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Yang C, Liu G, Chen X, Le W. Cerebellum in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases: an emerging research frontier. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e638. [PMID: 39006764 PMCID: PMC11245631 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is crucial for both motor and nonmotor functions. Alzheimer's disease (AD), alongside other dementias such as vascular dementia (VaD), Lewy body dementia (DLB), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), as well as other neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) like Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA), are characterized by specific and non-specific neurodegenerations in central nervous system. Previously, the cerebellum's significance in these conditions was underestimated. However, advancing research has elevated its profile as a critical node in disease pathology. We comprehensively review the existing evidence to elucidate the relationship between cerebellum and the aforementioned diseases. Our findings reveal a growing body of research unequivocally establishing a link between the cerebellum and AD, other forms of dementia, and other NDs, supported by clinical evidence, pathological and biochemical profiles, structural and functional neuroimaging data, and electrophysiological findings. By contrasting cerebellar observations with those from the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, we highlight the cerebellum's distinct role in the disease processes. Furthermore, we also explore the emerging therapeutic potential of targeting cerebellum for the treatment of these diseases. This review underscores the importance of the cerebellum in these diseases, offering new insights into the disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui Yang
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Guangdong Liu
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Weidong Le
- Institute of Neurology Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
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2
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Raghunathan N, Sankaran S, Miteu GD. A comprehensive review of iPS cell line-based disease modelling of the polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias 2 and 3: a focus on the research outcomes. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:3487-3498. [PMID: 38846892 PMCID: PMC11152827 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a rare autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. To date, approximately 50 different subtypes of SCAs have been characterized. The prevalent types of SCAs are usually of PolyQ origin, wherein the disease pathology is a consequence of multiple glutamine residues being encoded onto the disease proteins, causing expansions. SCAs 2 and 3 are the most frequently diagnosed subtypes, wherein affected patients exhibit certain characteristic physiological manifestations, such as gait ataxia and dysarthria. Nevertheless, other clinical signs were exclusive to these subtypes. Recently, multiple molecular diagnostic methods have been developed to identify and characterize these subtypes. Despite these advancements, the molecular pathology of SCAs remains unknown. To further understand the mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative SCAs 2 and 3, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based modelling is a compelling avenue to pursue. We cover the present state of iPSC-based in-vitro illness modelling of SCA subtypes 2 and 3 below, along with a list of cell lines created, and the relevance of research outcomes to personalized autologous therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Goshen D. Miteu
- School of Biosciences, Biotechnology, University of Nottingham, England, UK
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria
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3
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Agrawal S, Agrawal RK, Kumaran SS, Rana B, Srivastava AK. Integration of graph network with kernel SVM and logistic regression for identification of biomarkers in SCA12 and its diagnosis. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae132. [PMID: 38679476 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae132] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 is a hereditary and neurodegenerative illness commonly found in India. However, there is no established noninvasive automatic diagnostic system for its diagnosis and identification of imaging biomarkers. This work proposes a novel four-phase machine learning-based diagnostic framework to find spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 disease-specific atrophic-brain regions and distinguish spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 from healthy using a real structural magnetic resonance imaging dataset. Firstly, each brain region is represented in terms of statistics of coefficients obtained using 3D-discrete wavelet transform. Secondly, a set of relevant regions are selected using a graph network-based method. Thirdly, a kernel support vector machine is used to capture nonlinear relationships among the voxels of a brain region. Finally, the linear relationship among the brain regions is captured to build a decision model to distinguish spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 from healthy by using the regularized logistic regression method. A classification accuracy of 95% and a harmonic mean of precision and recall, i.e. F1-score of 94.92%, is achieved. The proposed framework provides relevant regions responsible for the atrophy. The importance of each region is captured using Shapley Additive exPlanations values. We also performed a statistical analysis to find volumetric changes in spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 group compared to healthy. The promising result of the proposed framework shows that clinicians can use it for early and timely diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 12.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snigdha Agrawal
- School of Computer and Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - Ramesh Kumar Agrawal
- School of Computer and Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110067, India
| | - S Senthil Kumaran
- Department of NMR, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Bharti Rana
- Department of Computer Science, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
| | - Achal Kumar Srivastava
