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Kretzer S, Lawrence AJ, Pollard R, Ma X, Chen PJ, Amasi-Hartoonian N, Pariante C, Vallée C, Meaney M, Dazzan P. The Dynamic Interplay between Puberty and Structural Brain Development as a Predictor of Mental Health Difficulties in Adolescence: a systematic review. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01392-1. [PMID: 38925264 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Puberty is a time of intense reorganization of brain structure and a high-risk period for the onset of mental health problems, with variations in pubertal timing and tempo intensifying this risk. We conducted two systematic reviews of papers published up to 1st February 2024 focusing on (1) the role of brain structure in the relationship between puberty and mental health, and (2) precision psychiatry research evaluating the utility of puberty in making individualized predictions of mental health in young people. The first review provides inconsistent evidence on whether and how pubertal and psychopathological processes could interact in relation to brain development. While most studies found an association between early puberty and mental health difficulties in adolescents, evidence on whether brain structure mediates this relationship is mixed. The pituitary gland was found to be associated with mental health status during this time, possibly through its central role in regulating puberty and its function in the hypothalamic- pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes. In the second review, the design of studies that have explored puberty in predictive models did not allow for a quantification of its predictive power. However, when puberty was evaluated through physically observable characteristics rather than hormonal measures, it was more commonly identified as a predictor of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in adolescence. Social processes might be more relevant than biological ones in the link between puberty and mental health problems, and represent an important target for educational strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Kretzer
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Pollard
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Xuemei Ma
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Pei Jung Chen
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Nare Amasi-Hartoonian
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research
| | - Carmine Pariante
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Corentin Vallée
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Meaney
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; McGill University, Canada
| | - Paola Dazzan
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research.
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Picci G, Petro NM, Casagrande CC, Ott LR, Okelberry HJ, Rice DL, Coutant AT, Ende GC, Steiner EL, Wang YP, Stephen JM, Calhoun VD, Wilson TW. Anterior pituitary gland volume mediates associations between pubertal hormones and changes in transdiagnostic symptoms in youth. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.17.594766. [PMID: 38798387 PMCID: PMC11118574 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.17.594766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The pituitary gland (PG) plays a central role in the production and secretion of pubertal hormones, with documented links to the emergence and increase in mental health symptoms known to occur during adolescence. Although much of the literature has focused on examining whole PG volume, recent findings suggest that there are associations among pubertal hormone levels, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), subregions of the PG, and elevated mental health symptoms (e.g., internalizing symptoms) during adolescence. Surprisingly, studies have not yet examined associations among these factors and increasing transdiagnostic symptomology, despite DHEA being a primary output of the anterior PG. Therefore, the current study sought to fill this gap by examining whether anterior PG volume specifically mediates associations between DHEA levels and changes in dysregulation symptoms in an adolescent sample ( N = 114, 9 - 17 years, M age = 12.87, SD = 1.88). Following manual tracing of the anterior and posterior PG, structural equation modeling revealed that greater anterior, not posterior, PG volume mediated the association between greater DHEA levels and increasing dysregulation symptoms across time, controlling for baseline dysregulation symptom levels. These results suggest specificity in the role of the anterior PG in adrenarcheal processes that may confer risk for psychopathology during adolescence. This work not only highlights the importance of separately tracing the anterior and posterior PG, but also suggests that transdiagnostic factors like dysregulation are useful in parsing hormone-related increases in mental health symptoms in youth.
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Zennadi MM, Ptito M, Redouté J, Costes N, Boutet C, Germain N, Galusca B, Schneider FC. MRI atlas of the pituitary gland in young female adults. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1001-1010. [PMID: 38502330 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02779-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The probabilistic topography and inter-individual variability of the pituitary gland (PG) remain undetermined. The absence of a standardized reference atlas hinders research on PG volumetrics. In this study, we aimed at creating maximum probability maps for the anterior and posterior PG in young female adults. We manually delineated the anterior and posterior parts of the pituitary glands in 26 healthy subjects using high-resolution MRI T1 images. A three-step procedure and a cost function-masking approach were employed to optimize spatial normalization for the PG. We generated probabilistic atlases and maximum probability maps, which were subsequently coregistered back to the subjects' space and compared to manual delineations. Manual measurements led to a total pituitary volume of 705 ± 88 mm³, with the anterior and posterior volumes measuring 614 ± 82 mm³ and 91 ± 20 mm³, respectively. The mean relative volume difference between manual and atlas-based estimations was 1.3%. The global pituitary atlas exhibited an 80% (± 9%) overlap for the DICE index and 67% (± 11%) for the Jaccard index. Similarly, these values were 77% (± 13%) and 64% (± 14%) for the anterior pituitary atlas and 62% (± 21%) and 47% (± 17%) for the posterior PG atlas, respectively. We observed a substantial concordance and a significant correlation between the volume estimations of the manual and atlas-based methods for the global pituitary and anterior volumes. The maximum probability maps of the anterior and posterior PG lay the groundwork for automatic atlas-based segmentation methods and the standardized analysis of large PG datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Merabet Zennadi
- Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, CHU de Saint Etienne, TAPE Research Unit EA 7423, F-42023, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Maurice Ptito
- École d'Optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jérôme Redouté
- CERMEP, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Nicolas Costes
- CERMEP, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Claire Boutet
- Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, CHU de Saint Etienne, TAPE Research Unit EA 7423, F-42023, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Natacha Germain
- Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, CHU de Saint Etienne, TAPE Research Unit EA 7423, F-42023, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Bogdan Galusca
- Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, CHU de Saint Etienne, TAPE Research Unit EA 7423, F-42023, Saint Etienne, France
| | - Fabien C Schneider
- Université Jean Monnet Saint Etienne, CHU de Saint Etienne, TAPE Research Unit EA 7423, F-42023, Saint Etienne, France.
