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Sahelijo N, Rajagopalan P, Qian L, Rahman R, Priyadarshi D, Goldstein D, Thomopoulos SI, Bennett DA, Farrer LA, Stein TD, Shen L, Huang H, Nho K, Andrew SJ, Davatzikos C, Thompson PM, Tcw J, Jun GR. Brain Cell-based Genetic Subtyping and Drug Repositioning for Alzheimer Disease. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.06.21.24309255. [PMID: 38947056 PMCID: PMC11213108 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.24309255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by its complex and heterogeneous etiology and gradual progression, leading to high drug failure rates in late-stage clinical trials. In order to better stratify individuals at risk for AD and discern potential therapeutic targets we employed a novel procedure utilizing cell-based co-regulated gene networks and polygenic risk scores (cbPRSs). After defining genetic subtypes using extremes of cbPRS distributions, we evaluated correlations of the genetic subtypes with previously defined AD subtypes defined on the basis of domain-specific cognitive functioning and neuroimaging biomarkers. Employing a PageRank algorithm, we identified priority gene targets for the genetic subtypes. Pathway analysis of priority genes demonstrated associations with neurodegeneration and suggested candidate drugs currently utilized in diabetes, hypertension, and epilepsy for repositioning in AD. Experimental validation utilizing human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes demonstrated the modifying effects of estradiol, levetiracetam, and pioglitazone on expression of APOE and complement C4 genes, suggesting potential repositioning for AD.
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Crane PK, Groot C, Ossenkoppele R, Mukherjee S, Choi S, Lee M, Scollard P, Gibbons LE, Sanders RE, Trittschuh E, Saykin AJ, Mez J, Nakano C, Donald CM, Sohi H, Risacher S. Cognitively defined Alzheimer's dementia subgroups have distinct atrophy patterns. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:1739-1752. [PMID: 38093529 PMCID: PMC10984445 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13567] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We sought to determine structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics across subgroups defined based on relative cognitive domain impairments using data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and to compare cognitively defined to imaging-defined subgroups. METHODS We used data from 584 people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (461 amyloid positive, 123 unknown amyloid status) and 118 amyloid-negative controls. We used voxel-based morphometry to compare gray matter volume (GMV) for each group compared to controls and to AD-Memory. RESULTS There was pronounced bilateral lower medial temporal lobe atrophy with relative cortical sparing for AD-Memory, lower left hemisphere GMV for AD-Language, anterior lower GMV for AD-Executive, and posterior lower GMV for AD-Visuospatial. Formal asymmetry comparisons showed substantially more asymmetry in the AD-Language group than any other group (p = 1.15 × 10-10 ). For overlap between imaging-defined and cognitively defined subgroups, AD-Memory matched up with an imaging-defined limbic predominant group. DISCUSSION MRI findings differ across cognitively defined AD subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul K. Crane
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Colin Groot
- Clinical Memory Research UnitLund UniversityLundSweden
- Alzheimer centerAmsterdam UMC ‐ VU Medical CenterAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Rik Ossenkoppele
- Clinical Memory Research UnitLund UniversityLundSweden
- Alzheimer centerAmsterdam UMC ‐ VU Medical CenterAmsterdamNetherlands
| | | | - Seo‐Eun Choi
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Michael Lee
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Phoebe Scollard
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Laura E. Gibbons
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Emily Trittschuh
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Washington, and Geriatrics ResearchEducation, and Clinical CenterVA Puget Sound Health Care SystemSeattleUSA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUSA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging SciencesIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUSA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Department of NeurologyBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Connie Nakano
- Department of MedicineUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | | | - Harkirat Sohi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical EducationUniversity of WashingtonSeattleUSA
- Now Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryRichlandUSA
| | | | - Shannon Risacher
- Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUSA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging SciencesIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUSA
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Chung J, Sahelijo N, Maruyama T, Hu J, Panitch R, Xia W, Mez J, Stein TD, Saykin AJ, Takeyama H, Farrer LA, Crane PK, Nho K, Jun GR. Alzheimer's disease heterogeneity explained by polygenic risk scores derived from brain transcriptomic profiles. