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Burgio F, Danesin L, Wennberg A, Tonini E, Galetto V, Sivieri S, Giustiniani A, Palmer K, Meneghello F, Sorarù G, Zettin M, Arcara G, Benavides-Varela S, Semenza C. Financial and numerical abilities: patterns of dissociation in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:4779-4787. [PMID: 38780855 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07610-9] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The present work investigates whether financial abilities can be associated with numerical abilities and with general cognitive abilities. We compared performance on numerical and financial tests, and on tests routinely used to measure general cognitive performance, in healthy controls and in a group of people with heterogeneous pathological conditions including mild cognitive impairment, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and schizophrenia. Patients showed lower performances in both numerical and financial abilities compared to controls. Numerical and financial skills were positively correlated in both groups, but they correlated poorly with measures of general cognitive functioning. Crucially, only basic financial tasks -such as counting currencies- but not advanced ones -like financial judgments- were associated with numerical or general cognitive functioning in logistic regression analyses. Conversely, advanced financial abilities, but not basic ones, were associated with abstract reasoning. At a qualitative analysis, we found that deficits in numerical and financial abilities might double dissociate. Similarly, we observed double dissociations between difficulties in financial abilities and cognitive deficits. In conclusion, financial abilities may be independent of numerical skills, and financial deficits are not always related to the presence of cognitive difficulties. These findings are important for both clinical and legal practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Burgio
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, via Alberoni 70, 30126, Venice, Italy
| | - Laura Danesin
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, via Alberoni 70, 30126, Venice, Italy.
| | - Alexandra Wennberg
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elisabetta Tonini
- Department of Humanities and Life Sciences, University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Valentina Galetto
- Service de Neurologie Hospitalier Universitaire Caremeau, Nimes, France
| | | | - Andreina Giustiniani
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, via Alberoni 70, 30126, Venice, Italy
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy
| | - Katie Palmer
- Department of Clinical Geriatrics, NVS, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francesca Meneghello
- Unità Operativa Complessa Cure Primarie Distretto 3 Mirano-Dolo, Aulss 3 Serenissima, Venice, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neuroscience (Padova Neuroscience Center), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Marina Zettin
- Centro Puzzle, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgio Arcara
- IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, via Alberoni 70, 30126, Venice, Italy
| | - Silvia Benavides-Varela
- Department of Neuroscience (Padova Neuroscience Center), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Semenza
- Department of Neuroscience (Padova Neuroscience Center), University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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2
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Suzuki Y, Adachi T, Yoshida K, Sakuwa M, Hanajima R. Psychiatric symptoms and TDP-43 pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Sci 2024; 466:123249. [PMID: 39326369 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123249] [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: 06/25/2024] [Revised: 09/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND ALS is not a pure motor neuron disease but co-occurs with cognitive impairment and psychiatric symptoms. The neuropathological origin of the psychiatric symptoms is unclear. This study examined the association between the psychiatric symptoms and neuropathology of ALS. METHODS We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of 15 autopsy cases of ALS, including neuronal loss, gliosis, and the burden of TDP-43 pathology. We divided TDP-43-positive structures by morphology into four categories (neuronal cytoplasmic inclusion, dystrophic neurite, dot, and glial cytoplasmic inclusion) and gave each a semiquantitative score in nine brain regions. Braak neurofibrillary tangle stage, Thal amyloid phase, Lewy-related pathology, and argyrophilic grains were also assessed. RESULTS Of the 15 ALS patients, seven had presented with psychiatric symptoms and eight had not. Significantly higher TDP-43 pathology scores were found in the group with psychiatric symptoms in the temporal tip, transentorhinal cortex, entorhinal cortex, subiculum, and the hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus. Cognitive impairment was not significantly associated with the degree of TDP-43 pathology. There were no significant differences in the degree of neuronal loss/gliosis or in other concurrent pathologies between patients with and without psychiatric symptoms. Morphological evaluation showed that neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, dystrophic neurites, and dots tended to be more common in the group with psychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSION Psychiatric symptoms in ALS may be related to TDP-43 pathology in the perforant pathway. (224 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Suzuki
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Tadashi Adachi
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.
| | - Kentaro Yoshida
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Mayuko Sakuwa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Ritsuko Hanajima
- Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
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Sultana OF, Bandaru M, Islam MA, Reddy PH. Unraveling the complexity of human brain: Structure, function in healthy and disease states. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 100:102414. [PMID: 39002647 PMCID: PMC11384519 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102414] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
The human brain stands as an intricate organ, embodying a nexus of structure, function, development, and diversity. This review delves into the multifaceted landscape of the brain, spanning its anatomical intricacies, diverse functional capacities, dynamic developmental trajectories, and inherent variability across individuals. The dynamic process of brain development, from early embryonic stages to adulthood, highlights the nuanced changes that occur throughout the lifespan. The brain, a remarkably complex organ, is composed of various anatomical regions, each contributing uniquely to its overall functionality. Through an exploration of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and electrophysiology, this review elucidates how different brain structures interact to support a wide array of cognitive processes, sensory perception, motor control, and emotional regulation. Moreover, it addresses the impact of age, sex, and ethnic background on brain structure and function, and gender differences profoundly influence the onset, progression, and manifestation of brain disorders shaped by genetic, hormonal, environmental, and social factors. Delving into the complexities of the human brain, it investigates how variations in anatomical configuration correspond to diverse functional capacities across individuals. Furthermore, it examines the impact of neurodegenerative diseases on the structural and functional integrity of the brain. Specifically, our article explores the pathological processes underlying neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, shedding light on the structural alterations and functional impairments that accompany these conditions. We will also explore the current research trends in neurodegenerative diseases and identify the existing gaps in the literature. Overall, this article deepens our understanding of the fundamental principles governing brain structure and function and paves the way for a deeper understanding of individual differences and tailored approaches in neuroscience and clinical practice-additionally, a comprehensive understanding of structural and functional changes that manifest in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omme Fatema Sultana
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Madhuri Bandaru
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Md Ariful Islam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA 5. Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
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Kleinerova J, McKenna MC, Finnegan M, Tacheva A, Garcia-Gallardo A, Mohammed R, Tan EL, Christidi F, Hardiman O, Hutchinson S, Bede P. Clinical, Cortical, Subcortical, and White Matter Features of Right Temporal Variant FTD. Brain Sci 2024; 14:806. [PMID: 39199498 PMCID: PMC11352857 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14080806] [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: 07/20/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The distinct clinical and radiological characteristics of right temporal variant FTD have only been recently recognized. METHODS Eight patients with right temporal variant FTD were prospectively recruited and underwent a standardised neuropsychological assessment, clinical MRI, and quantitative neuroimaging. RESULTS Our voxelwise grey analyses captured bilateral anterior and mesial temporal grey matter atrophy with a clear right-sided predominance. Bilateral hippocampal involvement was also observed, as well as disease burden in the right insular and opercula regions. White matter integrity alterations were also bilateral in anterior temporal and sub-insular regions with a clear right-hemispheric predominance. Extra-temporal white matter alterations have also been observed in orbitofrontal and parietal regions. Significant bilateral but right-predominant thalamus, putamen, hippocampus, and amygdala atrophy was identified based on subcortical segmentation. The clinical profile of our patients was dominated by progressive indifference, decline in motivation, loss of interest in previously cherished activities, incremental social withdrawal, difficulty recognising people, progressive language deficits, increasingly rigid routines, and repetitive behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Right temporal variant FTD has an insidious onset and may be mistaken for depression at symptom onset. It manifests in a combination of apathy, language, and behavioural features. Quantitative MR imaging captures a characteristic bilateral but right-predominant temporal imaging signature with extra-temporal frontal and parietal involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Kleinerova
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary Clare McKenna
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, St James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Martha Finnegan
- Department of Psychiatry, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR0A Dublin, Ireland
| | - Asya Tacheva
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Rayan Mohammed
- Department of Neurology, St James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ee Ling Tan
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Foteini Christidi
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, D08 W9RT Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, St James’s Hospital, D08 KC95 Dublin, Ireland
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5
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Öijerstedt L, Foucher J, Lovik A, Yazdani S, Juto A, Kläppe U, Fang F, Ingre C. Repeated cognitive assessments show stable function over time in patients with ALS. J Neurol 2024; 271:5267-5274. [PMID: 38853167 PMCID: PMC11319384 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12479-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem disorder with not only motor symptoms but also extra-motor features including cognitive impairment. The most common cognitive profile observed in patients with ALS includes deficits in executive function, language, and social cognition. However, longitudinal studies on cognitive changes over time in ALS are sparse. We aimed to investigate the presence and nature of cognitive impairment at the time of ALS diagnosis and its association with survival as well as explore longitudinal cognitive change. METHOD Patients (n = 216) were recruited at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. Follow-up visits (n = 307 in total) were performed every 6 months. Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) and/or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). RESULTS Cognitive impairment was observed in 38% of the patients at the time of ALS diagnosis, and the majority of these patients had deficits in executive function and/or language. Patients with cognitive impairment at the time of diagnosis had a more rapid decline in ALSFRS-R at 12- and 18-months follow-up, and a shorter survival. Cognitive function was stable during the first 2 years after diagnosis, and did not follow the trajectories of decline in motor functions. CONCLUSION Cognitive impairment in ALS was associated with a faster decline of motor functions, and shorter survival. However, cognitive function did not deteriorate over time. Cognitive assessment is essential for the patients and caregivers to understand the phenotypic expression of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linn Öijerstedt
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Juliette Foucher
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anikó Lovik
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Solmaz Yazdani
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexander Juto
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulf Kläppe
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fang Fang
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Ingre
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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6
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Carbayo Á, Borrego-Écija S, Turon-Sans J, Cortés-Vicente E, Molina-Porcel L, Gascón-Bayarri J, Rubio MÁ, Povedano M, Gámez J, Sotoca J, Juntas-Morales R, Almendrote M, Marquié M, Sánchez-Valle R, Illán-Gala I, Dols-Icardo O, Rubio-Guerra S, Bernal S, Caballero-Ávila M, Vesperinas A, Gelpi E, Rojas-García R. Clinicopathological correlates in the frontotemporal lobar degeneration-motor neuron disease spectrum. Brain 2024; 147:2357-2367. [PMID: 38227807 PMCID: PMC11224598 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae011] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating motor neuron disease (MND) that shares a common clinical, genetic and pathologic spectrum with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It is highly heterogeneous in its presentation and features. Up to 50% of patients with MND develop cognitive-behavioural symptoms during the course of the disease, meeting criteria for FTD in 10%-15% of cases. In the absence of a precise biomarker, neuropathology is still a valuable tool to understand disease nosology, reach a definite diagnostic confirmation and help define specific subgroups of patients with common phenotypic, genetic and biomarker profiles. However, few neuropathological series have been published, and the frequency of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) in MND is difficult to estimate. In this work we describe a large clinicopathological series of MND patients, analysing the frequency of concurrent FTLD changes and trying to define specific subgroups of patients based on their clinical, genetic and pathological characteristics. We performed an observational, retrospective, multicentre case study. We included all cases meeting neuropathological criteria for MND from the Neurological Tissue Bank of the FRCB-IDIBAPS-Hospital Clínic Barcelona Biobank between 1994 and 2022, regardless of their last clinical diagnosis. While brain donation is encouraged in all patients, it is performed in very few, and representativeness of the cohort might not be precise for all patients with MND. We retrospectively reviewed clinical and neuropathological data and describe the main clinical, genetic and pathogenic features, comparing neuropathologic groups between MND with and without FTLD changes and aiming to define specific subgroups. We included brain samples from 124 patients, 44 of whom (35.5%) had FTLD neuropathologic features (i.e. FTLD-MND). Pathologic TDP-43 aggregates were present in 93.6% of the cohort and were more extensive (higher Brettschneider stage) in those with concurrent FTLD (P < 0.001). Motor symptom onset was more frequent in the bulbar region in FTLD-MND cases than in those with isolated MND (P = 0.023), with no differences in survival. We observed a better clinicopathological correlation in the MND group than in the FTLD-MND group (93.8% versus 61.4%; P < 0.001). Pathogenic genetic variants were more common in the FTLD-MND group, especially C9orf72. We describe a frequency of FTLD of 35.5% in our series of neuropathologically confirmed cases of MND. The FTLD-MND spectrum is highly heterogeneous in all aspects, especially in patients with FTLD, in whom it is particularly difficult to define specific subgroups. In the absence of definite biomarkers, neuropathology remains a valuable tool for a definite diagnosis, increasing our knowledge in disease nosology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Carbayo
