increased specificity of the axonal water fraction and extra-axonal radial diffusivity parameters to different degrees and patterns of demyelination. The specificities of these parameters were corroborated by their respective correlations with microstructural features: the axonal water fraction correlated significantly with the electron microscopy derived total axonal water fraction (ρ=0.66; p=0.0014) but not with the g-ratio, while the extra-axonal radial diffusivity correlated with the g-ratio (ρ=0.48; p=0.0342) but not with the electron microscopy derived axonal water fraction. These parameters represent promising candidates as clinically feasible biomarkers of demyelination and remyelination in the white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana O Jelescu
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Magdalena Zurek
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kerryanne V Winters
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jelle Veraart
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anjali Rajaratnam
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nathanael S Kim
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - James S Babb
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy M Shepherd
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dmitry S Novikov
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sungheon G Kim
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Els Fieremans
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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48
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De Santis S, Jones DK, Roebroeck A. Including diffusion time dependence in the extra-axonal space improves in vivo estimates of axonal diameter and density in human white matter. Neuroimage 2016; 130:91-103. [PMID: 26826514 PMCID: PMC4819719 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Axonal density and diameter are two fundamental properties of brain white matter. Recently, advanced diffusion MRI techniques have made these two parameters accessible in vivo. However, the techniques available to estimate such parameters are still under development. For example, current methods to map axonal diameters capture relative trends over different structures, but consistently over-estimate absolute diameters. Axonal density estimates are more accessible experimentally, but different modeling approaches exist and the impact of the experimental parameters has not been thoroughly quantified, potentially leading to incompatibility of results obtained in different studies using different techniques. Here, we characterise the impact of diffusion time on axonal density and diameter estimates using Monte Carlo simulations and STEAM diffusion MRI at 7 T on 9 healthy volunteers. We show that axonal density and diameter estimates strongly depend on diffusion time, with diameters almost invariably overestimated and density both over and underestimated for some commonly used models. Crucially, we also demonstrate that these biases are reduced when the model accounts for diffusion time dependency in the extra-axonal space. For axonal density estimates, both upward and downward bias in different situations are removed by modeling extra-axonal time-dependence, showing increased accuracy in these estimates. For axonal diameter estimates, we report increased accuracy in ground truth simulations and axonal diameter estimates decreased away from high values given by earlier models and towards known values in the human corpus callosum when modeling extra-axonal time-dependence. Axonal diameter feasibility under both advanced and clinical settings is discussed in the light of the proposed advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Santis
- CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK; Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Derek K Jones
- CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK; Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Alard Roebroeck
- Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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49
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Grossman EJ, Kirov II, Gonen O, Novikov DS, Davitz MS, Lui YW, Grossman RI, Inglese M, Fieremans E. N-acetyl-aspartate levels correlate with intra-axonal compartment parameters from diffusion MRI. Neuroimage 2015; 118:334-43. [PMID: 26037050 PMCID: PMC4651014 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Revised: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion MRI combined with biophysical modeling allows for the description of a white matter (WM) fiber bundle in terms of compartment specific white matter tract integrity (WMTI) metrics, which include intra-axonal diffusivity (Daxon), extra-axonal axial diffusivity (De||), extra-axonal radial diffusivity (De┴), axonal water fraction (AWF), and tortuosity (α) of extra-axonal space. Here we derive these parameters from diffusion kurtosis imaging to examine their relationship to concentrations of global WM N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho) and myo-Inositol (mI), as measured with proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS), in a cohort of 25 patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). We found statistically significant (p<0.05) positive correlations between NAA and Daxon, AWF, α, and fractional anisotropy; negative correlations between NAA and De,┴ and the overall radial diffusivity (D┴). These correlations were supported by similar findings in regional analysis of the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum. Furthermore, a positive correlation in global WM was noted between Daxon and Cr, as well as a positive correlation between De|| and Cho, and a positive trend between De|| and mI. The specific correlations between NAA, an endogenous probe of the neuronal intracellular space, and WMTI metrics related to the intra-axonal space, combined with the specific correlations of De|| with mI and Cho, both predominantly present extra-axonally, corroborate the overarching assumption of many advanced modeling approaches that diffusion imaging can disentangle between the intra- and extra-axonal compartments in WM fiber bundles. Our findings are also generally consistent with what is known about the pathophysiology of MTBI, which appears to involve both intra-axonal injury (as reflected by a positive trend between NAA and Daxon) as well as axonal shrinkage, demyelination, degeneration, and/or loss (as reflected by correlations between NAA and De┴, AWF, and α).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elan J Grossman
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Ivan I Kirov
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Oded Gonen
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Dmitry S Novikov
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Matthew S Davitz
- College of Arts and Sciences, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Yvonne W Lui
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Robert I Grossman
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Matilde Inglese
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, Radiology, and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Els Fieremans
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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50
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Kirkovski M, Enticott PG, Maller JJ, Rossell SL, Fitzgerald PB. Diffusion tensor imaging reveals no white matter impairments among adults with autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatry Res 2015; 233:64-72. [PMID: 26032898 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Abnormalities within white matter (WM) have been identified in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although there is some support for greater neurobiological deficits among females with ASD, there is little research investigating sex differences in WM in ASD. We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate WM aberration in 25 adults with high-functioning ASD and 24 age-, sex- and IQ-matched controls. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to explore differences in WM in major tract bundles. The effects of biological sex were also investigated. TBSS revealed no differences in fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), or axial diffusivity (AD) between groups. There were no effects of biological sex. We consider whether methodological differences between past studies have contributed to the highly heterogeneous findings in the literature. Finally, we suggest that, among a high-functioning sample of adults with ASD, differences in WM microstructure may not be related to clinical impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Kirkovski
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Peter G Enticott
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jerome J Maller
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Susan L Rossell
- Brain and Psychological Science Research Centre, Faculty Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia; Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul B Fitzgerald
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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