1
|
Nakamura T, Kawarabayashi T, Shibata M, Kasahara H, Makioka K, Sugawara T, Oka H, Ishizawa K, Amari M, Ueda T, Kinoshita S, Miyamoto Y, Kaito K, Takatama M, Ikeda Y, Shoji M. High levels of plasma neurofilament light chain correlated with brainstem and peripheral nerve damage. J Neurol Sci 2024; 463:123137. [PMID: 39032446 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123137] [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: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a minimally invasive, but highly sensitive biomarker of neurological diseases. However, diseases and neurological damage associated with increased NfL remain unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated factors associated with increased plasma NfL levels in various neurological diseases, focal lesions and pathological processes. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study on 410 participants with various neurological diseases and 17 healthy and cognitively unimpaired controls (HCU). Plasma samples were analyzed to measure NfL using ECL immunoassay. The focal lesions were classified as the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, meninges, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction, and muscles based on medical records. A multiple regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were performed to investigate whether plasma NfL levels predict specific diseases and focal lesions. RESULTS Plasma NfL levels discriminated between the HCU and all disease groups (area under the curve (AUC), 0.97), with a cut-off value of 63.4 pg/mL. A multiple regression analysis of focal lesions adjusted by pathogenic processes showed that brainstem and peripheral nerve involvement was associated with higher plasma NfL levels. A cut-off value of 53.8 pg/mL of NfL discriminated between the HCU and neurological disease group except for brainstem or peripheral disorders (AUC 0.962), while a cut-off value of 208.0 pg/mL distinguished this group from brainstem or peripheral nervous system disorders (AUC 0.716). DISCUSSION These results demonstrate that plasma NfL has a potential to be a highly sensitive biomarker for neurological diseases and focal lesions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan.
| | | | - Makoto Shibata
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
| | - Hiroo Kasahara
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kouki Makioka
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
| | - Takashi Sugawara
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Hironori Oka
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Ishizawa
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Masakuni Amari
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ueda
- Bioanalysis Department, Mediford Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yuka Miyamoto
- Bioanalysis Department, Mediford Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kozue Kaito
- Bioanalysis Department, Mediford Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Takatama
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Yoshio Ikeda
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
| | - Mikio Shoji
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hu Q, Shi M, Li Y, Zhao X. Elevated plasma neurofilament light was associated with multi-modal neuroimaging features in Alzheimer's disease signature regions and predicted future tau deposition. BMC Neurol 2024; 24:236. [PMID: 38971733 PMCID: PMC11227162 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03728-7] [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: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurofilament Light (NfL) is a biomarker for early neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to examine the association between plasma NfL and multi-modal neuroimaging features across the AD spectrum and whether NfL predicts future tau deposition. METHODS The present study recruited 517 participants comprising Aβ negative cognitively normal (CN-) participants (n = 135), Aβ positive cognitively normal (CN +) participants (n = 64), individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) (n = 212), and those diagnosed with AD dementia (n = 106). All the participants underwent multi-modal neuroimaging examinations. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between plasma NfL and multi-modal neuro-imaging features were evaluated using partial correlation analysis and linear mixed effects models. We also used linear regression analysis to investigate the association of baseline plasma NfL with future PET tau load. Mediation analysis was used to explore whether the effect of NfL on cognition was mediated by these imaging biomarkers. RESULTS The results showed that baseline NfL levels and the rate of change were associated with Aβ deposition, brain atrophy, brain connectome, glucose metabolism, and brain perfusion in AD signature regions (P<0.05). In both Aβ positive CN and MCI participants, baseline NfL showed a significant predictive value of elevating tau burden in the left medial orbitofrontal cortex and para-hippocampus (β = 0.336, P = 0.032; β = 0.313, P = 0.047). Lastly, the multi-modal neuroimaging features mediated the association between plasma NfL and cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS The study supports the association between plasma NfL and multi-modal neuroimaging features in AD-vulnerable regions and its predictive value for future tau deposition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qili Hu
- Department of Imaging, The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, No.128 Ruili Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Mengqiu Shi
- Department of Imaging, The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, No.128 Ruili Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yunfei Li
- Department of Imaging, The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, No.128 Ruili Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xiaohu Zhao
