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Wang J, Christensen D, Coombes SA, Wang Z. Cognitive and brain morphological deviations in middle-to-old aged autistic adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105782. [PMID: 38944227 PMCID: PMC11283673 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive challenges and brain structure variations are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but are rarely explored in middle-to-old aged autistic adults. Cognitive deficits that overlap between young autistic individuals and elderlies with dementia raise an important question: does compromised cognitive ability and brain structure during early development drive autistic adults to be more vulnerable to pathological aging conditions, or does it protect them from further decline? To answer this question, we have synthesized current theoretical models of aging in ASD and conducted a systematic literature review (Jan 1, 1980 - Feb 29, 2024) and meta-analysis to summarize empirical studies on cognitive and brain deviations in middle-to-old aged autistic adults. We explored findings that support different aging theories in ASD and addressed study limitations and future directions. This review sheds light on the poorly understood consequences of aging question raised by the autism community to pave the way for future studies to identify sensitive and reliable measures that best predict the onset, progression, and prognosis of pathological aging in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Wang
- Neurocognitive and Behavioral Development Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA
| | - Danielle Christensen
- Neurocognitive and Behavioral Development Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA; Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA
| | - Stephen A Coombes
- Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Neurocognitive and Behavioral Development Laboratory, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, PO Box 118206, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA.
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Klein CB, Klinger LG. Aging Well and Autism: A Narrative Review and Recommendations for Future Research. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1207. [PMID: 38921321 PMCID: PMC11203987 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12121207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
With autism first recognized in the 1940s, the early cohorts of autistic children are beginning to enter older adulthood. Little is known about the experiences and outcomes of autistic older adults. In the general population, "successful aging" is a dominant model among gerontologists and is used to evaluate outcomes in older adulthood. This narrative review aims to provide a framework for understanding and supporting successful aging in older autistic adults. Using Fernández-Ballesteros' four-domain model of "aging well" we review knowledge on aging and autism by examining outcomes in health and functioning, cognitive and physical functioning, positive affect and control, and social participation and engagement. Findings indicate that outcomes in autistic older adults are generally poor, marked by increased medical conditions, low adaptive skills, elevated risk of cognitive decline, limited physical activity, high rates of mental health conditions, low quality of life, and reduced social or community participation. Patterns of challenges are similar across cognitive abilities and profiles of autistic traits. Challenges and next steps in aging and autism research are identified, and future directions for the field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire B. Klein
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- UNC TEACCH Autism Program, Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura G. Klinger
- UNC TEACCH Autism Program, Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Naddaf M. Autistic people three times more likely to develop Parkinson's-like symptoms. Nature 2024:10.1038/d41586-024-01572-w. [PMID: 38806773 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-01572-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
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4
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Hamzic E, Spahic L, Pistoljevic N, Dzanko E, Pasic S, Kadric L, Serdarevic F, Hajdarpasic A. Exploratory genetic analysis in children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disorders using whole exome sequencing. BIOMOLECULES & BIOMEDICINE 2024; 24:888-896. [PMID: 38421723 PMCID: PMC11293238 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2024.10221] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Developmental disorders (DDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), incorporate various conditions; once identified, further diagnostics are necessary to specify their type and severity. The aim of this exploratory study was to identify genetic variants that can help differentiate ASD early from other DDs. We selected 36 children (mean age 60.1 months) with DDs using Developmental Behavioral Scales (DBS) through "EDUS-Education for All", an organization providing services for children with developmental disorders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We further rated children's autistic traits with the preschool version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, second edition (CARS-II). We defined ASD if scores were >25.5 and other DDs if scores were <25.5. Diagnosis of ASD and DD were independently confirmed by child psychiatrists. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed by Veritas Genetics, USA, using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) next-generation sequencing (NGS) apparatus. We tested genetic association by applying SKAT-O, which optimally combines the standard Sequence Kernel Association Test (SKAT) and burden tests to identify rare variants associated with complex traits in samples of limited power. The analysis yielded seven genes (DSE, COL10A1, DLK2, CSMD1, FAM47E, PPIA, PYDC2) to potentially differentiate observed phenotypic characteristics between our cohort participants with ASD and other DDs. Our exploratory study in a small sample of participants with ASD and other DDs contributed to gene discovery in differentiating ASD from DDs. A replication study is needed in a larger sample to confirm our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edin Hamzic
- Biocomputix, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- BioCertica, Paarl, South Africa
| | - Lemana Spahic
- International Burch University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | - Eldin Dzanko
- Education for All (EDUS), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Sanela Pasic
- Department of Economics and Business, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Lejla Kadric
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Sarajevo Medical School, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Fadila Serdarevic
- Department of Epidemiology, Sarajevo Medical School, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aida Hajdarpasic
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Sarajevo Medical School, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Desalegn AA, van der Ent W, Lenters V, Iszatt N, Stigum H, Lyche JL, Berg V, Kirstein-Smardzewska KJ, Esguerra CV, Eggesbø M. Perinatal exposure to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals and autism spectrum disorder: From Norwegian birth cohort to zebrafish studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 181:108271. [PMID: 37879205 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental contributors such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between perinatal exposure to 27 potential EDCs and ASD among Norwegian children, and to further examine the neurodevelopmental toxicity of associated chemicals using zebrafish embryos and larvae. METHOD 1,199 mothers enrolled in the prospective birth-cohort (HUMIS, 2002-2009) study. Breastmilk levels of 27 chemicals were measured: polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and perfluoroalkyl substances as a proxy for perinatal exposure. We employed multivariable logistic regression to determine association, utilized elastic net logistic regression as variable selection method, and conducted an in vivo study with zebrafish larvae to confirm the neurodevelopmental effect. RESULTS A total of 20 children had specialist confirmed diagnosis of autism among 1,199 mother-child pairs in this study. β-Hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) was the only chemical associated with ASD, after adjusting for 26 other chemicals. Mothers with the highest levels of β-HCH in their milk had a significant increased risk of having a child with ASD (OR = 1.82, 95 % CI: 1.20, 2.77 for an interquartile range increase in ln-transformed β-HCH concentration). The median concentration of β-HCH in breast milk was 4.37 ng/g lipid (interquartile range: 2.92-6.47), and the estimated daily intake (EDI) for Norwegian children through breastfeeding was 0.03 µg/kg of body weight. The neurodevelopmental and social behavioral effects of β-HCH were established in zebrafish embryos and larvae across various concentrations, with further analysis suggesting that perturbation of dopaminergic neuron development may underlie the neurotoxicity associated with β-HCH. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to β-HCH was associated with an increased risk of specialist-confirmed diagnoses of ASD among Norwegian children, and the EDI surpasses the established threshold. Zebrafish experiments confirm β-HCH neurotoxicity, suggesting dopaminergic neuron disruption as a potential underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anteneh Assefa Desalegn
