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Girella A, Di Bartolomeo M, Dainese E, Buzzelli V, Trezza V, D'Addario C. Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase and Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 Genes Regulation is Modulated by Social Isolation in Rats. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:1278-1290. [PMID: 38368587 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-024-04117-9] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Social isolation is a state of lack of social connections, involving the modulation of different molecular signalling cascades and associated with high risk of mental health issues. To investigate if and how gene expression is modulated by social experience at the central level, we analyzed the effects of 5 weeks of social isolation in rats focusing on endocannabinoid system genes transcription in key brain regions involved in emotional control. We observed selective reduction in mRNA levels for fatty acid amide hydrolase (Faah) and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (Cnr1) genes in the amygdala complex and of Cnr1 in the prefrontal cortex of socially isolated rats when compared to controls, and these changes appear to be partially driven by trimethylation of Lysine 27 and acetylation of Lysine 9 at Histone 3. The alterations of Cnr1 transcriptional regulation result also directly correlated with those of oxytocin receptor gene. We here suggest that to counteract the effects of SI, it is of relevance to restore the endocannabinoid system homeostasis via the use of environmental triggers able to revert those epigenetic mechanisms accounting for the alterations observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Girella
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Via Renato Balzarini, 1, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Martina Di Bartolomeo
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Via Renato Balzarini, 1, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Enrico Dainese
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Via Renato Balzarini, 1, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
- Neuroendocrinology, Metabolism and Neuropharmacology Unit, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio D'Addario
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Via Renato Balzarini, 1, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Popovich C, Grau AS, Shih CH, Chidiac NT, Zhou A, Wang X, Xie H. Changes in fear-associated learning task brain activation over the COVID-19 pandemic period: a preliminary longitudinal analysis. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1239697. [PMID: 38076693 PMCID: PMC10699136 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1239697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on people worldwide. Previous studies have shown that fear learning, extinction, recall, and contextual information processing involve the activation of emotion and sensory brain systems, which can be modified. However, it remains unclear whether brain functions associated with these processes have been altered over the pandemic period. Methods We compared pre- and peri-pandemic brain activation during a fear-associated learning task (FALT) using previously collected data. The participants were divided into two groups: the pandemic group (n = 16), who completed a baseline FALT before the pandemic and repeated the task during the pandemic, and the non-pandemic group (n = 77), who completed both sessions before the pandemic began. Results Compared with the non-pandemic group, the pandemic group exhibited significant decreases in brain activation from baseline to follow-up assessments, including activation in the brainstem during early fear learning, the posterior thalamus/hippocampus during late extinction, and the occipital pole during late recall phases for contextual processing. Furthermore, activations associated with retrieving safety cues were reduced in the posterior cingulate, premotor, and calcarine cortices during the early recall phase, and activations associated with retrieving dangerous cues decreased in the occipital pole during the late recall phase. Additionally, correlations between decreased activation and elevated posttraumatic stress symptoms were observed. Conclusion These findings suggest that activations associated with processing low arousal contextual information, safety cues, and extinguished fear cues decreased during the pandemic. These changes in brain activation may have contributed to the increase in mental health disturbances observed during this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Popovich
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Aaron S. Grau
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Chia-Hao Shih
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Neejad T. Chidiac
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Adrian Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Hong Xie
- Department of Neurosciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
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Olry R. Hikikomori (きこもり): Ancient term, modern concept. JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF THE NEUROSCIENCES 2023; 32:499-505. [PMID: 37459241 DOI: 10.1080/0964704x.2023.2231794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Régis Olry
- Département d'Anatomie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
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Birba A, López-Pigüi J, León Santana I, García AM. Impaired social concept processing in persons with autistic-like traits. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15709. [PMID: 37735251 PMCID: PMC10514259 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42889-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Situated models suggest that social concepts are grounded in interpersonal experience. However, few studies have tested this notion experimentally, and none has targeted individuals with reduced social interaction. Here, we assessed comprehension of text-level social and non-social concepts in persons with and without autistic-like traits. Participants read a social and a non-social text and answered questionnaires targeting social and non-social concepts, respectively. We compared behavioral outcomes, gauged their contribution to subject-level classification, and examined their association with validated measures of autism. Persons with autistic-like traits showed selective deficits in grasping text-level social concepts, even adjusting for intelligence, memory, and vocabulary. Also, social concept comprehension was the only variable that significantly classified between groups. Finally, social concept outcomes correlated negatively with measures of autism, including social interaction. Our results suggest that reduced interpersonal experience selectively compromises text-level social concept processing, offering empirical constraints for situated models of social semantics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, B1644BID, Victoria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Joana López-Pigüi