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Picci G, Casagrande CC, Ott LR, Petro NM, Christopher‐Hayes NJ, Johnson HJ, Willett MP, Okelberry HJ, Wang Y, Stephen JM, Calhoun VD, Wilson TW. Dehydroepiandrosterone mediates associations between trauma-related symptoms and anterior pituitary volume in children and adolescents. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:6388-6398. [PMID: 37853842 PMCID: PMC10681633 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26516] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The anterior pituitary gland (PG) is a potential locus of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responsivity to early life stress, with documented associations between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels and anterior PG volumes. In adults, elevated anxiety/depressive symptoms are related to diminished DHEA levels, and studies have shown a positive relationship between DHEA and anterior pituitary volumes. However, specific links between responses to stress, DHEA levels, and anterior pituitary volume have not been established in developmental samples. METHODS High-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans were collected from 137 healthy youth (9-17 years; Mage = 12.99 (SD = 1.87); 49% female; 85% White, 4% Indigenous, 1% Asian, 4% Black, 4% multiracial, 2% not reported). The anterior and posterior PGs were manually traced by trained raters. We examined the mediating effects of salivary DHEA on trauma-related symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic) and PG volumes as well as an alternative model examining mediating effects of PG volume on DHEA and trauma-related symptoms. RESULTS DHEA mediated the association between anxiety symptoms and anterior PG volume. Specifically, higher anxiety symptoms related to lower DHEA levels, which in turn were related to smaller anterior PG. CONCLUSIONS These results shed light on the neurobiological sequelae of elevated anxiety in youth and are consistent with adult findings showing suppressed levels of DHEA in those with greater comorbid anxiety and depression. Specifically, adolescents with greater subclinical anxiety may exhibit diminished levels of DHEA during the pubertal window, which may be associated with disruptions in anterior PG growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Picci
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain HealthBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Chloe C. Casagrande
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Lauren R. Ott
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Nathan M. Petro
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | | | - Hallie J. Johnson
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Madelyn P. Willett
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Hannah J. Okelberry
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
| | - Yu‐Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisianaUSA
| | | | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri‐Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS)Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of technology, and Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Tony W. Wilson
- Institute for Human NeuroscienceBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Center for Pediatric Brain HealthBoys Town National Research HospitalBoys TownNebraskaUSA
- Department of Pharmacology & NeuroscienceCreighton UniversityOmahaNebraskaUSA
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Chen T, Zhang D. Basal gonadotropin levels combine with pelvic ultrasound and pituitary volume: a machine learning diagnostic model of idiopathic central precocious puberty. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:603. [PMID: 38017451 PMCID: PMC10685612 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04432-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) relies on the gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) stimulation test, which requires multiple invasive blood sampling procedures. The aim of this study was to construct machine learning models incorporating basal pubertal hormone levels, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pelvic ultrasound parameters to predict the response of precocious girls to GnRHa stimulation test. METHODS This retrospective study included 455 girls diagnosed with precocious puberty who underwent transabdominal pelvic ultrasound, brain MRI examinations and GnRHa stimulation testing were retrospectively reviewed. They were randomly assigned to the training or internal validation set in an 8:2 ratio. Four machine learning classifiers were developed to identify girls with CPP, including logistic regression, random forest, light gradient boosting (LightGBM), and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC) and F1 score of the models were measured. RESULTS The participates were divided into an idiopathic CPP group (n = 263) and a non-CPP group (n = 192). All machine learning classifiers used achieved good performance in distinguishing CPP group and non-CPP group, with the area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.72 to 0.81 in validation set. XGBoost had the highest diagnostic efficacy, with sensitivity of 0.81, specificity of 0.72, and F1 score of 0.80. Basal pubertal hormone levels (including luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and estradiol), averaged ovarian volume, and several uterine parameters were predictors in the model. CONCLUSION The machine learning prediction model we developed has good efficacy for predicting response to GnRHa stimulation tests which could help in the diagnosis of CPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Danbin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