- Department of Imaging, The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University, No.128 Ruili Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Han L, Yang J, Yuan C, Zhang W, Huang Y, Zeng L, Zhong J. Assessing brain microstructural changes in chronic kidney disease: a diffusion imaging study using multiple models. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1387021. [PMID: 38751882 PMCID: PMC11094287 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1387021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives To explore the effectiveness of diffusion quantitative parameters derived from advanced diffusion models in detecting brain microstructural changes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods The study comprised 44 CKD patients (eGFR<59 mL/min/1.73 m2) and 35 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. All patients underwent diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) and conventional magnetic resonance imaging. Reconstructed to obtain diffusion MRI models, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and Mean Apparent Propagator (MAP)-MRI, were processed to obtain multi-parameter maps. The Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) analysis was utilized for detecting microstructural differences and Pearson correlation analysis assessed the relationship between renal metabolism markers and diffusion parameters in the brain regions of CKD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the diagnostic performance of diffusion models, with AUC comparisons made using DeLong's method. Results Significant differences were noted in DTI, NODDI, and MAP-MRI parameters between CKD patients and controls (p < 0.05). DTI indicated a decrease in Fractional Anisotropy(FA) and an increase in Mean and Radial Diffusivity (MD and RD) in CKD patients. NODDI indicated decreased Intracellular and increased Extracellular Volume Fractions (ICVF and ECVF). MAP-MRI identified extensive microstructural changes, with elevated Mean Squared Displacement (MSD) and Q-space Inverse Variance (QIV) values, and reduced Non-Gaussianity (NG), Axial Non-Gaussianity (NGAx), Radial Non-Gaussianity (NGRad), Return-to-Origin Probability (RTOP), Return-to-Axis Probability (RTAP), and Return-to-Plane Probability (RTPP). There was a moderate correlation between serum uric acid (SUA) and diffusion parameters in six brain regions (p < 0.05). ROC analysis showed the AUC values of DTI_FA ranged from 0.70 to 0.793. MAP_NGAx in the Retrolenticular part of the internal capsule R reported a high AUC value of 0.843 (p < 0.05), which was not significantly different from other diffusion parameters (p > 0.05). Conclusion The advanced diffusion models (DTI, NODDI, and MAP-MRI) are promising for detecting brain microstructural changes in CKD patients, offering significant insights into CKD-affected brain areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Limei Han
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China
- Department of Radiology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Radiology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Chao Yuan
- Department of Radiology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China
- Department of Radiology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yantao Huang
- Department of Radiology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Lingli Zeng
- Department of Radiology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Jianquan Zhong
- Department of Radiology, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, Sichuan Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou C, You J, Guan X, Guo T, Wu J, Wu H, Wu C, Chen J, Wen J, Tan S, Duanmu X, Qin J, Huang P, Zhang B, Cheng W, Feng J, Xu X, Wang L, Zhang M. Microstructural alterations of the hypothalamus in Parkinson's disease and probable REM sleep behavior disorder. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 194:106472. [PMID: 38479482 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether there is hypothalamic degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and its association with clinical symptoms and pathophysiological changes remains controversial. OBJECTIVES We aimed to quantify microstructural changes in hypothalamus using a novel deep learning-based tool in patients with PD and those with probable rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (pRBD). We further assessed whether these microstructural changes associated with clinical symptoms and free thyroxine (FT4) levels. METHODS This study included 186 PD, 67 pRBD, and 179 healthy controls. Multi-shell diffusion MRI were scanned and mean kurtosis (MK) in hypothalamic subunits were calculated. Participants were assessed using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), RBD Questionnaire-Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and Activity of Daily Living (ADL) Scale. Additionally, a subgroup of PD (n = 31) underwent assessment of FT4. RESULTS PD showed significant decreases of MK in anterior-superior (a-sHyp), anterior-inferior (a-iHyp), superior tubular (supTub), and inferior tubular hypothalamus when compared with healthy controls. Similarly, pRBD exhibited decreases of MK in a-iHyp and supTub. In PD group, MK in above four subunits were significantly correlated with UPDRS-I, HAMD, and ADL. Moreover, MK in a-iHyp and a-sHyp were significantly correlated with FT4 level. In pRBD group, correlations were observed between MK in a-iHyp and UPDRS-I. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals that microstructural changes in the hypothalamus are already significant at the early neurodegenerative stage. These changes are associated with emotional alterations, daily activity levels, and thyroid hormone levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia You
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 200433 Shanghai, China; MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, 200433 Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojun Guan
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Tao Guo
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Wu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Haoting Wu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenqing Wu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Wen
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Sijia Tan
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojie Duanmu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianmei Qin
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Peiyu Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Baorong Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 200433 Shanghai, China; MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, 200433 Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 200433 Shanghai, China; MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, 200433 Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Xiaojun Xu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China.
| | - Linbo Wang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, 200433 Shanghai, China; MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, 200433 Shanghai, China.