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Hull, Kingston Upon Hull, UK
| | - Inmaculada León Santana
- Instituto Universitario de Neurociencia, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, University of San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, B1644BID, Victoria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Fulford D, Holt DJ. Social Withdrawal, Loneliness, and Health in Schizophrenia: Psychological and Neural Mechanisms. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1138-1149. [PMID: 37419082 PMCID: PMC10483452 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Some of the most debilitating aspects of schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses (SMI) are the impairments in social perception, motivation, and behavior that frequently accompany these conditions. These impairments may ultimately lead to chronic social disconnection (ie, social withdrawal, objective isolation, and perceived social isolation or loneliness), which may contribute to the poor cardiometabolic health and early mortality commonly observed in SMI. However, the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying relationships between impairments in social perception and motivation and social isolation and loneliness in SMI remain incompletely understood. STUDY DESIGN A narrative, selective review of studies on social withdrawal, isolation, loneliness, and health in SMI. STUDY RESULTS We describe some of what is known and hypothesized about the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of social disconnection in the general population, and how these mechanisms may contribute to social isolation and loneliness, and their consequences, in individuals with SMI. CONCLUSIONS A synthesis of evolutionary and cognitive theories with the "social homeostasis" model of social isolation and loneliness represents one testable framework for understanding the dynamic cognitive and biological correlates, as well as the health consequences, of social disconnection in SMI. The development of such an understanding may provide the basis for novel approaches for preventing or treating both functional disability and poor physical health that diminish the quality and length of life for many individuals with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fulford
- Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daphne J Holt
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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He Z, Li S, Mo L, Zheng Z, Li Y, Li H, Zhang D. The VLPFC-Engaged Voluntary Emotion Regulation: Combined TMS-fMRI Evidence for the Neural Circuit of Cognitive Reappraisal. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6046-6060. [PMID: 37507228 PMCID: PMC10451149 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1337-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A clear understanding of the neural circuit underlying emotion regulation (ER) is important for both basic and translational research. However, a lack of evidence based on combined neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques calls into question (1) whether the change of prefrontal-subcortical activity intrinsically and causally contributes to the ER effect; and (2) whether the prefrontal control system directly modulates the subcortical affective system. Accordingly, we combined fMRI recordings with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to map the causal connections between the PFC and subcortical affective structures (amygdala and insula). A total of 117 human adult participants (57 males and 60 females) were included in the study. The results revealed that TMS-induced ventrolateral PFC (VLPFC) facilitation led to enhanced activity in the VLPFC and ventromedial PFC (VMPFC) as well as attenuated activity in the amygdala and insula during reappraisal but not during nonreappraisal (i.e., baseline). Moreover, the activated VLPFC intensified the prefrontal-subcortical couplings via the VMPFC during reappraisal only. This study provides combined TMS-fMRI evidence that downregulating negative emotion involves the prefrontal control system suppressing the subcortical affective system, with the VMPFC serving as a crucial hub within the VLPFC-subcortical network, suggesting an indirect pathway model of the ER circuit. Our findings outline potential protocols for improving ER ability by intensifying the VLPFC-VMPFC coupling in patients with mood and anxiety disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Using fMRI to examine the TMS effect, we uncovered that the opposite neural changes in prefrontal (enhanced) and subcortical (attenuated) regions are not a byproduct of emotion regulation (ER); instead, this prefrontal-subcortical activity per se causally contributes to the ER effect. Furthermore, using TMS to amplify the neural changes within the ER circuit, the "bridge" role of the VMPFC is highlighted under the reappraisal versus nonreappraisal contrast. This "perturb-and-measure" approach overcomes the correlational nature of fMRI data, helping us to identify brain regions that causally support reappraisal (the VLPFC and VMPFC) and those that are modulated by reappraisal (the amygdala and insula). The uncovered ER circuit is important for understanding the neural systems underlying reappraisal and valuable for translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhong He
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Sijin Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Licheng Mo
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zixin Zheng