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Sergi Borrego-Écija
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clínic, Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Janina Turon-Sans
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Elena Cortés-Vicente
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Laura Molina-Porcel
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clínic, Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
- Neurological Tissue Bank, Biobanc-Hospital Clínic-FRCB-IDIBAPS, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Jordi Gascón-Bayarri
- Department of Neurology, Bellvitge University Hospital, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Rubio
- Neuromuscular Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Mónica Povedano
- Department of Neurology, Motor Neuron Unit, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain
| | - Josep Gámez
- GMA Clinic, Neurology Department, European Reference Network On Rare Neuromuscular Diseases (ERN EURO-NMD), Barcelona 08029, Spain
| | - Javier Sotoca
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08035, Spain
| | - Raúl Juntas-Morales
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08035, Spain
| | - Miriam Almendrote
- Neurology Department, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona 08916, Spain
| | - Marta Marquié
- Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Raquel Sánchez-Valle
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clínic, Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Ignacio Illán-Gala
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Oriol Dols-Icardo
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Sara Rubio-Guerra
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Sara Bernal
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
- Genetics Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
| | - Marta Caballero-Ávila
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Ana Vesperinas
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Ellen Gelpi
- Neurological Tissue Bank, Biobanc-Hospital Clínic-FRCB-IDIBAPS, Barcelona 08036, Spain
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Ricard Rojas-García
- Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau) Sant Pau, Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona 08025, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
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Dols-Icardo O, Carbayo Á, Jericó I, Blasco-Martínez O, Álvarez-Sánchez E, López Pérez MA, Bernal S, Rodríguez-Santiago B, Cusco I, Turon-Sans J, Cabezas-Torres M, Caballero-Ávila M, Vesperinas A, Llansó L, Pagola-Lorz I, Torné L, Valle-Tamayo N, Muñoz L, Rubio-Guerra S, Illán-Gala I, Cortés-Vicente E, Gelpi E, Rojas-García R. Identification of a pathogenic mutation in ARPP21 in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2024:jnnp-2024-333834. [PMID: 38960585 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2024-333834] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Between 5% and 10% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases have a family history of the disease, 30% of which do not have an identifiable underlying genetic cause after a comprehensive study of the known ALS-related genes. Based on a significantly increased incidence of ALS in a small geographical region from Spain, the aim of this work was to identify novel ALS-related genes in ALS cases with negative genetic testing. METHODS We detected an increased incidence of both sporadic and, especially, familial ALS cases in a small region from Spain compared with available demographic and epidemiological data. We performed whole genome sequencing in a group of 12 patients with ALS (5 of them familial) from this unique area. We expanded the study to include affected family members and additional cases from a wider surrounding region. RESULTS We identified a shared missense mutation (c.1586C>T; p.Pro529Leu) in the cyclic AMP regulated phosphoprotein 21 (ARPP21) gene that encodes an RNA-binding protein, in a total of 10 patients with ALS from 7 unrelated families. No mutations were found in other ALS-causing genes. CONCLUSIONS While previous studies have dismissed a causal role of ARPP21 in ALS, our results strongly support ARPP21 as a novel ALS-causing gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Dols-Icardo
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Carbayo
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivonne Jericó
- Neuromuscular and Motor Neuron Diseases Research Group, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Navarra (IdisNa), Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Esther Álvarez-Sánchez
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Sara Bernal
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Genetics Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benjamín Rodríguez-Santiago
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Genetics Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Genome Instability and DNA Repair Group, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivon Cusco
- Genetics Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Janina Turon-Sans
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Cabezas-Torres
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Caballero-Ávila
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Vesperinas
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Llansó
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Pagola-Lorz
- Neuromuscular and Motor Neuron Diseases Research Group, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Navarra (IdisNa), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Laura Torné
- Neuromuscular and Motor Neuron Diseases Research Group, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Navarra (IdisNa), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Natalia Valle-Tamayo
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laia Muñoz
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Rubio-Guerra
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Illán-Gala
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Cortés-Vicente
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ellen Gelpi
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ricard Rojas-García
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Riva N, Domi T, Pozzi L, Lunetta C, Schito P, Spinelli EG, Cabras S, Matteoni E, Consonni M, Bella ED, Agosta F, Filippi M, Calvo A, Quattrini A. Update on recent advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2024; 271:4693-4723. [PMID: 38802624 PMCID: PMC11233360 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12435-9] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In the last few years, our understanding of disease molecular mechanisms underpinning ALS has advanced greatly, allowing the first steps in translating into clinical practice novel research findings, including gene therapy approaches. Similarly, the recent advent of assistive technologies has greatly improved the possibility of a more personalized approach to supportive and symptomatic care, in the context of an increasingly complex multidisciplinary line of actions, which remains the cornerstone of ALS management. Against this rapidly growing background, here we provide an comprehensive update on the most recent studies that have contributed towards our understanding of ALS pathogenesis, the latest results from clinical trials as well as the future directions for improving the clinical management of ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilo Riva
- 3Rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Fondazione IRCCS "Carlo Besta" Neurological Insitute, Milan, Italy.
| | - Teuta Domi
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pozzi
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Christian Lunetta
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Unit of Milan Institute, 20138, Milan, Italy
| | - Paride Schito
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Gioele Spinelli
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Cabras
- ALS Centre, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin; SC Neurologia 1U, AOU città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Enrico Matteoni
- ALS Centre, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin; SC Neurologia 1U, AOU città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Monica Consonni
- 3Rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Fondazione IRCCS "Carlo Besta" Neurological Insitute, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Dalla Bella
- 3Rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Fondazione IRCCS "Carlo Besta" Neurological Insitute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute Huniversity, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute Huniversity, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Calvo
- ALS Centre, 'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin; SC Neurologia 1U, AOU città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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9
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Zhu Y, Li M, Wang H, Yang F, Du R, Pang X, Bai J, Huang X. Mendelian Randomization Identifies Genetically Supported Drug Targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:3809-3818. [PMID: 38019415 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03817-7] [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: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Currently, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have no effective treatments. Drug repurposing offers a rapid method to meet therapeutic need for ALS and FTD. To identify therapeutic targets associated with ALS and FTD, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and colocalization were performed. Genetic instruments were based on transcriptomic and proteomic data for 422 actionable proteins targeted by approved drugs or clinical drug candidates. The publicly available ALS GWAS summary data (including a total of 20,806 ALS cases and 59,804 controls) and FTD GWAS summary data (including a total of 2154 patients with FTD and 4308 controls) were used. Using cis-expression quantitative trait loci and cis-protein quantitative trait loci genetic instruments, we identified several drug targets for repurposing (ALS: MARK3, false-discovery rate (FDR) = 0.043; LTBR, FDR = 0.068) (FTD: HLA-DRB1, FDR = 0.083; ADH5, FDR = 0.056). Our MR study analyzed the actionable druggable proteins and provided potential therapeutic targets for ALS and FTD. Future studies should further elucidate the underlying mechanism of corresponding drug targets in the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Zhu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mao Li
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongfen Wang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - RongRong Du
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyuan Pang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiongming Bai
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xusheng Huang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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10
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Vilardo B, De Marchi F, Raineri D, Manfredi M, De Giorgis V, Bebeti A, Scotti L, Kustrimovic N, Cappellano G, Mazzini L, Chiocchetti A. Shotgun Proteomics Links Proteoglycan-4 + Extracellular Vesicles to Cognitive Protection in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Biomolecules 2024; 14:727. [PMID: 38927130 PMCID: PMC11202157 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060727] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder lacking reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease progression monitoring. This study aimed to identify the novel biomarkers in plasmatic extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from ALS patients and healthy controls (HCs). A total of 61 ALS patients and 30 age-matched HCs were enrolled in the study and the protein content of circulating EVs was analyzed by shotgun proteomics. The study was divided into a discovery phase (involving 12 ALS and 12 HC patients) and a validation one (involving 49 ALS and 20 HC patients). In the discovery phase, more than 300 proteins were identified, with 32 proteins showing differential regulation in ALS patients compared to HCs. In the validation phase, over 400 proteins were identified, with 20 demonstrating differential regulation in ALS patients compared to HCs. Notably, seven proteins were found to be common to both phases, all of which were significantly upregulated in EVs from ALS patients. Most of them have previously been linked to ALS since they have been detected in the serum or cerebrospinal fluid of ALS patients. Among them, proteoglycan (PRG)-4, also known as lubricin, was of particular interest since it was significantly increased in ALS patients with normal cognitive and motor functions. This study highlights the significance of EVs as a promising avenue for biomarker discovery in ALS. Moreover, it sheds light on the unexpected role of PRG-4 in relation to cognitive status in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Vilardo
- Department of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases-IRCAD, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (B.V.); (D.R.); (N.K.); (G.C.)
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Center, University Hospital “Maggiore della Carità”, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.B.); (L.M.)
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Davide Raineri
- Department of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases-IRCAD, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (B.V.); (D.R.); (N.K.); (G.C.)
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Veronica De Giorgis
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Alen Bebeti
- Department of Neurology and ALS Center, University Hospital “Maggiore della Carità”, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.B.); (L.M.)
| | - Lorenza Scotti
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Natasa Kustrimovic
- Department of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases-IRCAD, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (B.V.); (D.R.); (N.K.); (G.C.)
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Cappellano
- Department of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases-IRCAD, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (B.V.); (D.R.); (N.K.); (G.C.)
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Center, University Hospital “Maggiore della Carità”, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.B.); (L.M.)
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Annalisa Chiocchetti
- Department of Health Sciences, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases-IRCAD, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (B.V.); (D.R.); (N.K.); (G.C.)
- Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
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11
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Foucher J, Öijerstedt L, Lovik A, Sun J, Ismail MAM, Sennfält S, Savitcheva I, Estenberg U, Pagani M, Fang F, Pereira JB, Ingre C. ECAS correlation with metabolic alterations on FDG-PET imaging in ALS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38836336 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2024.2361695] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Background: Cognitive impairment is observed in up to 50% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) is an ALS-specific multi-domain screening tool. Few studies have examined the relationship between ECAS scores and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG-PET) findings. Objective: To assess the relationship between ECAS scores and glucose metabolism patterns on [18F]FDG -PET images in ALS. Methods: We collected [18F]FDG-PET images from 65 patients with ALS and 39 healthy controls. ECAS scores were collected on all patients and we calculated the correlation to [18F]FDG-PET in order to investigate the potential links between cognition and glucose metabolism. Results: We observed hypometabolism in the frontal cortex, insula, and limbic system, together with hypermetabolism in the cerebellum in patients with ALS compared to controls. A lower ECAS total score was associated with lower glucose metabolism in the right orbitofrontal gyrus and higher glucose metabolism in lateral occipital, medial occipital, and cerebellar regions, among patients with ALS. Similar results, although less widespread, were observed in the analyses of ECAS ALS-specific scores. Conclusions: The metabolic patterns in [18F]FDG -PET show that changes in the glucose metabolism of corresponding areas are related to cognitive dysfunction in ALS, and can be detected using the ECAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Foucher
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, ME Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linn Öijerstedt
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, ME Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anikó Lovik
- Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Methodology and Statistics Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jiawei Sun
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Muhammad-Al-Mustafa Ismail
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, ME Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Sennfält
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, ME Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Irina Savitcheva
- Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Section for Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, and
| | - Ulrika Estenberg
- Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Section for Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, and
| | - Marco Pagani
- Medical Radiation Physics and Nuclear Medicine Imaging, Section for Nuclear Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, and
- Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Fang Fang
- Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joana B Pereira
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caroline Ingre
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, ME Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Radakovic R, Radakovic C, Abrahams S, Simmons Z, Carroll A. Quality of life, cognitive and behavioural impairment in people with motor neuron disease: a systematic review. Qual Life Res 2024; 33:1469-1480. [PMID: 38345764 PMCID: PMC11116232 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-024-03611-5] [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] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Motor neuron disease (MND) is a neurodegenerative disease, progressively impacting function and self-perceived quality of life (QoL). Up to 50% of people with MND can present with cognitive and behavioural impairment, with an associated increase in caregiver burden or strain. However, there has been no systematic exploration of the relationship between QoL and cognitive or behavioural impairment in MND. The aim was to determine if there is a relationship between QoL and cognitive/behavioural impairment in MND, while also supplementarily looking to determine the types of cognitive/behavioural and QoL measures utilised in these studies. METHODS A systematic search was performed across multiple databases (PsychINFO, Embase, Medline, AMED) for research published up to the date of February 22, 2023. Studies utilising quantitative methods of measuring QoL, cognitive/behavioural functioning/impairment were included. Findings examining relationships between QoL-cognitive/behavioural impairment were extracted and synthesised. RESULTS A total of 488 studies were identified, with 14 studies included in the systematic review. All 14 studies were observational (11 cross-sectional, 3 longitudinal). 13 studies utilised MND non-specific measures, particularly in relation to QoL and cognitive impairment. Of 8 studies measuring behavioural impairment 62.5% (N = 5) found either a lower QoL difference or association. Only 33.3% (N = 4) of 12 studies measuring cognitive impairment found a lower QoL difference or association. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review shows that behavioural impairment may have an impact on QoL in MND. There is variability in types of assessments used to measure QoL and also cognitive/behavioural impairment, most of which are disease-non-specific. Recommendations for future research are to use comprehensive disease-specific, multidomain measures to further elucidate the QoL-cognitive/behavioural impairment relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratko Radakovic
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | | | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zachary Simmons
- Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Amy Carroll
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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13
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Cayir S, Volpi T, Toyonaga T, Gallezot JD, Yang Y, Sadabad FE, Mulnix T, Mecca AP, Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Matuskey D. Relationship between neuroimaging and cognition in frontotemporal dementia: An FDG-PET and structural MRI study. J Neuroimaging 2024. [PMID: 38676301 DOI: 10.1111/jon.13206] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a clinically and pathologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative condition with a prevalence comparable to Alzheimer's disease for patients under 65 years of age. Limited studies have examined the association between cognition and neuroimaging in FTD using different imaging modalities. METHODS We examined the association of cognition using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with both gray matter (GM) volume and glucose metabolism using magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET in 21 patients diagnosed with FTD. Standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) using the brainstem as a reference region was the primary outcome measure for FDG-PET. Partial volume correction was applied to PET data to account for disease-related atrophy. RESULTS Significant positive associations were found between whole-cortex GM volume and MoCA scores (r = 0.46, p = .04). The association between whole-cortex FDG SUVR and MoCA scores was not significant (r = 0.37, p = .09). GM volumes of the frontal cortex (r = 0.54, p = .01), caudate (r = 0.62, p<.01), and insula (r = 0.57, p<.01) were also significantly correlated with MoCA, as were SUVR values of the insula (r = 0.51, p = .02), thalamus (r = 0.48, p = .03), and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) (r = 0.47, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS Whole-cortex atrophy is associated with cognitive dysfunction, and this association is larger than for whole-cortex hypometabolism as measured with FDG-PET. At the regional level, focal atrophy and/or hypometabolism in the frontal cortex, insula, PCC, thalamus, and caudate seem to be important for the decline of cognitive function in FTD. Furthermore, these results highlight how functional and structural changes may not overlap and might contribute to cognitive dysfunction in FTD in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salih Cayir
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Tommaso Volpi
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Takuya Toyonaga
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jean-Dominique Gallezot
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yanghong Yang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Faranak Ebrahimian Sadabad
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Tim Mulnix
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Adam P Mecca
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David Matuskey
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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14
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Kekenadze M, Rocca C, Turchetti V, Nagy S, Kvirkvelia N, Vashadze S, Kvaratskhelia E, Beridze M, Kaiyrzhanov R, Houlden H. Analysis of C9orf72 repeat expansions in Georgian patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). F1000Res 2024; 12:1113. [PMID: 38464738 PMCID: PMC10924727 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.138436.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the upper and lower motor neurons. Several genetic risk factors have been identified in the past decade with a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene being the most significant. However, the presence of C9orf72 repeat expansion has not been examined in the Transcaucasian region, therefore we aimed to analyse its frequency in Georgian patients with ALS. Methods We included 64 self-reported Georgian patients with ALS from different parts of the country, fulfilling the Gold Coast criteria. To investigate the presence of an expanded GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat in the non-coding region of the C9orf72 gene, we performed Repeat-Primed PCR (RP-PCR). Results In total, 62 sporadic and two familial ALS cases were identified. Patients were aged 26 to 84 years with a mean age of 58.3 years at disease onset. Bulbar onset was observed in 21.88%, upper limb onset in 34.38%, and lower limb onset in 43.75% of the patients. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) fulfilling the Strong criteria was diagnosed in seven patients (10.94%). C9orf72 repeat expansion was detected in only one case using RP-PCR; the patient had a family history of dementia. Conclusions Our results indicate that C9orf72 hexanucleotide expansion does not belong to the major genetic risk factor of ALS in Georgian patients. Further genetic studies in a bigger study population are needed to reveal the genetic causes of ALS in the Transcaucasian population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clarissa Rocca
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Valentina Turchetti
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Sara Nagy
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Maia Beridze
- Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, 0141, Georgia
| | - Rauan Kaiyrzhanov
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England, UK
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Tzeplaeff L, Jürs AV, Wohnrade C, Demleitner AF. Unraveling the Heterogeneity of ALS-A Call to Redefine Patient Stratification for Better Outcomes in Clinical Trials. Cells 2024; 13:452. [PMID: 38474416 PMCID: PMC10930688 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050452] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous efforts in basic research and a growing number of clinical trials aiming to find effective treatments, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains an incurable disease. One possible reason for the lack of effective causative treatment options is that ALS may not be a single disease entity but rather may represent a clinical syndrome, with diverse genetic and molecular causes, histopathological alterations, and subsequent clinical presentations contributing to its complexity and variability among individuals. Defining a way to subcluster ALS patients is becoming a central endeavor in the field. Identifying specific clusters and applying them in clinical trials could enable the development of more effective treatments. This review aims to summarize the available data on heterogeneity in ALS with regard to various aspects, e.g., clinical, genetic, and molecular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tzeplaeff
- Department of Neurology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich, 81675 München, Germany
| | - Alexandra V. Jürs
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Camilla Wohnrade
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Antonia F. Demleitner
- Department of Neurology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich, 81675 München, Germany
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16
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Cayir S, Sadabad FE, Mecca A, Matuskey D, Zadeh AF. The Relationship of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers and Cognitive Performance in Frontotemporal Dementia. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3945509. [PMID: 38410483 PMCID: PMC10896374 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3945509/v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Objective Currently available literature on the relationships between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and cognitive performance in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is very limited and inconclusive. In this study, we investigated the association of cognition, as measured with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with CSF levels of total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 (p-tau181), and amyloid β 1-42 (Aβ1-42) in a group of patients with FTD and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study with participants selected from the electronic records of patients seen at Yale New Haven Hospital's Memory Clinic, CT, USA. We included 61 patients, 28 with FTD (mean age=64.1) and 33 with AD (mean age=66.8). Results T-tau levels negatively and significantly correlated with total MoCA scores as well as the different MoCA index scores in both the FTD (r=-0.469, p<0.05) and AD (r=-0.545, p<0.01) groups. There were no significant associations with MoCA scores and p-tau181 levels in patients with FTD (r=-0.224, p>0.05), unlike patients with AD, who exhibited significant correlations (r=-0.549, p<0.01). Also, Aβ1-42 levels were not significantly correlated with MoCA scores in either of the FTD and AD groups. Conclusion CSF concentrations of t-tau are inversely correlated to cognitive performance in patients with FTD and both t-tau and p-tau181 in AD. These findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between clinical cognitive performance and tau-related pathology in FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salih Cayir
- Yale University Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
| | | | - Adam Mecca
- Yale University School of Medicine, Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit
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Malerba F, Florio R, Arisi I, Zecca C, Dell’Abate MT, Logroscino G, Cattaneo A. Cerebrospinal fluid level of proNGF as potential diagnostic biomarker in patients with frontotemporal dementia. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 15:1298307. [PMID: 38332808 PMCID: PMC10850263 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1298307] [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: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an extremely heterogeneous and complex neurodegenerative disease, exhibiting different phenotypes, genetic backgrounds, and pathological states. Due to these characteristics, and to the fact that clinical symptoms overlap with those of other neurodegenerative diseases or psychiatric disorders, the diagnosis based only on the clinical evaluation is very difficult. The currently used biomarkers help in the clinical diagnosis, but are insufficient and do not cover all the clinical needs. Methods By the means of a new immunoassay, we have measured and analyzed the proNGF levels in 43 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from FTD patients, and compared the results to those obtained in CSF from 84 Alzheimer's disease (AD), 15 subjective memory complaints (SMC) and 13 control subjects. Results A statistically significant difference between proNGF levels in FTD compared to AD, SMC and controls subjects was found. The statistical models reveal that proNGF determination increases the accuracy of FTD diagnosis, if added to the clinically validated CSF biomarkers. Discussion These results suggest that proNGF could be included in a panel of biomarkers to improve the FTD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Malerba
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology – National Research Council (IFT-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Zecca
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” at “Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico” Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Dell’Abate
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” at “Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico” Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” at “Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico” Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
- BIO@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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Cayir S, Volpi T, Toyonaga T, Gallezot JD, Yanghong Y, Sadabad FE, Mulnix T, Mecca AP, Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Matuskey D. Relationship between Neuroimaging and Cognition in Frontotemporal Dementia: A [18 F]FDG PET and Structural MRI Study. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3846125. [PMID: 38313264 PMCID: PMC10836106 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3846125/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Background Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a clinically and pathologically heterogeneous condition with a prevalence comparable to Alzheimer's Disease for patients under sixty-five years of age. Gray matter (GM) atrophy and glucose hypometabolism are important biomarkers for the diagnosis and evaluation of disease progression in FTD. However, limited studies have systematically examined the association between cognition and neuroimaging in FTD using different imaging modalities in the same patient group. Methods We examined the association of cognition using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with both GM volume and glucose metabolism using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scanning ([18F]FDG PET) in 21 patients diagnosed with FTD. Standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) using the brainstem as a reference region was the primary outcome measure for [18F]FDG PET. Partial volume correction was applied to PET data to account for disease-related atrophy. Results Significant positive associations were found between whole-cortex GM volume and MoCA scores (r = 0.461, p = 0.035). The association between whole-cortex [18F]FDG SUVR and MoCA scores was not Significant (r = 0.374, p = 0.094). GM volumes of the frontal cortex (r = 0.540, p = 0.011), caudate (r = 0.616, p = 0.002), and insula (r = 0.568, p = 0.007) were also Significantly correlated with MoCA, as were SUVR values of the insula (r = 0.508, p = 0.018), thalamus (r = 0.478, p = 0.028), and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) (r = 0.472, p = 0.030). Discussion Whole-cortex atrophy is associated with cognitive dysfunction, and this effect is larger than for cortical hypometabolism as measured with [18F]FDG PET. At the regional level, focal atrophy and/or hypometabolism in the frontal lobe, insula, PCC, thalamus, and caudate seem to imply the importance of these regions for the decline of cognitive function in FTD. Furthermore, these results highlight how functional and structural changes may not overlap and might contribute to cognitive dysfunction in FTD in different ways. Our findings provide insight into the relationships between structural, metabolic, and cognitive changes due to FTD.