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, India
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4
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Ferreira M, Schaprian T, Kügler D, Reuter M, Deike-Hoffmann K, Timmann D, Ernst TM, Giunti P, Garcia-Moreno H, van de Warrenburg B, van Gaalen J, de Vries J, Jacobi H, Steiner KM, Öz G, Joers JM, Onyike C, Povazan M, Reetz K, Romanzetti S, Klockgether T, Faber J. Cerebellar Volumetry in Ataxias: Relation to Ataxia Severity and Duration. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024:10.1007/s12311-024-01659-0. [PMID: 38363498 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01659-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cerebellar atrophy is the neuropathological hallmark of most ataxias. Hence, quantifying the volume of the cerebellar grey and white matter is of great interest. In this study, we aim to identify volume differences in the cerebellum between spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), SCA3 and SCA6 as well as multiple system atrophy of cerebellar type (MSA-C). Our cross-sectional data set comprised mutation carriers of SCA1 (N=12), SCA3 (N=62), SCA6 (N=14), as well as MSA-C patients (N=16). Cerebellar volumes were obtained from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. To compare the different atrophy patterns, we performed a z-transformation and plotted the intercept of each patient group's model at the mean of 7 years of ataxia duration as well as at the mean ataxia severity of 14 points in the SARA sum score. In addition, we plotted the extrapolation at ataxia duration of 0 years as well as 0 points in the SARA sum score. Patients with MSA-C demonstrated the most pronounced volume loss, particularly in the cerebellar white matter, at the late time intercept. Patients with SCA6 showed a pronounced volume loss in cerebellar grey matter with increasing ataxia severity compared to all other patient groups. MSA-C, SCA1 and SCA3 showed a prominent atrophy of the cerebellar white matter. Our results (i) confirmed SCA6 being considered as a pure cerebellar grey matter disease, (ii) emphasise the involvement of cerebellar white matter in the neuropathology of SCA1, SCA3 and MSA-C, and (iii) reflect the rapid clinical progression in MSA-C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Ferreira
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tamara Schaprian
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - David Kügler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Reuter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Thomas M Ernst
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Paola Giunti
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Hector Garcia-Moreno
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith van Gaalen
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Neurology Department, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen de Vries
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Heike Jacobi
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katharina Marie Steiner
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - James M Joers
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Chiadi Onyike
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michal Povazan
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-Brain Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Klockgether
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jennifer Faber
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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5
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Tsay JS, Schuck L, Ivry RB. Cerebellar Degeneration Impairs Strategy Discovery but Not Strategy Recall. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:1223-1233. [PMID: 36464710 PMCID: PMC10239782 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01500-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The cerebellum is recognized to play a critical role in the automatic and implicit process by which movement errors are used to keep the sensorimotor system precisely calibrated. However, its role in other learning processes frequently engaged during sensorimotor adaptation tasks remains unclear. In the present study, we tested the performance of individuals with cerebellar degeneration on a variant of a visuomotor adaptation task in which learning requires the use of strategic re-aiming, a process that can nullify movement errors in a rapid and volitional manner. Our design allowed us to assess two components of this learning process, the discovery of an appropriate strategy and the recall of a learned strategy. Participants were exposed to a 60° visuomotor rotation twice, with the initial exposure block assessing strategy discovery and the re-exposure block assessing strategy recall. Compared to age-matched controls, individuals with cerebellar degeneration were slower to derive an appropriate aiming strategy in the initial Discovery block but exhibited similar recall of the aiming strategy during the Recall block. This dissociation underscores the multi-faceted contributions of the cerebellum to sensorimotor learning, highlighting one way in which this subcortical structure facilitates volitional action selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan S Tsay
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Lauren Schuck
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Richard B Ivry
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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6
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McDougle SD, Tsay JS, Pitt B, King M, Saban W, Taylor JA, Ivry RB. Continuous manipulation of mental representations is compromised in cerebellar degeneration. Brain 2022; 145:4246-4263. [PMID: 35202465 PMCID: PMC10200308 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We introduce a novel perspective on how the cerebellum might contribute to cognition, hypothesizing that this structure supports dynamic transformations of mental representations. In support of this hypothesis, we report a series of neuropsychological experiments comparing the performance of individuals with degenerative cerebellar disorders on tasks that either entail continuous, movement-like mental operations or more discrete mental operations. In the domain of visual cognition, the cerebellar disorders group exhibited an impaired rate of mental rotation, an operation hypothesized to require the continuous manipulation of a visual representation. In contrast, the cerebellar disorders group showed a normal processing rate when scanning items in visual working memory, an operation hypothesized to require the maintenance and retrieval of remembered items. In the domain of mathematical cognition, the cerebellar disorders group was impaired at single-digit addition, an operation hypothesized to primarily require iterative manipulations along a mental number-line; this group was not impaired on arithmetic tasks linked to memory retrieval (e.g. single-digit multiplication). These results, obtained in tasks from two disparate domains, point to a potential constraint on the contribution of the cerebellum to cognitive tasks. Paralleling its role in motor control, the cerebellum may be essential for coordinating dynamic, movement-like transformations in a mental workspace.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan S Tsay