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Hong Li
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Xu MX, Ju XD. Abnormal Brain Structure Is Associated with Social and Communication Deficits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Analysis. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050779. [PMID: 37239251 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) studies have shown abnormalities in the brain structure of ASD patients, but the relationship between structural changes and social communication problems is still unclear. This study aims to explore the structural mechanisms of clinical dysfunction in the brain of ASD children through voxel-based morphometry (VBM). After screening T1 structural images from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) database, 98 children aged 8-12 years old with ASD were matched with 105 children aged 8-12 years old with typical development (TD). Firstly, this study compared the differences in gray matter volume (GMV) between the two groups. Then, this study evaluated the relationship between GMV and the subtotal score of communications and social interaction on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) in ASD children. Research has found that abnormal brain structures in ASD include the midbrain, pontine, bilateral hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus, left temporal pole, left middle temporal gyrus and left superior occipital gyrus. In addition, in ASD children, the subtotal score of communications and social interaction on the ADOS were only significantly positively correlated with GMV in the left hippocampus, left superior temporal gyrus and left middle temporal gyrus. In summary, the gray matter structure of ASD children is abnormal, and different clinical dysfunction in ASD children is related to structural abnormalities in specific regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Xiang Xu
- School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Xing-Da Ju
- School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Brain Development, Changchun 130024, China
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Cao X, Liu Q, Liu J, Yang B, Zhou J. The impact of hearing loss on cognitive impairment: The mediating role of depressive symptoms and the moderating role of social relationships. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1149769. [PMID: 37089498 PMCID: PMC10116415 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1149769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Given the potentially negative effects of hearing loss on mental health and cognitive function, it is critical to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to investigate the moderating effects of social relationships, including their components in the role of depressive symptoms as a mediator between hearing loss and cognitive impairment. Methods Cross-sectional analyses were conducted with 8,094 Chinese older adults (aged ≥65 years) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2018. Simple mediation analysis and moderated mediation analysis were conducted to examine the roles of depressive symptoms and social relationships in the association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment. Results There is a significant correlation between hearing loss, depressive symptoms, social relationships, and cognitive function. Depressive symptoms partially mediated the association between hearing loss and cognitive function [standardized regression B-coefficient (B) = -0.114; 95% confidence interval (CI): (-0.158, -0.076)]. Social relationships moderated the effect of hearing loss on cognitive function through both path b (depressive symptoms - cognitive function) [B = 0.021; 95% CI: (0.008, 0.034)], and path c' (hearing loss-cognitive function) [B = 0.597; 95% CI: (0.463, 0.730)]. Furthermore, social activities and social networks moderated both the direct and indirect effects of moderated mediation. However, there appeared to be no moderated effect of social support for both the direct and indirect paths. Conclusion Social relationships moderated both the direct and indirect effects of depressive symptoms on the association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment. These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults. It might be worthwhile to recommend multidimensional health and social interventions aimed at improving mental health and social inclusion among older adults with hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Cao
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiali Liu
- Department of Psychiatry and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bingfang Yang
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiansong Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry and National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Cao X, Yang B, Zhou J. Waist-to-calf circumstance ratio and cognitive function among Chinese older adults: Mediating roles of physical performance and social activity. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1166341. [PMID: 37139093 PMCID: PMC10150408 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1166341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In light of the potentially detrimental effects of central fat and decreased muscle mass on cognitive function, it would be beneficial to learn more about the mediating mechanisms underpinning the association between the two. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between waist-to-calf circumstance ratio (WCR) and cognitive function, as well as to investigate whether physical performance and social activity mediate the relationship between WCR and cognitive function among older Chinese adults. Methods An analysis of 9,652 older Chinese adults was conducted during the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Health Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and a self-reported scale were used to measure cognitive function, physical performance, and social activity, respectively. Multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were conducted. Results The findings suggest that a high WCR had a significant negative association with cognitive function (B = -0.535, 95% CI: -0.754, -0.317). Mediation analysis revealed that a high WCR influenced old adults' cognitive function in three ways: first, through the partial mediating effect of physical performance (B = -0.270; 95% CI: -0.340, -0.203); second, through the partial mediating effect of social activity (B = -0.035; 95% CI: -0.055, -0.017); and third, through the serial mediating effects of physical performance and social activity (B = -0.021, 95% CI: -0.029, -0.015). Conclusion The study results suggest the adverse impact of a high WCR on older adults' cognitive function, and the possible mechanisms of physical performance and social activity by which the association takes place. Multidimensional health and social interventions aimed at improving physical, social, and cognitive functioning among older adults with sarcopenic obesity are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Cao
