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Hanusch B, Falkenstein M, Volkenstein S, Dazert S, Lücke T, Sinningen K. No Impairment in Bone Turnover or Executive Functions in Well-Treated Preschoolers with Phenylketonuria-A Pilot Study. Nutrients 2024; 16:2072. [PMID: 38999818 PMCID: PMC11243048 DOI: 10.3390/nu16132072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) present signs of impaired executive functioning and bone health in adolescence and adulthood, depending in part on the success of therapy in childhood. Therefore, nine children with well-treated PKU (4-7 years old, 22.2% ♀, seven with a full set of data, two included into partial analysis) and 18 age-, gender- and season-matched controls were analyzed for differences in executive functioning and bone parameters in plasma. Plasma was analyzed with commercially available kits. Cognitive performance in tonic alertness, visuo-spatial working memory, inhibitory control and task switching was assessed by a task battery presented on a touch screen. Regarding cognition, only the performance in incongruent conditions in inhibitory control was significantly better in children with PKU than in controls. No further differences in cognitive tests were detected. Furthermore, no significant difference in the bone turnover markers osteocalcin, undercarboxylated osteocalcin and CTX were detected between children with PKU and controls, while children with PKU had a significantly higher vitamin D concentration (69.44 ± 12.83 nmol/L vs. 41.87 ± 15.99 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and trended towards lower parathyroid hormone concentrations than controls (48.27 ± 15.16 pg/mL vs. 70.61 ± 30.53 pg/mL, p = 0.066). In this small group of well-treated preschoolers with PKU, no impairments in cognitive performance and bone turnover were observed, while vitamin D supplementation of amino acid supplements seems to be sufficient to achieve good vitamin D status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Hanusch
- Research Department of Child Nutrition, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44791 Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Volkenstein
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Johannes Wesling Klinikum Minden, Ruhr-University Bochum, 32429 Minden, Germany
| | - Stefan Dazert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Elisabeth-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44787 Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Lücke
- Research Department of Child Nutrition, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44791 Bochum, Germany
| | - Kathrin Sinningen
- Research Department of Child Nutrition, University Hospital of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44791 Bochum, Germany
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Sundermann B, Feldmann R, Mathys C, Rau JMH, Garde S, Braje A, Weglage J, Pfleiderer B. Functional connectivity of cognition-related brain networks in adults with fetal alcohol syndrome. BMC Med 2023; 21:496. [PMID: 38093292 PMCID: PMC10720228 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03208-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can result in cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive functions affected are subserved by few functional brain networks. Functional connectivity (FC) in these networks can be assessed with resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Alterations of FC have been reported in children and adolescents prenatally exposed to alcohol. Previous reports varied substantially regarding the exact nature of findings. The purpose of this study was to assess FC of cognition-related networks in young adults with FAS. METHODS Cross-sectional rs-fMRI study in participants with FAS (n = 39, age: 20.9 ± 3.4 years) and healthy participants without prenatal alcohol exposure (n = 44, age: 22.2 ± 3.4 years). FC was calculated as correlation between cortical regions in ten cognition-related sub-networks. Subsequent modelling of overall FC was based on linear models comparing FC between FAS and controls. Results were subjected to a hierarchical statistical testing approach, first determining whether there is any alteration of FC in FAS in the full cognitive connectome, subsequently resolving these findings to the level of either FC within each network or between networks based on the Higher Criticism (HC) approach for detecting rare and weak effects in high-dimensional data. Finally, group differences in single connections were assessed using conventional multiple-comparison correction. In an additional exploratory analysis, dynamic FC states were assessed. RESULTS Comparing FAS participants with controls, we observed altered FC of cognition-related brain regions globally, within 7 out of 10 networks, and between networks employing the HC statistic. This was most obvious in attention-related network components. Findings also spanned across subcomponents of the fronto-parietal control and default mode networks. None of the single FC alterations within these networks yielded statistical significance in the conventional high-resolution analysis. The exploratory time-resolved FC analysis did not show significant group differences of dynamic FC states. CONCLUSIONS FC in cognition-related networks was altered in adults with FAS. Effects were widely distributed across networks, potentially reflecting the diversity of cognitive deficits in FAS. However, no altered single connections could be determined in the most detailed analysis level. Findings were pronounced in networks in line with attentional deficits previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Sundermann
- Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Oldenburg, Universitätsmedizin Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Reinhold Feldmann
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Mathys
- Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Oldenburg, Universitätsmedizin Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Johanna M H Rau
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149, Münster, Germany
- Department of Neurology With Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stefan Garde
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Anna Braje
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Josef Weglage
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Bettina Pfleiderer
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Albert- Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building A1, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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Steiner L, Muri R, Wijesinghe D, Jann K, Maissen-Abgottspon S, Radojewski P, Pospieszny K, Kreis R, Kiefer C, Hochuli M, Trepp R, Everts R. Cerebral blood flow and white matter alterations in adults with phenylketonuria. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 41:103550. [PMID: 38091797 PMCID: PMC10716784 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenylketonuria (PKU) represents a congenital metabolic defect that disrupts the process of converting phenylalanine (Phe) into tyrosine. Earlier investigations have revealed diminished cognitive performance and changes in brain structure and function (including the presence of white matter lesions) among individuals affected by PKU. However, there exists limited understanding regarding cerebral blood flow (CBF) and its potential associations with cognition, white matter lesions, and metabolic parameters in patients with PKU, which we therefore aimed to investigate in this study. METHOD Arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI was performed to measure CBF in 30 adults with early-treated classical PKU (median age 35.5 years) and 59 healthy controls (median age 30.0 years). For all participants, brain Phe levels were measured with 1H spectroscopy, and white matter lesions were rated by two neuroradiologists on T2 weighted images. White matter integrity was examined with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). For patients only, concurrent plasma Phe levels were assessed after an overnight fasting period. Furthermore, past Phe levels were collected to estimate historical metabolic control. On the day of the MRI, each participant underwent a cognitive assessment measuring IQ and performance in executive functions, attention, and processing speed. RESULTS No significant group difference was observed in global CBF between patients and controls (F (1, 87) = 3.81, p = 0.054). Investigating CBF on the level of cerebral arterial territories, reduced CBF was observed in the left middle and posterior cerebral artery (MCA and PCA), with the most prominent reduction of CBF in the anterior subdivision of the MCA (F (1, 87) = 6.15, p = 0.015, surviving FDR correction). White matter lesions in patients were associated with cerebral blood flow reduction in the affected structure. Particularly, patients with lesions in the occipital lobe showed significant CBF reductions in the left PCA (U = 352, p = 0.013, surviving FDR correction). Additionally, axial diffusivity measured with DTI was positively associated with CBF in the ACA and PCA (surviving FDR correction). Cerebral blood flow did not correlate with cognitive performance or metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION The relationship between cerebral blood flow and white matter indicates a complex interplay between vascular health and white matter alterations in patients with PKU. It highlights the importance of considering a multifactorial model when investigating the impact of PKU on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Steiner
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Raphaela Muri
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dilmini Wijesinghe
- Laboratory of Functional MRI Technology (LOFT), Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Kay Jann
- Laboratory of Functional MRI Technology (LOFT), Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Stephanie Maissen-Abgottspon
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Piotr Radojewski
- Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katarzyna Pospieszny
- Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Kreis
- Magnetic Resonance Methodology, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claus Kiefer
- Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michel Hochuli
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roman Trepp
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Regula Everts
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Department of Paediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland.