| | - Minming Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China; Joint Laboratory of Clinical Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009 Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hu Q, Shi M, Li Y, Zhao X. Elevated plasma neurofilament light was associated with multi-modal neuroimaging features in Alzheimer's Disease signature regions and predicted future tau deposition. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3946421. [PMID: 38464117 PMCID: PMC10925409 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3946421/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: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Neurofilament Light (NfL) is a biomarker for early neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aims to examine the association between plasma NfL and multi-modal neuroimaging features across the AD spectrum and whether NfL predicts future tau deposition. Methods The present study recruited 517 participants comprising Aβ negative cognitively normal (CN-) participants (n = 135), CN + participants (n = 64), individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 212), and those diagnosed with AD dementia (n = 106). All the participants underwent multi-modal neuroimaging examinations. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between plasma NfL and multi-modal neuro-imaging features were evaluated using partial correlation analysis and linear mixed effects models. We also used linear regression analysis to investigate the association of baseline plasma NfL with future PET tau load. Mediation analysis was used to explore whether the effect of NfL on cognition was mediated by these MRI markers. Results The results showed that baseline NfL levels and the rate of change were associated with Aβ deposition, brain atrophy, brain connectome, glucose metabolism, and brain perfusion in AD signature regions. In both Aβ positive CN and MCI participants, baseline NfL showed a significant predictive value of elevating tau burden in the left medial orbitofrontal cortex and para-hippocampus. Lastly, the multi-modal neuroimaging features mediated the association between plasma NfL and cognitive performance. Conclusions The study supports the association between plasma NfL and multi-modal neuroimaging features in AD-vulnerable regions and its predictive value for future tau deposition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qili Hu
- The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University
| | - Mengqiu Shi
- The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University
| | - Yunfei Li
- The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University
| | - Xiaohu Zhao
- The Fifth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Fudan University
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jung Y, Damoiseaux JS. The potential of blood neurofilament light as a marker of neurodegeneration for Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2024; 147:12-25. [PMID: 37540027 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past several years, there has been a surge in blood biomarker studies examining the value of plasma or serum neurofilament light (NfL) as a biomarker of neurodegeneration for Alzheimer's disease. However, there have been limited efforts to combine existing findings to assess the utility of blood NfL as a biomarker of neurodegeneration for Alzheimer's disease. In addition, we still need better insight into the specific aspects of neurodegeneration that are reflected by the elevated plasma or serum concentration of NfL. In this review, we survey the literature on the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between blood-based NfL levels and other, neuroimaging-based, indices of neurodegeneration in individuals on the Alzheimer's continuum. Then, based on the biomarker classification established by the FDA-NIH Biomarker Working group, we determine the utility of blood-based NfL as a marker for monitoring the disease status (i.e. monitoring biomarker) and predicting the severity of neurodegeneration in older adults with and without cognitive decline (i.e. a prognostic or a risk/susceptibility biomarker). The current findings suggest that blood NfL exhibits great promise as a monitoring biomarker because an increased NfL level in plasma or serum appears to reflect the current severity of atrophy, hypometabolism and the decline of white matter integrity, particularly in the brain regions typically affected by Alzheimer's disease. Longitudinal evidence indicates that blood NfL can be useful not only as a prognostic biomarker for predicting the progression of neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer's disease but also as a susceptibility/risk biomarker predicting the likelihood of abnormal alterations in brain structure and function in cognitively unimpaired individuals with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (e.g. those with a higher amyloid-β). There are still limitations to current research, as discussed in this review. Nevertheless, the extant literature strongly suggests that blood NfL can serve as a valuable prognostic and susceptibility biomarker for Alzheimer's disease-related neurodegeneration in clinical settings, as well as in research settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youjin Jung
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Jessica S Damoiseaux
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang J, Li L, Ji R, Shang D, Wen X, Hu J, Wang Y, Wu D, Zhang L, He F, Ye X, Luo B. NODDI Identifies Cognitive Associations with In Vivo Microstructural Changes in Remote Cortical Regions and Thalamocortical Pathways in Thalamic Stroke. Transl Stroke Res 2023:10.1007/s12975-023-01221-w. [PMID: 38049671 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01221-w] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The roles of cerebral structures distal to isolated thalamic infarcts in cognitive deficits remain unclear. We aimed to identify the in vivo microstructural characteristics of remote gray matter (GM) and thalamic pathways and elucidate their roles across cognitive domains. Patients with isolated ischemic thalamic stroke and healthy controls underwent neuropsychological assessment and magnetic resonance imaging. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) was modeled to derive the intracellular volume fraction (VFic) and orientation dispersion index. Fiber density (FD) was determined by constrained spherical deconvolution, and tensor-derived fractional anisotropy (FA) was calculated. Voxel-wise GM analysis and thalamic pathway tractography were performed. Twenty-six patients and 26 healthy controls were included. Patients exhibited reduced VFic in remote GM regions, including ipsilesional insular and temporal subregions. The microstructural metrics VFic, FD, and FA within ipsilesional thalamic pathways decreased (false discovery rate [FDR]-p < 0.05). Noteworthy associations emerged as VFic within insular cortices (ρ = -0.791 to -0.630; FDR-p < 0.05) and FD in tracts connecting the thalamus and insula (ρ = 0.830 to 0.971; FDR-p < 0.001) were closely associated with executive function. The VFic in Brodmann area 52 (ρ = -0.839; FDR-p = 0.005) and FA within its thalamic pathway (ρ = -0.799; FDR-p = 0.003) correlated with total auditory memory scores. In conclusion, NODDI revealed neurite loss in remote normal-appearing GM regions and ipsilesional thalamic pathways in thalamic stroke. Reduced cortical dendritic density and axonal density of thalamocortical tracts in specific subregions were associated with improved cognitive functions. Subacute microstructural alterations beyond focal thalamic infarcts might reflect beneficial remodeling indicating post-stroke plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 310003, Hangzhou, China
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Lingling Li
- Department of Neurology, Dongyang People's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, 322109, China
| | - Renjie Ji
- Department of Neurology, Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 310003, Hangzhou, China
| | - Desheng Shang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Xinrui Wen
- Department of Neurology, Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 310003, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jun Hu
- Department of Neurology, Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 310003, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingqiao Wang
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 310003, Hangzhou, China
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Fangping He
- Department of Neurology, Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 310003, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangming Ye
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Benyan Luo
- Department of Neurology, Brain Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 310003, Hangzhou, China.
- MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dong Q, Li Z, Liu W, Chen K, Su Y, Wu J, Caselli RJ, Reiman EM, Wang Y, Shen J. Correlation studies of Hippocampal Morphometry and Plasma NFL Levels in Cognitively Unimpaired Subjects. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL SOCIAL SYSTEMS 2023; 10:3602-3608. [PMID: 38084365 PMCID: PMC10713345 DOI: 10.1109/tcss.2023.3313819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease(AD) is being the burden of society and family. Applying computing-aided strategies to reveal its pathology is one of the research highlights. Plasma neurofilament light (NFL) is an emerging noninvasive and economic biomarker for AD molecular pathology. It is valuable to reveal the correlations between the plasma NFL levels and neurodegeneration, especially hippcampal deformations at the preclinical stage. The negative correlation between plasma NFL levels and hippocampal volumes has been documented. However, the relationship between the plasma NFL levels and the hippocampal morphometry details at the preclinical stage is still elusive. This study seeks to demonstrate the capacity of our proposed surface-based hippocampal morphometry system to discern the plasma NFL positive (NFL+>41.9 pg/L) level and plasma NFL negative (NFL-<41.9pg/L) level and illustrate its superiority to the hippocampal volume measurement by drawing the cohort of 154 CU middle aged and elderly adults. We also apply this morphometry measure and a proposed sparse coding based classification algorithm to classify CU individuals with NFL+ and NFL- levels. Experimental results show that the proposed hippocampal morphometry system offers stronger statistical power to discriminate CU subjects with NFL+ and NFL- levels, comparing with the hippocampal volume measure. Furthermore, this system can discriminate plasma NFL levels in CU individuals (Accuracy=0.86). Both the group level and individual level analysis results indicate that the association between plasma NFL levels and the hippocampal shapes can be mapped at the preclinical stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qunxi Dong
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Weijia Liu
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Kewei Chen
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Yi Su
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Jianfeng Wu
- School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - Yalin Wang
- School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jian Shen
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhong S, Lou J, Ma K, Shu Z, Chen L, Li C, Ye Q, Zhou L, Shen Y, Ye X, Zhang J. Disentangling in-vivo microstructural changes of white and gray matter in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Imaging Behav 2023; 17:764-777. [PMID: 37752311 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00805-2] [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] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The microstructural characteristics of white and gray matter in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the early-stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear. This study aimed to systematically identify the microstructural damages of MCI/AD in studies using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), and explore their correlations with cognitive performance. Multiple databases were searched for eligible studies. The 10 eligible NODDI studies were finally included. Patients with MCI/AD showed overall significant reductions in neurite density index (NDI) of specific white matter structures in bilateral hemispheres (left hemisphere: -0.40 [-0.53, -0.27], P < 0.001; right: -0.33 [-0.47, -0.19], P < 0.001), involving the bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), the left posterior thalamic radiation (PTR), and the left cingulum. White matter regions exhibited significant increased orientation dispersion index (ODI) (left: 0.25 [0.02, 0.48], P < 0.05; right: 0.27 [0.07, 0.46], P < 0.05), including the left cingulum, the right UF, and the bilateral parahippocampal cingulum (PHC), and PTR. Additionally, the ODI of gray matter showed significant reduction in bilateral hippocampi (left: -0.97 [-1.42, -0.51], P < 0.001; right: -0.90 [-1.35, -0.45], P < 0.001). The cognitive performance in MCI/AD was significantly associated with NDI (r = 0.50, P < 0.001). Our findings highlight the microstructural changes in MCI/AD were characterized by decreased fiber orientation dispersion in the hippocampus, and decreased neurite density and increased fiber orientation dispersion in specific white matter tracts, including the cingulum, UF, and PTR. Moreover, the decreased NDI may indicate the declined cognitive level of MCI/AD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuchang Zhong