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Chronic Disease Health Management Medical Research Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Binfang Yang
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Chronic Disease Health Management Medical Research Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiansong Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental and Mental Diseases, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Jiansong Zhou
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Shen C, Rolls ET, Cheng W, Kang J, Dong G, Xie C, Zhao XM, Sahakian BJ, Feng J. Associations of Social Isolation and Loneliness With Later Dementia. Neurology 2022; 99:e164-e175. [PMID: 35676089 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To investigate the independent associations of social isolation and loneliness with incident dementia and to explore the potential neurobiological mechanisms. METHODS We utilized the UK Biobank cohort to establish Cox proportional hazard models with social isolation and loneliness as separate exposures. Demographic (sex, age, and ethnicity), socioeconomic (education level, household income, and Townsend deprivation index), biological (body mass index, APOE genotype, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other), cognitive (speed of processing and visual memory), behavioral (current smoker, alcohol intake, and physical activity), and psychological (social isolation or loneliness, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism) factors measured at baseline were adjusted. Then, voxel-wise brainwide association analyses were used to identify gray matter volumes (GMVs) associated with social isolation and with loneliness. Partial least squares regression was performed to test the spatial correlation of GMV differences and gene expression using the Allen Human Brain Atlas. RESULTS We included 462,619 participants (mean age at baseline 57.0 years [SD 8.1]). With a mean follow-up of 11.7 years (SD 1.7), 4,998 developed all-cause dementia. Social isolation was associated with a 1.26-fold increased risk of dementia (95% CI, 1.15-1.37) independently of various risk factors including loneliness and depression (i.e., full adjustment). However, the fully adjusted hazard ratio for dementia related to loneliness was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.94-1.16) and 75% of this relationship was attributable to depressive symptoms. Structural MRI data were obtained from 32,263 participants (mean age 63.5 years [SD 7.5]). Socially isolated individuals had lower GMVs in temporal, frontal, and other (e.g., hippocampal) regions. Mediation analysis showed that the identified GMVs partly mediated the association between social isolation at baseline and cognitive function at follow-up. Social isolation-related lower GMVs were related to underexpression of genes that are downregulated in Alzheimer disease and to genes that are involved in mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative phosphorylation. DISCUSSION Social isolation is a risk factor for dementia that is independent of loneliness and many other covariates. Social isolation-related brain structural differences coupled with different molecular functions also support the associations of social isolation with cognition and dementia. Social isolation may thus be an early indicator of an increased risk of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Shen
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Edmund T Rolls
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Jujiao Kang
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Guiying Dong
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Xie
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Barbara J Sahakian
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- From the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence (C.S., W.C., J.K., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., B.S., J.F.), Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Ministry of Education (C.S., G.D., C.X., X.-M.Z., J.F.), Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences (J.K.), and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science (X.-M.Z., J.F.), Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science (E.R., J.F.), University of Warwick, Coventry; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience (E.R.); Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (B.S.) and Department of Psychiatry (B.S.), University of Cambridge, UK; and Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center (J.F.), Shanghai, China.
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11
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Crespi BJ, Flinn MV, Summers K. Runaway Social Selection in Human Evolution. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.894506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Darwin posited that social competition among conspecifics could be a powerful selective pressure. Alexander proposed a model of human evolution involving a runaway process of social competition based on Darwin’s insight. Here we briefly review Alexander’s logic, and then expand upon his model by elucidating six core arenas of social selection that involve runaway, positive-feedback processes, and that were likely involved in the evolution of the remarkable combination of adaptations in humans. We discuss how these ideas fit with the hypothesis that a key life history innovation that opened the door to runaway social selection, and cumulative culture, during hominin evolution was increased cooperation among individuals in small fission-fusion groups.