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Baumgartner D, Mušová Z, Zídková J, Hedvičáková P, Vlčková E, Joppeková L, Kramářová T, Fajkusová L, Stránecký V, Geryk J, Votýpka P, Mazanec R. Genetic Landscape of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Czech Patients. J Neuromuscul Dis 2024; 11:1035-1048. [PMID: 39058450 PMCID: PMC11380243 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230236] [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] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and constitute a link to its association with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Gene-targeted therapies for some forms of ALS (C9orf72, SOD1) have recently gained momentum. Genetic architecture in Czech ALS patients has not been comprehensively assessed so far. Objective We aimed to deliver pilot data on the genetic landscape of ALS in our country. Methods A cohort of patients with ALS (n = 88), recruited from two Czech Neuromuscular Centers, was assessed for hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in C9orf72 and also for genetic variations in other 36 ALS-linked genes via next-generation sequencing (NGS). Nine patients (10.1%) had a familial ALS. Further, we analyzed two subgroups of sporadic patients - with concomitant FTD (n = 7) and with young-onset of the disease (n = 22). Results We detected the pathogenic HRE in C9orf72 in 12 patients (13.5%) and three other pathogenic variants in FUS, TARDBP and TBK1, each in one patient. Additional 7 novel and 9 rare known variants with uncertain causal significance have been detected in 15 patients. Three sporadic patients with FTD (42.9%) were harbouring a pathogenic variant (all HRE in C9orf72). Surprisingly, none of the young-onset sporadic patients harboured a pathogenic variant and we detected no pathogenic SOD1 variant in our cohort. Conclusion Our findings resemble those from other European populations, with the highest prevalence of HRE in the C9orf72 gene. Further, our findings suggest a possibility of a missing genetic variability among young-onset patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Baumgartner
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Mušová
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Zídková
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Internal Haematology and Oncology Clinic, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Hedvičáková
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Vlčková
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lubica Joppeková
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Kramářová
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Internal Haematology and Oncology Clinic, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Fajkusová
- Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Internal Haematology and Oncology Clinic, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Stránecký
- Department of Pediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Research Unit for Rare Diseases, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Geryk
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Votýpka
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Mazanec
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Center, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
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20
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Shen T, Vogel JW, Duda J, Phillips JS, Cook PA, Gee J, Elman L, Quinn C, Amado DA, Baer M, Massimo L, Grossman M, Irwin DJ, McMillan CT. Novel data-driven subtypes and stages of brain atrophy in the ALS-FTD spectrum. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:57. [PMID: 38062485 PMCID: PMC10701950 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00389-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TDP-43 proteinopathies represent a spectrum of neurological disorders, anchored clinically on either end by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). The ALS-FTD spectrum exhibits a diverse range of clinical presentations with overlapping phenotypes, highlighting its heterogeneity. This study was aimed to use disease progression modeling to identify novel data-driven spatial and temporal subtypes of brain atrophy and its progression in the ALS-FTD spectrum. METHODS We used a data-driven procedure to identify 13 anatomic clusters of brain volume for 57 behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD; with either autopsy-confirmed TDP-43 or TDP-43 proteinopathy-associated genetic variants), 103 ALS, and 47 ALS-FTD patients with likely TDP-43. A Subtype and Stage Inference (SuStaIn) model was trained to identify subtypes of individuals along the ALS-FTD spectrum with distinct brain atrophy patterns, and we related subtypes and stages to clinical, genetic, and neuropathological features of disease. RESULTS SuStaIn identified three novel subtypes: two disease subtypes with predominant brain atrophy in either prefrontal/somatomotor regions or limbic-related regions, and a normal-appearing group without obvious brain atrophy. The limbic-predominant subtype tended to present with more impaired cognition, higher frequencies of pathogenic variants in TBK1 and TARDBP genes, and a higher proportion of TDP-43 types B, E and C. In contrast, the prefrontal/somatomotor-predominant subtype had higher frequencies of pathogenic variants in C9orf72 and GRN genes and higher proportion of TDP-43 type A. The normal-appearing brain group showed higher frequency of ALS relative to ALS-FTD and bvFTD patients, higher cognitive capacity, higher proportion of lower motor neuron onset, milder motor symptoms, and lower frequencies of genetic pathogenic variants. The overall SuStaIn stages also correlated with evidence for clinical progression including longer disease duration, higher King's stage, and cognitive decline. Additionally, SuStaIn stages differed across clinical phenotypes, genotypes and types of TDP-43 pathology. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest distinct neurodegenerative subtypes of disease along the ALS-FTD spectrum that can be identified in vivo, each with distinct brain atrophy, clinical, genetic and pathological patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shen
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jacob W Vogel
- Department of Clinical Sciences, SciLifeLab, Lund University, 222 42, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey Duda
- Penn Image Computing and Science Lab (PICSL), Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Phillips
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Philip A Cook
- Penn Image Computing and Science Lab (PICSL), Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - James Gee
- Penn Image Computing and Science Lab (PICSL), Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lauren Elman
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Colin Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Defne A Amado
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael Baer
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lauren Massimo
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Murray Grossman
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Digital Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Tahedl M, Tan EL, Chipika RH, Lope J, Hengeveld JC, Doherty MA, McLaughlin RL, Hardiman O, Hutchinson S, McKenna MC, Bede P. The involvement of language-associated networks, tracts, and cortical regions in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Structural and functional alterations. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3250. [PMID: 37694825 PMCID: PMC10636407 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Language deficits are cardinal manifestations of some frontotemporal dementia (FTD) phenotypes and also increasingly recognized in sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They have considerable social and quality-of-life implications, and adaptive strategies are challenging to implement. While the neuropsychological profiles of ALS-FTD phenotypes are well characterized, the neuronal underpinnings of language deficits are less well studied. METHODS A multiparametric, quantitative neuroimaging study was conducted to characterize the involvement of language-associated networks, tracts, and cortical regions with a panel of structural, diffusivity, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics. Seven study groups were evaluated along the ALS-FTD spectrum: healthy controls (HC), individuals with ALS without cognitive impairment (ALSnci), C9orf72-negative ALS-FTD, C9orf72-positive ALS-FTD, behavioral-variant FTD (bvFTD), nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), and semantic variant PPA (svPPA). The integrity of the Broca's area, Wernicke's area, frontal aslant tract (FAT), arcuate fascicle (AF), inferior occipitofrontal fascicle (IFO), inferior longitudinal fascicle (ILF), superior longitudinal fascicle (SLF), and uncinate fascicle (UF) was quantitatively evaluated. The functional connectivity (FC) between Broca's and Wernicke' areas and FC along the FAT was also specifically assessed. RESULTS Patients with nfvPPA and svPPA exhibit distinctive patterns of gray and white matter degeneration in language-associated brain regions. Individuals with bvFTD exhibit Broca's area, right FAT, right IFO, and UF degeneration. The ALSnci group exhibits Broca's area atrophy and decreased FC along the FAT. Both ALS-FTD cohorts, irrespective of C9orf72 status, show bilateral FAT, AF, and IFO pathology. Interestingly, only C9orf72-negative ALS-FTD patients exhibit bilateral uncinate and right ILF involvement, while C9orf72-positive ALS-FTD patients do not. CONCLUSIONS Language-associated tracts and networks are not only affected in language-variant FTD phenotypes but also in ALS and bvFTD. Language domains should be routinely assessed in ALS irrespective of the genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Tahedl
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Ee Ling Tan
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | | | - Jasmin Lope
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | | | - Mark A. Doherty
- Smurfit Institute of GeneticsTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | | | - Orla Hardiman
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | | | - Mary Clare McKenna
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
- Department of NeurologySt James's HospitalDublinIreland
| | - Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of MedicineTrinity College DublinDublinIreland
- Department of NeurologySt James's HospitalDublinIreland
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Huynh A, Adams K, Barnett-Tapia C, Kalra S, Zinman L, Yunusova Y. Accessing and Receiving Speech-Language Pathology Services at the Multidisciplinary Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinic: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Patient Experiences and Needs. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37678221 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-23-00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study sought to explore how patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presenting with coexisting bulbar and cognitive impairments and their caregivers experienced the speech-language pathologist (SLP) services provided in multidisciplinary ALS clinics in Canada and identified their perceived needs for bulbar symptom management. METHOD This qualitative study was informed by interpretive description. Seven interviews were conducted with patients with severe bulbar dysfunction or severe bulbar and cognitive dysfunction due to ALS or ALS-frontotemporal dementia, respectively, and/or their caregivers. Purposive sampling was used to recruit individuals with severe bulbar or bulbar and cognitive disease. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data. RESULTS Patients and caregivers reported difficulties with accessing and receiving SLP services at the multidisciplinary ALS clinic. These difficulties were further exacerbated in those with severe cognitive disease. Participants expressed a need for more specific (i.e., disease and service-related) information and personalized care to address their changing needs and preferences. Engaging caregivers earlier in SLP appointments was perceived as vital to support care planning and provide in-time caregiver education. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted the challenges experienced by patients and caregivers in accessing and receiving SLP services. There is a pressing need for a more person-centered approach to ALS care and a continuing need for education of SLPs on care provision in cases of complex multisymptom diseases within a multidisciplinary ALS clinic. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24069222.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Huynh
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Sanjay Kalra
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yana Yunusova
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
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Lee J, Kim A, Choi SJ, Cho E, Seo J, Oh SI, Jung J, Kim JS, Sung JJ, Abrahams S, Hong YH. Development and Validation of the Korean Version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS-K). J Clin Neurol 2023; 19:454-459. [PMID: 37488957 PMCID: PMC10471544 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2022.0403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cognitive and behavioral changes are common in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with about 15% of patients presenting with overt frontotemporal dementia and 30%-50% with varying degrees of impairments. We aimed to develop and validate the Korean version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS-K), a brief multidomain assessment tool developed for ALS patients with physical disability. METHODS We developed the ECAS-K according to the translation guidelines, and administered it to 38 patients with ALS and 26 age- and education-level-matched controls. We also administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) to investigate convergent validity, and the Center for Neurologic Study-Liability Scale to assess the association between pseudobulbar affect and cognitive/behavioral changes. RESULTS Internal consistency among the ECAS-K test items was found to be high, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87. Significant differences were found between patients with ALS and the controls in language, fluency, and memory functions (p<0.05). Abnormal performance based on the ECAS total score was noted in 39.4% of patients, and 66.6% presented behavioral changes in at least one domain. Significant correlations were observed between the scores of the ECAS-K and those of other cognitive screening tools (MoCA and FAB, with correlation coefficients of 0.69 and 0.55, respectively; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS We developed and validated the ECAS-K which could be used as an effective tool to screen the cognitive and behavioral impairments in Korean patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeun Lee
- Department of Neurology, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
| | - Ahwon Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seok-Jin Choi
- Department of Neurology, Center for Hospital Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eric Cho
- Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Seong-Il Oh
- Department of Neurology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Jinho Jung
- Department of Neurology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Ji-Sun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Incheon Sejong Hospital, Incheon, Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Sung
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, Human Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yoon-Ho Hong
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Council, Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
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Shen T, Vogel JW, Duda J, Phillips JS, Cook PA, Gee J, Elman L, Quinn C, Amado DA, Baer M, Massimo L, Grossman M, Irwin DJ, McMillan CT. Novel data-driven subtypes and stages of brain atrophy in the ALS-FTD spectrum. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3183113. [PMID: 37609205 PMCID: PMC10441467 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3183113/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Background TDP-43 proteinopathies represents a spectrum of neurological disorders, anchored clinically on either end by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). The ALS-FTD spectrum exhibits a diverse range of clinical presentations with overlapping phenotypes, highlighting its heterogeneity. This study aimed to use disease progression modeling to identify novel data-driven spatial and temporal subtypes of brain atrophy and its progression in the ALS-FTD spectrum. Methods We used a data-driven procedure to identify 13 anatomic clusters of brain volumes for 57 behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD; with either autopsy-confirmed TDP-43 or TDP-43 proteinopathy-associated genetic variants), 103 ALS, and 47 ALS-FTD patients with likely TDP-43. A Subtype and Stage Inference (SuStaIn) model was trained to identify subtypes of individuals along the ALS-FTD spectrum with distinct brain atrophy patterns, and we related subtypes and stages to clinical, genetic, and neuropathological features of disease. Results SuStaIn identified three novel subtypes: two disease subtypes with predominant brain atrophy either in prefrontal/somatomotor regions or limbic-related regions, and a normal-appearing group without obvious brain atrophy. The Limbic-predominant subtype tended to present with more impaired cognition, higher frequencies of pathogenic variants in TBK1 and TARDBP genes, and a higher proportion of TDP-43 type B, E and C. In contrast, the Prefrontal/Somatomotor-predominant subtype had higher frequencies of pathogenic variants in C9orf72 and GRN genes and higher proportion of TDP-43 type A. The normal-appearing brain group showed higher frequency of ALS relative to ALS-FTD and bvFTD patients, higher cognitive capacity, higher proportion of lower motor neuron onset, milder motor symptoms, and lower frequencies of genetic pathogenic variants. Overall SuStaIn stages also correlated with evidence for clinical progression including longer disease duration, higher King's stage, and cognitive decline. Additionally, SuStaIn stages differed across clinical phenotypes, genotypes and types of TDP-43 pathology. Conclusions Our findings suggest distinct neurodegenerative subtypes of disease along the ALS-FTD spectrum that can be identified in vivo, each with distinct brain atrophy, clinical, genetic and pathological patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shen
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | | | - Jeffrey Duda
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | | | - Philip A Cook
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | - James Gee
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | - Lauren Elman
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | - Colin Quinn
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | - Defne A Amado
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | - Michael Baer
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
| | | | | | - David J Irwin
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
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25
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Finsel J, Winroth I, Ciećwierska K, Helczyk O, Stenberg EA, Häggström AC, Ludolph AC, Uttner I, Semb O, Pilczuk B, Szejko N, Rosentul S, Lulé D, Kuźma-Kozakiewicz M, Andersen PM. Determining impairment in the Swedish, Polish and German ECAS: the importance of adjusting for age and education. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023; 24:475-484. [PMID: 36994762 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2192248] [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: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Age and years of education are strong predictors of cognitive performance in several versions of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral ALS Screen (ECAS) and cutoffs for the Swedish and Polish versions are not established yet. Here we evaluated the performance of healthy subjects on the national versions of the Swedish and Polish ECAS and compared cognitive performance on three European translations of the ECAS. Methods: The ECAS performances of healthy subjects from Sweden (n = 111), Poland (n = 124) and Germany (n = 86) were compared. Based on the test results on the national versions of ECAS, age- and education-adjusted cutoffs were compared for the German, Swedish and Polish versions, respectively. Results: Age and years of education correlated with performance in the ECAS. Swedish subjects under the age of 60 years and Swedish subjects with low education level scored significantly higher in memory than the respective German and Polish subgroups. German and Polish subjects over 60 years of age performed significantly better in language than the respective Swedish subgroup. The Polish cohort in total had lower executive scores compared to the Swedish cohort, and lower than the German subjects in the higher education subgroup. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of establishing age- and education-adjusted ECAS cutoffs not only in general, but also for seemingly similar populations of different origins. The results should be taken into account when comparing cognition data across patient populations including in drug trials where an ECAS test result is being used as an inclusion criterium or outcome measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Finsel
