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Louis CC, Jacobs E, D'Esposito M, Moser J. Estradiol and the Catechol-o-methyltransferase Gene Interact to Predict Working Memory Performance: A Replication and Extension. J Cogn Neurosci 2023; 35:1144-1153. [PMID: 37159230 PMCID: PMC10273222 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02001] [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] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Decades of evidence across taxa have established the importance of dopamine (DA) signaling in the pFC for successful working memory performance. Genetic and hormonal factors can shape individual differences in prefrontal DA tone. The catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene regulates basal prefrontal DA, and the sex hormone 17β-estradiol potentiates DA release. E. Jacobs and M. D'Esposito [Estrogen shapes dopamine-dependent cognitive processes: Implications for women's health. Journal of Neuroscience, 31, 5286-5293, 2011] investigated the moderating role of estradiol on cognition using the COMT gene and COMT enzymatic activity as a proxy for pFC DA tone. They found that increases in 17β-estradiol within women at two time points during the menstrual cycle influenced working memory performance in a COMT-dependent manner. Here, we aimed to replicate and extend the behavioral findings of Jacobs and D'Esposito by employing an intensive repeated-measures design across a full menstrual cycle. Our results replicated the original investigation. Within-person increases in estradiol were associated with improved performance on 2-back lure trials for participants with low basal levels of DA (Val/Val carriers). The association was in the opposite direction for participants with higher basal levels of DA (Met/Met carriers). Our findings support the role of estrogen in DA-related cognitive functions and further highlight the need to consider gonadal hormones in cognitive science research.
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Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated that the frontal lobes play a critical role in the top-down control of behavior, and damage to the frontal cortex impairs performance on tasks that require executive control [Burgess, P. W., & Stuss, D. T. Fifty years of prefrontal cortex research: Impact on assessment. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 23, 755-767, 2017; Stuss, D. T., & Levine, B. Adult clinical neuropsychology: Lessons from studies of the frontal lobes. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 401-433, 2002]. Across executive functioning tasks, performance deficits are often quantified as the number of false alarms per total number of nontarget trials. However, most studies of frontal lobe function focus on individual task performance and do not discuss commonalities of errors committed across different tasks. Here, we describe a neurocognitive account that explores the link between deficient frontal lobe function and increased false alarms across an array of experimental tasks from a variety of task domains. We review evidence for heightened false alarms following frontal deficits in episodic long-term memory tests, working memory tasks (e.g., n-back), attentional tasks (e.g., continuous performance tasks), interference control tasks (e.g., recent probes), and inhibitory control tasks (e.g., go/no-go). We examine this relationship via neuroimaging studies, lesion studies, and across age groups and pathologies that impact the pFC, and we propose 11 issues in cognitive processing that can result in false alarms. In our review, some overlapping neural regions were implicated in the regulation of false alarms. Ultimately, however, we find evidence for the fractionation and localization of certain frontal processes related to the commission of specific types of false alarms. We outline avenues for additional research that will enable further delineation of the fractionation of the frontal lobes' regulation of false alarms.
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Brandão PRP, Munhoz RP, Grippe TC, Cardoso FEC, de Almeida E Castro BM, Titze-de-Almeida R, Tomaz C, Tavares MCH. Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: A clinical and pathophysiological overview. J Neurol Sci 2020; 419:117177. [PMID: 33068906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.117177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) has received increasing attention, and, together with other non-motor symptoms, exert a significant functional impact in the daily lives of patients. This article aims to compile and briefly summarize selected published data about clinical features, cognitive evaluation, biomarkers, and pathophysiology of PD-related dementia (PDD). The literature search included articles indexed in the MEDLINE/PubMed database, published in English, over the last two decades. Despite significant progress on clinical criteria and cohort studies for PD-mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) and PDD, there are still knowledge gaps about its exact molecular and pathological basis. Here we overview the scientific literature on the role of functional circuits, neurotransmitter systems (monoaminergic and cholinergic), basal forebrain, and brainstem nuclei dysfunction in PD-MCI. Correlations between neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, clinical outcomes, and pathological results are described to aid in uncovering the neurodegeneration pattern in PD-MCI and PDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Renato P Brandão
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB); Neurology Section, Medical Department, Chamber of Deputies of the Federal Republic of Brazil, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | - Renato Puppi Munhoz
- Toronto Western Hospital, Movement Disorders Centre, Toronto Western Hospital - UHN, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Talyta Cortez Grippe
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB); Movement Disorders Group, Neurology Unit, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal; School of Medicine, Centro Universitário de Brasília (UniCEUB), Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Francisco Eduardo Costa Cardoso
- Movement Disorders Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Neurology Service, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Titze-de-Almeida
- Technology for Gene Therapy Laboratory, Central Institute of Sciences, University of Brasília/FAV, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Carlos Tomaz
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and Behavior and Graduate Program in Environment, CEUMA University - UniCEUMA, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