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway; Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Wietske van der Ent
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Virissa Lenters
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nina Iszatt
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hein Stigum
- Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Ludvig Lyche
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, NO-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vidar Berg
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, NO-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karolina J Kirstein-Smardzewska
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Camila Vicencio Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Eggesbø
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
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6
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Mai AS, Yau CE, Tseng FS, Foo QXJ, Wang DQ, Tan EK. Linking autism spectrum disorders and parkinsonism: clinical and genetic association. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:484-496. [PMID: 36738194 PMCID: PMC10109258 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprise many complex and clinically distinct neurodevelopmental conditions, with increasing evidence linking them to parkinsonism. METHODS We searched Medline and Embase from inception to 21 March 2022 and reviewed the bibliographies of relevant articles. Studies were screened and reviewed comprehensively by two independent authors. RESULTS Of 863 references from our search, we included eight clinical studies, nine genetic studies, and five case reports. Regardless of age group, Parkinson's disease (PD) and parkinsonian syndromes were more frequently observed in patients with ASD, though the evidence for increased rates of parkinsonism is less clear for children and adolescents. Parkinsonian features and hypokinetic behavior were common in Rett syndrome, with prevalence estimates ranging from 40% to 80%. Frequently observed parkinsonian features include bradykinesia, rigidity, hypomimia, and gait freezing. PD gene PARK2 copy number variations appear more frequently in ASD cases than controls. Evidence suggests that RIT2 and CD157/BST1 are implicated in ASD and PD, while the evidence for other PD-related genes (DRD2, GPCR37, the SLC gene family, and SMPD1) is less clear. Rare mutations, such as ATP13A2, CLN3, and WDR45, could result in autistic behavior and concomitant parkinsonism. CONCLUSION The prevalence of parkinsonism in ASD is substantially greater than in the general population or matched controls. Various PD-associated gene loci, especially PARK2, could confer susceptibility to ASD as well. Important future directions include conducting prospective cohort studies to understand how parkinsonian symptoms may progress, genetic studies to reveal relevant gene loci, and pathophysiologic studies to identify potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Shengting Mai
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chun En Yau
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fan Shuen Tseng
- Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital Campus, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qi Xuan Joel Foo
- Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital Campus, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dennis Qing Wang
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eng-King Tan
- Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital Campus, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
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7
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Chen Y, Dai J, Tang L, Mikhailova T, Liang Q, Li M, Zhou J, Kopp RF, Weickert C, Chen C, Liu C. Neuroimmune transcriptome changes in patient brains of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:710-721. [PMID: 36424395 PMCID: PMC9911365 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01854-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation has been implicated in multiple brain disorders but the extent and the magnitude of change in immune-related genes (IRGs) across distinct brain disorders has not been directly compared. In this study, 1275 IRGs were curated and their expression changes investigated in 2467 postmortem brains of controls and patients with six major brain disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), major depressive disorder (MDD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). There were 865 IRGs present across all microarray and RNA-seq datasets. More than 60% of the IRGs had significantly altered expression in at least one of the six disorders. The differentially expressed immune-related genes (dIRGs) shared across disorders were mainly related to innate immunity. Moreover, sex, tissue, and putative cell type were systematically evaluated for immune alterations in different neuropsychiatric disorders. Co-expression networks revealed that transcripts of the neuroimmune systems interacted with neuronal-systems, both of which contribute to the pathology of brain disorders. However, only a few genes with expression changes were also identified as containing risk variants in genome-wide association studies. The transcriptome alterations at gene and network levels may clarify the immune-related pathophysiology and help to better define neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jiacheng Dai
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Longfei Tang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tatiana Mikhailova
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Qiuman Liang
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Miao Li
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhou
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Richard F Kopp
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Cynthia Weickert
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
- School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chao Chen
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
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Wang Z, Mosconi MW. Editorial: Aging with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1167014. [PMID: 36937781 PMCID: PMC10018133 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1167014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Life Span Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
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9
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Pagni BA, Walsh MJ, Ofori E, Chen K, Sullivan G, Alvar J, Monahan L, Guerithault N, Delaney S, Braden BB. Effects of age on the hippocampus and verbal memory in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal versus cross-sectional findings. Autism Res 2022; 15:1810-1823. [PMID: 36053945 PMCID: PMC9561078 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Research studying aging in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, but longitudinal work is needed. Autistic adults have increased risk of dementia, altered hippocampal volumes and fornix integrity, and verbal memory difficulties compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. This study examined longitudinal aging in middle-age adults with ASD versus a matched NT group, and compared findings with cross-sectional age effects across a broad adult age range. Participants were 194 adults with (n = 106; 74 male) and without (n = 88; 52 male) ASD, ages 18-71. Participants (n = 45; 40-70 age range) with two visits (2-3 years apart) were included in a longitudinal analysis. Hippocampal volume, fornix fractional anisotropy (FA), and verbal memory were measured via T1-weighted MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, respectively. Longitudinal mixed models were used for hippocampal system variables and reliable change index categories were used for Auditory Verbal Learning Test analyses. Multivariate regression was used for cross-sectional analyses. Middle-age adults with ASD had greater longitudinal hippocampal volume loss and were more likely to show clinically meaningful decline in short-term memory, compared with NT. In contrast, cross-sectional associations between increasing age and worsening short-term memory were identified in NT, but not autistic adults. Reduced fornix FA and long-term memory in ASD were found across the broad cross-sectional age range. These preliminary longitudinal findings suggest accelerated hippocampal volume loss in ASD and slightly higher rates of clinically-meaningful decline in verbal short-term memory. Contradictory cross-sectional and longitudinal results underscore the importance of longitudinal aging research in autistic adults. LAY SUMMARY: Autistic adults have increased risk of dementia, differences in brain memory structures, and difficulty with memory compared with neurotypical (NT) adults. However, there are no publications that follow the same middle-age autistic adults over time to see how their brain and memory change. Our preliminary findings in a small middle-age autism sample suggest a key memory brain structure, the hippocampus, may shrink faster over 2-3 years compared with NT, and short-term memory may become more challenging for some. Across a broad adult range, autistic adults also had reduced integrity of connections to the hippocampus and greater challenges with long-term memory. In our larger sample across a broad age range, the results did not hint at this aforementioned pattern of accelerated aging. This underscores the importance of more aging research in autism, and especially research where people are followed over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Broc A. Pagni
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - Melissa J.M. Walsh
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - Edward Ofori
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - Kewei Chen
- Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, 901 E. Willetta St, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Georgia Sullivan
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - Jocelyn Alvar
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - Leanna Monahan
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - Nicolas Guerithault
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - Shanna Delaney
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
| | - B. Blair Braden
- Arizona State University, College of Health Solutions, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 3407, 976 S Forest Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
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Hau J, Baker A, Chaaban C, Kohli JS, Jao Keehn RJ, Linke AC, Mash LE, Wilkinson M, Kinnear MK, Müller RA, Carper RA. Reduced asymmetry of the hand knob area and decreased sensorimotor u-fiber connectivity in middle-aged adults with autism. Cortex 2022; 153:110-125. [PMID: 35640320 PMCID: PMC9988270 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently present with impairments in motor skills (e.g., limb coordination, handwriting and balance), which are observed across the lifespan but remain largely untreated. Many adults with ASD may thus experience adverse motor outcomes in aging, when physical decline naturally occurs. The 'hand knob' of the sensorimotor cortex is an area that is critical for motor control of the fingers and hands. However, this region has received little attention in ASD research, especially in adults after midlife. The hand knob area of the precentral (PrChand) and postcentral (PoChand) gyri was semi-manually delineated in 49 right-handed adults (25 ASD, 24 typical comparison [TC] participants, aged 41-70 years). Using multimodal (T1-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and resting-state functional) MRI, we examined the morphology, ipsilateral connectivity and laterality of these regions. We also explored correlations between hand knob measures with motor skills and autism symptoms, and between structural and functional connectivity measures. Bayesian analyses indicated moderate evidence of group effects with greater right PrChand volume and reduced leftward laterality of PrChand and PoChand volume in the ASD relative to TC group. Furthermore, the right PoC-PrChand u-fibers showed increased mean diffusivity in the ASD group. In the ASD group, right u-fiber volume positively correlated with corresponding functional connectivity but did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Correlations of hand knob measures and behavior were observed in the ASD group but did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Our findings suggest that morphological laterality and u-fiber connectivity of the sensorimotor network, putatively involved in hand motor/premotor function, may be diminished in middle-aged adults with ASD, perhaps rendering them more vulnerable to motor decline in old age. The altered morphology may relate to atypical functional motor asymmetries found in ASD earlier in life, possibly reflecting altered functional asymmetries over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Hau
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ashley Baker
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Chantal Chaaban
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jiwandeep S Kohli
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - R Joanne Jao Keehn
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Annika C Linke
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lisa E Mash
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Molly Wilkinson
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mikaela K Kinnear
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ruth A Carper
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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11
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Huo Y, Lu W, Tian Y, Hou Q, Man HY. Prkn knockout mice show autistic-like behaviors and aberrant synapse formation. iScience 2022; 25:104573. [PMID: 35789851 PMCID: PMC9249611 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with high genetic heterogeneity, affecting one in 44 children in the United States. Recent genomic sequencing studies from autistic human individuals indicate that PARK2, a gene that has long been considered in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, is involved in ASD. Here, we report that Prkn knockout (KO) mice demonstrate autistic-like behaviors including impaired social interaction, elevated repetitive behaviors, and deficits in communication. In addition, Prkn KO mice show reduced neuronal activity in the context of sociability in the prelimbic cortex. Cell morphological examination of layer 5 prelimbic cortical neurons shows a reduction in dendritic arborization and spine number. Furthermore, biochemistry and immunocytochemistry analyses reveal alterations in synapse density and the molecular composition of synapses. These findings indicate that Prkn is implicated in brain development and suggest the potential use of the Prkn KO mouse as a model for autism research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuda Huo
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wen Lu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yuan Tian
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Qingming Hou
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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12
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Heijnen-Kohl SMJ, Hitzert B, Schmidt R, Geurts HM, van Alphen SPJ. Features and Needs of Autistic Older Adults: A Delphi Study of Clinical Experiences. Clin Gerontol 2022:1-11. [PMID: 35426768 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2022.2060157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In geriatric psychiatry Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are increasingly recognized. This study explores what clinicians know about diagnostic and/or therapeutic aspects of autistic older adults and how aging plays a role in the course of ASD. METHODS A Delphi study outlines the point of view of 11 clinical experts in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders). RESULTS Regarding diagnostics, age-specific aspects need to be considered. Age-related characteristics (cognitive differences, life events, co-occurring conditions) influence detecting autistic features in older adults. Regarding treatment, counseling methods need to be adapted. Psychoeducation, family therapy, couples therapy, behavioral counseling and psychopharmaca can be helpful in meeting the needs of autistic older adults. There was no consensus on the effects of aging on autistic older adults. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis and treatment of ASD need adaptation for autistic older adults. Further research is needed on the validation of measurement tools, recorded treatment, therapy, psychoeducation, and the effects of aging among people on the autism spectrum. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Available knowledge helps clinicians to detect ASD in older adults and adapt to the specific features and needs of autistic older adults. The effects of aging on the course of ASD are unclear yet.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M J Heijnen-Kohl
- Clinical psychologist/psychotherapist and director at Mondriaan geriatric mental health care in Heerlen-Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - B Hitzert
- Psychiatrist, BuurtzorgT, The Netherlands
| | - R Schmidt
- Geriatric Psychiatrist, The Netherlands
| | - H M Geurts
- Psychology Department, University of Amsterdam; and senior researcher at the Dr. Leo Kannerhuis national autism expertise centre, The Netherlands
| | - S P J van Alphen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, The Netherlands; and health care psychologist and manager at Mondriaan geriatric mental health care in Heerlen-Maastricht, The Netherlands
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13
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Developmental pyrethroid exposure and age influence phenotypes in a Chd8 haploinsufficient autism mouse model. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5555. [PMID: 35365720 PMCID: PMC8975859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hundreds of genes have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including loss-of-function mutations in chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 8 (Chd8). Environmental factors also are implicated in autism risk and have the potential to exacerbate phenotypes in genetically sensitized backgrounds. Here we investigate transcriptional and behavioral phenotypes in a Chd8 haploinsufficient (Chd8V986*/+) mouse line exposed to the pesticide deltamethrin (DM) from conception to postnatal day 22. Vehicle-exposed Chd8V986*/+ mice displayed ASD-associated phenotypes, including anxiety-like behavior and altered sociability, replicating a previous study with this mouse line. A core set of genes was altered in Chd8V986*/+ mice at multiple ages, including Usp11, Wars2, Crlf2, and Eglf6, and proximity ligation data indicated direct binding of CHD8 to the 5’ region of these genes. Moreover, oligodendrocyte and neurodegenerative transcriptional phenotypes were apparent in 12 and 18 month old Chd8V986*/+ mice. Following DM exposure, the mutant mice displayed an exacerbated phenotype in the elevated plus maze, and genes associated with vascular endothelial cells were downregulated in the cerebral cortex of older Chd8V986*/+ animals. Our study reveals a gene x environment interaction with a Chd8 haploinsufficient mouse line and points to the importance of investigating phenotypes in ASD animal models across the lifespan.
