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Ho NCW, Bethlehem RAI, Seidlitz J, Nogovitsyn N, Metzak P, Ballester PL, Hassel S, Rotzinger S, Poppenk J, Lam RW, Taylor VH, Milev R, Bullmore ET, Alexander-Bloch AF, Frey BN, Harkness KL, Addington J, Kennedy SH, Dunlop K. Atypical Brain Aging and Its Association With Working Memory Performance in Major Depressive Disorder. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024; 9:786-799. [PMID: 38679324 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) can present with altered brain structure and deficits in cognitive function similar to those seen in aging. However, the interaction between age-related brain changes and brain development in MDD remains understudied. In a cohort of adolescents and adults with and without MDD, we assessed brain aging differences and associations through a newly developed tool that quantifies normative neurodevelopmental trajectories. METHODS A total of 304 participants with MDD and 236 control participants without depression were recruited and scanned from 3 studies under the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network for Depression. Volumetric data were used to generate brain centile scores, which were examined for 1) differences between participants with MDD and control participants; 2) differences between individuals with versus without severe childhood maltreatment; and 3) correlations with depressive symptom severity, neurocognitive assessment domains, and escitalopram treatment response. RESULTS Brain centiles were significantly lower in the MDD group than in the control group. Brain centile was also significantly correlated with working memory in the control group but not the MDD group. No significant associations were observed between depression severity or antidepressant treatment response and brain centiles. Likewise, childhood maltreatment history did not significantly affect brain centiles. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with previous work on machine learning models that predict brain age, brain centile scores differed in people diagnosed with MDD, and MDD was associated with differential relationships between centile scores and working memory. The results support the notion of atypical development and aging in MDD, with implications for neurocognitive deficits associated with aging-related cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C W Ho
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Depression & Suicide Studies, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jakob Seidlitz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lifespan Brain Institute, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Institute of Translational Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nikita Nogovitsyn
- Centre for Depression & Suicide Studies, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Metzak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pedro L Ballester
- Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stefanie Hassel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Susan Rotzinger
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Depression & Suicide Studies, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan Poppenk
- Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; School of Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raymond W Lam
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Valerie H Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Roumen Milev
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Providence Care Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron F Alexander-Bloch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lifespan Brain Institute, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Institute of Translational Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Benicio N Frey
- Mood Disorders Treatment and Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kate L Harkness
- Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean Addington
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sidney H Kennedy
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Depression & Suicide Studies, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katharine Dunlop
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Research, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Depression & Suicide Studies, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Arenaza‐Urquijo EM, Boyle R, Casaletto K, Anstey KJ, Vila‐Castelar C, Colverson A, Palpatzis E, Eissman JM, Kheng Siang Ng T, Raghavan S, Akinci M, Vonk JMJ, Machado LS, Zanwar PP, Shrestha HL, Wagner M, Tamburin S, Sohrabi HR, Loi S, Bartrés‐Faz D, Dubal DB, Vemuri P, Okonkwo O, Hohman TJ, Ewers M, Buckley RF. Sex and gender differences in cognitive resilience to aging and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:5695-5719. [PMID: 38967222 PMCID: PMC11350140 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13844] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Sex and gender-biological and social constructs-significantly impact the prevalence of protective and risk factors, influencing the burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD; amyloid beta and tau) and other pathologies (e.g., cerebrovascular disease) which ultimately shape cognitive trajectories. Understanding the interplay of these factors is central to understanding resilience and resistance mechanisms explaining maintained cognitive function and reduced pathology accumulation in aging and AD. In this narrative review, the ADDRESS! Special Interest Group (Alzheimer's Association) adopted a multidisciplinary approach to provide the foundations and recommendations for future research into sex- and gender-specific drivers of resilience, including a sex/gender-oriented review of risk factors, genetics, AD and non-AD pathologies, brain structure and function, and animal research. We urge the field to adopt a sex/gender-aware approach to resilience to advance our understanding of the intricate interplay of biological and social determinants and consider sex/gender-specific resilience throughout disease stages. HIGHLIGHTS: Sex differences in resilience to cognitive decline vary by age and cognitive status. Initial evidence supports sex-specific distinctions in brain pathology. Findings suggest sex differences in the impact of pathology on cognition. There is a sex-specific change in resilience in the transition to clinical stages. Gender and sex factors warrant study: modifiable, immune, inflammatory, and vascular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eider M. Arenaza‐Urquijo
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health ProgrammeBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)BarcelonaSpain
- University of Pompeu FabraBarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Rory Boyle
- Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Kaitlin Casaletto
- Department of NeurologyMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kaarin J. Anstey
- University of New South Wales Ageing Futures InstituteSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Neuroscience Research AustraliaSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Psychology, University of New South WalesSidneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - Aaron Colverson
- University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine Interdisciplinary Research LabUniversity of Florida, Center of Arts in MedicineGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Eleni Palpatzis
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health ProgrammeBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)BarcelonaSpain
- University of Pompeu FabraBarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Jaclyn M. Eissman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Department of NeurologyVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTennesseeUSA
- Vanderbilt Genetics InstituteVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Ted Kheng Siang Ng
- Rush Institute for Healthy Aging and Department of Internal MedicineRush University Medical CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | | | - Muge Akinci
- Environment and Health Over the Life Course Programme, Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health ProgrammeBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)BarcelonaSpain
- University of Pompeu FabraBarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Jet M. J. Vonk
- Department of NeurologyMemory and Aging CenterUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Luiza S. Machado
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, FarroupilhaPorto AlegreBrazil
| | - Preeti P. Zanwar
- Jefferson College of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- The Network on Life Course and Health Dynamics and Disparities, University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Maude Wagner
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Stefano Tamburin
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Hamid R. Sohrabi
- Centre for Healthy AgeingHealth Future InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Psychology, Murdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Samantha Loi
- Neuropsychiatry Centre, Royal Melbourne HospitalParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - David Bartrés‐Faz
- Department of MedicineFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences & Institut de NeurociènciesUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques (IDIBAPS)BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Institut Guttmann, Institut Universitari de Neurorehabilitació adscrit a la Universitat Autónoma de BarcelonaBadalonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Dena B. Dubal
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute of NeurosciencesUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
- Biomedical and Neurosciences Graduate ProgramsUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Ozioma Okonkwo
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Department of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Timothy J. Hohman
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center, Department of NeurologyVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTennesseeUSA
- Vanderbilt Genetics InstituteVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Michael Ewers
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia ResearchKlinikum der Universität MünchenLudwig Maximilians Universität (LMU)MunichGermany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE, Munich)MunichGermany
| | - Rachel F. Buckley
- Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Zhao S, Sang F, Liu C, Wang F, Liu J, Chen C, Wang J, Li X, Zhang Z. Age-related enhancement of the association between episodic memory and gray matter volume in medial temporal and frontal lobes. BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN FUNCTIONS : BBF 2024; 20:10. [PMID: 38702688 PMCID: PMC11069137 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-024-00237-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Episodic memory (EM) deteriorates as a result of normal aging as well as Alzheimer's disease. The neural underpinnings of such age-related memory impairments in older individuals are not well-understood. Although previous research has unveiled the association between gray matter volume (GMV) and EM in the elderly population, such findings exhibit variances across distinct age cohorts. Consequently, an investigation into the dynamic evolution of this relationship with advancing age is imperative. RESULT The present study utilized a sliding window approach to examine how the correlation between EM and GMV varied with age in a cross-sectional sample of 926 Chinese older adults. We found that both verbal EM (VEM) and spatial EM (SEM) exhibited positive correlations with GMV in extensive areas primarily in the temporal and frontal lobes and that these correlations typically became stronger with older age. Moreover, there were variations in the strength of the correlation between EM and GMV with age, which differed based on sex and the specific type of EM. Specifically, the association between VEM and GMVs in the insula and parietal regions became stronger with age for females but not for males, whereas the association between SEM and GMVs in the parietal and occipital regions became stronger for males but not for females. At the brain system level, there is a significant age-related increase in the correlations between both types of EM and the GMV of both the anterior temporal (AT) system and the posterior medial (PM) system in male group. In females, both types of EM show stronger age-related correlations with the GMV of the AT system compared to males. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed a significant positive correlation between GMV in most regions associated with EM and age, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes. This discovery offers new insights into the connection between brain structure and the diminishing episodic memory function among older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaokun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Feng Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Chen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Jiawen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Chuansheng Chen
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Zhanjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