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ivar Winroth
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Katarzyna Ciećwierska
- Department of Neurology, University Clinical Centre of Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olga Helczyk
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Erica A Stenberg
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ann-Christin Häggström
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Ingo Uttner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Olof Semb
- Department of Bioethics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Pilczuk
- Department of Neurology, University Clinical Centre of Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Szejko
- Department of Neurology, University Clinical Centre of Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Bioethics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Simona Rosentul
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dorothée Lulé
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Magdalena Kuźma-Kozakiewicz
- Department of Neurology, University Clinical Centre of Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, and
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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26
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Hoveidaei AH, Sattarpour R, Dadgostar H, Razi S, Razi M. Unhappy triad of the knee: What are the current concepts and opinions? World J Orthop 2023; 14:268-274. [PMID: 37304199 PMCID: PMC10251265 DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v14.i5.268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The association between injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and medial meniscus (MM) has been known to orthopedic surgeons since 1936; O'Donoghue first used the term "unhappy triad" of the knee to describe this condition in 1950. Later studies revealed that involvement of the lateral meniscus is more common than MM in these cases, leading to a change in the definition. Recent studies have revealed that this triad may be primarily linked to knee anterolateral complex injuries. Although there is not a definite management protocol for this triad, we try to mention the most recent concepts about it in addition to expert opinions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Human Hoveidaei
- Sports Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14395-578, Iran
| | - Reza Sattarpour
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1416634793, Iran
| | - Haleh Dadgostar
- Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, School of Medicine, Rasool Akram Medical Complex, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1445613131, Iran
| | - Saeed Razi
- Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1545913487, Iran
| | - Mohammad Razi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1445613131, Iran
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27
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Samra K, Macdougall A, Peakman G, Bouzigues A, Bocchetta M, Cash DM, Greaves CV, Convery RS, van Swieten JC, Jiskoot LC, Seelaar H, Moreno F, Sánchez-Valle R, Laforce R, Graff C, Masellis M, Tartaglia MC, Rowe JB, Borroni B, Finger E, Synofzik M, Galimberti D, Vandenberghe R, de Mendonca A, Butler CR, Gerhard A, Ducharme S, Le Ber I, Tiraboschi P, Santana I, Pasquier F, Levin J, Otto M, Sorbi S, Rohrer JD, Russell LL. Neuropsychiatric symptoms in genetic frontotemporal dementia: developing a new module for Clinical Rating Scales. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2023; 94:357-368. [PMID: 36627201 PMCID: PMC10176351 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330152] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current clinical rating scales in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) often do not incorporate neuropsychiatric features and may therefore inadequately measure disease stage. METHODS 832 participants from the Genetic FTD Initiative (GENFI) were recruited: 522 mutation carriers and 310 mutation-negative controls. The standardised GENFI clinical questionnaire assessed the frequency and severity of 14 neuropsychiatric symptoms: visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations, delusions, depression, anxiety, irritability/lability, agitation/aggression, euphoria/elation, aberrant motor behaviour, hypersexuality, hyperreligiosity, impaired sleep, and altered sense of humour. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify key groupings of neuropsychiatric and behavioural items in order to create a new neuropsychiatric module that could be used as an addition to the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) plus National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Behaviour and Language Domains (NACC FTLD) rating scale. RESULTS Overall, 46.4% of mutation carriers had neuropsychiatric symptoms (51.6% C9orf72, 40.8% GRN, 46.6% MAPT) compared with 24.5% of controls. Anxiety and depression were the most common in all genetic groups but fluctuated longitudinally and loaded separately in the PCA. Hallucinations and delusions loaded together, with the remaining neuropsychiatric symptoms loading with the core behavioural features of FTD. These results suggest using a single 'psychosis' neuropsychiatric module consisting of hallucinations and delusions. Adding this to the CDR plus NACC FTLD, called the CDR plus NACC FTLD-N, leads to a number of participants being scored more severely, including those who were previously considered asymptomatic now being scored as prodromal. CONCLUSIONS Neuropsychiatric symptoms occur in mutation carriers at all disease stages across all three genetic groups. However, only psychosis features provided additional staging benefit to the CDR plus NACC FTLD. Inclusion of these features brings us closer to optimising the rating scale for use in trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Samra
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Amy Macdougall
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Georgia Peakman
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Arabella Bouzigues
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - David M Cash
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK
| | - Caroline V Greaves
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Rhian S Convery
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | | | - Harro Seelaar
- Neurology, Erasmus MC Alzheimer Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Fermin Moreno
- Cognitive Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Donostia University Hospital Gipuzkoa Building, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Raquel Sánchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert Laforce
- Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic, Department of Neurological Sciences, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Caroline Graff
- Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit for Hereditary Dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Mario Masellis
- Neurology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Dept. of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Eberhard Karls University Tubingen Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Neurology Service, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Christopher R Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alexander Gerhard
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Nuclear Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Simon Ducharme
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, FrontLab - Reference Centre for Rare or Early Dementias, IM2A, Département de Neurologie, Hôpital Universitaire Pitié Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Paris, France
- National Reference Center On Rare Dementias, Groupe Hospitalier La Pitié Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Paris, France
| | - Pietro Tiraboschi
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Foundation IRCCS Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Isabel Santana
- Neurology, Hospital and University Centre of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC).IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Florence Pasquier
- Inserm U1171, University of Lille, Lille, France
- Memory Clinic, Neurology, CHU Lille, Lille, France
| | - Johannes Levin
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), DZNE, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munchen, Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Neurosciences Drugs and Child Health, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
- IRCCS Firenze, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Firenze, Italy
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Lucy L Russell
- Dementia Reseach Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
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Vidovic M, Müschen LH, Brakemeier S, Machetanz G, Naumann M, Castro-Gomez S. Current State and Future Directions in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2023; 12:736. [PMID: 36899872 PMCID: PMC10000757 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in progressive weakness of all voluntary muscles and eventual respiratory failure. Non-motor symptoms, such as cognitive and behavioral changes, frequently occur over the course of the disease. Considering its poor prognosis with a median survival time of 2 to 4 years and limited causal treatment options, an early diagnosis of ALS plays an essential role. In the past, diagnosis has primarily been determined by clinical findings supported by electrophysiological and laboratory measurements. To increase diagnostic accuracy, reduce diagnostic delay, optimize stratification in clinical trials and provide quantitative monitoring of disease progression and treatment responsivity, research on disease-specific and feasible fluid biomarkers, such as neurofilaments, has been intensely pursued. Advances in imaging techniques have additionally yielded diagnostic benefits. Growing perception and greater availability of genetic testing facilitate early identification of pathogenic ALS-related gene mutations, predictive testing and access to novel therapeutic agents in clinical trials addressing disease-modified therapies before the advent of the first clinical symptoms. Lately, personalized survival prediction models have been proposed to offer a more detailed disclosure of the prognosis for the patient. In this review, the established procedures and future directions in the diagnostics of ALS are summarized to serve as a practical guideline and to improve the diagnostic pathway of this burdensome disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Vidovic
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Svenja Brakemeier
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Gerrit Machetanz
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Marcel Naumann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Sergio Castro-Gomez
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Geriatric Psychiatry/Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Physiology II, University Hospital Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Institute of Innate Immunity, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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29
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Finsel J, Uttner I, Vázquez Medrano CR, Ludolph AC, Lulé D. Cognition in the course of ALS-a meta-analysis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023; 24:2-13. [PMID: 35866707 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2022.2101379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The goal of this meta-analysis is to improve insight into the development of cognition over the course of ALS and to assess predictors of cognitive performance.Method: A literature search was conducted in Pubmed and Web of Science on 29 July 2019 and 16 March 2021. Data were screened in Endnote® Version X9 (London, UK). Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were calculated for cross-sectional data using Rstudio®. Studies were assigned to temporal and physical categories and Hedges' g was calculated for the respective categories to provide an estimate of a cognitive course based on cross-sectional data. Due to low numbers and heterogeneity in reporting, longitudinal studies were analyzed descriptively.Results: A total of N = 45 cross-sectional and N = 13 longitudinal studies were included. Impairments in all cognitive domains, except verbal IQ, were found in ALS patients (PALS). PALS showed stable cognitive performances in cross-sectional and in most longitudinal studies. PALS with symptoms for 18-24 months and PALS who had an ALSFRS-R score of 40-36 were the most frequently reported subgroup regarding neuropsychology. Age was related to visuospatial functioning, and depressiveness to attention. In longitudinal studies, impact of site of onset and cognitive status at baseline on cognitive course was found.Conclusion: Despite vast evidence for cognitive impairment at disease onset in different domains, evidence for evolution of these deficits is rather limited, suggesting that PALS present with cognitive impairment early in the course possibly in a sense of disease trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Finsel
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany and
| | - Ingo Uttner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany and
| | | | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany and.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Dorothée Lulé
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany and
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Kutlubaev MA, Caga J, Xu Y, Areprintseva DK, Pervushina EV, Kiernan MC. Apathy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of frequency, correlates, and outcomes. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023; 24:14-23. [PMID: 35352575 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2022.2053721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the frequency and correlates of apathy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its influence on the prognosis of the disease.Methods: Three databases were searched: MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Quantitative synthesis of the frequency of apathy in ALS was conducted using random effects in Stata (College Station, TX). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the association between frequency of apathy in ALS and different covariates.Results: Fifty-two studies (51 cohorts) were included in the analysis. The pooled frequency of apathy in ALS was 25% (95% confidence interval (CI) 14-35%) according to the studies that used self-rated tools and 34% (95% CI 27-41%) according to studies that used informant-rated tools. The emergence of apathy was associated with cognitive decline and bulbar onset of the disease. There was no consistent relationship between apathy and disease stage or the severity of depression. Structural brain imaging studies established that ALS patients with apathy exhibited more prominent changes with structural and functional brain imaging particularly involving fronto-subcortical regions of the brain. Overall, apathy worsened the long-term prognosis of ALS.Discussion: Apathy affects up to a third of ALS patients аnd develops in the context of progressive neurodegeneration. Increased awareness and understanding of non-motor symptoms in ALS highlights the potential utility of apathy as an outcome measure in future clinical trial design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jashelle Caga
- Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia and
| | - Ying Xu
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia and
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31
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Ohdake R, Watanabe H, Kawabata K, Ogura A, Sato M, Tanaka Y, Imai K, Masuda M, Kato T, Yokoi T, Hara K, Nakamura R, Atsuta N, Nakagawa M, Katsuno M, Sobue G. Convenient Auditory-Based Language and Executive Function Test for Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Study. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2023; 38:57-71. [PMID: 36003060 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acac069] [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] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE About 30%-50% of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) show cognitive impairment ranging from mild dysexecutive syndrome to frontotemporal dementia. We aimed to develop a brief cognitive test, convenient auditory-based language and executive function test (CABLET), for rapid detection of cognitive impairment in ALS, with reduced load on motor function. METHOD The CABLET comprises two tests using auditory verbal stimuli: Test 1, assessing word repetition and lexical judgment, and Test 2, evaluating verbal short-term memory and semantics knowledge. The administration time of Test 1 and Test 2 was 1 and 3-5 min, respectively. Overall, 61 patients with ALS and 46 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls participated in this study. All participants underwent existing neuropsychological tests and the CABLET. We investigated the applicability of the CABLET to detect ALS with cognitive impairment (ALSci) from normal cognition. RESULTS Receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that both the CABLET total and Test 2 had good diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]: total = 0.894, Test 2 = 0.893). Test 2 had the highest sensitivity (100% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity). No significant difference existed in the AUC between the analyses with and without age, education, and disease severity as covariates. Correlations were observed between the CABLET and established neuropsychological tests, supporting its good convergent validity. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that the CABLET could be useful in identifying ALSci quickly without adjusting for confounding factors. Further validation is required to evaluate it in larger groups and compare with ALS-specific cognitive screen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiko Ohdake
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Watanabe
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kawabata
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Aya Ogura
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Maki Sato
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tanaka
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazunori Imai
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Michihito Masuda
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Kato
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takamasa Yokoi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hara
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | | | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
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Relationship between cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin quotient and phenotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a retrospective study on 328 patients. Neurol Sci 2023; 44:1679-1685. [PMID: 36646859 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06604-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We analysed the relationship between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum albumin quotient (Q-Alb) and phenotype in a large cohort of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Three hundred twenty-eight single-centre consecutive patients with ALS were evaluated for Q-Alb, basic epidemiological and clinical data, motor phenotype, cognitive/behavioural impairment, clinical staging, clinical and neurophysiological indexes of upper (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction, and presence of ALS gene mutations. RESULTS Q-Alb did not correlate with age but was independently associated with sex, with male patients having higher levels than female ones; the site of onset was not independently associated with Q-Alb. Q-Alb was not associated with motor phenotype, cognitive/behavioural impairment, disease stage, progression rate, survival, or genetic mutations. Among measures of UMN and LMN dysfunction, Q-Alb only had a weak positive correlation with an electromyography-based index of active limb denervation. CONCLUSION Previous work has documented increased Q-Alb in ALS compared to unaffected individuals. This, together with the absence of associations with nearly all ALS phenotypic features in our cohort, suggests dysfunction of the blood-CSF barrier as a shared, phenotype-independent element in ALS pathophysiology. However, correlation with the active denervation index could point to barrier dysfunction as a local driver of LMN degeneration.