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14
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Keller R, Ardizzone F, Finardi C, Colella R, Genuario C, Lopez M, Salerno L, Nobile E, Cicinelli G. Real-Life Social-Skills Training and Motor-Skills Training in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Con-Tatto Project Walking Down the Francigena Route. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:846619. [PMID: 35573346 PMCID: PMC9096446 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.846619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an early onset and a genetic and epigenetic component. ASD is characterized by deficits in socio-emotional reciprocity, impaired verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and specific difficulties in developing and maintaining adequate social relationships with peers. Indeed, restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities are required by DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Autistic people usually need an unchanging environment (or in any case predictable and stable) and may have hypo- or hyper-sensitivity to sensory inputs. The onset of clinical symptoms occurs during the early years of life. Social skills competence is a significant therapeutic aim to be pursued when addressing ASD core symptoms. Several considerable motor difficulties (87%) in people with autism spectrum disorder in adulthood have been found. The Con-tatto project developed a project addressing social, physical, and mental health difficulties in real-life walking down the Francigena route for 9 days with 12 autistic people, by (1) Implementing daily sessions of social skills training program whose abilities were addressed to be immediately generalized and used throughout the day. (2) Educational movement and walking activity programs were led by a fitness coach. (3) The creation of walking peers' social community with a strong and relevant impact on adults with ASD social life respecting every person's individuality. (4) Provision of social reinforcers to reduce the stigma of people with autism and the experienced perception of low self-esteem, especially when they are bullied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Keller
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio Ardizzone
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Caterina Finardi
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Rosa Colella
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Manuel Lopez
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Nobile
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cicinelli
- Adult Autism Center, Mental Health Department ASL Città di Torino, Turin, Italy
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15
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Sadeghi I, Gispert JD, Palumbo E, Muñoz-Aguirre M, Wucher V, D'Argenio V, Santpere G, Navarro A, Guigo R, Vilor-Tejedor N. Brain transcriptomic profiling reveals common alterations across neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:4549-4561. [PMID: 36090817 PMCID: PMC9428860 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders (ND-NPs) are multifactorial, polygenic and complex behavioral phenotypes caused by brain abnormalities. Large-scale collaborative efforts have tried to identify the genetic architecture of these conditions. However, the specific and shared underlying molecular pathobiology of brain illnesses is not clear. Here, we examine transcriptome-wide characterization of eight conditions, using a total of 2,633 post-mortem brain samples from patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Pathological Aging (PA), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia (Scz), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and Bipolar Disorder (BP)–in comparison with 2,078 brain samples from matched control subjects. Similar transcriptome alterations were observed between NDs and NPs with the top correlations obtained between Scz-BP, ASD-PD, AD-PD, and Scz-ASD. Region-specific comparisons also revealed shared transcriptome alterations in frontal and temporal lobes across NPs and NDs. Co-expression network analysis identified coordinated dysregulations of cell-type-specific modules across NDs and NPs. This study provides a transcriptomic framework to understand the molecular alterations of NPs and NDs through their shared- and specific gene expression in the brain.
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16
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Electrophysiological signatures of brain aging in autism spectrum disorder. Cortex 2022; 148:139-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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17
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Peng YJ, Geng J, Wu Y, Pinales C, Langen J, Chang YC, Buser C, Chang KT. Minibrain kinase and calcineurin coordinate activity-dependent bulk endocytosis through synaptojanin. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:212674. [PMID: 34596663 PMCID: PMC8491876 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202011028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons use multiple modes of endocytosis, including clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) and activity-dependent bulk endocytosis (ADBE), during mild and intense neuronal activity, respectively, to maintain stable neurotransmission. While molecular players modulating CME are well characterized, factors regulating ADBE and mechanisms coordinating CME and ADBE activations remain poorly understood. Here we report that Minibrain/DYRK1A (Mnb), a kinase mutated in autism and up-regulated in Down's syndrome, plays a novel role in suppressing ADBE. We demonstrate that Mnb, together with calcineurin, delicately coordinates CME and ADBE by controlling the phosphoinositol phosphatase activity of synaptojanin (Synj) during varying synaptic demands. Functional domain analyses reveal that Synj's 5'-phosphoinositol phosphatase activity suppresses ADBE, while SAC1 activity is required for efficient ADBE. Consequently, Parkinson's disease mutation in Synj's SAC1 domain impairs ADBE. These data identify Mnb and Synj as novel regulators of ADBE and further indicate that CME and ADBE are differentially governed by Synj's dual phosphatase domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jheng Peng
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Junhua Geng
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ying Wu
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Jennifer Langen
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Yen-Ching Chang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Karen T Chang
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.,Department of Physiology & Neuroscience, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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18
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Precision Autism: Genomic Stratification of Disorders Making Up the Broad Spectrum May Demystify Its "Epidemic Rates". J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11111119. [PMID: 34834471 PMCID: PMC8620644 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11111119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, Autism has broadened and often shifted its diagnostics criteria, allowing several neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders of known etiology. This has resulted in a highly heterogeneous spectrum with apparent exponential rates in prevalence. I ask if it is possible to leverage existing genetic information about those disorders making up Autism today and use it to stratify this spectrum. To that end, I combine genes linked to Autism in the SFARI database and genomic information from the DisGeNET portal on 25 diseases, inclusive of non-neurological ones. I use the GTEx data on genes’ expression on 54 human tissues and ask if there are overlapping genes across those associated to these diseases and those from SFARI-Autism. I find a compact set of genes across all brain-disorders which express highly in tissues fundamental for somatic-sensory-motor function, self-regulation, memory, and cognition. Then, I offer a new stratification that provides a distance-based orderly clustering into possible Autism subtypes, amenable to design personalized targeted therapies within the framework of Precision Medicine. I conclude that viewing Autism through this physiological (Precision) lens, rather than viewing it exclusively from a psychological behavioral construct, may make it a more manageable condition and dispel the Autism epidemic myth.