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Benjamin Pitt
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Maedbh King
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - William Saban
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Jordan A Taylor
- Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Richard B Ivry
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
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7
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Mayoral-Palarz K, Neves-Carvalho A, Duarte-Silva S, Monteiro-Fernandes D, Maciel P, Khodakhah K. Cerebellar neuronal dysfunction accompanies early motor symptoms in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:275597. [PMID: 35660856 PMCID: PMC9367011 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an adult-onset, progressive ataxia. SCA3 presents with ataxia before any gross neuropathology. A feature of many cerebellar ataxias is aberrant cerebellar output that contributes to motor dysfunction. We examined whether abnormal cerebellar output was present in the CMVMJD135 SCA3 mouse model and, if so, whether it correlated with the disease onset and progression. In vivo recordings showed that the activity of deep cerebellar nuclei neurons, the main output of the cerebellum, was altered. The aberrant activity correlated with the onset of ataxia. However, although the severity of ataxia increased with age, the severity of the aberrant cerebellar output was not progressive. The abnormal cerebellar output, however, was accompanied by non-progressive abnormal activity of their upstream synaptic inputs, the Purkinje cells. In vitro recordings indicated that alterations in intrinsic Purkinje cell pacemaking and in their synaptic inputs contributed to abnormal Purkinje cell activity. These findings implicate abnormal cerebellar physiology as an early, consistent contributor to pathophysiology in SCA3, and suggest that the aberrant cerebellar output could be an appropriate therapeutic target in SCA3. Summary: In a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), aberrant cerebellar physiology is apparent early in disease, prior to cerebellar neuronal pathology. Aberrant cerebellar output could be a therapeutic target in SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Mayoral-Palarz
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Andreia Neves-Carvalho
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniela Monteiro-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Kamran Khodakhah
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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8
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Haast RAM, De Coo IFM, Ivanov D, Khan AR, Jansen JFA, Smeets HJM, Uludağ K. OUP accepted manuscript. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac024. [PMID: 35187487 PMCID: PMC8853728 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations of the mitochondrial DNA are an important cause of inherited diseases that can severely affect the tissue’s homeostasis and integrity. The m.3243A > G mutation is the most commonly observed across mitochondrial disorders and is linked to multisystemic complications, including cognitive deficits. In line with in vitro experiments demonstrating the m.3243A > G’s negative impact on neuronal energy production and integrity, m.3243A > G patients show cerebral grey matter tissue changes. However, its impact on the most neuron dense, and therefore energy-consuming brain structure—the cerebellum—remains elusive. In this work, we used high-resolution structural and functional data acquired using 7 T MRI to characterize the neurodegenerative and functional signatures of the cerebellar cortex in m.3243A > G patients. Our results reveal altered tissue integrity within distinct clusters across the cerebellar cortex, apparent by their significantly reduced volume and longitudinal relaxation rate compared with healthy controls, indicating macroscopic atrophy and microstructural pathology. Spatial characterization reveals that these changes occur especially in regions related to the frontoparietal brain network that is involved in information processing and selective attention. In addition, based on resting-state functional MRI data, these clusters exhibit reduced functional connectivity to frontal and parietal cortical regions, especially in patients characterized by (i) a severe disease phenotype and (ii) reduced information-processing speed and attention control. Combined with our previous work, these results provide insight into the neuropathological changes and a solid base to guide longitudinal studies aimed to track disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy A. M. Haast
- Correspondence to: Roy A. M. Haast Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping Robarts Research Institute Western University 1151 Richmond St N., London ON, Canada N6A 5B7 E-mail:
| | - Irenaeus F. M. De Coo
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Unit Clinical Genomics, Maastricht University, MHeNs School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Dimo Ivanov
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ali R. Khan
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B7
- Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada, N6A 3K7
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Jacobus F. A. Jansen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Hubert J. M. Smeets
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Unit Clinical Genomics, Maastricht University, MHeNs School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Kâmil Uludağ