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Rea HM, Clawson A, Hudac CM, Santhosh M, Bernier RA, Earl RK, Pelphrey KA, Webb SJ, Neuhaus E. Pubertal maturation and timing effects on resting state electroencephalography in autistic and comparison youth. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22415. [PMID: 37860899 PMCID: PMC10713348 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22415] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Autistic and comparison individuals differ in resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), such that sex and age explain variability within and between groups. Pubertal maturation and timing may further explain variation, as previous work has suggested alterations in pubertal timing in autistic youth. In a sample from two studies of 181 autistic and 94 comparison youth (8 years to 17 years and 11 months), mixed-effects linear regressions were conducted to assess differences in EEG (midline power for theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands). Alpha power was analyzed as a mediator in the relation between pubertal maturation and timing with autistic traits in the autistic groups to understand the role of puberty in brain-based changes that contribute to functional outcomes. Individuals advanced in puberty exhibited decreased power in all bands. Those who experienced puberty relatively early showed decreased power in theta and beta bands, controlling for age, sex, and diagnosis. Autistic individuals further along in pubertal development exhibited lower social skills. Alpha mediated the relation between puberty and repetitive behaviors. Pubertal maturation and timing appear to play unique roles in the development of cognitive processes for autistic and comparison youth and should be considered in research on developmental variation in resting-state EEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Rea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ann Clawson
- Department of Neuropsychology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Caitlin M Hudac
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Megha Santhosh
- Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Raphael A Bernier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rachel K Earl
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kevin A Pelphrey
- Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Sara Jane Webb
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Emily Neuhaus
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Center on Child Health, Behavior and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Ladouceur CD, Henry T, Ojha A, Shirtcliff EA, Silk JS. Fronto-amygdala resting state functional connectivity is associated with anxiety symptoms among adolescent girls more advanced in pubertal maturation. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 60:101236. [PMID: 36996571 PMCID: PMC10063408 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Early adolescence, with the onset of puberty, is an important period when sex differences in anxiety emerge, with girls reporting significantly higher anxiety symptoms than boys. This study examined the role of puberty on fronto-amygdala functional connectivity and risk of anxiety symptoms in 70 girls (age 11-13) who completed a resting state fMRI scan, self-report measures of anxiety symptoms and pubertal status, and provided basal testosterone levels (64 girls). Resting state fMRI data were preprocessed using fMRIPrep and connectivity indices were extracted from ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and amygdala regions-of-interest. We tested moderated mediation models and hypothesized that vmPFC-amygdala would mediate the relation between three indices of puberty (testosterone and adrenarcheal/gonadarcheal development) and anxiety, with puberty moderating the relation between connectivity and anxiety. Results showed a significant moderation effect of testosterone and adrenarcheal development in the right amygdala and a rostral/dorsal area of the vmPFC and of gonadarcheal development in the left amygdala and a medial area of the vmPFC on anxiety symptoms. Simple slope analyses showed that vmPFC-amygdala connectivity was negatively associated with anxiety only in girls more advanced in puberty suggesting that sensitivity to the effects of puberty on fronto-amygdala function could contribute to risk for anxiety disorders among adolescent girls.
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Penhale SH, Picci G, Ott LR, Taylor BK, Frenzel MR, Eastman JA, Wang YP, Calhoun VD, Stephen JM, Wilson TW. Impacts of adrenarcheal DHEA levels on spontaneous cortical activity during development. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 57:101153. [PMID: 36174268 PMCID: PMC9519481 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) production is closely associated with the first pubertal hormonal event, adrenarche. Few studies have documented the relationships between DHEA and functional brain development, with even fewer examining the associations between DHEA and spontaneous cortical activity during the resting-state. Thus, whether DHEA levels are associated with the known developmental shifts in the brain's idling cortical rhythms remains poorly understood. Herein, we examined spontaneous cortical activity in 71 typically-developing youth (9-16 years; 32 male) using magnetoencephalography (MEG). MEG data were source imaged and the power within five canonical frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma) was computed to identify spatially- and spectrally-specific effects of salivary DHEA and DHEA-by-sex interactions using vertex-wise ANCOVAs. Our results indicated robust increases in power with increasing DHEA within parieto-occipital cortices in all frequency bands except alpha, which decreased with increasing DHEA. In the delta band, DHEA and sex interacted within frontal and temporal cortices such that with increasing DHEA, males exhibited increasing power while females showed decreasing power. These data suggest that spontaneous cortical activity changes with endogenous DHEA levels during the transition from childhood to adolescence, particularly in sensory and attentional processing regions. Sexually-divergent trajectories were only observed in later-developing frontal cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha H Penhale
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Giorgia Picci
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Lauren R Ott
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Brittany K Taylor
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michaela R Frenzel
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Jacob A Eastman