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19
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Bermperidis T, Rai R, Ryu J, Zanotto D, Agrawal SK, Lalwani AK, Torres EB. Optimal time lags from causal prediction model help stratify and forecast nervous system pathology. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20904. [PMID: 34686679 PMCID: PMC8536772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00156-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional clinical approaches diagnose disorders of the nervous system using standardized observational criteria. Although aiming for homogeneity of symptoms, this method often results in highly heterogeneous disorders. A standing question thus is how to automatically stratify a given random cohort of the population, such that treatment can be better tailored to each cluster's symptoms, and severity of any given group forecasted to provide neuroprotective therapies. In this work we introduce new methods to automatically stratify a random cohort of the population composed of healthy controls of different ages and patients with different disorders of the nervous systems. Using a simple walking task and measuring micro-fluctuations in their biorhythmic motions, we combine non-linear causal network connectivity analyses in the temporal and frequency domains with stochastic mapping. The methods define a new type of internal motor timings. These are amenable to create personalized clinical interventions tailored to self-emerging clusters signaling fundamentally different types of gait pathologies. We frame our results using the principle of reafference and operationalize them using causal prediction, thus renovating the theory of internal models for the study of neuromotor control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richa Rai
- Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA
| | - Jihye Ryu
- Neurosurgery Department, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Damiano Zanotto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, USA
| | - Sunil K Agrawal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA.,Department of Rehabilitative and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Anil K Lalwani
- New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA.,Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth B Torres
- Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Piscataway, USA. .,Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Science (RUCCS), Piscataway, USA. .,Computational Biomedicine Imaging and Modelling, Piscataway, USA.
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20
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Ouellette J, Lacoste B. From Neurodevelopmental to Neurodegenerative Disorders: The Vascular Continuum. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:749026. [PMID: 34744690 PMCID: PMC8570842 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.749026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature ensures proper brain development and function, as well as healthy aging. The inability of the brain to store energy makes it exceptionally dependent on an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients from the blood stream for matching colossal demands of neural and glial cells. Key vascular features including a dense vasculature, a tightly controlled environment, and the regulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) all take part in brain health throughout life. As such, healthy brain development and aging are both ensured by the anatomical and functional interaction between the vascular and nervous systems that are established during brain development and maintained throughout the lifespan. During critical periods of brain development, vascular networks remodel until they can actively respond to increases in neural activity through neurovascular coupling, which makes the brain particularly vulnerable to neurovascular alterations. The brain vasculature has been strongly associated with the onset and/or progression of conditions associated with aging, and more recently with neurodevelopmental disorders. Our understanding of cerebrovascular contributions to neurological disorders is rapidly evolving, and increasing evidence shows that deficits in angiogenesis, CBF and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are causally linked to cognitive impairment. Moreover, it is of utmost curiosity that although neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders express different clinical features at different stages of life, they share similar vascular abnormalities. In this review, we present an overview of vascular dysfunctions associated with neurodevelopmental (autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, Down Syndrome) and neurodegenerative (multiple sclerosis, Huntington's, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases) disorders, with a focus on impairments in angiogenesis, CBF and the BBB. Finally, we discuss the impact of early vascular impairments on the expression of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Ouellette
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Neuroscience Program, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Baptiste Lacoste
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Neuroscience Program, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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21
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Hau J, S Kohli J, Shryock I, Kinnear MK, Schadler A, Müller RA, Carper RA. Supplementary and Premotor Aspects of the Corticospinal Tract Show Links with Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors in Middle-Aged Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3962-3972. [PMID: 33791751 PMCID: PMC8258444 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show motor impairment into adulthood and risk decline during aging, but little is known about brain changes in aging adults with ASD. Few studies of ASD have directly examined the corticospinal tract (CST)-the major descending pathway in the brain responsible for voluntary motor behavior-outside its primary motor (M1) connections. In 26 middle-aged adults with ASD and 26 age-matched typical comparison participants, we used diffusion imaging to examine the microstructure and volume of CST projections from M1, dorsal premotor (PMd), supplementary motor area (SMA), and primary somatosensory (S1) cortices with respect to age. We also examined relationships between each CST sub-tract (-cst), motor skills, and autism symptoms. We detected no significant group or age-related differences in tracts extending from M1 or other areas. However, sub-tracts of the CST extending from secondary (but not primary) motor areas were associated with core autism traits. Increased microstructural integrity of left PMd-cst and SMA-cst were associated with less-severe restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRB) in the ASD group. These findings suggest that secondary motor cortical areas, known to be involved in selecting motor programs, may be implicated in cognitive motor processes underlying RRB in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice Hau
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Jiwandeep S Kohli
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Ian Shryock
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Mikaela K Kinnear
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Adam Schadler
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Ruth A Carper
- Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
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22
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Geurts HM, McQuaid GA, Begeer S, Wallace GL. Self-reported parkinsonism features in older autistic adults: A descriptive study. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 26:217-229. [PMID: 34154378 PMCID: PMC8750133 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211020183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autistic adults without a suspected intellectual disability reported several motor features such as having tremors, and stiffness in one's legs which are considered to be part of a complex of motor features called parkinsonism. This so-called parkinsonism was remarkably prevalent in middle-aged and older autistic adults in two independent studies (Dutch study: 50-81 years, 183 males, 113 females, all adulthood diagnoses; the USA study: 50-83 years, 110 females, 109 males, majority adulthood diagnosis). Parkinsonism can be part of the progressive motor disease-Parkinson's disease. Therefore, it is important that future studies, including in-person neurological assessment, determine if (and if so, why) autistic adults who report these motor features are at increased risk for developing Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilde M Geurts
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Leo Kannerhuis (Youz/Parnassiagroup), The Netherlands
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23
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Characteristics of Older Autistic Adults: a Systematic Review of Literature. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-021-00238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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24
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Jiménez JA, Ptacek TS, Tuttle AH, Schmid RS, Moy SS, Simon JM, Zylka MJ. Chd8 haploinsufficiency impairs early brain development and protein homeostasis later in life. Mol Autism 2020; 11:74. [PMID: 33023670 PMCID: PMC7537101 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00369-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (Chd8) is a high-confidence risk gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, how Chd8 haploinsufficiency impairs gene expression in the brain and impacts behavior at different stages of life is unknown. Methods We generated a mutant mouse line with an ASD-linked loss-of-function mutation in Chd8 (V986*; stop codon mutation). We examined the behavior of Chd8 mutant mice along with transcriptional changes in the cerebral cortex as a function of age, with a focus on one embryonic (E14.5) and three postnatal ages (1, 6, and 12 months). Results Chd8V986*/+ mutant mice displayed macrocephaly, reduced rearing responses and reduced center time in the open field, and enhanced social novelty preference. Behavioral phenotypes were more evident in Chd8V986*/+ mutant mice at 1 year of age. Pup survival was reduced in wild-type x Chd8V986*/+ crosses when the mutant parent was female. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that pathways associated with synaptic and neuronal projections and sodium channel activity were reduced in the cortex of embryonic Chd8V986*/+ mice and then equalized relative to wild-type mice in the postnatal period. At 12 months of age, expression of genes associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, chaperone-mediated protein folding, and the unfolded protein response (UPR) were reduced in Chd8V986*/+ mice, whereas genes associated with the c-MET signaling pathway were increased in expression. Limitations It is unclear whether the transcriptional changes observed with age in Chd8V986*/+ mice reflect a direct effect of CHD8-regulated gene expression, or if CHD8 indirectly affects the expression of UPR/ER stress genes in adult mice as a consequence of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Conclusions Collectively, these data suggest that UPR/ER stress pathways are reduced in the cerebral cortex of aged Chd8V986*/+ mice. Our study uncovers neurodevelopmental and age-related phenotypes in Chd8V986*/+ mice and highlights the importance of controlling for age when studying Chd8 haploinsufficient mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Jiménez
