1
|
Sun P, He Z, Li A, Yang J, Zhu Y, Cai Y, Ma T, Ma S, Guo T. Spatial and temporal patterns of cortical mean diffusivity in Alzheimer's disease and suspected non-Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 39132849 DOI: 10.1002/alz.14176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The spatial and temporal patterns of cortical mean diffusivity (cMD), as well as its association with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and suspected non-Alzheimer's pathophysiology (SNAP), are not yet fully understood. METHODS We compared baseline (n = 617) and longitudinal changes (n = 421) of cMD, cortical thickness, and gray matter volume and their relations to vascular risk factors, amyloid beta (Aβ), and tau positron emission tomography (PET), and longitudinal cognitive decline in Aβ PET negative and positive older adults. RESULTS cMD increases were more sensitive to detecting brain structural alterations than cortical thinning and gray matter atrophy. Tau-related cMD increases partially mediated Aβ-related cognitive decline in AD, whereas vascular disease-related increased cMD levels substantially mediated age-related cognitive decline in SNAP. DISCUSSION These findings revealed the dynamic changes of microstructural and macrostructural indicators and their associations with AD and SNAP, providing novel insights into understanding upstream and downstream events of cMD in neurodegenerative disease. HIGHLIGHTS Cortical mean diffusivity (cMD) was more sensitive to detecting structural changes than macrostructural factors. Tau-related cMD increases partially mediated amyloid beta-related cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). White matter hyperintensity-related higher cMD mainly explained the age-related cognitive decline in suspected non-Alzheimer's pathophysiology (SNAP). cMD may assist in tracking earlier neurodegenerative signs in AD and SNAP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Sun
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhengbo He
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Anqi Li
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yalin Zhu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yue Cai
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Ma
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China
| | - Shaohua Ma
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tengfei Guo
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brusini L, Cruciani F, Dall’Aglio G, Zajac T, Boscolo Galazzo I, Zucchelli M, Menegaz G. XAI-Based Assessment of the AMURA Model for Detecting Amyloid-β and Tau Microstructural Signatures in Alzheimer's Disease. IEEE JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL ENGINEERING IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE 2024; 12:569-579. [PMID: 39155922 PMCID: PMC11329216 DOI: 10.1109/jtehm.2024.3430035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Brain microstructural changes already occur in the earliest phases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) as evidenced in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) literature. This study investigates the potential of the novel dMRI Apparent Measures Using Reduced Acquisitions (AMURA) as imaging markers for capturing such tissue modifications.Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and support vector machines (SVMs) based on different measures were exploited to distinguish between amyloid-beta/tau negative (A[Formula: see text]-/tau-) and A[Formula: see text]+/tau+ or A[Formula: see text]+/tau- subjects. Moreover, eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) was used to highlight the most influential features in the SVMs classifications and to validate the results by seeing the explanations' recurrence across different methods.TBSS analysis revealed significant differences between A[Formula: see text]-/tau- and other groups in line with the literature. The best SVM classification performance reached an accuracy of 0.73 by using advanced measures compared to more standard ones. Moreover, the explainability analysis suggested the results' stability and the central role of the cingulum to show early sign of AD.By relying on SVM classification and XAI interpretation of the outcomes, AMURA indices can be considered viable markers for amyloid and tau pathology. Clinical impact: This pre-clinical research revealed AMURA indices as viable imaging markers for timely AD diagnosis by acquiring clinically feasible dMR images, with advantages compared to more invasive methods employed nowadays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza Brusini
- Department of Engineering for Innovation MedicineUniversity of VeronaVerona37134Italy
| | - Federica Cruciani
- Department of Engineering for Innovation MedicineUniversity of VeronaVerona37134Italy
| | | | - Tommaso Zajac
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of VeronaVerona37134Italy
| | | | - Mauro Zucchelli
- Department of Research and Development Advanced ApplicationsOlea MedicalLa Ciotat13600France
| | - Gloria Menegaz