- IBS Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Sungkyunkwan University, Seobu-ro, 2066, Jangan-gu, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, N Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seobu-ro, 2066, Jangan-gu, Suwon, South Korea
- Techna Institute and Koerner Scientist in MR Imaging, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1L5
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9
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Chirino-Pérez A, Vaca-Palomares I, Torres DL, Hernandez-Castillo CR, Diaz R, Ramirez-Garcia G, Fernandez-Ruiz J. Cognitive Impairments in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 10 and Their Relation to Cortical Thickness. Mov Disord 2021; 36:2910-2921. [PMID: 34327752 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of an ATTCT pentanucleotide repeat. Its clinical features include ataxia and, in some cases, epileptic seizures. There is, however, a dearth of information about its cognitive deficits and the neural bases underpinning them. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to characterize the performance of spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 patients in 2 cognitive domains typically affected in spinocerebellar ataxias, memory and executive function, and to correlate the identified cognitive impairments with ataxia severity and cerebral/cerebellar cortical thickness, as quantified by MRI. METHODS Memory and executive function tests were administered to 17 genetically confirmed Mexican spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 patients, and their results were compared with 17 healthy matched volunteers. MRI was performed in 16 patients. RESULTS Patients showed deficits in visual and visuospatial short-term memory, reduced storage capacity for verbal memory, and impaired monitoring, planning, and cognitive flexibility, which were ataxia independent. Patients with seizures (n = 9) and without seizures (n = 8) did not differ significantly in cognitive performance. There were significant correlations between short-term visuospatial memory impairment and posterior cerebellar lobe cortical thickness (bilateral lobule VI, IX, and right X). Cognitive flexibility deficiencies correlated with cerebral cortical thickness in the left middle frontal, cingulate, opercular, and temporal gyri. Cerebellar cortical thickness in several bilateral regions was correlated with motor impairment. CONCLUSIONS Patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 show significant memory and executive dysfunction that can be correlated with deterioration in the posterior lobe of the cerebellum and prefrontal, cingulate, and middle temporal cortices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Chirino-Pérez
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Israel Vaca-Palomares
- Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana L Torres
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Rosalinda Diaz
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gabriel Ramirez-Garcia
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan Fernandez-Ruiz
- Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.,Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
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10
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Yap KH, Kessels RPC, Azmin S, van de Warrenburg B, Mohamed Ibrahim N. Neurocognitive Changes in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3: A Systematic Review with a Narrative Design. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 21:314-327. [PMID: 34231180 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01282-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), the commonest dominantly inherited ataxia worldwide, is characterized by disruption in the cerebellar-cerebral and striatal-cortical networks. Findings on SCA3-associated cognitive impairments are mixed. The classification models, tests and scoring systems used, language, culture, ataxia severity, and depressive symptoms are all potential confounders in neuropsychological assessments and may have contributed to the heterogeneity of the neurocognitive profile of SCA3. We conducted a systematic review of studies evaluating neurocognitive function in SCA3 patients. Of 1304 articles identified, 15 articles met the eligibility criteria. All articles were of excellent quality according to the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for case-control studies. In line with the disrupted cerebellar-cerebral and striatal-cortical networks in SCA3, this systematic review found that the neurocognitive profile of SCA3 is characterized by a core impairment of executive function that affects processes such as nonverbal reasoning, executive aspects of language, and recall. Conversely, neurocognitive domains such as general intelligence, verbal reasoning, semantic aspect of language, attention/processing speed, recognition, and visuospatial perception and construction are relatively preserved. This review highlights the importance of evaluating neurocognitive function in SCA3 patients. Considering the negative impact of cognitive and affective impairment on quality of life, this review points to the profound impairments that existing or future treatments should prioritize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kah Hui Yap
- Department of Medicine, UKM Medical Center, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Roy P C Kessels
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Vincent Van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands
| | - Shahrul Azmin
- Department of Medicine, UKM Medical Center, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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11