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Travis S Ptacek
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Alex H Tuttle
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ralf S Schmid
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sheryl S Moy
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box #7264, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mark J Zylka
- UNC Neuroscience Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. .,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. .,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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The Role of Alpha-Synuclein and Other Parkinson's Genes in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165724. [PMID: 32785033 PMCID: PMC7460874 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental and late-onset neurodegenerative disorders present as separate entities that are clinically and neuropathologically quite distinct. However, recent evidence has highlighted surprising commonalities and converging features at the clinical, genomic, and molecular level between these two disease spectra. This is particularly striking in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Genetic causes and risk factors play a central role in disease pathophysiology and enable the identification of overlapping mechanisms and pathways. Here, we focus on clinico-genetic studies of causal variants and overlapping clinical and cellular features of ASD and PD. Several genes and genomic regions were selected for our review, including SNCA (alpha-synuclein), PARK2 (parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase), chromosome 22q11 deletion/DiGeorge region, and FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation 1) repeat expansion, which influence the development of both ASD and PD, with converging features related to synaptic function and neurogenesis. Both PD and ASD display alterations and impairments at the synaptic level, representing early and key disease phenotypes, which support the hypothesis of converging mechanisms between the two types of diseases. Therefore, understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms might inform on common targets and therapeutic approaches. We propose to re-conceptualize how we understand these disorders and provide a new angle into disease targets and mechanisms linking neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration.
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Caballero C, Mistry S, Torres EB. Age-Dependent Statistical Changes of Involuntary Head Motion Signatures Across Autism and Controls of the ABIDE Repository. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:23. [PMID: 32625069 PMCID: PMC7311771 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The DSM-5 definition of autism spectrum disorders includes sensory issues and part of the sensory information that the brain continuously receives comes from kinesthetic reafference, in the form of self-generated motions, including those that the nervous systems produce at rest. Some of the movements that we self-generate are deliberate, while some occur spontaneously, consequentially following those that we can control. Yet, some motions occur involuntarily, largely beneath our awareness. We do not know much about involuntary motions across development, but these motions typically manifest during resting state in fMRI studies. Here we ask in a large data set from the Autism Brain Imaging Exchange repository, whether the stochastic signatures of variability in the involuntary motions of the head typically shift with age. We further ask if those motions registered from individuals with autism show a significant departure from the normative data as we examine different age groups selected at random from cross-sections of the population. We find significant shifts in statistical features of typical levels of involuntary head motions for different age groups. Further, we find that in autism these changes also manifest in non-uniform ways, and that they significantly differ from their age-matched groups. The results suggest that the levels of random involuntary motor noise are elevated in autism across age groups. This calls for the use of different age-appropriate statistical models in research that involves dynamically changing signals self-generated by the nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Caballero
- Sports Research Center, Sports Sciences Department, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain.,Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Sejal Mistry
- Department of Mathematics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Elizabeth B Torres
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States.,Computer Science, Center for Computational Biomedicine Imaging and Modeling, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States.,Center for Cognitive Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
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Sonido M, Arnold S, Higgins J, Hwang YIJ. Autism in Later Life: What Is Known and What Is Needed? CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-020-00192-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
Most research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has focused on younger individuals, but there is increasing awareness that more must be known about the clinical needs and outcomes of older adults with ASD. This article reviews what is known about barriers to recognition in the elderly, the prevalence of ASD over the lifespan, outcomes in adulthood in comparison to the general population, co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses, and healthcare needs in this population.
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Stewart GR, Corbett A, Ballard C, Creese B, Aarsland D, Hampshire A, Charlton RA, Happé F. The Mental and Physical Health of Older Adults With a Genetic Predisposition for Autism. Autism Res 2020; 13:641-654. [PMID: 32045138 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Autism commonly aggregates in families, with twin studies estimating heritability to be around 80%. Subclinical autism-like characteristics have also been found at elevated rates in relatives of autistic probands. Physical and psychiatric conditions have been reported at elevated rates in autistic children and adults, and also in their relatives. However, to date, there has been no exploration of how aging may affect this pattern. This study examined cross-sectional data from the ongoing online PROTECT study. A total of 20,220 adults aged 50 years and older reported whether they have an autistic first-degree relative. In total, 739 older adults reported having an autistic first-degree relative (AFDR group) and 11,666 were identified as having no family history of any neurodevelopmental disorder (NFD group). The AFDR group demonstrated significantly higher frequencies of self-reported psychiatric diagnoses and a greater total number of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses than the NFD group. Furthermore, the AFDR group reported elevated current self-report symptoms of depression, anxiety, traumatic experience, and post-traumatic stress than the NFD group. By contrast, few differences between AFDR and NFD groups were observed in physical health conditions, and no differences were observed in the total number of co-occurring physical health diagnoses. These findings suggest that adults who have an AFDR may be at greater risk of poor mental, but not physical, health in later life. Older adults with autistic relatives may benefit from close monitoring to mitigate this susceptibility and to provide timely intervention. Autism Res 2020, 13: 641-654. © 2020 The Authors. Autism Research published by International Society for Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Children and adults with an autistic relative have been found to experience more psychiatric difficulties than those with no family links to autism. However, a few studies have explored what happens when these individuals get older. Examining over 20,000 adults age 50+, we found that older adults with an autistic relative experienced elevated rates of most psychiatric conditions but not physical conditions. Older adults with autistic relatives may benefit from close monitoring to mitigate this susceptibility and to provide timely intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin R Stewart
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anne Corbett
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Clive Ballard
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Byron Creese
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Dag Aarsland
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Adam Hampshire
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Francesca Happé
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Mostert-Kerckhoffs MAL, Willems AE, Tenback DE, Koning JP, Van Harten P, Staal WG. Motor Disturbance in ASD: A Pilot Study Showing Hypokinetic Behavior? J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:415-428. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04171-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of families with complex intellectual disability identified pathogenic genetic variations in known and novel disease genes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:968. [PMID: 31969655 PMCID: PMC6976666 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57929-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID), which presents itself during childhood, belongs to a group of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) that are clinically widely heterogeneous and highly heritable, often being caused by single gene defects. Indeed, NDDs can be attributed to mutations at over 1000 loci, and all type of mutations, ranging from single nucleotide variations (SNVs) to large, complex copy number variations (CNVs), have been reported in patients with ID and other related NDDs. In this study, we recruited seven different recessive NDD families with comorbidities to perform a detailed clinical characterization and a complete genomic analysis that consisted of a combination of high throughput SNP-based genotyping and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Different disease-associated loci and pathogenic gene mutations were identified in each family, including known (n = 4) and novel (n = 2) mutations in known genes (NAGLU, SLC5A2, POLR3B, VPS13A, SYN1, SPG11), and the identification of a novel disease gene (n = 1; NSL1). Functional analyses were additionally performed in a gene associated with autism-like symptoms and epileptic seizures for further proof of pathogenicity. Lastly, detailed genotype-phenotype correlations were carried out to assist with the diagnosis of prospective families and to determine genomic variation with clinical relevance. We concluded that the combination of linkage analyses and WGS to search for disease genes still remains a fruitful strategy for complex diseases with a variety of mutated genes and heterogeneous phenotypic manifestations, allowing for the identification of novel mutations, genes, and phenotypes, and leading to improvements in both diagnostic strategies and functional characterization of disease mechanisms.