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingjing Lou
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ke Ma
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhenyu Shu
- Department of Radiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Li
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qing Ye
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ye Shen
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiangming Ye
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
He Y, Chen X, Liu M, Zuo L, Zhai Z, Zhou L, Li G, Chen L, Qi G, Jing C, Hao G. The potential DNA methylation markers of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:242. [PMID: 37828521 PMCID: PMC10568935 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01689-3] [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: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation is associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease. However, in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients, the role of gene methylation in the development of CV disease is under-studied. We aimed to identify the CV disease-related DNA methylation loci in patients with T2D and to explore the potential pathways underlying the development of CV disease using a two-stage design. METHODS The participants were from the Jinan Diabetes Cohort Study (JNDCS), an ongoing longitudinal study designed to evaluate the development of CV risk in patients with T2D. In the discovery cohort, 10 diabetic patients with CV events at baseline were randomly selected as the case group, and another 10 diabetic patients without CV events were matched for sex, age, smoking status, and body mass index as the control group. In 1438 T2D patients without CV disease at baseline, 210 patients with CV events were identified after a mean 6.5-year follow-up. Of whom, 100 patients who experienced CV events during the follow-up were randomly selected as cases, and 100 patients who did not have CV events were randomly selected as the control group in the validation cohort. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing and Targeted Bisulfite Sequencing were used to measure the methylation profiles in the discovery and validation cohort, respectively. RESULTS In the discover cohort, 127 DMRs related to CV disease were identified in T2D patients. Further, we validated 23 DMRs mapped to 25 genes, of them, 4 genes (ARSG, PNPLA6, NEFL, and CRYGEP) for the first time were reported. There was evidence that the addition of DNA methylation data improved the prediction performance of CV disease in T2D patients. Pathway analysis identified some significant signaling pathways involved in CV comorbidities, T2D, and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we identified 23 DMRs mapped to 25 genes associated with CV disease in T2D patients, of them, 4 DMRs for the first time were reported. DNA methylation testing may help identify a high CV-risk population in T2D patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunbiao He
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingliang Liu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei Zuo
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiyu Zhai
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Long Zhou
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Guangzhen Li
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Prevention Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Guolong Qi
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
| | - Chunxia Jing
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
| | - Guang Hao
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, 601 West Huangpu Road, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Callow DD, Kommula Y, Stark CEL, Smith JC. Acute cycling exercise and hippocampal subfield function and microstructure in healthy older adults. Hippocampus 2023; 33:1123-1138. [PMID: 37526119 PMCID: PMC10543457 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23571] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Aging is associated with deterioration in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3, both crucial hippocampal subfields for age susceptible memory processes such as mnemonic discrimination (MD). Meanwhile, a single aerobic exercise session alters DG/CA3 function and neural activity in both rats and younger adults and can elicit short-term microstructural alterations in the hippocampus of older adults. However, our understanding of the effects of acute exercise on hippocampal subfield integrity via function and microstructure in older adults is limited. Thus, a within subject-design was employed to determine if 20-min of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise alters bilateral hippocampal subfield function and microstructure using high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an MD task (n = 35) and high angular resolution multi-shell diffusion imaging (n = 31), in healthy older adults, compared to seated rest. Following the exercise condition, participants exhibited poorer MD performance, particularly when their perception of effort was higher. Exercise was also related to lower MD-related activity within the DG/CA3 but not CA1 subfield. Finally, after controlling for whole brain gray matter diffusion, exercise was associated with lower neurite density index (NDI) within the DG/CA3. However, exercise-related differences in DG/CA3 activity and NDI were not associated with differences in MD performance. Our results suggest moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise may temporarily inhibit MD performance, and suppress DG/CA3 MD-related activity and NDI, potentially through neuroinflammatory/glial processes. However, additional studies are needed to confirm whether these short-term changes in behavior and hippocampal subfield neurophysiology are beneficial and how they might relate to long-term exercise habits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D. Callow
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yash Kommula
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Craig E. L. Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - J. Carson Smith