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Yu-Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Ma L, Liu X, Yan N, Gan Y, Wu Y, Li Y, Chu M, Chiu DT, Ma L. Associations Between Different Cortisol Measures and Adiposity in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Nutr 2022; 9:879256. [PMID: 35811977 PMCID: PMC9260431 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.879256] [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: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined associations between hair, salivary, serum, and urinary cortisol concentration with adiposity-related indicators in children, and explored their potential effects modification by age, sex, cortisol measurement method, and country developmental context. We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for studies examining at least one of the four aforementioned cortisol with objectively measured adiposity-related outcomes in children. Meta-analyses of cross-sectional studies revealed that hair cortisol concentration was associated with fat mass index (FMI)-standard deviation score (SDS)/FMI z-score (pooled-β = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.08) and BMI/BMI z-score (pooled-β = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.25), and these associations were significant among children aged ≤ 12 years (pooled-β = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.26) and >12 years (pooled-β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.22), children from developed countries (pooled β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.21) and developing countries (pooled-β = 0.193, 95% CI: 0.188, 0.198), and in studies extracting cortisol via LC-MS/MS (pooled-β = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.29) but not ELISA (pooled-β = 0.08, 95% CI: −0.06, 0.22). Meta-analyses of both cohort and cross-sectional studies revealed non-significant associations of morning salivary cortisol concentration and total daily cortisol output with BMI/BMI z-score. Serum cortisol concentration was not associated with BMI or waist circumference. Meta-analysis of urinary cortisol concentration and adiposity was hindered by insufficient data. These findings further corroborate understanding of chronic stress’ physiological contribution to increased pediatric obesity risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ma
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Xi Liu
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Na Yan
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Yiqun Gan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Xi’an, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Meng Chu
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Dorothy T. Chiu
- Community Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Dorothy T. Chiu,
| | - Le Ma
- School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- Le Ma,
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van der Valk E, Abawi O, Mohseni M, Abdelmoumen A, Wester V, van der Voorn B, Iyer A, van den Akker E, Hoeks S, van den Berg S, de Rijke Y, Stalder T, van Rossum E. Cross-sectional relation of long-term glucocorticoids in hair with anthropometric measurements and their possible determinants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13376. [PMID: 34811866 PMCID: PMC9285618 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term glucocorticoids (HairGC) measured in scalp hair have been associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-hip-ratio (WHR) in several cross-sectional studies. We aimed to investigate the magnitude, strength, and clinical relevance of these relations across all ages. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42020205187) searching for articles relating HairGC to measures of obesity. Main outcomes were bivariate correlation coefficients and unadjusted simple linear regression coefficients relating hair cortisol (HairF) and hair cortisone (HairE) to BMI, WC, and WHR. RESULTS We included k = 146 cohorts (n = 34,342 individuals). HairGC were positively related to all anthropometric measurements. The strongest correlation and largest effect size were seen for HairE-WC: pooled correlation 0.18 (95%CI 0.11-0.24; k = 7; n = 3,158; I2 = 45.7%) and pooled regression coefficient 11.0 cm increase in WC per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairE (pg/mg) on liquid-chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS) (95%CI 10.1-11.9 cm; k = 6; n = 3,102). Pooled correlation for HairF-BMI was 0.10 (95%CI 0.08-0.13; k = 122; n = 26,527; I2 = 51.2%) and pooled regression coefficient 0.049 kg/m2 per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairF (pg/mg) on LC-MS (95%CI 0.045-0.054 kg/m2 ; k = 26; n = 11,635). DISCUSSION There is a consistent positive association between HairGC and BMI, WC, and WHR, most prominently and clinically relevant for HairE-WC. These findings overall suggest an altered setpoint of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with increasing central adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline van der Valk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ozair Abawi
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mostafa Mohseni
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amir Abdelmoumen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Wester
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bibian van der Voorn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anand Iyer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erica van den Akker
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hoeks
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd van den Berg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolanda de Rijke
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth van Rossum
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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11
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Colich NL, McLaughlin KA. Accelerated pubertal development as a mechanism linking trauma exposure with depression and anxiety in adolescence. Curr Opin Psychol 2022; 46:101338. [PMID: 35430517 PMCID: PMC9378424 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to early-life adversity (ELA) is associated with elevated risk for depression and anxiety disorders in adolescence. Identifying mechanisms through which ELA contributes to the emergence of depression and anxiety is necessary to design preventive interventions. One potential mechanism linking exposure to ELA with psychopathology is accelerated pubertal development. Exposure to trauma-specifically interpersonal violence-is associated with earlier pubertal timing, which in turn predicts adolescent-onset depression and anxiety disorders. We review the recent literature on adversity and accelerated pubertal development, exploring specific associations between trauma and accelerated pubertal development as a mechanism linking adversity with depression and anxiety disorders in adolescence. Finally, we suggest future directions for research exploring mechanisms linking ELA with accelerated pubertal development as well as pubertal timing and psychopathology in adolescence.