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Ilgaz F, Ford S, O’Driscoll MF, MacDonald A. Adult PKU Clinics in the UK-Users' Experiences and Perspectives. Nutrients 2023; 15:4352. [PMID: 37892429 PMCID: PMC10610305 DOI: 10.3390/nu15204352] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Adults with PKU require life-long management, and ideally, their care should be in a specialised adult metabolic clinic. Their outcomes and co-morbidities have received much attention, but data are lacking on their experience, satisfaction and expectations about the care they receive. This survey reports the experiences and care adults with PKU receive from specialist metabolic clinics in the UK. The online survey developed by the UK NSPKU (National Society for Phenylketonuria), was placed on the NSPKU website from February 2021 to December 2022, and was completed by adults with PKU (≥18 years) or their carers/family members. Sixty-five adult PKU patients and 9 caregivers of adult patients completed the questionnaire (63% female in total). Only 32% of respondents were following a Phe-restricted diet with protein substitute intake as prescribed; the rest were partially adherent or not on dietary restrictions. Nineteen per cent (n = 14/74) had not been reviewed in clinic for two years. Half of the respondents (50%) described their experience in adult clinics as "good". Half of the patients were unable to contact their dietitians with questions or concerns, and only 24% considered that they received adequate support. Clinic reviews usually included anthropometric (82%) and dietary assessments (64%), discussion on management of PKU in daily life (78%) and a blood test (71%). Eighty-eight per cent reported they had at least one neurocognitive, mental health or behavioural co-morbidity but less than half of the patients reported an assessment on their neurocognitive functioning or mental health issues. Adult male patients appeared to have less detailed clinic review than females. Less than half (44%) of the respondents reported that they performed a blood spot for blood Phe at least monthly, but only 32% considered they had been informed about the risk of high Phe levels in adulthood. Although time, cost and stress related to travelling were barriers to a face-to-face review, more than 40% of patients had concerns about remote appointments. The frequency and extent of monitoring of adults with PKU, attending specialist adult services, were less than those specified by the PKU European guidelines. The care of women of reproductive age is prioritised over men. Adult metabolic health services require further attention, development and resources to provide a high standard and equitable service to patients with PKU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Ilgaz
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Suzanne Ford
- Southmead Hospital North Bristol Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK;
- National Society for Phenylketonuria (NSPKU), Sheffield S12 9ET, UK
| | - Michael F. O’Driscoll
- Department of Adult Child & Midwifery, School of Health Social Care & Education, Middlesex University, London NW4 4BT, UK;
| | - Anita MacDonald
- Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK;
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de Almeida Duarte CM, Piazzon FB, Rocco IS, de Mello CB. Influence of blood phenylalanine level variations on the development of executive functions and social cognition in children with phenylketonuria. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2023; 99:507-513. [PMID: 37178714 PMCID: PMC10492152 DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the performance of 27 children with phenylketonuria (PKU) in tests of Executive Functions (EF) and Social Cognition (SC), and their associations with metabolic control inferred by phenylalanine (Phe) levels. METHODS The PKU group was dichotomized according to baseline Phe-levels into; "classical PKU"(n = 14), with Phe-levels above 1200 μmol/L (> 20 mg/dL); and "mild PKU" (n = 13) with Phe-between 360 and 1200 μmol/L (6-20 mg/dL). The neuropsychological assessment focused on the EF and SC subtests of the NEPSY-II battery and intellectual performance. Children were compared to age-matched healthy participants. RESULTS Participants with PKU presented significantly lower Intellectual Quotient (IQ) compared to controls (p = 0.001). Regarding EF analysis adjusted by age and IQ, significant differences between groups were observed only in the executive attention subtests (p = 0.029). The SC set of variables was significantly different between groups (p = 0.003), as in the affective recognition task (p < 0.001). In the PKU group, the relative variation of Phe-achieved 32.1 ± 21.0%. Relative Phe-variation was correlated only with measures of Working Memory (p < 0.001), Verbal Fluency (p = 0.004), Inhibitory Control (p = 0.035) and Theory of Mind (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Phonological Verbal Fluency, Working Memory, Inhibitory Control, and Theory of Mind were shown to be most vulnerable when there is non-ideal metabolic control. Variations in the level of Phe-may have a selective negative effect on Executive Functions and Social Cognition, but not on intellectual performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flavia Balbo Piazzon
- University Hospital Liège & University of Liège, Department of Pediatrics, Neuromuscular Reference Center, Liège, Belgium; Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Unidade Neurometabólica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Isadora Salvador Rocco
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Cardiologia e Departamento de Cirurgia Cardíaca, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Claudia Berlim de Mello
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Departamento de Psicobiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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De Giorgi A, Nardecchia F, Manti F, Campistol J, Leuzzi V. Neuroimaging in early-treated phenylketonuria patients and clinical outcome: A systematic review. Mol Genet Metab 2023; 139:107588. [PMID: 37149991 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2023.107588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Lacking direct neuropathological data, neuroimaging exploration has become the most powerful tool to give insight into pathophysiological alterations of early-treated PKU (ETPKU) patients. We conducted a systematic review of neuroimaging studies in ETPKU patients to explore 1) the occurrence of consistent neuroimaging alterations; 2) the relationship between them and neurological and cognitive disorders; 3) the contribution of neuroimaging in the insight of neuropathological background of ETPKU subjects; 4) whether brain neuroimaging may provide additional information in the monitoring of the disease course. Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the full-text review, including morphological T1/T2 sequences, diffusion brain imaging (DWI/DTI) studies, brain MRI volumetric, functional neuroimaging studies, neurotransmission and brain energetic imaging studies. Non-progressive brain white matter changes were the most frequent and precocious alterations. As confirmed in hundreds of young adults with ETPKU, they affect over 90% of ETPKU patients. Consistent correlations are emerging between microstructural alteration (as detected by DWI/DTI) and metabolic control, which have also been confirmed in a few interventional trials. Volumetric studies detected later and less consistent cortical and subcortical grey matter alterations, which seem to be influenced by the patient's age and metabolic control. The few functional neuroimaging studies so far showed preliminary but interesting data about cortical activation patterns, skill performance, and brain connectivity. Further research is mandatory in these more complex areas. Recurrent methodological limitations include restricted sample sizes concerning the clinical variability of the disease, large age-range, variable measures of metabolic control, and prevalence of cross-sectional rather than longitudinal interventional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnese De Giorgi
- Division of Child Neurology and Infantile Psychiatry, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Nardecchia
- Division of Child Neurology and Infantile Psychiatry, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Manti
- Division of Child Neurology and Infantile Psychiatry, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jaume Campistol
- Neuropaediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Division of Child Neurology and Infantile Psychiatry, Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Rau JMH, Sundermann B, Pfleiderer B, Dehghan-Nayyeri M, Garde S, Weglage J, Feldmann R. Inhibitory control in young adult women with fetal alcohol syndrome: Findings from a pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2023; 47:600-612. [PMID: 36807201 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Executive dysfunction, especially impaired inhibitory control, is a common finding in individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Previous research has mostly focused on neural correlates of inhibitory deficits in children and adolescents. We investigated inhibitory functions and underlying cerebral activation patterns in young adult women with FAS. METHODS Task performance and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired during a Go/NoGo (GNG) inhibition task in 19 young adult women with FAS and 19 healthy female control subjects. Whole-brain activation and task performance analyses were supplemented by region of interest (ROI) analyses of fMRI data within a predefined cognitive control network (CCN). RESULTS Task performance did not differ significantly between groups on errors of commission, associated with inhibitory control. Similarly, overall activation within the preselected ROIs did not differ significantly between groups for the main inhibitory contrast NoGo > Go. However, whole-brain analyses revealed activation differences in the FAS group when compared to controls under inhibitory conditions. This included hyperactivations in the left inferior frontal, superior temporal, and supramarginal gyri in the FAS group. Likewise, lateralization tendencies toward right-hemispheric ROIs were weaker in FAS subjects. In contrast to comparable inhibitory performance, attention-related errors of omission were significantly higher in the FAS group. Correspondingly, FAS subjects had lower activity in attention-related temporal and parietal areas. CONCLUSIONS The known alterations of inhibitory functions associated with prenatal alcohol exposure in children and adolescents were not seen in this adult sample. However, differential brain activity was observed, reflecting potential compensatory mechanisms. Secondary results suggest that there is impaired attentional control in young adult women with FAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M H Rau
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Benedikt Sundermann
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Radiology and Neuroradiology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Oldenburg, Medical Campus, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.,Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Bettina Pfleiderer
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Münster, Germany
| | - Mahboobeh Dehghan-Nayyeri
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LVR Clinic, Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Garde
- Clinic of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Münster, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Josef Weglage
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Reinhold Feldmann
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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Romani C, Olson A, Aitkenhead L, Baker L, Patel D, Spronsen FV, MacDonald A, Wegberg AV, Huijbregts S. Meta-analyses of cognitive functions in early-treated adults with phenylketonuria. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104925. [PMID: 36283539 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Our study estimated size of impairment for different cognitive functions in early-treated adults with PKU (AwPKU) by combining literature results in a meta-analytic way. We analysed a large set of functions (N = 19), each probed by different measures (average = 12). Data were extracted from 26 PKU groups and matched controls, with 757 AwPKU contributing 220 measures. Effect sizes (ESs) were computed using Glass' ∆ where differences in performance between clinical/PKU and control groups are standardized using the mean and standard deviation of the control groups. Significance was assessed using measures nested within independent PKU groups as a random factor. The weighted Glass' ∆ was - 0.44 for all functions taken together, and - 0.60 for IQ, both highly significant. Separate, significant impairments were found for most functions, but with great variability (ESs from -1.02 to -0.18). The most severe impairments were in reasoning, visual-spatial attention speed, sustained attention, visuo-motor control, and flexibility. Effect sizes were larger with speed than accuracy measures, and with visuo-spatial than verbal stimuli. Results show a specific PKU profile that needs consideration when monitoring the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew Olson
- Psychology Department, University of Birmingham, UK.