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Hernandez-Castillo CR, Diaz R, Rezende TJR, Adanyeguh I, Harding IH, Mochel F, Fernandez-Ruiz J. Cervical Spinal Cord Degeneration in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2021; 42:1735-1739. [PMID: 34210665 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat expansion. Clinically, spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 is characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, pyramidal signs, and macular degeneration. In vivo MR imaging studies have shown extensive gray matter degeneration in the cerebellum and, to a lesser extent, in a range of cortical cerebral areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the disease in the spinal cord and its relationship with the patient's impairment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a semiautomated procedure applied to MR imaging data, we analyzed spinal cord area and eccentricity in a cohort of 48 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 and compared them with matched healthy controls. The motor impairment in the patient group was evaluated using the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia. RESULTS Our analysis showed a significantly smaller cord area (t = 9.04, P < .001, d = 1.31) and greater eccentricity (t = -2.25, P =. 02, d = 0.32) in the patient group. Similarly, smaller cord area was significantly correlated with a greater Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia score (r = -0.44, P = .001). A multiple regression model showed that the spinal cord area was strongly associated with longer CAG repetition expansions (P = .002) and greater disease duration (P = .020). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that cervical spinal cord changes are progressive and clinically relevant features of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7, and future investigation of these measures as candidate biomarkers is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Hernandez-Castillo
- From the Faculty of Computer Science (C.R.H.-C.), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - R Diaz
- Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine (R.D., J.F.-R.), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuidad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - T J R Rezende
- Department of Neurology and Neuroimaging Laboratory (T.J.R.R.), School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Sorbonne Universités, Paris Brain Institute, Paris, France
| | | | - I H Harding
- Department of Neuroscience (I.H.), Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - F Mochel
- Department of Genetics (F.M.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - J Fernandez-Ruiz
- Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine (R.D., J.F.-R.), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuidad de Mexico, Mexico
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12
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Faber J, Schaprian T, Berkan K, Reetz K, França MC, de Rezende TJR, Hong J, Liao W, van de Warrenburg B, van Gaalen J, Durr A, Mochel F, Giunti P, Garcia-Moreno H, Schoels L, Hengel H, Synofzik M, Bender B, Oz G, Joers J, de Vries JJ, Kang JS, Timmann-Braun D, Jacobi H, Infante J, Joules R, Romanzetti S, Diedrichsen J, Schmid M, Wolz R, Klockgether T. Regional Brain and Spinal Cord Volume Loss in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Mov Disord 2021; 36:2273-2281. [PMID: 33951232 PMCID: PMC9521507 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Given that new therapeutic options for spinocerebellar ataxias are on the horizon, there is a need for markers that reflect disease-related alterations, in particular, in the preataxic stage, in which clinical scales are lacking sensitivity. Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify regional brain volumes and upper cervical spinal cord areas in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 in vivo across the entire time course of the disease. Methods: We applied a brain segmentation approach that included a lobular subsegmentation of the cerebellum to magnetic resonance images of 210 ataxic and 48 preataxic spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 mutation carriers and 63 healthy controls. In addition, cervical cord cross-sectional areas were determined at 2 levels. Results: The metrics of cervical spinal cord segments C3 and C2, medulla oblongata, pons, and pallidum, and the cerebellar anterior lobe were reduced in preataxic mutation carriers compared with controls. Those of cervical spinal cord segments C2 and C3, medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, cerebellar lobules crus II and X, cerebellar white matter, and pallidum were reduced in ataxic compared with nonataxic carriers. Of all metrics studied, pontine volume showed the steepest decline across the disease course. It covaried with ataxia severity, CAG repeat length, and age. The multivariate model derived from this analysis explained 46.33% of the variance of pontine volume. Conclusion: Regional brain and spinal cord tissue loss in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 starts before ataxia onset. Pontine volume appears to be the most promising imaging biomarker candidate for interventional trials that aim at slowing the progression of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Faber
- DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tamara Schaprian
- DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
| | - Koyak Berkan
- DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Bonn, Germany.,JARA-Brain Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Marcondes Cavalcante França
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro de Rezende
- Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology (BRAINN), Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Jiang Hong
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weihua Liao
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Bart van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Judith van Gaalen
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute, AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Fanny Mochel
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute, AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Paola Giunti
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.,National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hector Garcia-Moreno
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.,National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ludger Schoels
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Holger Hengel
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Bender
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gulin Oz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - James Joers
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jereon J de Vries
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jun-Suk Kang
- Department of Neurology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Heike Jacobi
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jon Infante
- Neurology Service, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla-IDIVAL, University of Cantabria, Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Santander, Spain
| | | | - Sandro Romanzetti
- JARA-Brain Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Jorn Diedrichsen