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12
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Pfeifer JH, Allen NB. Puberty Initiates Cascading Relationships Between Neurodevelopmental, Social, and Internalizing Processes Across Adolescence. Biol Psychiatry 2021; 89:99-108. [PMID: 33334434 PMCID: PMC8494463 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence is a period of dramatic developmental transitions-from puberty-related changes in hormones, bodies, and brains to an increasingly complex social world. The concurrent increase in the onset of many mental disorders has prompted the search for key developmental processes that drive changes in risk for psychopathology during this period of life. Hormonal surges and consequent physical maturation linked to pubertal development in adolescence are thought to affect multiple aspects of brain development, social cognition, and peer relations, each of which have also demonstrated associations with risk for mood and anxiety disorders. These puberty-related effects may combine with other nonpubertal influences on brain maturation to transform adolescents' social perception and experiences, which in turn continue to shape both mental health and brain development through transactional processes. In this review, we focus on pubertal, neural, and social changes across the duration of adolescence that are known or thought to be related to adolescent-emergent disorders, specifically depression, anxiety, and deliberate self-harm (nonsuicidal self-injury). We propose a theoretical model in which social processes (both social cognition and peer relations) are critical to understanding the way in which pubertal development drives neural and psychological changes that produce potential mental health vulnerabilities, particularly (but not exclusively) in adolescent girls.
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13
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Farrow P, Simmons JG, Pozzi E, Díaz-Arteche C, Richmond S, Bray K, Schwartz O, Whittle S. Associations between early life stress and anterior pituitary gland volume development during late childhood. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 122:104868. [PMID: 33068951 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Early Life Stress (ELS) is thought to influence Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal-Axis (HPAA) functioning, contributing to an increased risk for psychopathology through dysregulation of biological stress responses. Research exploring relationships between ELS and HPAA functioning has largely focused on its key hormonal output, cortisol. However, findings have been inconsistent, potentially due to cortisol's distinctive diurnal patterns and dynamic nature complicating its accurate measurement. Thus, this study explored the link between ELS and a more stable, structural component of the HPAA, specifically, anterior pituitary gland volume (PGV) in a community sample of children (N = 129, 68 female). PGV was traced from Magnetic Resonance Imaging brain scans across two time-points at ages 8 (baseline) and 10 years (follow-up). ELS exposure was assessed at baseline through parent-report questionnaires and maternal affective behavior observed in mother-child interaction tasks. ELS variables were reduced to a 5-factor structure using exploratory factor analysis - Uninvolved Parenting, Negative Affective Parenting, Neglect, Trauma, and Dysfunctional Discipline. Direct and sex-moderated associations between ELS and PGV were explored using regression and linear mixed models analyses. PGV-mediated associations between ELS and internalizing symptoms were also investigated. Childhood Neglect was significantly associated with greater baseline anterior PGV, that was stable over the follow-up period. This effect was found in the whole sample, and in males, specifically. No mediation effects were found. Results suggest that neglect may play a unique role in HPAA neurodevelopment; however, it is important that future research extends into adolescence to more clearly characterize these neurodevelopmental associations and any subsequent psychopathological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Farrow
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Julian G Simmons
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elena Pozzi
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, VIC, Australia; Orygen, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Carmela Díaz-Arteche
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, VIC, Australia
| | - Sally Richmond
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, VIC, Australia
| | - Katherine Bray
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Orli Schwartz
- Orygen, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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14
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Ling J, Kao TSA, Robbins LB. Body mass index, waist circumference and body fat are positively correlated with hair cortisol in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2020; 21:e13050. [PMID: 32543094 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The current body of research lacks a meta-analysis of the relationship between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and anthropometry in children. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine this relationship and explore possible moderators between HCC and body mass index (BMI/BMI z-score). Eleven databases were searched: CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, PsycEXTRA, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Social Sciences Full Text, Sociological Abstracts and Web of Sciences. Random-effects models and exploratory moderator analyses with mixed-effects models were performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. The meta-analysis showed small positive correlations between HCC and BMI (r = 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.14, n = 18, p = .009), BMI z-score (r = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.16, n = 12, p = .003), waist circumference (r = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.17, n = 10, p = .001) and body fat including fat mass index (r = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.11, n = 3, p = .005). The relationship between HCC and BMI/BMI z-score was significantly moderated by children's sex. Results from this meta-analysis provide initial objective support for a small positive relationship between HCC and anthropometric factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiying Ling
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Tsui-Sui Annie Kao