| | | | - Lucy Baker
- Psychology Department, Aston University, UK.
| | | | | | - Anita MacDonald
- Birmingham Women' s and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
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Khaksari K, Chen WL, Gropman AL. Review of Applications of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Two Rare Disorders with Executive and Neurological Dysfunction: UCD and PKU. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101690. [PMID: 36292574 PMCID: PMC9602148 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying rare diseases, particularly those with neurological dysfunction, is a challenge to researchers and healthcare professionals due to their complexity and small population with geographical dispersion. Universal and standardized biomarkers generated by tools such as functional neuroimaging have been forged to collect baseline data as well as treatment effects. However, the cost and heavily infrastructural requirement of those technologies have substantially limited their availability. Thus, developing non-invasive, portable, and inexpensive modalities has become a major focus for both researchers and clinicians. When considering neurological disorders and diseases with executive dysfunction, EEG is the most convenient tool to obtain biomarkers which can correlate the objective severity and clinical observation of these conditions. However, studies have also shown that EEG biomarkers and clinical observations alone are not sensitive enough since not all the patients present classical phenotypical features or EEG evidence of dysfunction. This article reviews disorders, including two rare disorders with neurological dysfunction and the usefulness of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a non-invasive optical modality to obtain hemodynamic biomarkers of diseases and for screening and monitoring the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosar Khaksari
- Division of Neurogenetics and Developmental Pediatrics, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Wei-Liang Chen
- School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Andrea L. Gropman
- Division of Neurogenetics and Developmental Pediatrics, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Neurology, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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Abgottspon S, Muri R, Christ SE, Hochuli M, Radojewski P, Trepp R, Everts R. Neural correlates of working memory and its association with metabolic parameters in early-treated adults with phenylketonuria. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 34:102974. [PMID: 35248901 PMCID: PMC8897706 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.102974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Working memory (WM) accuracy was significantly reduced in the PKU group. Reaction time did not differ between individuals with PKU and controls. No group differences were found with regard to neural activation. Neural activation was related to concurrent metabolic parameters. Results suggest interrelations between neural, cognitive, and metabolic parameters.
Background Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism affecting the conversion of phenylalanine (Phe) into tyrosine. Previous research has found cognitive and functional brain alterations in individuals with PKU even if treated early. However, little is known about working memory processing and its association with task performance and metabolic parameters. The aim of the present study was to examine neural correlates of working memory and its association with metabolic parameters in early-treated adults with PKU. Methods This cross-sectional study included 20 early-treated adults with PKU (mean age: 31.4 years ± 9.0) and 40 healthy controls with comparable age, sex, and education (mean age: 29.8 years ± 8.2). All participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of working memory to evaluate the fronto-parietal working memory network. Fasting blood samples were collected from the individuals with PKU to acquire a concurrent plasma amino acid profile, and retrospective Phe concentrations were obtained to estimate an index of dietary control. Results On a cognitive level, early-treated adults with PKU displayed significantly lower accuracy but comparable reaction time in the working memory task compared to the control group. Whole-brain analyses did not reveal differences in working memory-related neural activation between the groups. Exploratory region-of-interest (ROI) analyses indicated reduced neural activation in the left and right middle frontal gyri and the right superior frontal gyrus in the PKU group compared to the control group. However, none of the ROI analyses survived correction for multiple comparisons. Neural activation was related to concurrent Phe, tyrosine, and tryptophan concentrations but not to retrospective Phe concentrations. Conclusion In early-treated adults with PKU, cognitive performance and neural activation are slightly altered, a result that is partly related to metabolic parameters. This study offers a rare insight into the complex interplay between metabolic parameters, neural activation, and cognitive performance in a sample of individuals with PKU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Abgottspon
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Raphaela Muri
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland; Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Shawn E Christ
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Michel Hochuli
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Piotr Radojewski
- Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roman Trepp