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5173-5184. [PMID: 37166019 PMCID: PMC10638468 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13069] [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: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer's disease (AD) is heterogeneous, both clinically and neuropathologically. We investigated whether polygenic risk scores (PRSs) integrated with transcriptome profiles from AD brains can explain AD clinical heterogeneity. METHODS We conducted co-expression network analysis and identified gene sets (modules) that were preserved in three AD transcriptome datasets and associated with AD-related neuropathological traits including neuritic plaques (NPs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). We computed the module-based PRSs (mbPRSs) for each module and tested associations with mbPRSs for cognitive test scores, cognitively defined AD subgroups, and brain imaging data. RESULTS Of the modules significantly associated with NPs and/or NFTs, the mbPRSs from two modules (M6 and M9) showed distinct associations with language and visuospatial functioning, respectively. They matched clinical subtypes and brain atrophy at specific regions. DISCUSSION Our findings demonstrate that polygenic profiling based on co-expressed gene sets can explain heterogeneity in AD patients, enabling genetically informed patient stratification and precision medicine in AD. HIGHLIGHTS Co-expression gene-network analysis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains identified gene sets (modules) associated with AD heterogeneity. AD-associated modules were selected when genes in each module were enriched for neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Polygenic risk scores from two selected modules were linked to the matching cognitively defined AD subgroups (language and visuospatial subgroups). Polygenic risk scores from the two modules were associated with cognitive performance in language and visuospatial domains and the associations were confirmed in regional-specific brain atrophy data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoon Chung
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Nathan Sahelijo
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Toru Maruyama
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan
| | - Junming Hu
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Rebecca Panitch
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Weiming Xia
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA 01730, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA 01730, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Boston VA Healthcare Center, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | | | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Haruko Takeyama
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan
- Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory, AIST-Waseda University, Japan, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
- Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovations, Waseda University, 513, Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0041, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research of Biosystem Dynamics, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Lindsay A. Farrer
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Paul K. Crane
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kwangsik Nho
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Gyungah R. Jun
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Kang M, Ang TFA, Devine SA, Sherva R, Mukherjee S, Trittschuh EH, Gibbons LE, Scollard P, Lee M, Choi SE, Klinedinst B, Nakano C, Dumitrescu LC, Durant A, Hohman TJ, Cuccaro ML, Saykin AJ, Kukull WA, Bennett DA, Wang LS, Mayeux RP, Haines JL, Pericak-Vance MA, Schellenberg GD, Crane PK, Au R, Lunetta KL, Mez JB, Farrer LA. A genome-wide search for pleiotropy in more than 100,000 harmonized longitudinal cognitive domain scores. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:40. [PMID: 37349795 PMCID: PMC10286470 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00633-4] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND More than 75 common variant loci account for only a portion of the heritability for Alzheimer's disease (AD). A more complete understanding of the genetic basis of AD can be deduced by exploring associations with AD-related endophenotypes. METHODS We conducted genome-wide scans for cognitive domain performance using harmonized and co-calibrated scores derived by confirmatory factor analyses for executive function, language, and memory. We analyzed 103,796 longitudinal observations from 23,066 members of community-based (FHS, ACT, and ROSMAP) and clinic-based (ADRCs and ADNI) cohorts using generalized linear mixed models including terms for SNP, age, SNP × age interaction, sex, education, and five ancestry principal components. Significance was determined based on a joint test of the SNP's main effect and interaction with age. Results across datasets were combined using inverse-variance meta-analysis. Genome-wide tests of pleiotropy for each domain pair as the outcome were performed using PLACO software. RESULTS Individual domain and pleiotropy analyses revealed genome-wide significant (GWS) associations with five established loci for AD and AD-related disorders (BIN1, CR1, GRN, MS4A6A, and APOE) and eight novel loci. ULK2 was associated with executive function in the community-based cohorts (rs157405, P = 2.19 × 10-9). GWS associations for language were identified with CDK14 in the clinic-based cohorts (rs705353, P = 1.73 × 10-8) and LINC02712 in the total sample (rs145012974, P = 3.66 × 10-8). GRN (rs5848, P = 4.21 × 10-8) and PURG (rs117523305, P = 1.73 × 10-8) were associated with memory in the total and community-based cohorts, respectively. GWS pleiotropy was observed for language and memory with LOC107984373 (rs73005629, P = 3.12 × 10-8) in the clinic-based cohorts, and with NCALD (rs56162098, P = 1.23 × 10-9) and PTPRD (rs145989094, P = 8.34 × 10-9) in the community-based cohorts. GWS pleiotropy was also found for executive function and memory with OSGIN1 (rs12447050, P = 4.09 × 10-8) and PTPRD (rs145989094, P = 3.85 × 10-8) in the community-based cohorts. Functional studies have previously linked AD to ULK2, NCALD, and PTPRD. CONCLUSION Our results provide some insight into biological pathways underlying processes leading to domain-specific cognitive impairment and AD, as well as a conduit toward a syndrome-specific precision medicine approach to AD. Increasing the number of participants with harmonized cognitive domain scores will enhance the discovery of additional genetic factors of cognitive decline leading to AD and related dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moonil Kang