- Brain Mind Institute, Departmentof Computer Science, Department of Statistics, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Matthias Schmid
- DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany.,Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Klockgether
- DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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13
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Schmahmann JD, Vangel MG, Hoche F, Guell X, Sherman JC. Reply: Reference values for the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale: age and education matter. Brain 2021; 144:e21. [PMID: 33313688 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Ataxia Center, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark G Vangel
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Franziska Hoche
- Ataxia Center, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xavier Guell
- Ataxia Center, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Janet C Sherman
- Psychology Assessment Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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14
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White JJ, Bosman LWJ, Blot FGC, Osório C, Kuppens BW, Krijnen WHJJ, Andriessen C, De Zeeuw CI, Jaarsma D, Schonewille M. Region-specific preservation of Purkinje cell morphology and motor behavior in the ATXN1[82Q] mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia 1. Brain Pathol 2021; 31:e12946. [PMID: 33724582 PMCID: PMC8412070 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12946] [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: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Purkinje cells are the primary processing units of the cerebellar cortex and display molecular heterogeneity that aligns with differences in physiological properties, projection patterns, and susceptibility to disease. In particular, multiple mouse models that feature Purkinje cell degeneration are characterized by incomplete and patterned Purkinje cell degeneration, suggestive of relative sparing of Purkinje cell subpopulations, such as those expressing Aldolase C/zebrinII (AldoC) or residing in the vestibulo‐cerebellum. Here, we investigated a well‐characterized Purkinje cell‐specific mouse model for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) that expresses human ATXN1 with a polyQ expansion (82Q). Our pathological analysis confirms previous findings that Purkinje cells of the vestibulo‐cerebellum, i.e., the flocculonodular lobes, and crus I are relatively spared from key pathological hallmarks: somatodendritic atrophy, and the appearance of p62/SQSTM1‐positive inclusions. However, immunohistological analysis of transgene expression revealed that spared Purkinje cells do not express mutant ATXN1 protein, indicating the sparing of Purkinje cells can be explained by an absence of transgene expression. Additionally, we found that Purkinje cells in other cerebellar lobules that typically express AldoC, not only display severe pathology but also show loss of AldoC expression. The relatively preserved flocculonodular lobes and crus I showed a substantial fraction of Purkinje cells that expressed the mutant protein and displayed pathology as well as loss of AldoC expression. Despite considerable pathology in these lobules, behavioral analyses demonstrated a relative sparing of related functions, suggestive of sufficient functional cerebellar reserve. Together, the data indicate that mutant ATXN1 affects both AldoC‐positive and AldoC‐negative Purkinje cells and disrupts normal parasagittal AldoC expression in Purkinje cells. Our results show that, in a mouse model otherwise characterized by widespread Purkinje cell degeneration, sparing of specific subpopulations is sufficient to maintain normal performance of specific behaviors within the context of the functional, modular map of the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J White
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Catarina Osório
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bram W Kuppens
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Chris I De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dick Jaarsma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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15
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Padron-Rivera G, Diaz R, Vaca-Palomares I, Ochoa A, Hernandez-Castillo CR, Fernandez-Ruiz J. Cerebellar Degeneration Signature in Huntington's Disease. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 20:942-945. [PMID: 33723707 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01256-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent findings suggest a significant effect of the cerebellar circuit deterioration on the clinical manifestation of Huntington's disease, calling for a better understanding of the cerebellar degeneration in this disorder. Recent brain imaging analyses have provided conflicting results regarding the cerebellar changes during the progression of this disease. To help in resolving this controversy, we examined the cerebellar gray matter structural integrity from a cohort of HD patients. Whole brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and spatially unbiased atlas template of the human cerebellum (SUIT) analyses were done from T1-weighted brain images. Our results showed a significant cerebellar degeneration without any sign of volume increase. The highest cerebellar degeneration was identified in Crus I right lobule, Crus II bilaterally, and left VIIb, and left VIIIa lobules. The cerebellar degeneration signature, which controls for severity of degeneration, showed a degeneration pattern that included regions I-IV, Crus II, VIIb, VIIIa, VIIIb and X.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Padron-Rivera
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Edificio A, 4 ° piso, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, México
| | - Rosalinda Diaz
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Edificio A, 4 ° piso, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, México
| | - Israel Vaca-Palomares
- Ciencias Cognitivas y del Comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Adriana Ochoa
- Departamento de Neurogenética, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Juan Fernandez-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Neuropsicología, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Edificio A, 4 ° piso, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, México.