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Regula Everts
- Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Switzerland; Division of Neuropaediatrics, Development and Rehabilitation, Inselspital Bern, Children's University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland; Translational Imaging Center (TIC), Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Phenylketonuria (PKU; also known as phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency) is an autosomal recessive disorder of phenylalanine metabolism, in which especially high phenylalanine concentrations cause brain dysfunction. If untreated, this brain dysfunction results in severe intellectual disability, epilepsy and behavioural problems. The prevalence varies worldwide, with an average of about 1:10,000 newborns. Early diagnosis is based on newborn screening, and if treatment is started early and continued, intelligence is within normal limits with, on average, some suboptimal neurocognitive function. Dietary restriction of phenylalanine has been the mainstay of treatment for over 60 years and has been highly successful, although outcomes are still suboptimal and patients can find the treatment difficult to adhere to. Pharmacological treatments are available, such as tetrahydrobiopterin, which is effective in only a minority of patients (usually those with milder PKU), and pegylated phenylalanine ammonia lyase, which requires daily subcutaneous injections and causes adverse immune responses. Given the drawbacks of these approaches, other treatments are in development, such as mRNA and gene therapy. Even though PAH deficiency is the most common defect of amino acid metabolism in humans, brain dysfunction in individuals with PKU is still not well understood and further research is needed to facilitate development of pathophysiology-driven treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francjan J van Spronsen
- Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
| | - Nenad Blau
- University Children's Hospital in Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cary Harding
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics and Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Nicola Longo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Annet M Bosch
- University of Amsterdam, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Metabolic Disorders, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Gropman AL, Anderson A. Novel imaging technologies for genetic diagnoses in the inborn errors of metabolism. JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL GENETICS AND GENOMICS 2020; 4:429-445. [PMID: 35529470 PMCID: PMC9075742 DOI: 10.20517/jtgg.2020.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Many inborn errors of metabolism and genetic disorders affect the brain. The brain biochemistry may differ from that in the periphery and is not accessible by simple blood and urine sampling. Therefore, neuroimaging has proven to be a valuable tool to not only evaluate the brain structure, but also biochemistry, blood flow and function. Neuroimaging in patients with inborn errors of metabolism can include additional sequences in addition to T1 and T2-weighted imaging because in early stages, there may be no significant findings on the routine sequnces due to the lack of sensitivity or the evolution of abnormalities lags behind the ability of the imaging to detect it. In addition, findings on T1 and T2-weighted imaging of several inborn errors of metabolism may be non-specific and be seen in other non-genetic conditions. Therefore, additional neuroimaging modalities that have been employed including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional MRI (fMRI), functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging may further inform underlying changes in myelination, biochemistry, and functional connectivity. The use of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in certain disorders may add a level of specificity depending upon the metabolite levels that are abnormal, as well as provide information about the process of brain injury (i.e., white matter, gray matter, energy deficiency, toxic buildup or depletion of key metabolites). It is even more challenging to understand how genetic or metabolic disorders contribute to short and/or long term changes in cognition which represent the downstream effects of IEMs. In order to image “cognition” or the downstream effects of a metabolic disorder on domains of brain function, more advanced techniques are required to analyze underlying fiber tracts or alternatively, methods such as fMRI enable generation of brain activation maps after both task based and resting state conditions. DTI can be used to look at changes in white matter tracks. Each imaging modality can explore an important aspect of the anatomy, physiology or biochemisty of the central nervous system. Their properties, pros and cons are discussed in this article. These imaging modalities will be discussed in the context of several inborn errors of metabolism including Galactosemia, Phenylketonruia, Maple syrup urine disease, Methylmalonic acidemia, Niemann-Pick Disease, type C1, Krabbe Disease, Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, Sjogren Larsson syndrome, Pelizeaus-Merzbacher disease, Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia and Fabry disease. Space constraints do not allow mention of all the disorders in which one of these modalities has been investigated, or where it would add value to diagnosis or disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Gropman
- Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Afrouz Anderson
- Department of Research, Focus Foundation, Crofton, MD 21035, USA
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