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Sang F, Zhao S, Li Z, Yang Y, Chen Y, Zhang Z. Cortical thickness reveals sex differences in verbal and visuospatial memory. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae067. [PMID: 38451300 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae067] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Although previous studies have reported the sex differences in behavior/cognition and the brain, the sex difference in the relationship between memory abilities and the underlying neural basis in the aging process remains unclear. In this study, we used a machine learning model to estimate the association between cortical thickness and verbal/visuospatial memory in females and males and then explored the sex difference of these associations based on a community-elderly cohort (n = 1153, age ranged from 50.42 to 86.67 years). We validated that females outperformed males in verbal memory, while males outperformed females in visuospatial memory. The key regions related to verbal memory in females include the medial temporal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and some regions around the insula. Further, those regions are more located in limbic, dorsal attention, and default-model networks, and are associated with face recognition and perception. The key regions related to visuospatial memory include the lateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus, and some occipital regions. They overlapped more with dorsal attention, frontoparietal and visual networks, and were associated with object recognition. These findings imply the memory performance advantage of females and males might be related to the different memory processing tendencies and their associated network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Shaokun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zilin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yiru Yang
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yaojing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhanjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Wang X, Huang CC, Tsai SJ, Lin CP, Cai Q. The aging trajectories of brain functional hierarchy and its impact on cognition across the adult lifespan. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1331574. [PMID: 38313436 PMCID: PMC10837851 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1331574] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The hierarchical network architecture of the human brain, pivotal to cognition and behavior, can be explored via gradient analysis using restingstate functional MRI data. Although it has been employed to understand brain development and disorders, the impact of aging on this hierarchical architecture and its link to cognitive decline remains elusive. Methods This study utilized resting-state functional MRI data from 350 healthy adults (aged 20-85) to investigate the functional hierarchical network using connectome gradient analysis with a cross-age sliding window approach. Gradient-related metrics were estimated and correlated with age to evaluate trajectory of gradient changes across lifespan. Results The principal gradient (unimodal-to-transmodal) demonstrated a significant non-linear relationship with age, whereas the secondary gradient (visual-to-somatomotor) showed a simple linear decreasing pattern. Among the principal gradient, significant age-related changes were observed in the somatomotor, dorsal attention, limbic and default mode networks. The changes in the gradient scores of both the somatomotor and frontal-parietal networks were associated with greater working memory and visuospatial ability. Gender differences were found in global gradient metrics and gradient scores of somatomotor and default mode networks in the principal gradient, with no interaction with age effect. Discussion Our study delves into the aging trajectories of functional connectome gradient and its cognitive impact across the adult lifespan, providing insights for future research into the biological underpinnings of brain function and pathological models of atypical aging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chu-Chung Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Shih-Jen Tsai
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Qing Cai
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (Ministry of Education), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, China
- NYU-ECNU Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
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Lavanga M, Stumme J, Yalcinkaya BH, Fousek J, Jockwitz C, Sheheitli H, Bittner N, Hashemi M, Petkoski S, Caspers S, Jirsa V. The virtual aging brain: Causal inference supports interhemispheric dedifferentiation in healthy aging. Neuroimage 2023; 283:120403. [PMID: 37865260 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms of cognitive decline and its variability during healthy aging are not fully understood, but have been associated with reorganization of white matter tracts and functional brain networks. Here, we built a brain network modeling framework to infer the causal link between structural connectivity and functional architecture and the consequent cognitive decline in aging. By applying in-silico interhemispheric degradation of structural connectivity, we reproduced the process of functional dedifferentiation during aging. Thereby, we found the global modulation of brain dynamics by structural connectivity to increase with age, which was steeper in older adults with poor cognitive performance. We validated our causal hypothesis via a deep-learning Bayesian approach. Our results might be the first mechanistic demonstration of dedifferentiation during aging leading to cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Lavanga
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Inserm, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Johanna Stumme
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bahar Hazal Yalcinkaya
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Inserm, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Jan Fousek
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Inserm, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Christiane Jockwitz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hiba Sheheitli
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Inserm, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Nora Bittner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Meysam Hashemi
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Inserm, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Spase Petkoski
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Inserm, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Svenja Caspers
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty & University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Viktor Jirsa
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes (INS), Inserm, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille 13005, France.