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16
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Rodríguez-Labrada R, Martins AC, Magaña JJ, Vazquez-Mojena Y, Medrano-Montero J, Fernandez-Ruíz J, Cisneros B, Teive H, McFarland KN, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Cerecedo-Zapata CM, Gomez CM, Ashizawa T, Velázquez-Pérez L, Jardim LB. Founder Effects of Spinocerebellar Ataxias in the American Continents and the Caribbean. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 19:446-458. [PMID: 32086717 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01109-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) comprise a heterogeneous group of autosomal dominant disorders. The relative frequency of the different SCA subtypes varies broadly among different geographical and ethnic groups as result of genetic drifts. This review aims to provide an update regarding SCA founders in the American continents and the Caribbean as well as to discuss characteristics of these populations. Clusters of SCAs were detected in Eastern regions of Cuba for SCA2, in South Brazil for SCA3/MJD, and in Southeast regions of Mexico for SCA7. Prevalence rates were obtained and reached 154 (municipality of Báguano, Cuba), 166 (General Câmara, Brazil), and 423 (Tlaltetela, Mexico) patients/100,000 for SCA2, SCA3/MJD, and SCA7, respectively. In contrast, the scattered families with spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) reported all over North and South Americas have been associated to a common Native American ancestry that may have risen in East Asia and migrated to Americas 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. The comprehensive review showed that for each of these SCAs corresponded at least the development of one study group with a large production of scientific evidence often generalizable to all carriers of these conditions. Clusters of SCA populations in the American continents and the Caribbean provide unusual opportunity to gain insights into clinical and genetic characteristics of these disorders. Furthermore, the presence of large populations of patients living close to study centers can favor the development of meaningful clinical trials, which will impact on therapies and on quality of life of SCA carriers worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Carolina Martins
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-070, Brazil
| | - Jonathan J Magaña
- Department of Genetics, Laboratory of Genomic Medicine, National Rehabilitation Institute (INR-LGII), 14389, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yaimeé Vazquez-Mojena
- Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias, 80100, Holguín, Cuba
| | | | - Juan Fernandez-Ruíz
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Bulmaro Cisneros
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Center of Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV-IPN), 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Helio Teive
- Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clínicas Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 80240-440, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Luiza Saraiva-Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-070, Brazil
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-903, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-903, Brazil
| | - César M Cerecedo-Zapata
- Department of Genetics, Laboratory of Genomic Medicine, National Rehabilitation Institute (INR-LGII), 14389, Mexico City, Mexico
- Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion Center of Veracruz (CRIS-DIF), Xalapa, 91070, Veracruz, Mexico
| | | | - Tetsuo Ashizawa
- Program of Neuroscience, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Luis Velázquez-Pérez
- Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias, 80100, Holguín, Cuba.
- Cuban Academy of Sciences, 10100, La Havana, Cuba.
| | - Laura Bannach Jardim
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 91540-070, Brazil
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-903, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-903, Brazil
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17
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Neurochemical Differences in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 14 and 1. THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 20:169-178. [PMID: 33063293 PMCID: PMC8004522 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01201-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal-dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive ataxia. Here, we report on neurometabolic alterations in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1; SCA-ATXN1) and 14 (SCA14; SCA-PRKCG) assessed by non-invasive 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Three Tesla 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in 17 SCA14, 14 SCA1 patients, and in 31 healthy volunteers. We assessed metabolites in the cerebellar vermis, right cerebellar hemisphere, pons, prefrontal, and motor cortex. Additionally, clinical characteristics were obtained for each patient to correlate them with metabolites. In SCA14, metabolic changes were restricted to the cerebellar vermis compared with widespread neurochemical alterations in SCA1. In SCA14, total N-acetylaspartate (tNAA) was reduced in the vermis by 34%. In SCA1, tNAA was reduced in the vermis (24%), cerebellar hemisphere (26%), and pons (25%). SCA14 patients showed 24% lower glutamate+glutamine (Glx) and 46% lower γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the vermis, while SCA1 patients showed no alterations in Glx and GABA. SCA1 revealed a decrease of aspartate (Asp) in the vermis (62%) and an elevation in the prefrontal cortex (130%) as well as an elevation of myo-inositol (Ins) in the cerebellar hemisphere (51%) and pons (46%). No changes of Asp and Ins were detected in SCA14. Beyond, glucose (Glc) was increased in the vermis of both SCA14 (155%) and SCA1 (247%). 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed differing neurochemical profiles in SCA1 and SCA14 and confirmed metabolic changes that may be indicative for neuronal loss and dysfunctional energy metabolism. Therefore, 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy represents a helpful tool for in-vivo tracking of disease-specific pathophysiology.
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18
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Cerebellum and cognition in Friedreich ataxia: a voxel-based morphometry and volumetric MRI study. J Neurol 2019; 267:350-358. [PMID: 31641877 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-019-09582-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested the presence of a significant atrophy affecting the cerebellar cortex in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) patients, an area of the brain long considered to be relatively spared by neurodegenerative phenomena. Cognitive deficits, which occur in FRDA patients, have been associated with cerebellar volume loss in other conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between cerebellar volume and cognition in FRDA. METHODS Nineteen FRDA patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were included in this study and evaluated via a neuropsychological examination. Cerebellar global and lobular volumes were computed using the Spatially Unbiased Infratentorial Toolbox (SUIT). Furthermore, a cerebellar voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was also carried out. Correlations between MRI metrics and clinical data were tested via partial correlation analysis. RESULTS FRDA patients showed a significant reduction of the total cerebellar volume (p = 0.004), significantly affecting the Lobule IX (p = 0.001). At the VBM analysis, we found a cluster of significant reduced GM density encompassing the entire lobule IX (p = 0.003). When correlations were probed, we found a direct correlation between Lobule IX volume and impaired visuo-spatial functions (r = 0.58, p = 0.02), with a similar correlation that was found between the same altered function and results obtained at the VBM (r = 0.52; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS With two different image analysis techniques, we confirmed the presence of cerebellar volume loss in FRDA, mainly affecting the posterior lobe. In particular, Lobule IX atrophy correlated with worse visuo-spatial abilities, further expanding our knowledge about the physiopathology of cognitive impairment in FRDA.