- Department of Engineering for Innovation MedicineUniversity of VeronaVerona37134Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Singh K, Barsoum S, Schilling KG, An Y, Ferrucci L, Benjamini D. Neuronal microstructural changes in the human brain are associated with neurocognitive aging. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14166. [PMID: 38659245 PMCID: PMC11258428 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Gray matter (GM) alterations play a role in aging-related disorders like Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, yet MRI studies mainly focus on macroscopic changes. Although reliable indicators of atrophy, morphological metrics like cortical thickness lack the sensitivity to detect early changes preceding visible atrophy. Our study aimed at exploring the potential of diffusion MRI in unveiling sensitive markers of cortical and subcortical age-related microstructural changes and assessing their associations with cognitive and behavioral deficits. We leveraged the Human Connectome Project-Aging cohort that included 707 participants (394 female; median age = 58, range = 36-90 years) and applied the powerful mean apparent diffusion propagator model to measure microstructural parameters, along with comprehensive behavioral and cognitive test scores. Both macro- and microstructural GM characteristics were strongly associated with age, with widespread significant microstructural correlations reflective of cellular morphological changes, reduced cellular density, increased extracellular volume, and increased membrane permeability. Importantly, when correlating MRI and cognitive test scores, our findings revealed no link between macrostructural volumetric changes and neurobehavioral performance. However, we found that cellular and extracellular alterations in cortical and subcortical GM regions were associated with neurobehavioral performance. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that increased microstructural heterogeneity and decreased neurite orientation dispersion precede macrostructural changes, and that they play an important role in subsequent cognitive decline. These alterations are suggested to be early markers of neurocognitive performance that may distinctly aid in identifying the mechanisms underlying phenotypic aging and subsequent age-related functional decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Singh
- Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics UnitNational Institute on Aging, NIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Stephanie Barsoum
- Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics UnitNational Institute on Aging, NIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Kurt G. Schilling
- Department of Radiology and Radiological SciencesVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Yang An
- Brain Aging and Behavior SectionNational Institute on Aging, NIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Translational Gerontology BranchNational Institute on Aging, NIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Dan Benjamini
- Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics UnitNational Institute on Aging, NIHBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang X, Qiu Y, Jiang W, Yang Z, Wang M, Li Q, Liu Y, Yan X, Yang G, Shen J. Mean Apparent Propagator MRI: Quantitative Assessment of Tumor-Stroma Ratio in Invasive Ductal Breast Carcinoma. Radiol Imaging Cancer 2024; 6:e230165. [PMID: 38874529 PMCID: PMC11287226 DOI: 10.1148/rycan.230165] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Purpose To determine whether metrics from mean apparent propagator (MAP) MRI perform better than apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in assessing the tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) status in breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods From August 2021 to October 2022, 271 participants were prospectively enrolled (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05159323) and underwent breast diffusion spectral imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging. MAP MRI metrics and ADC were derived from the diffusion MRI data. All participants were divided into high-TSR (stromal component < 50%) and low-TSR (stromal component ≥ 50%) groups based on pathologic examination. Clinicopathologic characteristics were collected, and MRI findings were assessed. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent variables for distinguishing TSR status. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were compared between the MAP MRI metrics, either alone or combined with clinicopathologic characteristics, and ADC, using the DeLong and McNemar test. Results A total of 181 female participants (mean age, 49 years ± 10 [SD]) were included. All diffusion MRI metrics differed between the high-TSR and low-TSR groups (P < .001 to P = .01). Radial non-Gaussianity from MAP MRI and lymphovascular invasion were significant independent variables for discriminating the two groups, with a higher AUC (0.81 [95% CI: 0.74, 0.87] vs 0.61 [95% CI: 0.53, 0.68], P < .001) and accuracy (138 of 181 [76%] vs 106 of 181 [59%], P < .001) than that of the ADC. Conclusion MAP MRI may serve as a better approach than conventional diffusion-weighted imaging in evaluating the TSR of breast carcinoma. Keywords: MR Diffusion-weighted Imaging, MR Imaging, Breast, Oncology ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05159323 Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wei Jiang
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| | - Zehong Yang
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| | - Mengzhu Wang
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| | - Qin Li
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| | - Yeqing Liu
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| | - Xu Yan
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| | - Guang Yang
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| | - Jun Shen
- From the Department of Radiology (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., J.S.),
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene
Regulation, Medical Research Center (X.Z., Y.Q., W.J., Z.Y., Q.L., Y.L., J.S.),