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Zaino D, Serchi V, Giannini F, Pucci B, Veneri G, Pretegiani E, Rosini F, Monti L, Rufa A. Different saccadic profile in bulbar versus spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2023; 146:266-277. [PMID: 35136957 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Two clinical phenotypes characterize the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): the spinal variant, with symptoms beginning in the limbs, and the bulbar variant, affecting firstly speech and swallowing. The two variants show some distinct features in the histopathology, localization and prognosis, but to which extent they really differ clinically and pathologically remains to be clarified. Recent neuropathological and neuroimaging studies have suggested a broader spreading of the neurodegenerative process in ALS, extending beyond the motor areas, toward other cortical and deep grey matter regions, many of which are involved in visual processing and saccadic control. Indeed, a wide range of eye movement deficits have been reported in ALS, but they have never been used to distinguish the two ALS variants. Since quantifying eye movements is a very sensitive and specific method for the study of brain networks, we compared different saccadic and visual search behaviours across spinal ALS patients (n = 12), bulbar ALS patients (n = 6) and healthy control subjects (n = 13), along with cognitive and MRI measures, with the aim to define more accurately the two patients subgroups and possibly clarify a different underlying neural impairment. We found separate profiles of visually-guided saccades between spinal (short saccades) and bulbar (slow saccades) ALS, which could result from the pathologic involvement of different pathways. We suggest an early involvement of the parieto-collicular-cerebellar network in spinal ALS and the fronto-brainstem circuit in bulbar ALS. Overall, our data confirm the diagnostic value of the eye movements analysis in ALS and add new insight on the involved neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Zaino
- Eye tracking and Visual Application Lab (EVA Lab), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.,Neurology and Neurometabolic Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Valeria Serchi
- Eye tracking and Visual Application Lab (EVA Lab), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Fabio Giannini
- Centre for Motor Neuron Diseases, Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Barbara Pucci
- Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Veneri
- Eye tracking and Visual Application Lab (EVA Lab), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Elena Pretegiani
- Eye tracking and Visual Application Lab (EVA Lab), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosini
- Eye tracking and Visual Application Lab (EVA Lab), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Lucia Monti
- Unit of Neuroimaging and Neurointervention, Department of Neurological and Neurosensorial Sciences, AOUS, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rufa
- Eye tracking and Visual Application Lab (EVA Lab), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Zago S, Lorusso L, Aiello EN, Ugolini M, Poletti B, Ticozzi N, Silani V. Cognitive and behavioral involvement in ALS has been known for more than a century. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:6741-6760. [PMID: 36053340 PMCID: PMC9663353 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-06340-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among clinicians and researchers, it is common knowledge that, in ALS, cognitive and behavioral involvement within the spectrum of frontotemporal degenerations (FTDs) begun to be regarded as a fact in the late 1990s of the twentieth century. By contrast, a considerable body of evidence on cognitive/behavioral changes in ALS can be traced in the literature dating from the late nineteenth century. METHODS Worldwide reports on cognitive/behavioral involvement in ALS dating from 1886 to 1981 were retrieved thanks to Biblioteca di Area Medica "Adolfo Ferrate," Sistema Bibliotecario di Ateneo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy and qualitatively synthetized. RESULTS One-hundred and seventy-four cases of ALS with co-occurring FTD-like cognitive/behavioral changes, described in Europe, America, and Asia, were detected. Neuropsychological phenotypes were consistent with the revised Strong et al.'s consensus criteria. Clinical observations were not infrequently supported by histopathological, post-mortem verifications of extra-motor, cortical/sub-cortical alterations, as well as by in vivo instrumental exams-i.e., assessments of brain morphology/physiology and psychometric testing. In this regard, as earlier as 1907, the notion of motor and cognitive/behavioral features in ALS yielding from the same underlying pathology was acknowledged. Hereditary occurrences of ALS with cognitive/behavioral dysfunctions were reported, as well as familial associations with ALS-unrelated brain disorders. Neuropsychological symptoms often occurred before motor ones. Bulbar involvement was at times acknowledged as a risk factor for cognitive/behavioral changes in ALS. DISCUSSION Historical observations herewith delivered can be regarded as the antecedents of current knowledge on cognitive/behavioral impairment in the ALS-FTD spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Zago
- U.O.C. Neurologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Lorusso
- U.O.C., Neurologia & Stroke Unit, A.S.S.T. Lecco, Merate, LC, Italy
| | - Edoardo N Aiello
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
| | - Martino Ugolini
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Poletti
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari Center", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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del Campo M, Zetterberg H, Gandy S, Onyike CU, Oliveira F, Udeh‐Momoh C, Lleó A, Teunissen CE, Pijnenburg Y. New developments of biofluid-based biomarkers for routine diagnosis and disease trajectories in frontotemporal dementia. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2292-2307. [PMID: 35235699 PMCID: PMC9790674 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) covers a spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders with different phenotypes, genetic backgrounds, and pathological states. Its clinicopathological diversity challenges the diagnostic process and the execution of clinical trials, calling for specific diagnostic biomarkers of pathologic FTD types. There is also a need for biomarkers that facilitate disease staging, quantification of severity, monitoring in clinics and observational studies, and for evaluation of target engagement and treatment response in clinical trials. This review discusses current FTD biofluid-based biomarker knowledge taking into account the differing applications. The limitations, knowledge gaps, and challenges for the development and implementation of such markers are also examined. Strategies to overcome these hurdles are proposed, including the technologies available, patient cohorts, and collaborative research initiatives. Access to robust and reliable biomarkers that define the exact underlying pathophysiological FTD process will meet the needs for specific diagnosis, disease quantitation, clinical monitoring, and treatment development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta del Campo
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la SaludFacultad de FarmaciaUniversidad San Pablo‐CEUCEU UniversitiesMadridSpain
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and PhysiologyThe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgGothenburgSweden,Clinical Neurochemistry LaboratorySahlgrenska University HospitalMölndalSweden,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCLLondonUK,Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Institute of NeurologyLondonUK,Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesHong KongChina
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of NeurologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Chiadi U Onyike
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and NeuropsychiatryThe Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Fabricio Oliveira
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryEscola Paulista de MedicinaFederal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP)São PauloSão PauloBrazil
| | - Chi Udeh‐Momoh
- Ageing Epidemiology Research UnitSchool of Public HealthFaculty of MedicineImperial College LondonLondonUK,Translational Health SciencesFaculty of MedicineUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Neurology DepartmentHospital de la Santa Creu I Sant PauBarcelonaSpain
| | - Charlotte E. Teunissen
- Neurochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Clinical ChemistryAmsterdam NeuroscienceAmsterdam University Medical CentersVrije UniversiteitAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Yolande Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center AmsterdamDepartment of NeurologyAmsterdam NeuroscienceVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdam UMCAmsterdamthe Netherlands
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Dalla Bella E, Bersano E, Bruzzone MG, Gellera C, Pensato V, Lauria G, Consonni M. Behavioral and Cognitive Phenotypes of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Carrying SOD1 Variants. Neurology 2022; 99:e2052-e2062. [PMID: 35985819 PMCID: PMC9651465 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000201044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES SOD1 variants in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been associated with peculiar clinical features and disease progression but rarely with cognitive and behavioral impairment. This study aims at describing the features of frontotemporal syndromes in patients with ALS carrying SOD1 variants. METHODS Italian patients with ALS were consecutively enrolled between 2012 and 2020 at our Motor Neuron Disease Center. All underwent clinical assessment, extensive neurophysiologic test battery for the evaluation of cognitive functions and behavior, and targeted next-generation sequencing of SOD1, FUS, TARDBP, VCP, PFN1, TUBA4A, OPTN, SQSTM1, UBQLN2, and C9orf72 genes. Neuropsychological profiles of SOD1+ patients (SOD1+) were compared with those with no gene variants (SOD1-). To this aim, the occurrence of cognitive and behavioral impairment defined according to the current guidelines, the number of pathologic test performances based on Italian normative values, and scores of the Frontal Behavioral Inventory were collected. RESULTS Among 288 patients consecutively examined, we identified 8 known pathogenic SOD1 variants and one variant of uncertain significance (p.Ser26Asn) not previously described in 14 patients with ALS belonging to 11 families. The clinical phenotypes were mainly characterized by predominant lower motor neuron involvement with onset at the lower limbs, and one patient had bulbar onset. SOD1+ patients (n = 14) were compared with SOD1- patients (N = 274). SOD1+ patients were younger than SOD1-, and both groups had similar functional motor disabilities and disease duration. Based on the overall neuropsychological findings, the percentage of SOD1+ and SOD1- patients with altered profiles were approximately 60%. However, behavioral impairment defined by the Strong criteria, and most commonly featuring with irritability and mental rigidity, was more frequent in SOD1+ than SOD1- patients and mainly associated with variants in exon 5. Conversely, cognitive impairment was mainly found in SOD1- patients. DISCUSSION Our findings from a large cohort of deeply phenotyped patients with ALS demonstrated that behavioral involvement is more common than previously thought among patients harboring SOD1 variants and that it is independent from patients' age and disease stage. These findings could be relevant for the assessment of clinical trial outcomes and disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Dalla Bella
- From the 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre (E.D.B., E.B., G.L., M.C.), Neuroradiology Unit (M.G.B.), Diagnostic and Technology Department, and Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics (C.G., V.P.), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta"; Milan, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical and Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (E.B., G.L.), University of Milan, Italy
| | - Enrica Bersano
- From the 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre (E.D.B., E.B., G.L., M.C.), Neuroradiology Unit (M.G.B.), Diagnostic and Technology Department, and Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics (C.G., V.P.), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta"; Milan, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical and Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (E.B., G.L.), University of Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Bruzzone
- From the 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre (E.D.B., E.B., G.L., M.C.), Neuroradiology Unit (M.G.B.), Diagnostic and Technology Department, and Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics (C.G., V.P.), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta"; Milan, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical and Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (E.B., G.L.), University of Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- From the 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre (E.D.B., E.B., G.L., M.C.), Neuroradiology Unit (M.G.B.), Diagnostic and Technology Department, and Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics (C.G., V.P.), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta"; Milan, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical and Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (E.B., G.L.), University of Milan, Italy
| | - Viviana Pensato
- From the 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre (E.D.B., E.B., G.L., M.C.), Neuroradiology Unit (M.G.B.), Diagnostic and Technology Department, and Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics (C.G., V.P.), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta"; Milan, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical and Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (E.B., G.L.), University of Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lauria
- From the 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre (E.D.B., E.B., G.L., M.C.), Neuroradiology Unit (M.G.B.), Diagnostic and Technology Department, and Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics (C.G., V.P.), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta"; Milan, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical and Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (E.B., G.L.), University of Milan, Italy.
| | - Monica Consonni
- From the 3rd Neurology Unit and Motor Neuron Diseases Centre (E.D.B., E.B., G.L., M.C.), Neuroradiology Unit (M.G.B.), Diagnostic and Technology Department, and Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics (C.G., V.P.), Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta"; Milan, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical and Sciences "Luigi Sacco" (E.B., G.L.), University of Milan, Italy
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Gelon PA, Dutchak PA, Sephton CF. Synaptic dysfunction in ALS and FTD: anatomical and molecular changes provide insights into mechanisms of disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1000183. [PMID: 36263379 PMCID: PMC9575515 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1000183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic loss is a pathological feature of all neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). ALS is a disease of the cortical and spinal motor neurons resulting in fatal paralysis due to denervation of muscles. FTD is a form of dementia that primarily affects brain regions controlling cognition, language and behavior. Once classified as two distinct diseases, ALS and FTD are now considered as part of a common disease spectrum based on overlapping clinical, pathological and genetic evidence. At the cellular level, aggregation of common proteins and overlapping gene susceptibilities are shared in both ALS and FTD. Despite the convergence of these two fields of research, the underlying disease mechanisms remain elusive. However, recent discovers from ALS and FTD patient studies and models of ALS/FTD strongly suggests that synaptic dysfunction is an early event in the disease process and a unifying hallmark of these diseases. This review provides a summary of the reported anatomical and cellular changes that occur in cortical and spinal motor neurons in ALS and FTD tissues and models of disease. We also highlight studies that identify changes in the proteome and transcriptome of ALS and FTD models and provide a conceptual overview of the processes that contribute to synaptic dysfunction in these diseases. Due to space limitations and the vast number of publications in the ALS and FTD fields, many articles have not been discussed in this review. As such, this review focuses on the three most common shared mutations in ALS and FTD, the hexanucleuotide repeat expansion within intron 1 of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72), transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TARDBP or TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS), with the intention of highlighting common pathways that promote synaptic dysfunction in the ALS-FTD disease spectrum.