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street E200, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Ting Fang Alvin Ang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Sherral A. Devine
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Richard Sherva
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street E200, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Shubhabrata Mukherjee
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Emily H. Trittschuh
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Laura E. Gibbons
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Phoebe Scollard
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Michael Lee
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Seo-Eun Choi
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Brandon Klinedinst
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Connie Nakano
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Logan C. Dumitrescu
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Alaina Durant
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Timothy J. Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Michael L. Cuccaro
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL USA
| | - Andrew J. Saykin
- Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Services, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Walter A. Kukull
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - David A. Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Li-San Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Richard P. Mayeux
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - Jonathan L. Haines
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH USA
| | | | - Gerard D. Schellenberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Paul K. Crane
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Rhoda Au
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Slone Epidemiology Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Kathryn L. Lunetta
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Jesse B. Mez
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Lindsay A. Farrer
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street E200, Boston, MA 02118 USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
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Risacher SL, Apostolova LG. Neuroimaging in Dementia. Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2023; 29:219-254. [PMID: 36795879 DOI: 10.1212/con.0000000000001248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurodegenerative diseases are significant health concerns with regard to morbidity and social and economic hardship around the world. This review describes the state of the field of neuroimaging measures as biomarkers for detection and diagnosis of both slowly progressing and rapidly progressing neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer disease, vascular cognitive impairment, dementia with Lewy bodies or Parkinson disease dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration spectrum disorders, and prion-related diseases. It briefly discusses findings in these diseases in studies using MRI and metabolic and molecular-based imaging (eg, positron emission tomography [PET] and single-photon emission computerized tomography [SPECT]). LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Neuroimaging studies with MRI and PET have demonstrated differential patterns of brain atrophy and hypometabolism in different neurodegenerative disorders, which can be useful in differential diagnoses. Advanced MRI sequences, such as diffusion-based imaging, and functional MRI (fMRI) provide important information about underlying biological changes in dementia and new directions for development of novel measures for future clinical use. Finally, advancements in molecular imaging allow clinicians and researchers to visualize dementia-related proteinopathies and neurotransmitter levels. ESSENTIAL POINTS Diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is primarily based on symptomatology, although the development of in vivo neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers is changing the scope of clinical diagnosis, as well as the research into these devastating diseases. This article will help inform the reader about the current state of neuroimaging in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as how these tools might be used for differential diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L Risacher
- Address correspondence to Dr Shannon L. Risacher, 355 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202,
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Chandler H, Wise R, Linden D, Williams J, Murphy K, Lancaster TM. Alzheimer's genetic risk effects on cerebral blood flow across the lifespan are proximal to gene expression. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 120:1-9. [PMID: 36070676 PMCID: PMC7615143 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Cerebrovascular dysregulation such as altered cerebral blood flow (CBF) can be observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may precede symptom onset. Genome wide association studies show that AD has a polygenic aetiology, providing a tool for studying AD susceptibility across the lifespan. Here, we ascertain whether the AD genetic risk effects on CBF previously observed (Chandler et al., 2019) are also present in later life. Consistent with our prior observations, AD genetic risk score (AD-GRS) was associated with reduced CBF in the ADNI sample. The regional association between AD-GRS and CBF were also spatially similar. Furthermore, CBF was related to the regional mRNA transcript expression of AD risk genes proximal to AD-GRS risk loci. These observations suggest that AD risk alleles may reduce neurovascular process such as CBF, potentially via mechanisms such as regional expression of proximal AD risk genes as an antecedent AD pathophysiology. Our observations help establish processes that underpin AD genetic risk-related reductions in CBF as a therapeutic target prior to the onset of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Chandler
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Richard Wise