and Department of Pathology (Q.L., Y.L.), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun
Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120,
People’s Republic of China; Department of Radiology, the First
People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture, Kashi, People’s Republic of
China (Y.Q.); Department of MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthineers,
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China (M.W., X.Y.); and Shanghai Key
Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, School of Physics and Electronic Science, East
China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
(G.Y.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tang R, Franz CE, Hauger RL, Dale AM, Dorros SM, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, Panizzon MS, Puckett OK, Williams ME, Elman JA, Kremen WS. Early Cortical Microstructural Changes in Aging Are Linked to Vulnerability to Alzheimer's Disease Pathology. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024:S2451-9022(24)00158-7. [PMID: 38878863 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early identification of Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk is critical for improving treatment success. Cortical thickness is a macrostructural measure used to assess neurodegeneration in AD. However, cortical microstructural changes appear to precede macrostructural atrophy and may improve early risk identification. Currently, whether cortical microstructural changes in aging are linked to vulnerability to AD pathophysiology remains unclear in nonclinical populations, who are precisely the target for early risk identification. METHODS In 194 adults, we calculated magnetic resonance imaging-derived maps of changes in cortical mean diffusivity (microstructure) and cortical thickness (macrostructure) over 5 to 6 years (mean age: time 1 = 61.82 years; time 2 = 67.48 years). Episodic memory was assessed using 3 well-established tests. We obtained positron emission tomography-derived maps of AD pathology deposition (amyloid-β, tau) and neurotransmitter receptors (cholinergic, glutamatergic) implicated in AD pathophysiology. Spatial correlational analyses were used to compare pattern similarity among maps. RESULTS Spatial patterns of cortical macrostructural changes resembled patterns of cortical organization sensitive to age-related processes (r = -0.31, p < .05), whereas microstructural changes resembled the patterns of tau deposition in AD (r = 0.39, p = .038). Individuals with patterns of microstructural changes that more closely resembled stereotypical tau deposition exhibited greater memory decline (β = 0.22, p = .029). Microstructural changes and AD pathology deposition were enriched in areas with greater densities of cholinergic and glutamatergic receptors (ps < .05). CONCLUSIONS Patterns of cortical microstructural changes were more AD-like than patterns of macrostructural changes, which appeared to reflect more general aging processes. Microstructural changes may better inform early risk prediction efforts as a sensitive measure of vulnerability to pathological processes prior to overt atrophy and cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rongxiang Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Richard L Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephen M Dorros
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - McKenna E Williams
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Brown C, Das S, Xie L, Nasrallah I, Detre J, Chen‐Plotkin A, Shaw L, McMillan C, Yushkevich P, Wolk D. Medial temporal lobe gray matter microstructure in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4147-4158. [PMID: 38747539 PMCID: PMC11180947 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Typical MRI measures of neurodegeneration have limited sensitivity in early disease stages. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) microstructural measures may allow for detection in preclinical stages. METHODS Participants had dMRI and either beta-amyloid PET or plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's pathology within 18 months of MRI. Microstructure was measured in portions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) with high neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) burden based on a previously developed post mortem 3D-map. Regressions examined relationships between microstructure and markers of Alzheimer's pathology in preclinical disease and then across disease stages. RESULTS There was higher isometric volume fraction in amyloid-positive compared to amyloid-negative cognitively unimpaired individuals in high tangle MTL regions. Similarly, plasma biomarkers and 18F-flortaucipir were associated with microstructural changes in preclinical disease. Additional microstructural effects were seen across disease stages. DISCUSSION Combining a post mortem atlas of NFT pathology with microstructural measures allows for detection of neurodegeneration in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Highlights Typical markers of neurodegeneration are not sensitive in preclinical Alzheimer's. dMRI measured microstructure in regions with high NFT. Microstructural changes occur in medial temporal regions in preclinical disease. Microstructural changes occur in other typical Alzheimer's regions in later stages. Combining post mortem pathology atlases with in vivo MRI is a powerful framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Brown
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Sandhitsu Das
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Long Xie