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Cui SS, Jiang QW, Chen SD. Sex difference in biological change and mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease: from macro- to micro-landscape. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101918. [PMID: 36967089 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and numerous studies reported a higher prevalence and incidence of AD among women. Although women have longer lifetime, longevity does not wholly explain the higher frequency and lifetime risk in women. It is important to understand sex differences in AD pathophysiology and pathogenesis, which could provide foundation for future clinical AD research. Here, we reviewed the most recent and relevant literature on sex differences in biological change of AD from macroscopical neuroimaging to microscopical pathologic change (neuronal degeneration, synaptic dysfunction, amyloid-beta and tau accumulation). We also discussed sex differences in cellular mechanisms related to AD (neuroinflammation, mitochondria dysfunction, oxygen stress, apoptosis, autophagy, blood-brain-barrier dysfunction, gut microbiome alteration, bulk and single cell/nucleus omics) and possible causes underlying these differences including sex-chromosome, sex hormone and hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Shuang Cui
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Qian-Wen Jiang
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; Department of Geriatrics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Sheng-Di Chen
- Department of Neurology & Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
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Islas-Preciado D, Splinter TFL, Ibrahim M, Black N, Wong S, Lieblich SE, Liu-Ambrose T, Barha CK, Galea LAM. Sex and BDNF Val66Met polymorphism matter for exercise-induced increase in neurogenesis and cognition in middle-aged mice. Horm Behav 2023; 148:105297. [PMID: 36623432 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Females show greater benefits of exercise on cognition in both humans and rodents, which may be related to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), the Val66Met polymorphism, within the human BDNF gene, causes impaired activity-dependent secretion of neuronal BDNF and impairments to some forms of memory. We evaluated whether sex and BDNF genotype (Val66Met polymorphism (Met/Met) versus wild-type (Val/Val)) influenced the ability of voluntary running to enhance cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis in mice. Middle-aged C57BL/6J (13 months) mice were randomly assigned to either a control or an aerobic training (AT) group (running disk access). Mice were trained on the visual discrimination and reversal paradigm in a touchscreen-based technology to evaluate cognitive flexibility. BDNF Met/Met mice had fewer correct responses compared to BDNF Val/Val mice on both cognitive tasks. Female BDNF Val/Val mice showed greater cognitive flexibility compared to male mice regardless of AT. Despite running less than BDNF Val/Val mice, AT improved performance in both cognitive tasks in BDNF Met/Met mice. AT increased neurogenesis in the ventral hippocampus of BDNF Val/Val mice of both sexes and increased the proportion of mature type 3 doublecortin-expressing cells in the dorsal hippocampus of female mice only. Our results indicate AT improved cognitive performance in BDNF Met/Met mice and increased hippocampal neurogenesis in BDNF Val/Val mice in middle age. Furthermore, middle-aged female mice may benefit more from AT than males in terms of neuroplasticity, an effect that was influenced by the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannia Islas-Preciado
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada; Dajavad Mowifaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada; Lab de Neuropsicofarmacología, Dirección de Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México 14370, México
| | | | - Muna Ibrahim
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Natasha Black
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Wong
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Teresa Liu-Ambrose
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Canada; Dajavad Mowifaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cindy K Barha
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Canada; Dajavad Mowifaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Liisa A M Galea
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Canada; Dajavad Mowifaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Canada.