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, G. D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - David Linden
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Julie Williams
- UK Dementia Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
| | - Kevin Murphy
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Thomas Matthew Lancaster
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
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Vogel JW, Hansson O. Subtypes of Alzheimer's disease: questions, controversy, and meaning. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:342-345. [PMID: 35227519 PMCID: PMC11108088 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The distribution of Alzheimer's disease (AD) tau pathology varies systematically and causes a diverse array of syndromes. This forum article provides a brief overview of key controversies in untangling the complexity of AD subtypes, explores potential causes of AD variability in the population, and discusses clinical relevance and future directions of research into AD heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob W Vogel
- Penn/CHOP Lifespan Brain Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Sweden; Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
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Concordance of Alzheimer’s Disease Subtypes Produced from Different Representative Morphological Measures: A Comparative Study. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020187. [PMID: 35203950 PMCID: PMC8869952 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Gray matter (GM) density and cortical thickness (CT) obtained from structural magnetic resonance imaging are representative GM morphological measures that have been commonly used in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subtype research. However, how the two measures affect the definition of AD subtypes remains unclear. Methods: A total of 180 AD patients from the ADNI database were used to identify AD subgroups. The subtypes were identified via a data-driven strategy based on the density features and CT features, respectively. Then, the similarity between the two features in AD subtype definition was analyzed. Results: Four distinct subtypes were discovered by both density and CT features: diffuse atrophy AD, minimal atrophy AD (MAD), left temporal dominant atrophy AD (LTAD), and occipital sparing AD. The matched subtypes exhibited relatively high similarity in atrophy patterns and neuropsychological and neuropathological characteristics. They differed only in MAD and LTAD regarding the carrying of apolipoprotein E ε2. Conclusions: The results verified that different representative morphological GM measurement methods could produce similar AD subtypes. Meanwhile, the influences of apolipoprotein E genotype, asymmetric disease progression, and their interactions should be considered and included in the AD subtype definition. This study provides a valuable reference for selecting features in future studies of AD subtypes.
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Jellinger KA. Recent update on the heterogeneity of the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2021; 129:1-24. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02449-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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10
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Gryglewski G, Murgaš M, Klöbl M, Reed MB, Unterholzner J, Michenthaler P, Lanzenberger R. Enrichment of Disease-Associated Genes in Cortical Areas Defined by Transcriptome-Based Parcellation. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 7:10-23. [PMID: 33711548 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parcellation of the cerebral cortex serves the investigation of the emergence of uniquely human brain functions and disorders. Transcriptome data enable the characterization of the molecular properties of cortical areas in unprecedented detail. Previously, we predicted the expression of 18,686 genes in the entire human brain based on microarray data. Here, we employed these data to parcellate the cortex and study the regional enrichment of disease-associated genes. METHODS We performed agglomerative hierarchical clustering based on normalized transcriptome data to delineate areas with distinct gene expression profiles. Subsequently, we tested these profiles for the enrichment of gene sets associated with brain disorders by genome-wide association studies and expert-curated databases using gene set enrichment analysis. RESULTS Transcriptome-based parcellation identified borders in line with major anatomical landmarks and the functional differentiation of primary motor, somatosensory, visual, and auditory areas. Gene set enrichment analysis based on curated databases suggested new roles of specific areas in psychiatric and neurological disorders while reproducing well-established links for movement and neurodegenerative disorders, for example, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor cortex) and Alzheimer's disease (entorhinal cortex). Meanwhile, gene sets derived from genome-wide association studies on psychiatric disorders exhibited similar enrichment patterns driven by pleiotropic genes expressed in the posterior fusiform gyrus and inferior parietal lobule. CONCLUSIONS The identified enrichment patterns suggest the vulnerability of specific cortical areas to various influences that might alter the risk of developing one or several brain disorders. For several diseases, specific genes were highlighted, which could lead to the discovery of novel disease mechanisms and urgently needed treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Gryglewski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matej Murgaš
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Murray Bruce Reed
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jakob Unterholzner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Michenthaler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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