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Siemens HealthineersDigital Technology and InnovationPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Ilya Nasrallah
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - John Detre
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alice Chen‐Plotkin
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Leslie Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Corey McMillan
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Paul Yushkevich
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - David Wolk
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fjell AM. Aging Brain from a Lifespan Perspective. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38797799 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2024_476] [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: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Research during the last two decades has shown that the brain undergoes continuous changes throughout life, with substantial heterogeneity in age trajectories between regions. Especially, temporal and prefrontal cortices show large changes, and these correlate modestly with changes in the corresponding cognitive abilities such as episodic memory and executive function. Changes seen in normal aging overlap with changes seen in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease; differences between what reflects normal aging vs. a disease-related change are often blurry. This calls for a dimensional view on cognitive decline in aging, where clear-cut distinctions between normality and pathology cannot be always drawn. Although much progress has been made in describing typical patterns of age-related changes in the brain, identifying risk and protective factors, and mapping cognitive correlates, there are still limits to our knowledge that should be addressed by future research. We need more longitudinal studies following the same participants over longer time intervals with cognitive testing and brain imaging, and an increased focus on the representativeness vs. selection bias in neuroimaging research of aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anders Martin Fjell
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Spotorno N, Strandberg O, Stomrud E, Janelidze S, Blennow K, Nilsson M, van Westen D, Hansson O. Diffusion MRI tracks cortical microstructural changes during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2024; 147:961-969. [PMID: 38128551 PMCID: PMC10907088 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad428] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
There is increased interest in developing markers reflecting microstructural changes that could serve as outcome measures in clinical trials. This is especially important after unexpected results in trials evaluating disease-modifying therapies targeting amyloid-β (Aβ), where morphological metrics from MRI showed increased volume loss despite promising clinical treatment effects. In this study, changes over time in cortical mean diffusivity, derived using diffusion tensor imaging, were investigated in a large cohort (n = 424) of non-demented participants from the Swedish BioFINDER study. Participants were stratified following the Aβ/tau (AT) framework. The results revealed a widespread increase in mean diffusivity over time, including both temporal and parietal cortical regions, in Aβ-positive but still tau-negative individuals. These increases were steeper in Aβ-positive and tau-positive individuals and robust to the inclusion of cortical thickness in the model. A steeper increase in mean diffusivity was also associated with both changes over time in fluid markers reflecting astrocytic activity (i.e. plasma level of glial fibrillary acidic protein and CSF levels of YKL-40) and worsening of cognitive performance (all P < 0.01). By tracking cortical microstructural changes over time and possibly reflecting variations related to the astrocytic response, cortical mean diffusivity emerges as a promising marker for tracking treatments-induced microstructural changes in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Spotorno
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Olof Strandberg
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| | - Shorena Janelidze
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Markus Nilsson
- Diagnostic Radiology, Institution for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Danielle van Westen
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
- Diagnostic Radiology, Institution for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, 214 28 Malmö, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Rodriguez-Vieitez E, Vannini P, Montal V, Graff C. Cortical microstructural imaging from diffusion MRI: towards sensitive biomarkers for clinical trials. Brain 2024; 147:746-748. [PMID: 38408356 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This scientific commentary refers to ‘Diffusion MRI tracks cortical microstructural changes during the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease’ by Spotorno et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad428).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Rodriguez-Vieitez
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrizia Vannini
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Caroline Graff