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Correa DD, Satagopan J, Martin A, Braun E, Kryza-Lacombe M, Cheung K, Sharma A, Dimitriadoy S, O'Connell K, Leong S, Karimi S, Lyo J, DeAngelis LM, Orlow I. Genetic variants and cognitive functions in patients with brain tumors. Neuro Oncol 2020; 21:1297-1309. [PMID: 31123752 PMCID: PMC6784270 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with brain tumors treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) often experience cognitive dysfunction. We reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APOE, COMT, and BDNF genes may influence cognition in brain tumor patients. In this study, we assessed whether genes associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), inflammation, cholesterol transport, dopamine and myelin regulation, and DNA repair may influence cognitive outcome in this population. METHODS One hundred and fifty brain tumor patients treated with RT ± CT or CT alone completed a neurocognitive assessment and provided a blood sample for genotyping. We genotyped genes/SNPs in these pathways: (i) LOAD risk/inflammation/cholesterol transport, (ii) dopamine regulation, (iii) myelin regulation, (iv) DNA repair, (v) blood-brain barrier disruption, (vi) cell cycle regulation, and (vii) response to oxidative stress. White matter (WM) abnormalities were rated on brain MRIs. RESULTS Multivariable linear regression analysis with Bayesian shrinkage estimation of SNP effects, adjusting for relevant demographic, disease, and treatment variables, indicated strong associations (posterior association summary [PAS] ≥ 0.95) among tests of attention, executive functions, and memory and 33 SNPs in genes involved in: LOAD/inflammation/cholesterol transport (eg, PDE7A, IL-6), dopamine regulation (eg, DRD1, COMT), myelin repair (eg, TCF4), DNA repair (eg, RAD51), cell cycle regulation (eg, SESN1), and response to oxidative stress (eg, GSTP1). The SNPs were not significantly associated with WM abnormalities. CONCLUSION This novel study suggests that polymorphisms in genes involved in aging and inflammation, dopamine, myelin and cell cycle regulation, and DNA repair and response to oxidative stress may be associated with cognitive outcome in patients with brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise D Correa
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Jaya Satagopan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Axel Martin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Erica Braun
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Maria Kryza-Lacombe
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California
| | - Kenneth Cheung
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ajay Sharma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sofia Dimitriadoy
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Kelli O'Connell
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Siok Leong
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sasan Karimi
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - John Lyo
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Lisa M DeAngelis
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Irene Orlow
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Elton A, Smith CT, Parrish MH, Boettiger CA. COMT Val 158Met Polymorphism Exerts Sex-Dependent Effects on fMRI Measures of Brain Function. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:578. [PMID: 29270116 PMCID: PMC5723646 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) modulate executive functions. A key regulator of PFC dopamine is catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). The activity level of the COMT enzyme are influenced by sex and the Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680) of the COMT gene, with male sex and Val alleles both being associated with higher bulk enzyme activity, and presumably lower PFC dopamine. COMT genotype has not only been associated with individual differences in frontal dopamine-mediated behaviors, but also with variations in neuroimaging measures of brain activity and functional connectivity. In this study, we investigated whether COMT genotype predicts individual differences in neural activity and connectivity, and whether such effects are sex-dependent. We tested 93 healthy adults (48 females), genotyped for the Val158Met polymorphism, in a delay discounting task and at rest during fMRI. Delay discounting behavior was predicted by an interaction of COMT genotype and sex, consistent with a U-shaped relationship with enzyme activity. COMT genotype and sex similarly exhibited U-shaped relationships with individual differences in neural activation, particularly among networks that were most engaged by the task, including the default-mode network. Effects of COMT genotype and sex on functional connectivity during rest were also U-shaped. In contrast, flexible reorganization of network connections across task conditions varied linearly with COMT among both sexes. These data provide insight into the potential influences of COMT-regulated variations in catecholamine levels on brain function, which may represent endophenotypes for disorders of impulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Elton
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Christopher T Smith
- Neuroscience Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Michael H Parrish
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Charlotte A Boettiger
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Neuroscience Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.,Biomedical Research Imaging Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Geller S, Wilhelm O, Wacker J, Hamm A, Hildebrandt A. Associations of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism with working memory and intelligence – A review and meta-analysis. INTELLIGENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Bastos P, Gomes T, Ribeiro L. Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT): An Update on Its Role in Cancer, Neurological and Cardiovascular Diseases. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 173:1-39. [DOI: 10.1007/112_2017_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Fallon SJ, Zokaei N, Norbury A, Manohar SG, Husain M. Dopamine Alters the Fidelity of Working Memory Representations according to Attentional Demands. J Cogn Neurosci 2016; 29:728-738. [PMID: 27897674 PMCID: PMC5889096 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Capacity limitations in working memory (WM) necessitate the need to
effectively control its contents. Here, we examined the effect of cabergoline, a
dopamine D2 receptor agonist, on WM using a continuous report
paradigm that allowed us to assess the fidelity with which items are stored. We
assessed recall performance under three different gating conditions: remembering
only one item, being cued to remember one target among distractors, and having
to remember all items. Cabergoline had differential effects on recall
performance according to whether distractors had to be ignored and whether
mnemonic resources could be deployed exclusively to the target. Compared with
placebo, cabergoline improved mnemonic performance when there were no
distractors but significantly reduced performance when distractors were
presented in a precue condition. No significant difference in performance was
observed under cabergoline when all items had to be remembered. By applying a
stochastic model of response selection, we established that the causes of
drug-induced changes in performance were due to changes in the precision with
which items were stored in WM. However, there was no change in the extent to
which distractors were mistaken for targets. Thus, D2 agonism causes
changes in the fidelity of mnemonic representations without altering
interference between memoranda.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Masud Husain
- University of Oxford.,John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
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