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9
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Habich A, Oltra J, Schwarz CG, Przybelski SA, Oppedal K, Inguanzo A, Blanc F, Lemstra AW, Hort J, Westman E, Lowe VJ, Boeve BF, Dierks T, Aarsland D, Kantarci K, Ferreira D. Sex differences in grey matter networks in dementia with Lewy bodies. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2519935. [PMID: 36778448 PMCID: PMC9915801 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2519935/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Sex differences permeate many aspects of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), including epidemiology, pathogenesis, disease progression, and symptom manifestation. However, less is known about potential sex differences in patterns of neurodegeneration in DLB. Here, we test whether grey matter networks also differ between female and male DLB patients. To assess the specificity of these sex differences to DLB, we additionally investigate sex differences in healthy controls (HCs). Methods A total of 119 (68.7 ± 8.4 years) male and 45 female (69.9 ± 9.1 years) DLB patients from three European centres and the Mayo Clinic were included in this study. Additionally, we included 119 male and 45 female age-matched HCs from the Mayo Clinic. Grey matter volumes of 58 cortical, subcortical, cerebellar, and pontine brain regions derived from structural magnetic resonance images were corrected for age, intracranial volume, and centre. Sex-specific grey matter networks for DLB patients and HCs were constructed by correlating each pair of brain regions. Network properties of the correlation matrices were compared between sexes and groups. Additional analyses were conducted on W-scored data to identify DLB-specific findings. Results Networks of male HCs and male DLB patients were characterised by a lower nodal strength compared to their respective female counterparts. In comparison to female HCs, the grey matter networks of male HCs showed a higher global efficiency, modularity, and a lower number of modules. None of the global and nodal network measures showed significant sex differences in DLB. Conclusions The disappearance of sex differences in the structural grey matter networks of DLB patients compared to HCs may indicate a sex-dependent network vulnerability to the alpha-synuclein pathology in DLB. Future studies might investigate whether the differences in structural network measures are associated with differences in cognitive scores and clinical symptoms between the sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annegret Habich
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Javier Oltra
- Medical Psychology Unit, Department of Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Ketil Oppedal
- Center for Age-Related Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Anna Inguanzo
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Frédéric Blanc
- Day Hospital of Geriatrics, Memory Resource and Research Centre (CM2R) of Strasbourg, Department of Geriatrics, Hopitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Afina W Lemstra
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jakub Hort
- Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eric Westman
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Val J Lowe
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | | | - Thomas Dierks
- University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dag Aarsland
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Daniel Ferreira
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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10
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Abstract
Sex and gender differences are seen in cognitive disturbances in a variety of neurological and psychiatry diseases. Men are more likely to have cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia whereas women are more likely to have more severe cognitive symptoms with major depressive disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Thus, it is important to understand sex and gender differences in underlying cognitive abilities with and without disease. Sex differences are noted in performance across various cognitive domains - with males typically outperforming females in spatial tasks and females typically outperforming males in verbal tasks. Furthermore, there are striking sex differences in brain networks that are activated during cognitive tasks and in learning strategies. Although rarely studied, there are also sex differences in the trajectory of cognitive aging. It is important to pay attention to these sex differences as they inform researchers of potential differences in resilience to age-related cognitive decline and underlying mechanisms for both healthy and pathological cognitive aging, depending on sex. We review literature on the progressive neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer's disease, as an example of pathological cognitive aging in which human females show greater lifetime risk, neuropathology, and cognitive impairment, compared to human males. Not surprisingly, the relationships between sex and cognition, cognitive aging, and Alzheimer's disease are nuanced and multifaceted. As such, this chapter will end with a discussion of lifestyle factors, like education and diet, as modifiable factors that can alter cognitive aging by sex. Understanding how cognition changes across age and contributing factors, like sex differences, will be essential to improving care for older adults.
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11
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Bergamino M, Keeling EG, Baxter LC, Sisco NJ, Walsh RR, Stokes AM. Sex Differences in Alzheimer's Disease Revealed by Free-Water Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Voxel-Based Morphometry. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 85:395-414. [PMID: 34842185 PMCID: PMC9015709 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Imaging biomarkers are increasingly used in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the identification of sex differences using neuroimaging may provide insight into disease heterogeneity, progression, and therapeutic targets. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in grey matter (GM) volume and white matter (WM) microstructural disorganization between males and females with AD using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and free-water-corrected diffusion tensor imaging (FW-DTI). METHODS Data were downloaded from the OASIS-3 database, including 158 healthy control (HC; 86 females) and 46 mild AD subjects (24 females). VBM and FW-DTI metrics (fractional anisotropy (FA), axial and radial diffusivities (AxD and RD, respectively), and FW index) were compared using effect size for the main effects of group, sex, and their interaction. RESULTS Significant group and sex differences were observed, with no significant interaction. Post-hoc comparisons showed that AD is associated with reduced GM volume, reduced FW-FA, and higher FW-RD/FW-index, consistent with neurodegeneration. Females in both groups exhibited higher GM volume than males, while FW-DTI metrics showed sex differences only in the AD group. Lower FW, lower FW-FA and higher FW-RD were observed in females relative to males in the AD group. CONCLUSION The combination of VBM and DTI may reveal complementary sex-specific changes in GM and WM associated with AD and aging. Sex differences in GM volume were observed for both groups, while FW-DTI metrics only showed significant sex differences in the AD group, suggesting that WM tract disorganization may play a differential role in AD pathophysiology between females and males.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth G. Keeling
- Neuroimaging Research, Barrow Neurological Institute,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
| | | | | | - Ryan R. Walsh
- Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological
Institute
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