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Unit for Hereditary Dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Spotorno N, Najac C, Strandberg O, Stomrud E, van Westen D, Nilsson M, Ronen I, Hansson O. Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed neuronal specific microstructural alterations in Alzheimer's disease. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae026. [PMID: 38370447 PMCID: PMC10873577 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae026] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease, reconfiguration and deterioration of tissue microstructure occur before substantial degeneration become evident. We explored the diffusion properties of both water, a ubiquitous marker measured by diffusion MRI, and N-acetyl-aspartate, a neuronal metabolite probed by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy, for investigating cortical microstructural changes downstream of Alzheimer's disease pathology. To this aim, 50 participants from the Swedish BioFINDER-2 study were scanned on both 7 and 3 T MRI systems. We found that in cognitively impaired participants with evidence of both abnormal amyloid-beta (CSF amyloid-beta42/40) and tau accumulation (tau-PET), the N-acetyl-aspartate diffusion rate was significantly lower than in cognitively unimpaired participants (P < 0.05). This supports the hypothesis that intraneuronal tau accumulation hinders diffusion in the neuronal cytosol. Conversely, water diffusivity was higher in cognitively impaired participants (P < 0.001) and was positively associated with the concentration of myo-inositol, a preferentially astrocytic metabolite (P < 0.001), suggesting that water diffusion is sensitive to alterations in the extracellular space and in glia. In conclusion, measuring the diffusion properties of both water and N-acetyl-aspartate provides rich information on the cortical microstructure in Alzheimer's disease, and can be used to develop new sensitive and specific markers to microstructural changes occurring during the disease course.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Spotorno
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Chloé Najac
- Department of Radiology, C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333, The Netherlands
| | - Olof Strandberg
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Lund 22184, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö 20502, Sweden
| | - Danielle van Westen
- Image and Function, Skane University Hospital, Lund 22185, Sweden
- Diagnostic Radiology, Institution for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund 22185, Sweden
| | - Markus Nilsson
- Diagnostic Radiology, Institution for Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund 22185, Sweden
| | - Itamar Ronen
- Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer BN1 9RR, UK
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Lund 22184, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö 20502, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Singh K, Barsoum S, Schilling KG, An Y, Ferrucci L, Benjamini D. Neuronal microstructural changes in the human brain are associated with neurocognitive aging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.11.575206. [PMID: 38260525 PMCID: PMC10802615 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Gray matter (GM) alterations play a role in aging-related disorders like Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, yet MRI studies mainly focus on macroscopic changes. Although reliable indicators of atrophy, morphological metrics like cortical thickness lack the sensitivity to detect early changes preceding visible atrophy. Our study aimed at exploring the potential of diffusion MRI in unveiling sensitive markers of cortical and subcortical age-related microstructural changes and assessing their associations with cognitive and behavioral deficits. We leveraged the Human Connectome Project-Aging cohort that included 707 unimpaired participants (394 female; median age = 58, range = 36-90 years) and applied the powerful mean apparent diffusion propagator model to measure microstructural parameters, along with comprehensive behavioral and cognitive test scores. Both macro- and microstructural GM characteristics were strongly associated with age, with widespread significant microstructural correlations reflective of cellular morphological changes, reduced cellular density, increased extracellular volume, and increased membrane permeability. Importantly, when correlating MRI and cognitive test scores, our findings revealed no link between macrostructural volumetric changes and neurobehavioral performance. However, we found that cellular and extracellular alterations in cortical and subcortical GM regions were associated with neurobehavioral performance. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that increased microstructural heterogeneity and decreased neurite orientation dispersion precede macrostructural changes, and that they play an important role in subsequent cognitive decline. These alterations are suggested to be early markers of neurocognitive performance that may distinctly aid in identifying the mechanisms underlying phenotypic aging and subsequent age-related functional decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Singh
- Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie Barsoum
- Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kurt G Schilling
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yang An
- Brain Aging and Behavior Section, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dan Benjamini