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Li X, Wang L, Liu H, Ma B, Chu L, Dong X, Zeng D, Che T, Jiang X, Wang W, Hu J, Li S. Syn_SegNet: A Joint Deep Neural Network for Ultrahigh-Field 7T MRI Synthesis and Hippocampal Subfield Segmentation in Routine 3T MRI. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2023; 27:4866-4877. [PMID: 37581964 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2023.3305377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Precise delineation of hippocampus subfields is crucial for the identification and management of various neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, segmenting these subfields automatically in routine 3T MRI is challenging due to their complex morphology and small size, as well as the limited signal contrast and resolution of the 3T images. This research proposes Syn_SegNet, an end-to-end, multitask joint deep neural network that leverages ultrahigh-field 7T MRI synthesis to improve hippocampal subfield segmentation in 3T MRI. Our approach involves two key components. First, we employ a modified Pix2PixGAN as the synthesis model, incorporating self-attention modules, image and feature matching loss, and ROI loss to generate high-quality 7T-like MRI around the hippocampal region. Second, we utilize a variant of 3D-U-Net with multiscale deep supervision as the segmentation subnetwork, incorporating an anatomic weighted cross-entropy loss that capitalizes on prior anatomical knowledge. We evaluate our method on hippocampal subfield segmentation in paired 3T MRI and 7T MRI with seven different anatomical structures. The experimental findings demonstrate that Syn_SegNet's segmentation performance benefits from integrating synthetic 7T data in an online manner and is superior to competing methods. Furthermore, we assess the generalizability of the proposed approach using a publicly accessible 3T MRI dataset. The developed method would be an efficient tool for segmenting hippocampal subfields in routine clinical 3T MRI.
Collapse
|
13
|
Niu X, Guo Y, Chang Z, Li T, Chen Y, Zhang X, Ni H. The correlation between changes in gray matter microstructure and cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1205838. [PMID: 37333456 PMCID: PMC10272452 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1205838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the relationship between changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and gray matter (GM) microstructure in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods A recruited cohort of 23 AD patients, 40 MCI patients, and 37 normal controls (NCs) underwent diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) for microstructure evaluation and pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) for CBF assessment. We investigated the differences in diffusion- and perfusion-related parameters across the three groups, including CBF, mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK), and fractional anisotropy (FA). These quantitative parameters were compared using volume-based analyses for the deep GM and surface-based analyses for the cortical GM. The correlation between CBF, diffusion parameters, and cognitive scores was assessed using Spearman coefficients, respectively. The diagnostic performance of different parameters was investigated with k-nearest neighbor (KNN) analysis, using fivefold cross-validation to generate the mean accuracy (mAcc), mean precision (mPre), and mean area under the curve (mAuc). Results In the cortical GM, CBF reduction primarily occurred in the parietal and temporal lobes. Microstructural abnormalities were predominantly noted in the parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes. In the deep GM, more regions showed DKI and CBF parametric changes at the MCI stage. MD showed most of the significant abnormalities among all the DKI metrics. The MD, FA, MK, and CBF values of many GM regions were significantly correlated with cognitive scores. In the whole sample, the MD, FA, and MK were associated with CBF in most evaluated regions, with lower CBF values associated with higher MD, lower FA, or lower MK values in the left occipital lobe, left frontal lobe, and right parietal lobe. CBF values performed best (mAuc = 0.876) for distinguishing the MCI from the NC group. Last, MD values performed best (mAuc = 0.939) for distinguishing the AD from the NC group. Conclusion Gray matter microstructure and CBF are closely related in AD. Increased MD, decreased FA, and MK are accompanied by decreased blood perfusion throughout the AD course. Furthermore, CBF values are valuable for the predictive diagnosis of MCI and AD. GM microstructural changes are promising as novel neuroimaging biomarkers of AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Niu
- First Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying Guo
- First Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhongyu Chang
- Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Tongtong Li
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Neural Engineering, Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | | | - Hongyan Ni
- Department of Radiology, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhao W, Zhao L, Chang X, Lu X, Tu Y. Elevated dementia risk, cognitive decline, and hippocampal atrophy in multisite chronic pain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215192120. [PMID: 36802440 PMCID: PMC9992778 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215192120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have investigated the impacts of common types of chronic pain (CP) on patients' cognitive function and observed that CP was associated with later dementia. More recently, there is a growing recognition that CP conditions frequently coexist at multiple body sites and may bring more burdens on patients' overall health. However, whether and how multisite CP (MCP) contributes to an increased risk of dementia, compared to single-site CP (SCP) and pain-free (PF), is largely unclear. In the current study, utilizing the UK Biobank cohort, we first investigated dementia risk in individuals (n = 354,943) with different numbers of coexisting CP sites using Cox proportional hazards regression models. We then applied generalized additive models to investigate whether MCP leads to excessive deterioration of participants' (n = 19,116) cognition and brain structure. We found that individuals with MCP were associated with significantly higher dementia risk, broader and faster cognitive impairment, and greater hippocampal atrophy than both PF individuals and those with SCP. Moreover, the detrimental effects of MCP on dementia risk and hippocampal volume aggravated along with the number of coexisting CP sites. Mediation analyses further revealed that the decline of fluid intelligence in MCP individuals was partially mediated by hippocampal atrophy. Our results suggested that cognitive decline and hippocampal atrophy interact biologically and may underlie the increased risk of dementia associated with MCP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyu Chang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejing Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiheng Tu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Delgorio PL, Hiscox LV, McIlvain G, Kramer MK, Diano AM, Twohy KE, Merritt AA, McGarry MDJ, Schwarb H, Daugherty AM, Ellison JM, Lanzi AM, Cohen ML, Martens CR, Johnson CL. Hippocampal subfield viscoelasticity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment evaluated with MR elastography. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103327. [PMID: 36682312 PMCID: PMC9871742 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampal subfields (HCsf) are brain regions important for memory function that are vulnerable to decline with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), which is often a preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. Studies in aMCI patients often assess HCsf tissue integrity using measures of volume, which has little specificity to microstructure and pathology. We use magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to examine the viscoelastic mechanical properties of HCsf tissue, which is related to structural integrity, and sensitively detect differences in older adults with aMCI compared to an age-matched control group. Group comparisons revealed HCsf viscoelasticity is differentially affected in aMCI, with CA1-CA2 and DG-CA3 exhibiting lower stiffness and CA1-CA2 exhibiting higher damping ratio, both indicating poorer tissue integrity in aMCI. Including HCsf stiffness in a logistic regression improves classification of aMCI beyond measures of volume alone. Additionally, lower DG-CA3 stiffness predicted aMCI status regardless of DG-CA3 volume. These findings showcase the benefit of using MRE in detecting subtle pathological tissue changes in individuals with aMCI via the HCsf particularly affected in the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peyton L Delgorio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Lucy V Hiscox
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Grace McIlvain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Mary K Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Alexa M Diano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Kyra E Twohy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Alexis A Merritt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | | | - Hillary Schwarb
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Ana M Daugherty
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - James M Ellison
- Swank Memory Care and Geriatric Consultation, ChristianaCare, Wilmington, DE, United States; Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Alyssa M Lanzi
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Matthew L Cohen
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Christopher R Martens
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Curtis L Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Li K, Rashid T, Li J, Honnorat N, Nirmala AB, Fadaee E, Wang D, Charisis S, Liu H, Franklin C, Maybrier M, Katragadda H, Abazid L, Ganapathy V, Valaparla VL, Badugu P, Vasquez E, Solano L, Clarke G, Maestre G, Richardson T, Walker J, Fox PT, Bieniek K, Seshadri S, Habes M. Postmortem Brain Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: The South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Repository. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 96:1267-1283. [PMID: 37955086 PMCID: PMC10693476 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230389] [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] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroimaging bears the promise of providing new biomarkers that could refine the diagnosis of dementia. Still, obtaining the pathology data required to validate the relationship between neuroimaging markers and neurological changes is challenging. Existing data repositories are focused on a single pathology, are too small, or do not precisely match neuroimaging and pathology findings. OBJECTIVE The new data repository introduced in this work, the South Texas Alzheimer's Disease research center repository, was designed to address these limitations. Our repository covers a broad diversity of dementias, spans a wide age range, and was specifically designed to draw exact correspondences between neuroimaging and pathology data. METHODS Using four different MRI sequences, we are reaching a sample size that allows for validating multimodal neuroimaging biomarkers and studying comorbid conditions. Our imaging protocol was designed to capture markers of cerebrovascular disease and related lesions. Quantification of these lesions is currently underway with MRI-guided histopathological examination. RESULTS A total of 139 postmortem brains (70 females) with mean age of 77.9 years were collected, with 71 brains fully analyzed. Of these, only 3% showed evidence of AD-only pathology and 76% had high prevalence of multiple pathologies contributing to clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSION This repository has a significant (and increasing) sample size consisting of a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders and employs advanced imaging protocols and MRI-guided histopathological analysis to help disentangle the effects of comorbid disorders to refine diagnosis, prognosis and better understand neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karl Li
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Tanweer Rashid
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jinqi Li
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nicolas Honnorat
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Anoop Benet Nirmala
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Elyas Fadaee
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Di Wang
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sokratis Charisis
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Hangfan Liu
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Crystal Franklin
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Mallory Maybrier
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Haritha Katragadda
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Leen Abazid
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Vinutha Ganapathy
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | | | - Pradeepthi Badugu
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Eliana Vasquez
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Leigh Solano
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Geoffrey Clarke