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Logroscino G, Urso D, Tortelli R. The challenge of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis descriptive epidemiology: to estimate low incidence rates across complex phenotypes in different geographic areas. Curr Opin Neurol 2022; 35:678-685. [PMID: 35946801 PMCID: PMC9593328 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons with a fatal outcome. The rareness of the disease and the rapidly fatal course are the main challenges for the ALS epidemiological research. The understanding of ALS has clearly advanced in the recent years both in the genetics and in the leading pathways of disease determinants. Epidemiological research has played a primary role in these discoveries. RECENT FINDINGS Epidemiological studies have shown a variation of incidence, mortality and prevalence of ALS between geographical areas and different populations, supporting the notion that genetic factors, linked to populations' ancestries, along with environmental and lifestyle factors, play a significant role in the occurrence of the disease. The burden of motor neuron diseases is increasing and currently more relevant in high-income countries but increasing at the highest rate in low and middle-income countries. The ALS phenotype is not restricted to motor functions. C9orf72 repeat expansion seems to present a recognizable phenotype characterized by earlier disease onset, the presence of cognitive and behavioural impairment. SUMMARY Population-based disease registries have played a major role in developing new knowledge on ALS, in characterizing genotype-phenotype correlations, in discovering new genetic modifiers and finally in planning research and health services, considering the high cost of motor neuron disease care. Epidemiological research based on multicentre international collaboration is essential to provide new data on ALS, especially in some regions of the world with poor data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ’Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce
- Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari ’Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Daniele Urso
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari ’Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce
- Department of Neurosciences, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
| | - Rosanna Tortelli
- Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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Calderón-Garcidueñas L. Common Fatal Neurodegenerative Diseases Revisited: Beyond Age, Comorbidities, and Devastating Terminal Neuropathology There Is Hope With Prevention. Front Neurol 2022; 13:901447. [PMID: 35645968 PMCID: PMC9130656 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.901447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas
- The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
- Universidad del Valle de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas
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Foster PH, Russell LL, Peakman G, Convery RS, Bouzigues A, Greaves CV, Bocchetta M, Cash DM, van Swieten JC, Jiskoot LC, Moreno F, Sanchez-Valle R, Laforce R, Graff C, Masellis M, Tartaglia C, Rowe JB, Borroni B, Finger E, Synofzik M, Galimberti D, Vandenberghe R, de Mendonça A, Butler CR, Gerhard A, Ducharme S, Le Ber I, Tagliavini F, Santana I, Pasquier F, Levin J, Danek A, Otto M, Sorbi S, Rohrer JD. Examining empathy deficits across familial forms of frontotemporal dementia within the GENFI cohort. Cortex 2022; 150:12-28. [PMID: 35325762 PMCID: PMC9067453 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced empathy is a common symptom in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Although empathy deficits have been extensively researched in sporadic cases, few studies have explored the differences in familial forms of FTD. METHODS Empathy was examined using a modified version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (mIRI) in 676 participants from the Genetic FTD Initiative: 216 mutation-negative controls, 192 C9orf72 expansion carriers, 193 GRN mutation carriers and 75 MAPT mutation carriers. Using global scores from the CDR® plus NACC FTLD, mutation carriers were divided into three groups, asymptomatic (0), very mildly symptomatic/prodromal (.5), or fully symptomatic (1 or more). The mIRI Total score, as well as the subscores of Empathic Concern (EC) and Perspective Taking (PT) were assessed. Linear regression models with bootstrapping were used to assess empathy ratings across genetic groups, as well as across phenotypes in the symptomatic carriers. Neural correlates of empathy deficits were examined using a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis. RESULTS All fully symptomatic groups scored lower on the mIRI Total, EC, and PT when compared to controls and their asymptomatic or prodromal counterparts (all p < .001). Prodromal C9orf72 expansion carriers also scored significantly lower than controls on the mIRI Total score (p = .046). In the phenotype analysis, all groups (behavioural variant FTD, primary progressive aphasia and FTD with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) scored significantly lower than controls (all p < .007). VBM revealed an overlapping neural correlate of the mIRI Total score across genetic groups in the orbitofrontal lobe but with additional involvement in the temporal lobe, insula and basal ganglia in both the GRN and MAPT groups, and uniquely more posterior regions such as the parietal lobe and thalamus in the GRN group, and medial temporal structures in the MAPT group. CONCLUSIONS Significant empathy deficits present in genetic FTD, particularly in symptomatic individuals and those with a bvFTD phenotype, while prodromal deficits are only seen using the mIRI in C9orf72 expansion carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe H Foster
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Lucy L Russell
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Georgia Peakman
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Rhian S Convery
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Arabella Bouzigues
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Caroline V Greaves
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Martina Bocchetta
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - David M Cash
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Lize C Jiskoot
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Fermin Moreno
- Cognitive Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Donostia Universitary Hospital, San Sebastian, Spain; Neuroscience Area, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Raquel Sanchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacións Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire, Département des Sciences Neurologiques, CHU de Québec, and Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Caroline Graff
- Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Unit for Hereditary Dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Mario Masellis
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Carmela Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James B Rowe
- University of Cambridge Department of Clinical Neurosciences, and University of Cambridge Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Fondazione Ca' Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy; University of Milan, Centro Dino Ferrari, Milan, Italy
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Neurology Service, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Chris R Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Alex Gerhard
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Nuclear Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
| | - Simon Ducharme
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada; McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Centre de référence des démences rares ou précoces, IM2A, Département de Neurologie, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Département de Neurologie, AP-HP - Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND)
| | | | - Isabel Santana
- University Hospital of Coimbra (HUC), Neurology Service, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Florence Pasquier
- Univ Lille, France; Inserm 1172, Lille, France; CHU, CNR-MAJ, Labex Distalz, LiCEND Lille, France
| | - Johannes Levin
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany; Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Adrian Danek
- Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
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41
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Benatar M, Wuu J, McHutchison C, Postuma RB, Boeve BF, Petersen R, Ross CA, Rosen H, Arias JJ, Fradette S, McDermott MP, Shefner J, Stanislaw C, Abrahams S, Cosentino S, Andersen PM, Finkel RS, Granit V, Grignon AL, Rohrer JD, McMillan CT, Grossman M, Al-Chalabi A, Turner MR. Preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases. Brain 2022; 145:27-44. [PMID: 34677606 PMCID: PMC8967095 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in understanding the pre-symptomatic phase of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. While much is still unknown, advances in other neurodegenerative diseases offer valuable insights. Indeed, it is increasingly clear that the well-recognized clinical syndromes of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophy and frontotemporal dementia are also each preceded by a pre-symptomatic or prodromal period of varying duration, during which the underlying disease process unfolds, with associated compensatory changes and loss of inherent system redundancy. Key insights from these diseases highlight opportunities for discovery in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The development of biomarkers reflecting amyloid and tau has led to a shift in defining Alzheimer's disease based on inferred underlying histopathology. Parkinson's disease is unique among neurodegenerative diseases in the number and diversity of non-genetic biomarkers of pre-symptomatic disease, most notably REM sleep behaviour disorder. Huntington's disease benefits from an ability to predict the likely timing of clinically manifest disease based on age and CAG-repeat length alongside reliable neuroimaging markers of atrophy. Spinal muscular atrophy clinical trials have highlighted the transformational value of early therapeutic intervention, and studies in frontotemporal dementia illustrate the differential role of biomarkers based on genotype. Similar advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis would transform our understanding of key events in pathogenesis, thereby dramatically accelerating progress towards disease prevention. Deciphering the biology of pre-symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis relies on a clear conceptual framework for defining the earliest stages of disease. Clinically manifest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may emerge abruptly, especially among those who harbour genetic mutations associated with rapidly progressive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the disease may also evolve more gradually, revealing a prodromal period of mild motor impairment preceding phenoconversion to clinically manifest disease. Similarly, cognitive and behavioural impairment, when present, may emerge gradually, evolving through a prodromal period of mild cognitive impairment or mild behavioural impairment before progression to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biomarkers are critically important to studying pre-symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and essential to efforts to intervene therapeutically before clinically manifest disease emerges. The use of non-genetic biomarkers, however, presents challenges related to counselling, informed consent, communication of results and limited protections afforded by existing legislation. Experiences from pre-symptomatic genetic testing and counselling, and the legal protections against discrimination based on genetic data, may serve as a guide. Building on what we have learned-more broadly from other pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases and specifically from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis gene mutation carriers-we present a road map to early intervention, and perhaps even disease prevention, for all forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Benatar
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Joanne Wuu
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Caroline McHutchison
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ronald B Postuma
- Department of Neurology, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Howard Rosen
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jalayne J Arias
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael P McDermott
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, Sweden
| | - Richard S Finkel
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Volkan Granit
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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42
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Clusters of anatomical disease-burden patterns in ALS: a data-driven approach confirms radiological subtypes. J Neurol 2022; 269:4404-4413. [PMID: 35333981 PMCID: PMC9294023 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11081-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with considerable clinical heterogeneity spanning from diverse disability profiles, differences in UMN/LMN involvement, divergent progression rates, to variability in frontotemporal dysfunction. A multitude of classification frameworks and staging systems have been proposed based on clinical and neuropsychological characteristics, but disease subtypes are seldom defined based on anatomical patterns of disease burden without a prior clinical stratification. A prospective research study was conducted with a uniform imaging protocol to ascertain disease subtypes based on preferential cerebral involvement. Fifteen brain regions were systematically evaluated in each participant based on a comprehensive panel of cortical, subcortical and white matter integrity metrics. Using min–max scaled composite regional integrity scores, a two-step cluster analysis was conducted. Two radiological clusters were identified; 35.5% of patients belonging to ‘Cluster 1’ and 64.5% of patients segregating to ‘Cluster 2’. Subjects in Cluster 1 exhibited marked frontotemporal change. Predictor ranking revealed the following hierarchy of anatomical regions in decreasing importance: superior lateral temporal, inferior frontal, superior frontal, parietal, limbic, mesial inferior temporal, peri-Sylvian, subcortical, long association fibres, commissural, occipital, ‘sensory’, ‘motor’, cerebellum, and brainstem. While the majority of imaging studies first stratify patients based on clinical criteria or genetic profiles to describe phenotype- and genotype-associated imaging signatures, a data-driven approach may identify distinct disease subtypes without a priori patient categorisation. Our study illustrates that large radiology datasets may be potentially utilised to uncover disease subtypes associated with unique genetic, clinical or prognostic profiles.