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Lorraine B Robbins
- College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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15
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Mulligan EM, Hajcak G, Crisler S, Meyer A. Increased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is associated with anxiety in adolescent girls. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 119:104751. [PMID: 32559611 PMCID: PMC7423745 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The pubertal period is a time of rapid increase in the incidence of anxiety disorders, and thus, pubertal hormones may play a role in the precipitation of anxious psychopathology. DHEA, a steroid hormone that surges in adolescence, has been previously linked to anxiety, although the direction of this effect has been mixed. Using a cross-sectional design in a sample of 286 adolescent girls, the present study examined associations between salivary DHEA concentrations and self-report and interview-based measures of anxiety while controlling for pubertal status, menarche status, assessment time of day, and other hormones including testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone. Increased salivary DHEA concentrations were associated with more self-reported anxiety symptoms, increased anxiety symptom counts based on clinical interview, and increased probability of an anxiety disorder. Out of all anxiety symptom domains examined, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms were the best predictor of salivary DHEA concentrations after controlling for pubertal development. Collectively, our findings suggest relevance for DHEA in the development of anxiety in the pubertal period, as well as a robust relationship between DHEA and emerging symptoms of pathological worry during adolescence. The present study underscores the importance of examining associations between DHEA concentrations and anxiety in longitudinal designs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Greg Hajcak
- Florida State University Department of Psychology Tallahassee, FL 32304,Florida State University Department of Biomedical Sciences Tallahassee, FL 32306
| | - Sierah Crisler
- Florida State University Department of Psychology Tallahassee, FL 32304
| | - Alexandria Meyer
- Florida State University Department of Psychology Tallahassee, FL 32304
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16
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Adrenarcheal Timing Longitudinally Predicts Anxiety Symptoms via Amygdala Connectivity During Emotion Processing. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2020; 59:739-748.e2. [PMID: 31055054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine longitudinally whether adrenarcheal timing (adrenarcheal hormone levels independent of age) and tempo (change in hormone levels over time) were associated with amygdala functional connectivity and how this in turn related to anxiety symptoms in the transition from childhood to adolescence. METHOD Participants were 64 children (34 girls) who completed the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and saliva collections to measure levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate at two time points (mean age 9.5 years at time 1 [T1], 12.2 years at time 2 [T2]). Participants also viewed fearful and calm facial expressions while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning at both time points. Amygdala functional connectivity was assessed with psychophysiological interaction analysis and modeled longitudinally with the Multivariate and Repeated Measures MATLAB toolbox. RESULTS Controlling for age, higher dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate at T1 was related to an increase in amygdala to inferior frontal gyrus connectivity over time (T1 to T2) in boys, but the opposite pattern was found in girls. Dehydroepiandrosterone at T1 showed a positive association with amygdala connectivity to several lateral prefrontal areas and the anterior cingulate across time. Higher dehydroepiandrosterone at T1 was indirectly related to more anxiety symptoms at T2, controlling for symptoms at T1, via more positive amygdala to inferior frontal gyrus connectivity. Changes in hormone levels did not relate to changes in amygdala connectivity (from T1 to T2). CONCLUSION The results suggest that amygdala to prefrontal cortex connectivity may be a mechanism through which early adrenarcheal timing predicts the development of anxiety symptoms during adrenarche.
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17
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Pubertal hormones predict sex-specific trajectories of pituitary gland volume during the transition from childhood to adolescence. Neuroimage 2020; 204:116256. [PMID: 31605824 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pituitary gland volume (PGV) increases during childhood and adolescence in a sex-specific manner, and previous research suggests that puberty may be associated with PGV development. However, existing research to date has focused on sex hormones associated with gonadarche. Given the role of the pituitary gland in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, the present study investigated associations between PGV development and HPA hormones that play a role in the earlier pubertal phase of adrenarche. Participants were a community sample of 249 children and early adolescents who participated in longitudinal brain imaging and pubertal assessments. Each participant provided data at one or two waves 1.5-3 years apart, resulting in 409 datasets that covered the age range 8-13 years. PGV was estimated from T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEA-S) and testosterone were measured from saliva. Estradiol was measured for a subset of females. Parents reported on physical pubertal development. Linear mixed modeling was used to investigate associations between age, pubertal measures and PGV development. DHEA, DHEA-S and testosterone (in addition to physical maturation) explained variance in PGV development over and above age, and in a sex-dependent fashion. In all cases, associations were stronger, or only present in females. Estradiol was associated with PGV in females, but this did not appear to account for adrenarcheal hormone effects. Our findings suggest a key role for the hormones of adrenarche, the first biochemical phase of puberty, in PGV development. Further research is required to understand the sex-specific role of adrenarcheal and gonadarcheal hormones on the PGV across development.