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19
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Egorova PA, Bezprozvanny IB. Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutics for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:1050-1073. [PMID: 31435879 PMCID: PMC6985344 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00777-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The effective therapeutic treatment and the disease-modifying therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) (a progressive hereditary disease caused by an expansion of polyglutamine in the ataxin-2 protein) is not available yet. At present, only symptomatic treatment and methods of palliative care are prescribed to the patients. Many attempts were made to study the physiological, molecular, and biochemical changes in SCA2 patients and in a variety of the model systems to find new therapeutic targets for SCA2 treatment. A better understanding of the uncovered molecular mechanisms of the disease allowed the scientific community to develop strategies of potential therapy and helped to create some promising therapeutic approaches for SCA2 treatment. Recent progress in this field will be discussed in this review article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina A Egorova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 195251, Russia
| | - Ilya B Bezprozvanny
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, 195251, Russia.
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, ND12.200, Dallas, Texas, 75390, USA.
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20
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Niewiadomska-Cimicka A, Trottier Y. Molecular Targets and Therapeutic Strategies in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:1074-1096. [PMID: 31432449 PMCID: PMC6985300 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00778-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is a rare autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive neuronal loss in the cerebellum, brainstem, and retina, leading to cerebellar ataxia and blindness as major symptoms. SCA7 is due to the expansion of a CAG triplet repeat that is translated into a polyglutamine tract in ATXN7. Larger SCA7 expansions are associated with earlier onset of symptoms and more severe and rapid disease progression. Here, we summarize the pathological and genetic aspects of SCA7, compile the current knowledge about ATXN7 functions, and then focus on recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis and in developing biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. ATXN7 is a bona fide subunit of the multiprotein SAGA complex, a transcriptional coactivator harboring chromatin remodeling activities, and plays a role in the differentiation of photoreceptors and Purkinje neurons, two highly vulnerable neuronal cell types in SCA7. Polyglutamine expansion in ATXN7 causes its misfolding and intranuclear accumulation, leading to changes in interactions with native partners and/or partners sequestration in insoluble nuclear inclusions. Studies of cellular and animal models of SCA7 have been crucial to unveil pathomechanistic aspects of the disease, including gene deregulation, mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunctions, cell and non-cell autonomous protein toxicity, loss of neuronal identity, and cell death mechanisms. However, a better understanding of the principal molecular mechanisms by which mutant ATXN7 elicits neurotoxicity, and how interconnected pathogenic cascades lead to neurodegeneration is needed for the development of effective therapies. At present, therapeutic strategies using nucleic acid-based molecules to silence mutant ATXN7 gene expression are under development for SCA7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Niewiadomska-Cimicka
- Institute of Genetic and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (U1258), University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Yvon Trottier
- Institute of Genetic and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (U1258), University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
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Extensive cerebellar and thalamic degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 10. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019; 66:182-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Abstract
Cerebellar neuroscience has undergone a paradigm shift. The theories of the universal cerebellar transform and dysmetria of thought and the principles of organization of cerebral cortical connections, together with neuroanatomical, brain imaging, and clinical observations, have recontextualized the cerebellum as a critical node in the distributed neural circuits subserving behavior. The framework for cerebellar cognition stems from the identification of three cognitive representations in the posterior lobe, which are interconnected with cerebral association areas and distinct from the primary and secondary cerebellar sensorimotor representations linked with the spinal cord and cerebral motor areas. Lesions of the anterior lobe primary sensorimotor representations produce dysmetria of movement, the cerebellar motor syndrome. Lesions of the posterior lobe cognitive-emotional cerebellum produce dysmetria of thought and emotion, the cerebellar cognitive affective/Schmahmann syndrome. The notion that the cerebellum modulates thought and emotion in the same way that it modulates motor control advances the understanding of the mechanisms of cognition and opens new therapeutic opportunities in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA;
| | - Xavier Guell
- Ataxia Unit, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA; .,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Catherine J Stoodley
- Department of Psychology and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Mark A Halko
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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