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43
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Scarian E, Fiamingo G, Diamanti L, Palmieri I, Gagliardi S, Pansarasa O. The Role of VCP Mutations in the Spectrum of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Neurol 2022; 13:841394. [PMID: 35273561 PMCID: PMC8902152 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.841394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) are two neurological diseases which, respectively, and primarily affect motor neurons and frontotemporal lobes. Although they can lead to different signs and symptoms, it is now evident that these two pathologies form a continuum and that hallmarks of both diseases can be present within the same person in the so-called ALS-FTD spectrum. Many studies have focused on the genetic overlap of these pathologies and it is now clear that different genes, such as C9orf72, TARDBP, SQSTM1, FUS, and p97/VCP can be mutated in both the diseases. VCP was one of the first genes associated with both FTD and ALS representing an early example of gene overlapping. VCP belongs to the type II AAA (ATPases Associated with diverse cellular activities) family and is involved in ubiquitinated proteins degradation, autophagy, lysosomal clearance and mitochondrial quality control. Since its numerous roles, mutations in this gene lead to different pathological features, first and foremost TDP-43 mislocalization. This review aims to outline recent findings on VCP roles and on how its mutations are linked to the neuropathology of ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveljn Scarian
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Cellular Models and Neuroepigenetics Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Fiamingo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Luca Diamanti
- Neuroncology Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Palmieri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Neurogenetics Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stella Gagliardi
- Molecular Biology and Transcriptomics Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Orietta Pansarasa
- Cellular Models and Neuroepigenetics Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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44
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Kumfor F, Liang CT, Hazelton JL, Leyton CE, Kaizik C, Devenney E, Connaughton E, Langdon R, Mioshi E, Kwok JB, Dobson‐Stone C, Halliday GM, Piguet O, Hodges JR, Landin‐Romero R. Examining the presence and nature of delusions in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia syndromes. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2022; 37:10.1002/gps.5692. [PMID: 35178786 PMCID: PMC9546395 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Abnormal beliefs and delusions have been reported in some people with dementia, however, the prevalence of delusions, and their neurocognitive basis has been underexplored. This study aimed to examine the presence, severity, content and neural correlates of delusions in a large, well-characterised cohort of dementia patients using a transdiagnostic, cross-sectional approach. METHODS Four-hundred and eighty-seven people with dementia were recruited: 102 Alzheimer's disease, 136 behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia, 154 primary progressive aphasia, 29 motor neurone disease, 46 corticobasal syndrome, 20 progressive supranuclear palsy. All patients underwent neuropsychological assessment and brain magnetic resonance imaging, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was conducted with an informant, by an experienced clinician. RESULTS In our cohort, 48/487 patients (10.8%) had delusions. A diagnosis of behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia (18.4%) and Alzheimer's disease (11.8%) were associated with increased risk of delusions. A positive gene mutation was observed in 11/27 people with delusions. Individuals with frequent delusions performed worse on the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (p = 0.035), particularly on the orientation/attention (p = 0.022) and memory (p = 0.013) subtests. Voxel-based morphometry analyses found that increased delusional psychopathology was associated with reduced integrity of the right middle frontal gyrus, right planum temporale and left anterior temporal pole. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that delusions are relatively common in dementia and uncover a unique cognitive and neural profile associated with the manifestation of delusions. Clinically, delusions may lead to delayed or misdiagnosis. Our results shed light on how to identify individuals at risk of neuropsychiatric features of dementia, a crucial first step to enable targeted symptom management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Kumfor
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Cheng Tao Liang
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Jessica L. Hazelton
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Cristian E. Leyton
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Faculty of Health SciencesThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Cassandra Kaizik
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Memory and Cognition ClinicRPA HospitalSydneyLocal Health District, New South WalesAustralia
| | - Emma Devenney
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Central Clinical SchoolThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Emily Connaughton
- Department of Cognitive SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Robyn Langdon
- Department of Cognitive SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Eneida Mioshi
- School of Health SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - John B. Kwok
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Central Clinical SchoolThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Medical SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Carol Dobson‐Stone
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Central Clinical SchoolThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Medical SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Glenda M. Halliday
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Central Clinical SchoolThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Medical SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - John R. Hodges
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Central Clinical SchoolThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ramon Landin‐Romero
- School of PsychologyThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Brain & Mind CentreThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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45
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Beswick E, Forbes D, Hassan Z, Wong C, Newton J, Carson A, Abrahams S, Chandran S, Pal S. A systematic review of non-motor symptom evaluation in clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2022; 269:411-426. [PMID: 34120226 PMCID: PMC8738361 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10651-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is increasingly recognised as a multi-system disorder, presenting with common and impactful non-motor symptoms, such as neuropsychiatric symtpoms, cognitive and behavioural changes, pain, disordered sleep, fatigue and problematic saliva. AIM/HYPOTHESIS We aimed to systematically review 25 years of ALS clinical trials data to identify if non-motor features were evaluated, in addition to the traditional measures of motor functioning and survival, and where evaluated to describe the instruments used to assess. We hypothesised that assessment of non-motor symptoms has been largely neglected in trial design and not evaluated with ALS-suitable instruments. METHODS We reviewed clinical trials of investigative medicinal products in ALS, since the licensing of riluzole in 1994. Trial registry databases including WHO International Trials Registry, European Clinical Trials Register, clinicaltrials.gov, and PubMed were systematically searched for Phase II, III or IV trials registered, completed or published between 01/01/1994 and 16/09/2020. No language restrictions were applied. RESULTS 237 clinical trials, including over 29,222 participants, were investigated for their use of non-motor outcome measures. These trials evaluated neuropsychiatric symptoms (75, 32%), cognitive impairment (16, 6.8%), behavioural change (34, 14%), pain (55, 23%), sleep disturbances (12, 5%) and fatigue (18, 8%). Problematic saliva was assessed as part of composite ALS-FRS(R) scores in 184 trials (78%) but with no focus on this as an isolated symptom. 31 (13%) trials including 3585 participants did not include any assessment of non-motor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Non-motor symptoms such as neuropsychiatric, cognitive and behavioural changes, pain, disordered sleep, fatigue, and problematic saliva have not been consistently evaluated in trials for people with ALS. Where evaluated, non-symptoms were primarily assessed using instruments and impairment thresholds that are not adapted for people with ALS. Future trials should include non-motor symptom assessments to evaluate the additional potential therapeutic benefit of candidate drugs. PROPSERO REGISTRATION CRD42020223648.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Beswick
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Deborah Forbes
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Zack Hassan
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Charis Wong
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Judith Newton
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Alan Carson
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Human Cognitive Neurosciences, Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK ,grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. .,Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, The University of Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4 SB, Scotland, UK. .,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
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Chen Y, Landin-Romero R, Kumfor F, Irish M, Dobson-Stone C, Kwok JB, Halliday GM, Hodges JR, Piguet O. Cerebellar integrity and contributions to cognition in C9orf72-mediated frontotemporal dementia. Cortex 2022; 149:73-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Butylin D, Krylov V, Chesnokova O, Mikheeva V. Clinical features of mental disorders in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2022; 122:59-64. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202212203159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Huber N, Hoffmann D, Giniatullina R, Rostalski H, Leskelä S, Takalo M, Natunen T, Solje E, Remes AM, Giniatullin R, Hiltunen M, Haapasalo A. C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion leads to altered neuronal and dendritic spine morphology and synaptic dysfunction. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 162:105584. [PMID: 34915153 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) comprises a heterogenous group of progressive neurodegenerative syndromes. To date, no validated biomarkers or effective disease-modifying therapies exist for the different clinical or genetic subtypes of FTLD. The most common genetic cause underlying FTLD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene (C9-HRE). FTLD is accompanied by changes in several neurotransmitter systems, including the glutamatergic, GABAergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic systems and many clinical symptoms can be explained by disturbances in these systems. Here, we aimed to elucidate the effects of the C9-HRE on synaptic function, molecular composition of synapses, and dendritic spine morphology. We overexpressed the pathological C9-HRE in cultured E18 mouse primary hippocampal neurons and characterized the pathological, morphological, and functional changes by biochemical methods, confocal microscopy, and live cell calcium imaging. The C9-HRE-expressing neurons were confirmed to display the pathological RNA foci and DPR proteins. C9-HRE expression led to significant changes in dendritic spine morphologies, as indicated by decreased number of mushroom-type spines and increased number of stubby and thin spines, as well as diminished neuronal branching. These morphological changes were accompanied by concomitantly enhanced susceptibility of the neurons to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity as well as augmented and prolonged responses to excitatory stimuli by glutamate and depolarizing potassium chloride as compared to control neurons. Mechanistically, the hyperexcitation phenotype in the C9-HRE-expressing neurons was found to be underlain by increased activity of extrasynaptic GluN2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Our results are in accordance with the idea suggesting that C9-HRE is associated with enhanced excitotoxicity and synaptic dysfunction. Thus, therapeutic interventions targeted to alleviate synaptic disturbances might offer efficient avenues for the treatment of patients with C9-HRE-associated FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Huber
- Molecular Neurodegeneration group, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Dorit Hoffmann
- Molecular Neurodegeneration group, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Raisa Giniatullina
- Molecular Pain Research group, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Hannah Rostalski
- Molecular Neurodegeneration group, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Stina Leskelä
- Molecular Neurodegeneration group, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Mari Takalo
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1E, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Teemu Natunen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1E, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1 C, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; Neuro Center, Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, P. O. Box 100, FI-70029 KYS, Finland.
| | - Anne M Remes
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, P. O. Box 8000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland; Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, University of Oulu, P. O. Box 8000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - Rashid Giniatullin
- Molecular Pain Research group, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Mikko Hiltunen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1E, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- Molecular Neurodegeneration group, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
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Panopoulou N, Christidi F, Kourtesis P, Ferentinos P, Karampetsou P, Tsirtsiridis G, Theodosiou T, Xirou S, Zouvelou V, Evdokimidis I, Rentzos M, Zalonis I. The association of theory of mind with language and visuospatial abilities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a pilot study. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2021; 23:462-469. [PMID: 34907827 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2021.2013893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Dysfunction of social cognition is well-recognized as one of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cognitive impairments. Previous studies have mostly associated social cognition subcomponents, including Theory of Mind (ToM), with executive dysfunction using highly-demanding tasks. In the present study, we investigate dysfunction of affective ToM in a sample of ALS patients without dementia and evaluate any possible associations both with executive and non-executive dysfunction.Methods: We included 42 ALS patients and 30 healthy controls (HC) and administered the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS). Affective ToM was examined based on the ECAS judgment of preference task; total score and type of errors ("favourite", "unclassified") were recorded for all participants.Results: A significant proportion of ALS patients (31%) were impaired on ToM task, scoring significantly lower compared to HC. Impairments in ToM task were more frequent (45%) in patients with cognitive impairment compared to those with intact cognition (15%). ALS patients showed significantly more errors on ToM task compared to HC. A significant association was found between ToM score and ECAS language and visuospatial abilities but not fluency, executive or memory function.Conclusion: Dysfunction of affective ToM appears prevalent in ALS patients without dementia, and associates with language and visuospatial abilities. These associations align with motor and extra-motor symptoms due to the degeneration across corresponding networks. Impaired ToM should be considered in clinical settings, since it might contribute to patients' social life, as well as the burden of their caregivers and relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Panopoulou
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Foteini Christidi
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Laboratory of Medical Physics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Kourtesis
- National Research Institute of Computer Science and Automation, INRIA, Rennes, France.,Univ Rennes, Rennes, France.,Research Institute of Computer Science and Random Systems, IRISA, Rennes, France, and.,French National Centre for Scientific Research, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Panagiotis Ferentinos
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Karampetsou
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Tsirtsiridis
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thomas Theodosiou
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Xirou
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Zouvelou
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Evdokimidis
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Michail Rentzos
- First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Zalonis
- Neuropsychological Laboratory, First Department of Neurology, Aeginition Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Immune Signaling Kinases in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413280. [PMID: 34948077 PMCID: PMC8707599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder of motor neurons in adults, with a median survival of 3-5 years after appearance of symptoms, and with no curative treatment currently available. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is also an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease, displaying not only clinical overlap with ALS, but also significant similarities at genetic and pathologic levels. Apart from the progressive loss of neurons and the accumulation of protein inclusions in certain cells and tissues, both disorders are characterized by chronic inflammation mediated by activated microglia and astrocytes, with an early and critical impact of neurodegeneration along the disease course. Despite the progress made in the last two decades in our knowledge around these disorders, the underlying molecular mechanisms of such non-cell autonomous neuronal loss still need to be clarified. In particular, immune signaling kinases are currently thought to have a key role in determining the neuroprotective or neurodegenerative nature of the central and peripheral immune states in health and disease. This review provides a comprehensive and updated view of the proposed mechanisms, therapeutic potential, and ongoing clinical trials of immune-related kinases that have been linked to ALS and/or FTD, by covering the more established TBK1, RIPK1/3, RACK I, and EPHA4 kinases, as well as other emerging players in ALS and FTD immune signaling.
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