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12
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Dong B, Li D, Baker GB. Hikikomori: A Society-Bound Syndrome of Severe Social Withdrawal. PSYCHIAT CLIN PSYCH 2022; 32:167-173. [PMID: 38764869 PMCID: PMC11099621 DOI: 10.5152/pcp.2022.22429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hikikomori, a severe and often prolonged social withdrawal observed primarily in young people, was first described in Japan, but cases have now been reported in many other countries. Methods A review paper on hikikomori has been prepared following the literature searches in 3 databases. Search terms related to hikikomori included epidemiology, globalization, diagnosis, treatment, comorbidity, and COVID-19. Conclusions Hikikomori was first reported in Japan and has been described in detail by researchers there, but there are now reports in many countries of hikikomori-like cases. It occurs primarily in young people, often men in their late teens and early twenties who isolate themselves, sometimes confining themselves to their homes for months or even years. It has been proposed that hikikomori has increased in recent years in part because of advances in information technology that result in decreased socialization. Hikikomori was originally considered a non-psychotic phenomenon, but comorbidity with psychiatric disorders is often present and should be considered during diagnosis. Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to establish reliable, widely applicable guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hikikomori. There is very little information with regard to neurobiology, although involvement of the immune system, oxidative stress, and the social brain network has been proposed. It is widely agreed that hikikomori must be treated in a multi-dimensional fashion, with family support very important. Lessons learned from these treatment approaches are relevant to the potential increased risk of social withdrawal arising from COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Dong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Daniel Li
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Glen B. Baker
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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13
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Miyauchi CM, Takeuchi H, Taki Y, Nakagawa S, Hanawa S, Sekiguchi A, Nouchi R, Sassa Y, Kawashima R. Shame proneness is associated with individual differences in temporal pole white matter structure. Soc Neurosci 2022; 17:117-126. [PMID: 35130823 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2022.2039287] [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] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Shame and guilt are distinct negative moral emotions, although they are usually regarded as overlapping affective experiences. Of these two emotions, shame is more closely related to concerns about other people's judgment, whereas guilt is more related to concerns about one's own judgment. Although some studies have tried to identify the psychological process underlying shame as opposed to guilt, there is no clear evidence of brain regions that are specifically relevant to the experience of shame rather than guilt and, more generally, self-blame. We therefore investigated associations between individual differences in shame- and guilt-proneness and the gray and white matter structures of the brain using magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based morphometry while controlling for associations with guilt- or shame-proneness. To accomplish this goal, we enrolled 590 healthy, right-handed individuals (338 men and 252 women; age, 20.6 ± 1.8 years). We administered a questionnaire to assess shame proneness and guilt proneness. Based on our hypothesis, we found that high shame proneness was associated with decreased regional white matter density only in the right inferior temporal pole, whereas no significant region was associated with guilt. The function of this area may be important for the underlying processes differentiating shame from guilt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Makoto Miyauchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hikaru Takeuchi
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Medical Neuroimaging Analysis, Department of Community Medical Supports, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Seishu Nakagawa
- Department of Human Brain Science, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Psychiatry, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Sugiko Hanawa
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Department of Behavioral Medicine, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rui Nouchi
- Creative Interdisciplinary Research Division, Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Human and Social Response Research Division, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Aging International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuko Sassa
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Smart Aging International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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14
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Pilarzyk K, Farmer R, Porcher L, Kelly MP. The Role of PDE11A4 in Social Isolation-Induced Changes in Intracellular Signaling and Neuroinflammation. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:749628. [PMID: 34887755 PMCID: PMC8650591 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.749628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A), an enzyme that degrades cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP), is the only PDE whose mRNA expression in brain is restricted to the hippocampal formation. Previously, we showed that chronic social isolation changes subsequent social behaviors in adult mice by reducing expression of PDE11A4 in the membrane fraction of the ventral hippocampus (VHIPP). Here we seek extend these findings by determining 1) if isolation-induced decreases in PDE11A4 require chronic social isolation or if they occur acutely and are sustained long-term, 2) if isolation-induced decreases occur uniquely in adults (i.e., not adolescents), and 3) how the loss of PDE11 signaling may increase neuroinflammation. Both acute and chronic social isolation decrease PDE11A4 expression in adult but not adolescent mice. This decrease in PDE11A4 is specific to the membrane compartment of the VHIPP, as it occurs neither in the soluble nor nuclear fractions of the VHIPP nor in any compartment of the dorsal HIPP. The effect of social isolation on membrane PDE11A4 is also selective in that PDE2A and PDE10A expression remain unchanged. Isolation-induced decreases in PDE11A4 expression appear to be functional as social isolation elicited changes in PDE11A-relevant signal transduction cascades (i.e., decreased pCamKIIα and pS6-235/236) and behavior (i.e., increased remote long-term memory for social odor recognition). Interestingly, we found that isolation-induced decreases in membrane PDE11A4 correlated with increased expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the soluble fraction, suggesting pro-inflammatory signaling for this cytokine. This effect on IL-6 is consistent with the fact that PDE11A deletion increased microglia activation, although it left astrocytes unchanged. Together, these data suggest that isolation-induced decreases in PDE11A4 may alter subsequent social behavior via increased neuroinflammatory processes in adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy Pilarzyk
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Reagan Farmer
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Latarsha Porcher
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Michy P Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Center for Aging Research, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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