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18
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Anastassiadis C, Jones SL, Pruessner JC. Imaging the pituitary in psychopathologies: a review of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging studies. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 224:2587-2601. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01942-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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19
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Black SR, Goldstein BL, Klein DN. Parental depression moderates the relationships of cortisol and testosterone with children's symptoms. J Affect Disord 2019; 251:42-51. [PMID: 30903988 PMCID: PMC6486875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research on the hormone-symptom relationship in children suggests that certain hormone patterns may be associated with symptoms, but only under certain circumstances. Having a parent with a history of depression may be one circumstance under which dysregulated hormone patterns are especially associated with emotional and behavioral symptoms in children. The current study sought to explore these relationships in a community sample of 389 9-year-old children. METHODS Children's salivary cortisol and testosterone levels were collected at home over three consecutive days; parental psychiatric histories were assessed using semi-structured diagnostic interviews; and children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms were rated by the child's mother. RESULTS Having two parents with a history of depression moderated the associations of reduced total daily cortisol output with higher externalizing scores, as well as the association of reduced testosterone with higher internalizing scores. A maternal history of depression, on the other hand, moderated the relationship between higher cortisol awakening response and higher internalizing scores. Furthermore, lower daily cortisol output was associated with higher internalizing scores among girls, but not boys, with two parents with a history depression. LIMITATIONS Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the current analyses, as well as the limited racial, ethnic, and geographical diversity of the sample. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the current results suggest that the relationship between hormones and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children may vary as a function of parental depression and child sex, knowledge that may inform intervention efforts aimed at preventing psychopathology in children whose parents have a history of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Black
- Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
| | | | - Daniel N. Klein
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
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20
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Barendse MEA, Simmons JG, Byrne ML, Patton G, Mundy L, Olsson CA, Seal ML, Allen NB, Whittle S. Associations between adrenarcheal hormones, amygdala functional connectivity and anxiety symptoms in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 97:156-163. [PMID: 30036793 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The transition from childhood to adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of anxiety symptoms. There is some evidence that hormonal changes occurring during adrenarche, an early pubertal phase, might play a role in this increased vulnerability. Little is known about underlying brain mechanisms. Given the role of the amygdala-based fear circuit in anxiety, the current study aimed to investigate whether children's adrenarcheal hormone levels were associated with functional connectivity of the amygdala while processing fearful facial expressions, and how this in turn related to anxiety symptoms. METHOD Participants were 83 children (M age 9.53 years) who completed two morning saliva collections to measure levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulphate (DHEAS), and testosterone. They also completed the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), and viewed fearful and calm facial expressions while undergoing a functional MRI scan. Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analyses were performed to examine amygdala connectivity and significant clusters were fed into a bootstrapping mediation model. RESULTS In boys, mediation analyses showed an indirect positive effect of testosterone on anxiety symptoms, which was mediated by amygdala-secondary visual cortex connectivity as well as amygdala-anterior cingulate connectivity. In girls, DHEAS showed a negative indirect association with anxiety symptoms mediated by amygdala connectivity to the fusiform face area and insula. CONCLUSION The results indicate unique roles for adrenarcheal hormones in anxiety and suggest that amygdala connectivity may represent an important neural mechanism in these associations. Importantly, results reveal prominent sex differences in the biological mechanisms associated with anxiety in children undergoing adrenarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein E A Barendse
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Julian G Simmons
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | - George Patton
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lisa Mundy
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig A Olsson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Marc L Seal
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Nicholas B Allen
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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21
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Marakaki C, Pervanidou P, Papassotiriou I, Mastorakos G, Hochberg Z, Chrousos G, Papadimitriou A. Increased symptoms of anxiety and depression in prepubertal girls, but not boys, with premature adrenarche: associations with serum DHEAS and daily salivary cortisol concentrations. Stress 2018; 21:564-568. [PMID: 29916751 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1484446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Concerns over anxiety and depressive symptoms in children with premature adrenarche (PA) have been recently raised. However, to date, most relevant studies are on a small number of girls. In this cross-sectional study, 82 pre-pubertal children (66 girls and 16 boys) diagnosed with PA, were compared to 63 control children regarding their psychological characteristics and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, as assessed by salivary cortisol measurement. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed by child self-report (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and Depression self-rating scale for Children (DSRS)) and parent-report (Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)) tests validated for the Greek population. Salivary cortisol levels were determined directly after awakening (approximately 7am) and evening (8pm) of the same day. Morning serum DHEAS levels were assessed in PA children. Girls with PA scored significantly higher on anxiety (p = .016) and depression (p =.039) scales than controls. No group differences were noted for parent reports and children's salivary cortisol concentrations. Boys with PA did not demonstrate significant differences in any of the aforementioned parameters. Our findings suggest that girls with PA may be at higher risk for reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression than their non-PA peers. HPA axis dysregulation in this population was not documented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrisanthi Marakaki
- a Third Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit , School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- b First Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Obesity Clinic , School of Medicine, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Ioannis Papassotiriou
- c Department of Clinical Biochemistry , "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital , Athens , Greece
| | - George Mastorakos
- d Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Endocrine Unit , Aretaieion Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Ze'ev Hochberg
- e Faculty of Medicine , Technion-Israel Institute of Technology , Haifa , Israel
| | - George Chrousos
- b First Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Obesity Clinic , School of Medicine, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
| | - Anastasios Papadimitriou
- a Third Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit , School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Athens , Greece
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22
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Vijayakumar N, Op de Macks Z, Shirtcliff EA, Pfeifer JH. Puberty and the human brain: Insights into adolescent development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 92:417-436. [PMID: 29972766 PMCID: PMC6234123 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Alongside the exponential flourish of research on age-related trajectories of human brain development during childhood and adolescence in the past two decades, there has been an increase in the body of work examining the association between pubertal development and brain maturation. This review systematically examines empirical research on puberty-related structural and functional brain development in humans, with the aim of identifying convergent patterns of associations. We emphasize longitudinal studies, and discuss pervasive but oft-overlooked methodological issues that may be contributing to inconsistent findings and hindering progress (e.g., conflating distinct pubertal indices and different measurement instruments). We also briefly evaluate support for prominent models of adolescent neurodevelopment that hypothesize puberty-related changes in brain regions involved in affective and motivational processes. For the field to progress, replication studies are needed to help resolve current inconsistencies and gain a clearer understanding of pubertal associations with brain development in humans, knowledge that is crucial to make sense of the changes in psychosocial functioning, risk behavior, and mental health during adolescence.
