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Markowitsch HJ, Staniloiu A, Wahl-Kordon A. Urbach-Wiethe disease in a young patient without apparent amygdala calcification. Neuropsychologia 2023; 183:108505. [PMID: 36775051 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Urbach-Wiethe disease is an extremely rare genetically-based syndrome which usually leads to dermatological and neurological changes. Neurologically, the amygdaloid region is primarily bilaterally affected. Therefore, several functions modulated by the amygdala are changed in patients with Urbach-Wiethe disease. As the neurological alterations evolve only gradually, it is particularly important to determine the cognitive and brain status of a juvenile. The patient described here was seen briefly at age 9 and tested neuropsychologically at age 19; furthermore, computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of his head was done. There were no important abnormalities in the brain, which is unusual in the light of previous data from other patients. On the cognitive level, the patient was generally within normal limits. However, he had mild problems in attention and concentration, and more prominent problems in emotional processing domain, and in personality dimensions. It is concluded that amygdala calcifications in Urbach-Wiethe disease take place progressively-possibly underpinned by genetic and gender variables; this can subsequently allow psychosocial-social factors (such a proper education and socialization) and biological factors (compensatory neuroplasticity) to retard and diminish the development of socio-emotional and cognitive deteriorations, though the outcome of questionnaires indicates that such patients may develop substantial concerns as to their future life and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angelica Staniloiu
- University of Bielefeld, Germany; University of Bucharest, Romania; Oberberg Clinic Hornberg, Germany
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Luo Y, Chen X, Zeng W, Xiao M, Liu Y, Gao X, Chen H. Associations of harsh, unpredictable environment, amygdala connectivity and overeating for children. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 120:110644. [PMID: 36167214 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In harsh and unpredictable environments, individuals tend to engage in activities that yield immediate rewards as delayed benefits can be unavailable. Substantial evidence suggests that a harsh and unpredictable childhood environment is associated with overeating. However, the neuromechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate amygdala connectivity in relation to environmental harshness and unpredictability (EHU) from an evolutionary perspective and examine their relationship with overeating in children. METHODS Eighty-five children aged 8 to 12 years were scanned using a magnetic resonance imaging machine to assess resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the two subregions of the amygdala (i.e., centromedial amygdala [CMA]; basolateral amygdala [BLA]). Self-reports of EHU and parental reports of overeating, including food responsiveness and enjoyment of food, were obtained cross-sectionally. Furthermore, findings indicated that children completed high- and low-calorie food portion choice tasks in the absence of hunger at 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS EHU was positively associated with parental reports of overeating, including food responsiveness and enjoyment, as well as children's selection of high-calorie food portion sizes. Moreover, static RSFC analyses revealed that EHU was negatively associated with bilateral BLA-left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) connectivity, while dynamic RSFC analyses found that EHU was negatively associated with right CMA, left inferior parietal lobule, and right CMA-right precuneus connectivity. Particularly, the left BLA-left IFG connectivity mediated the association between EHU and parental reports of food responsiveness. CONCLUSION EHU was negatively associated with amygdala connectivity, which is implicated in the intrinsic processing of emotional regulation. Furthermore, deficits in emotional regulation resulted in increased energy intake. These insights provide a new perspective for understanding the developmental neuromechanisms underlying obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ximei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Weiyu Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Mingyue Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiao Gao
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China.
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Pahk K, Joung C, Kwon HW, Kim S. Chronic physical exercise alleviates stress-associated amygdala metabolic activity in obese women: A prospective serial 18F-FDG PET/CT study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 13:1046838. [PMID: 36686422 PMCID: PMC9851606 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1046838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Psychological stress is considered as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Chronic exercise is known to reduce CVD risk partly through attenuating psychological stress. Obesity has been linked with increased levels of psychological stress. We aimed to prospectively evaluate whether physical exercise could alleviate stress-associated amygdala metabolic activity, assessed by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in women with obesity. Material and methods A total of 43 participants were enrolled in this study. Twenty-three obese women were participated in a physical exercise program 5 days per week for 3 months. The exercise program consisted of aerobic exercise and resistance training. Serial 18F-FDG PET/CT was taken before the start of physical exercise program (baseline) and after finishing the program (post-exercise). A total of 20 participants who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for general health check-up were enrolled as non-obese control group. Brain amygdala activity (AmygA) was calculated as maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of amygdala normalized to mean SUV of temporal lobe. Results Chronic physical exercise significantly reduced AmygA and improved body adiposity and systemic inflammation. AmygA was highest in baseline, intermediate in post-exercise, and lowest in non-obese control group (0.76 ± 0.17, 0.61 ± 0.1, 0.52 ± 0.09, p < 0.001). Furthermore, physical exercise also abrogated the association of AmygA with systemic inflammation. Conclusions Chronic physical exercise reduced stress-associated amygdala metabolic activity and broke its association with systemic inflammation in obese women. This study could explain the putative mechanism underlying the health beneficial effect of exercise on CVD via attenuation of stress neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kisoo Pahk
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chanmin Joung
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Hyun Woo Kwon
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sungeun Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
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