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Gladys Maestre
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen, TX, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Tim Richardson
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jamie Walker
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter T. Fox
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kevin Bieniek
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Mohamad Habes
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Research Imaging Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang H, Wang D, Tong J, Fang J, Lin Z. MiR-30b-5p attenuates the inflammatory response and facilitates the functional recovery of spinal cord injury by targeting the NEFL/mTOR pathway. Brain Behav 2022; 12:e2788. [PMID: 36282532 PMCID: PMC9759133 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurofilament light chain (NEFL) has been identified as a biomarker for spinal cord injury (SCI), but its effect and underlying mechanism in SCI remain unclear. METHODS SCI rat models were established for in vivo studies. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell models were used for in vitro studies. The protein and mRNA expression levels of genes were evaluated by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The pathological changes in rats after SCI were subjected to histological examinations. The interaction of NEFL and upstream miRNAs was explored using dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. RESULTS NEFL was highly expressed in SCI rat spinal cord tissues and LPS-stimulated PC12 cells. NEFL silencing showed an inhibitory effect on the morphological changes of SCI rats and the secretion of inflammatory factors and facilitated functional recovery of SCI rats. MiR-30b-5p was demonstrated to target NEFL and negatively regulate NEFL mRNA and protein levels. Downregulation of miR-30b-5p in SCI cell and rat models was demonstrated. MiR-30b-5p alleviated the inflammatory response in SCI rat models and LPS-stimulated PC12 cells and promoted functional recovery in rats by targeting NEFL. NEFL activated mTOR signaling. MiR-30b-5p inactivated mTOR signaling by negatively regulating NEFL. CONCLUSION MiR-30b-5p alleviated the inflammatory response and facilitated the functional recovery of SCI rats by targeting NEFL to inactivate the mTOR pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shidong Hospital Affiliated to University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Duojun Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shidong Hospital Affiliated to University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinyu Tong
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shidong Hospital Affiliated to University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianguo Fang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shidong Hospital Affiliated to University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| | - Zaijun Lin
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shidong Hospital Affiliated to University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Walsh MJM, Ofori E, Pagni BA, Chen K, Sullivan G, Braden BB. Preliminary findings of accelerated visual memory decline and baseline brain correlates in middle-age and older adults with autism: The case for hippocampal free-water. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1029166. [PMID: 36437999 PMCID: PMC9694823 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1029166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Research aimed at understanding cognitive and brain aging in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, but critical longitudinal work is scant. Adults with ASD struggle with tasks involving visual memory compared with neurotypical adults (NT). This may be related to differences in size or integrity of the hippocampus and its' primary structural connectivity pathway, the fornix. The aim of this study was to describe preliminary findings of longitudinal aging trajectories in short- and long-term visual memory abilities in middle-age and older adults with ASD, compared with matched NT adults. We then evaluated baseline multi-modal imaging metrics of the hippocampal system, including the relatively novel metric of free-water, as potential correlates of longitudinal memory change in the ASD group. Middle-age and older adults with ASD (n = 25) and matched NT adults (n = 25) between the ages of 40 and 70 years were followed longitudinally at ~2-year intervals (range 2-5 years). Participants completed the Wechsler Memory Scale III Visual Reproduction task. Longitudinal mixed models were utilized to detect group differences in memory change with baseline age and sex as covariates. Hippocampal volume was measured via T1-weighted MRI images with FreeSurfer. Fornix fractional anisotropy and hippocampal and fornix free-water were measured from diffusion tensor imaging scans. Exploratory correlations were run between individual hippocampal system metrics and longitudinal slopes of visual memory change. There was a significant group by time interaction for long-term visual memory, such that middle-age and older adults with ASD declined faster than matched NT adults. There was no group by time interaction for short-term visual memory. Baseline hippocampal free-water was the only hippocampal system metric that correlated with long-term visual memory change in the ASD group. As one of the first longitudinal cognitive and brain aging studies in middle-age and older adults with ASD, our findings suggest vulnerabilities for accelerated long-term visual memory decline, compared to matched NT adults. Further, baseline hippocampal free-water may be a predictor of visual memory change in middle-age and older adults with ASD. These preliminary findings lay the groundwork for future prognostic applications of MRI for cognitive aging in middle-age and older adults with ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J. M. Walsh
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Edward Ofori
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Broc A. Pagni
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Kewei Chen
- Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Georgia Sullivan
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - B. Blair Braden
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Toniolo S. What plasma biomarkers tell us about hippocampal microstructural changes in Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2022; 145:1880-1882. [PMID: 35616111 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Toniolo
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK.,Cognitive Disorder Clinic, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|