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Bathelt J, Koolschijn PC, Geurts HM. Age-variant and age-invariant features of functional brain organization in middle-aged and older autistic adults. Mol Autism 2020; 11:9. [PMID: 31993112 PMCID: PMC6977283 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-0316-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The majority of research effort into autism has been dedicated to understanding mechanisms during early development. As a consequence, research on the broader life course of an autism spectrum condition (ASC) has largely been neglected and almost nothing is known about ASC beyond middle age. Differences in brain connectivity that arise during early development may be maintained across the lifespan and may play protective or detrimental roles in older age. Method This study explored age-related differences in functional connectivity across middle and older age in clinically diagnosed autistic adults (n = 44, 30-73 years) and in an age-matched typical comparison group (n = 45). Results The results indicated parallel age-related associations in ASC and typical aging for the local efficiency and connection strength of the default mode network and for the segregation of the frontoparietal control network. In contrast, group differences in visual network connectivity are compatible with a safeguarding interpretation of less age-related decline in brain function in ASC. This divergence was mirrored in different associations between visual network connectivity and reaction time variability in the ASC and comparison group. Limitations The study is cross-sectional and may be affected by cohort effects. As all participants received their autism diagnosis in adulthood, this might hinder generalizability. Conclusion These results highlight the complexity of aging in ASC with both parallel and divergent trajectories across different aspects of functional network organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Bathelt
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - P. Cédric Koolschijn
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hilde M. Geurts
- Dutch Autism & ADHD Research Center, Brain & Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Torres EB, Caballero C, Mistry S. Aging with Autism Departs Greatly from Typical Aging. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20020572. [PMID: 31968701 PMCID: PMC7014496 DOI: 10.3390/s20020572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Autism has been largely portrayed as a psychiatric and childhood disorder. However, autism is a lifelong neurological condition that evolves over time through highly heterogeneous trajectories. These trends have not been studied in relation to normative aging trajectories, so we know very little about aging with autism. One aspect that seems to develop differently is the sense of movement, inclusive of sensory kinesthetic-reafference emerging from continuously sensed self-generated motions. These include involuntary micro-motions eluding observation, yet routinely obtainable in fMRI studies to rid images of motor artifacts. Open-access repositories offer thousands of imaging records, covering 5-65 years of age for both neurotypical and autistic individuals to ascertain the trajectories of involuntary motions. Here we introduce new computational techniques that automatically stratify different age groups in autism according to probability distance in different representational spaces. Further, we show that autistic cross-sectional population trajectories in probability space fundamentally differ from those of neurotypical controls and that after 40 years of age, there is an inflection point in autism, signaling a monotonically increasing difference away from age-matched normative involuntary motion signatures. Our work offers new age-appropriate stochastic analyses amenable to redefine basic research and provide dynamic diagnoses as the person's nervous systems age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B. Torres
- Psychology Department Center for Biomedicine Imaging and Modelling, CS Department and Rutgers Center for Cognitive Science, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08854, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-732-208-3158
| | - Carla Caballero
- Sports Science Department, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Alicante, Spain;
| | - Sejal Mistry
- Biomathematics Department, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ 08854, USA;
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Torres EB, Rai R, Mistry S, Gupta B. Hidden Aspects of the Research ADOS Are Bound to Affect Autism Science. Neural Comput 2020; 32:515-561. [PMID: 31951797 DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The research-grade Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS) is a broadly used instrument that informs and steers much of the science of autism. Despite its broad use, little is known about the empirical variability inherently present in the scores of the ADOS scale or their appropriateness to define change and its rate, to repeatedly use this test to characterize neurodevelopmental trajectories. Here we examine the empirical distributions of research-grade ADOS scores from 1324 records in a cross-section of the population comprising participants with autism between five and 65 years of age. We find that these empirical distributions violate the theoretical requirements of normality and homogeneous variance, essential for independence between bias and sensitivity. Further, we assess a subset of 52 typical controls versus those with autism and find a lack of proper elements to characterize neurodevelopmental trajectories in a coping nervous system changing at nonuniform, nonlinear rates. Repeating the assessments over four visits in a subset of the participants with autism for whom verbal criteria retained the same appropriate ADOS modules over the time span of the four visits reveals that switching the clinician changes the cutoff scores and consequently influences the diagnosis, despite maintaining fidelity in the same test's modules, room conditions, and tasks' fluidity per visit. Given the changes in probability distribution shape and dispersion of these ADOS scores, the lack of appropriate metric spaces to define similarity measures to characterize change and the impact that these elements have on sensitivity-bias codependencies and on longitudinal tracking of autism, we invite a discussion on readjusting the use of this test for scientific purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B Torres
- Psychology Department; Computer Science, Center for Biomedical Imagining and Modeling; and Rutgers University Center for Cognitive Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.
| | - Richa Rai
- Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.
| | - Sejal Mistry
- Mathematics Department, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, U.S.A.
| | - Brenda Gupta
- Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, U.S.A.