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23
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Gorday JY, Meyer A. Linking puberty and error-monitoring: Relationships between self-reported pubertal stages, pubertal hormones, and the error-related negativity in a large sample of children and adolescents. Dev Psychobiol 2018; 60:483-490. [PMID: 29630723 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The error-related negativity (ERN) is a negative deflection in the event-related potential occurring when individuals make mistakes. The ERN has been proposed as a biomarker for anxiety and a substantial amount of research suggests the ERN increases across development. Further, the ERN may relate to individual differences and the development of cognitive control. Despite the large quantity of research on this topic, there have been no studies focusing on the relationship between pubertal hormones and the ERN. Previous work suggests developmental increases may begin sooner for girls than for boys, suggesting that puberty may impact the ERN. The current study examined the relationship between pubertal hormones and the ERN amplitude in a sample of 99 females between 8 and 14 years old. Each participant and the parent who accompanied them completed the Pubertal Developmental Scale (PDS) to assess the degree to which pubertal indicators are present. Participants also completed a Go/NoGo Task while EEG was recorded and participants provided saliva samples for hormone assays. Results indicated that ERN was significantly related to both the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone and PDS scores. A simultaneous multivariate regression suggested that DHEA levels significantly predict the ERN, even when controlling for age, behavioral variables, and PDS. These findings suggest that ERN amplitude is related to DHEA levels, further linking puberty to developmental increases in the ERN. Future research should examine this relationship in the context of developmental increases in anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Y Gorday
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Alexandria Meyer
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
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Herting MM, Sowell ER. Puberty and structural brain development in humans. Front Neuroendocrinol 2017; 44:122-137. [PMID: 28007528 PMCID: PMC5612369 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Adolescence is a transitional period of physical and behavioral development between childhood and adulthood. Puberty is a distinct period of sexual maturation that occurs during adolescence. Since the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), human studies have largely examined neurodevelopment in the context of age. A breadth of animal findings suggest that sex hormones continue to influence the brain beyond the prenatal period, with both organizational and activational effects occurring during puberty. Given the animal evidence, human MRI research has also set out to determine how puberty may influence otherwise known patterns of age-related neurodevelopment. Here we review structural-based MRI studies and show that pubertal maturation is a key variable to consider in elucidating sex- and individual- based differences in patterns of human brain development. We also highlight the continuing challenges faced, as well as future considerations, for this vital avenue of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Herting
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
| | - Elizabeth R Sowell
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Research on Children, Youth, and Families, Los Angeles, CA 90027, United States
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25
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Byrne ML, Whittle S, Vijayakumar N, Dennison M, Simmons JG, Allen NB. A systematic review of adrenarche as a sensitive period in neurobiological development and mental health. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2016; 25:12-28. [PMID: 28077245 PMCID: PMC6987793 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Substantial hormonal and neurobiological changes occur during puberty, and are widely argued to render this period of life a sensitive period in terms of risk for mental health problems. However, there is a paucity of research focusing on adrenarche, the earlier phase of pubertal development. Furthermore, there is a limited understanding of the association between adrenarche and neural development during this phase of life. We systematically reviewed research examining human adrenarcheal development as operationalized by hormonal levels of DHEA and DHEA-S, in relation to indices of mental health (Systematic Review 1). We then reviewed the limited amount of literature that has examined the association between adrenarcheal development and brain structure or function (Systematic Review 2). In general, studies showed that earlier timing of adrenarche was associated with greater mental health symptoms, and there is emerging support that brain development plays a role in this relationship. However, several methodological inconsistencies were noted. We propose that future research in this area test a theoretical model of adrenarche as a sensitive period of neurobiological development, whereby timing of exposure to hormones interacts with brain development, biological sex, and psychosocial stress to influence environmental sensitivity and risk for mental health problems through adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Meg Dennison
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Julian G Simmons
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas B Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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