- Multiscale Imaging and Integrative Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Oeckl P, Janelidze S, Halbgebauer S, Stomrud E, Palmqvist S, Otto M, Hansson O. Higher plasma β-synuclein indicates early synaptic degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5095-5102. [PMID: 37186338 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION β-Synuclein is an emerging synaptic blood biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) but differences in β-synuclein levels in preclinical AD and its association with amyloid and tau pathology have not yet been studied. METHODS We measured plasma β-synuclein levels in cognitively unimpaired individuals with positive Aβ-PET (i.e., preclinical AD, N = 48) or negative Aβ-PET (N = 61), Aβ-positive patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, N = 36), and Aβ-positive AD dementia (N = 85). Amyloid (A) and tau (T) pathology were assessed by [18 F]flutemetamol and [18 F]RO948 PET. RESULTS Plasma β-synuclein levels were higher in preclinical AD and even higher in MCI and AD dementia. Stratification according to amyloid/tau pathology revealed higher β-synuclein in A+ T- and A+ T+ subjects compared with A- T- . Plasma β-synuclein levels were related to tau and Aβ pathology and associated with temporal cortical thinning and cognitive impairment. DISCUSSION Our data indicate that plasma β-synuclein might track synaptic dysfunction, even during the preclinical stages of AD. HIGHLIGHTS Plasma β-synuclein is already higher in preclinical AD. Plasma β-synuclein is higher in MCI and AD dementia than in preclinical AD. Aβ- and tau-PET SUVRs are associated with plasma β-synuclein levels. Plasma β-synuclein is already higher in tau-PET negative subjects. Plasma β-synuclein is related to temporal cortical atrophy and cognitive impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Oeckl
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Shorena Janelidze
- Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Steffen Halbgebauer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Palmqvist
- Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
- University Clinic and Polyclinic for Neurology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gagliardi G, Rodriguez-Vieitez E, Montal V, Sepulcre J, Diez I, Lois C, Hanseeuw B, Schultz AP, Properzi MJ, Papp KV, Marshall GA, Fortea J, Johnson KA, Sperling RA, Vannini P. Cortical microstructural changes predict tau accumulation and episodic memory decline in older adults harboring amyloid. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2023; 3:106. [PMID: 37528163 PMCID: PMC10394044 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00324-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-invasive diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess brain microstructural changes via cortical mean diffusivity (cMD) has been shown to be cross-sectionally associated with tau in cognitively normal older adults, suggesting that it might be an early marker of neuronal injury. Here, we investigated how regional cortical microstructural changes measured by cMD are related to the longitudinal accumulation of regional tau as well as to episodic memory decline in cognitively normal individuals harboring amyloid pathology. METHODS 122 cognitively normal participants from the Harvard Aging Brain Study underwent DWI, T1w-MRI, amyloid and tau PET imaging, and Logical Memory Delayed Recall (LMDR) assessments. We assessed whether the interaction of baseline amyloid status and cMD (in entorhinal and inferior-temporal cortices) was associated with longitudinal regional tau accumulation and with longitudinal LMDR using separate linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS We find a significant interaction effect of the amyloid status and baseline cMD in predicting longitudinal tau in the entorhinal cortex (p = 0.044) but not the inferior temporal lobe, such that greater baseline cMD values predicts the accumulation of entorhinal tau in amyloid-positive participants. Moreover, we find a significant interaction effect of the amyloid status and baseline cMD in the entorhinal cortex (but not inferior temporal cMD) in predicting longitudinal LMDR (p < 0.001), such that baseline entorhinal cMD predicts the episodic memory decline in amyloid-positive participants. CONCLUSIONS The combination of amyloidosis and elevated cMD in the entorhinal cortex may help identify individuals at short-term risk of tau accumulation and Alzheimer's Disease-related episodic memory decline, suggesting utility in clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffroy Gagliardi
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Elena Rodriguez-Vieitez
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Stockholm, 14152, Sweden
| | - Victor Montal
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08041, Spain
- Centre of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, 28031, Spain
| | - Jorge Sepulcre
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Ibai Diez
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Cristina Lois
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Bernard Hanseeuw
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Saint Luc University Hospital, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Aaron P Schultz
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Michael J Properzi
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Kathryn V Papp
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gad A Marshall
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Juan Fortea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08041, Spain
- Centre of Biomedical Investigation Network for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, 28031, Spain
| | - Keith A Johnson
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Patrizia Vannini
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Tax CM, Genc S, MacIver CL, Nilsson M, Wardle M, Szczepankiewicz F, Jones DK, Peall KJ. Ultra-strong diffusion-weighted MRI reveals cerebellar grey matter abnormalities in movement disorders. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103419. [PMID: 37192563 PMCID: PMC10199248 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Structural brain MRI has proven invaluable in understanding movement disorder pathophysiology. However, most work has focused on grey/white matter volumetric (macrostructural) and white matter microstructural effects, limiting understanding of frequently implicated grey matter microstructural differences. Using ultra-strong spherical tensor encoding diffusion-weighted MRI, a persistent MRI signal was seen in healthy cerebellar grey matter even at high diffusion-weightings (b ≥ 10,000 s/mm2). Quantifying the proportion of this signal (denoted fs), previously ascertained to originate from inside small spherical spaces, provides a potential proxy for cell body density. In this work, this approach was applied for the first time to a clinical cohort, including patients with diagnosed movement disorders in which the cerebellum has been implicated in symptom pathophysiology. Five control participants (control group 1, median age 24.5 years (20-39 years), imaged at two timepoints, demonstrated consistency in measurement of all three measures - MD (Mean Diffusivity) fs, and Ds (dot diffusivity)- with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of 0.98, 0.86 and 0.76, respectively. Comparison with an older control group (control group 2 (n = 5), median age 51 years (43-58 years)) found no significant differences, neither with morphometric nor microstructural (MD (p = 0.36), fs (p = 0.17) and Ds (p = 0.22)) measures. The movement disorder cohort (Parkinson's Disease, n = 5, dystonia, n = 5. Spinocerebellar Ataxia 6, n = 5) when compared to the age-matched control cohort (Control Group 2) identified significantly lower MD (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001) and higher fs values (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001) in SCA6 and dystonia cohorts respectively. Lobar division of the cerebellum found these same differences in the superior and inferior posterior lobes, while no differences were seen in either the anterior lobes or with Ds measurements. In contrast to more conventional measures from diffusion tensor imaging, this framework provides enhanced specificity to differences in restricted spherical spaces in grey matter (including small cells) by eliminating signals from cerebrospinal fluid and axons. In the context of human and animal histopathology studies, these findings potentially implicate the cerebellar Purkinje and granule cells as contributors to the observed signal differences, with both cell types having been implicated in several neurological disorders through both postmortem and animal model studies. This novel microstructural imaging approach shows promise for improving movement disorder diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chantal M.W. Tax
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sila Genc
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Neuroscience Advanced Clinical Imaging Service (NACIS), Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claire L MacIver
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Markus Nilsson
- Diagnostic Radiology, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mark Wardle
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, University Hospital of Wales Cardiff, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Filip Szczepankiewicz
- Diagnostic Radiology, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Medical Radiation Physics, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Derek K. Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kathryn J. Peall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Profiling microRNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease. Neuroreport 2023; 34:178-183. [PMID: 36719832 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) refer to short in-length, noncoding RNAs that regulate numerous cellular functions by targeting mRNA, and numerous types of research have shown that miRNA is vitalin Alzheimer's disease. For identifying differentially expressed miRNAs in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EOFAD), we conducted this study which might give a reference for potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers for this disease. On the basis of high-throughput sequencing, we screened the miRNAs expression profiles in PBMC regarding both EOFAD patients and healthy controls, and the biological information was analyzed. Compared with the PBMC of healthy controls, 142 miRNAs were differentially expressed in EOFAD patients ( P < 0.05), including 48 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs, 37 of which were significantly upregulated, including miR-3614-5p, miR-193A-5p, miR-2115-5p, miR-143-3p, etc. and 11 were significantly downregulated, including miR-484, miR-708-5p, miR-205-5p, miR-31-5p, etc. According to biological information analysis, 768 miRNA target genes were differentially expressed, which may be involved in multiple gene functions and cell cycle, cell senescence, and several signaling pathways, including FoxO, MAPK, Ras, mTOR, neurotrophin, etc. There are differential expressions of miRNAs in PBMC of EOFAD patients and controls, revealing their importance in Alzheimer's disease as indicated by co-expression network analysis; this may support basic information for new biomarkers or treatment exploring.
Collapse
|