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Linke AC, Kinnear MK, Kohli JS, Fong CH, Lincoln AJ, Carper RA, Müller RA. Impaired motor skills and atypical functional connectivity of the sensorimotor system in 40- to 65-year-old adults with autism spectrum disorders. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 85:104-112. [PMID: 31732217 PMCID: PMC6948185 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Impairments in fine and gross motor function, coordination, and balance in early development are common in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is unclear whether these deficits persist into adulthood and whether they may be exacerbated by additional motor problems that often emerge in typical aging. We assessed motor skills and used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to study intrinsic functional connectivity of the sensorimotor network in 40- to 65-year-old adults with ASDs (n = 17) and typically developing matched adults (n = 19). Adults with ASDs scored significantly lower on assessments of motor skills compared with an age-matched group of typical control adults. In addition, functional connectivity of the sensorimotor system was reduced and the pattern of connectivity was more heterogeneous in adults with ASDs. A negative correlation between functional connectivity of the motor system and motor skills, however, was only found in the typical control group. Findings suggest behavioral impairment and atypical brain organization of the motor system in middle-age adults with ASDs, accompanied by pronounced heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Carola Linke
- Department of Psychology, The Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mikaela Kelsey Kinnear
- Department of Psychology, The Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jiwandeep Singh Kohli
- Department of Psychology, The Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christopher Hilton Fong
- Department of Psychology, The Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alan John Lincoln
- The Department of Clinical Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ruth Anna Carper
- Department of Psychology, The Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Ralph-Axel Müller
- Department of Psychology, The Brain Development Imaging Laboratories, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
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Whole-Body Movement during Videogame Play Distinguishes Youth with Autism from Youth with Typical Development. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20094. [PMID: 31882934 PMCID: PMC6934713 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56362-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder struggle with motor difficulties throughout the life span, and these motor difficulties may affect independent living skills and quality of life. Yet, we know little about how whole-body movement may distinguish individuals with autism spectrum disorder from individuals with typical development. In this study, kinematic and postural sway data were collected during multiple sessions of videogame play in 39 youth with autism spectrum disorder and 23 age-matched youth with typical development (ages 7–17 years). The youth on the autism spectrum exhibited more variability and more entropy in their movements. Machine learning analysis of the youths’ motor patterns distinguished between the autism spectrum and typically developing groups with high aggregate accuracy (up to 89%), with no single region of the body seeming to drive group differences. Moreover, the machine learning results corresponded to individual differences in performance on standardized motor tasks and measures of autism symptom severity. The machine learning algorithm was also sensitive to age, suggesting that motor challenges in autism may be best characterized as a developmental motor delay rather than an autism-distinct motor profile. Overall, these results reveal that whole-body movement is a distinguishing feature in autism spectrum disorder and that movement atypicalities in autism are present across the body.
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Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Behavior Disorder and REM Sleep with Atonia in the Young. Can J Neurol Sci 2019; 47:100-108. [PMID: 31549602 DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2019.302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and REM sleep without atonia (RWA) have assumed much clinical importance with long-term data showing progression into neurodegenerative conditions among older adults. However, much less is known about RBD and RWA in younger populations. This study aims at comparing clinical and polysomnographic (PSG) characteristics of young patients presenting with RBD, young patients with other neurological conditions, and normal age-matched subjects. METHODS A retrospective chart review was carried out for consecutive young patients (<25 years) presenting with clinical features of RBD; and data were compared to data from patients with epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism, as well as normal subjects who underwent PSG during a 2-year-period. RESULTS Twelve patients fulfilling RBD diagnostic criteria, 22 autism patients, 10 with ADHD, 30 with epilepsy, and 14 normal subjects were included. Eight patients with autism (30%), three with ADHD (30%), one with epilepsy (3.3%), and six patients who had presented with RBD like symptoms (50%) had abnormal movements and behaviors during REM sleep. Excessive transient muscle activity and/or sustained muscle activity during REM epochs was found in all patients who had presented with RBD, in 16/22 (72%) autistic patients, 6/10 (60%) ADHD patients compared to only 6/30 (20%) patients with epilepsy and in none of the normal subjects. CONCLUSION We observed that a large percentage of young patients with autism and ADHD and some with epilepsy demonstrate loss of REM-associated atonia and some RBD-like behaviors on polysomnography similar to young patients presenting with RBD.
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Bishop-Fitzpatrick L, Rubenstein E. The Physical and Mental Health of Middle Aged and Older Adults on the Autism Spectrum and the Impact of Intellectual Disability. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2019; 63:34-41. [PMID: 31768189 PMCID: PMC6876625 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People on the autism spectrum may have more physical and mental health conditions in midlife and old age compared to the general population. This study describes the physical and mental health of a unique sample of all middle aged and older Wisconsin Medicaid beneficiaries with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and tests differences between those with and without co-occurring intellectual disability. METHOD Using de-identified Medicaid claims data for 143 adults with a recorded autism spectrum disorder diagnosis aged 40-88 years with any Wisconsin Medicaid claims in 2012 through 2015, we extracted diagnoses for physical and mental health conditions from fee-for-service claims. Logistic regression analyses-controlling for sex, race, and age-compared the adjusted odds of physical and mental health conditions for those with and without intellectual disability. RESULTS Many physical and mental health conditions, including immune conditions (70.6%), cardiovascular disease (49.0%) and its risk factors (46.2%), sleep disorders (85.3%), gastrointestinal disorders (49.7%), neurologic conditions (55.9%), and psychiatric disorders (72.0%) were highly prevalent in our full sample. Although there were many similarities between those individuals with and without co-occurring intellectual disability, middle aged and older adults on the autism spectrum had higher prevalence of epilepsy and lower prevalence of depression and anxiety compared to those without co-occurring intellectual disability. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that people on the autism spectrum have a high prevalence of physical and mental health conditions in midlife and old age, regardless of intellectual disability status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Bishop-Fitzpatrick
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Roestorf A, Bowler D, Deserno M, Howlin P, Klinger L, McConachie H, Parr J, Powell P, Van Heijst B, Geurts H. "Older Adults with ASD: The Consequences of Aging." Insights from a series of special interest group meetings held at the International Society for Autism Research 2016-2017. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2019; 63:3-12. [PMID: 31275429 PMCID: PMC6559228 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
A special interest group (SIG) entitled "Older Adults with ASD: The Consequences of Aging" was held at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) annual meetings in 2016 and 2017. The SIG and subsequent meetings brought together, for the first time, international delegates who were members of the autistic community, researchers, practitioners and service providers. Based on aging autism research that is already underway in UK, Europe, Australia and North America, discussions focussed on conceptualising the parameters of aging when referring to autism, and the measures that are appropriate to use with older adults when considering diagnostic assessment, cognitive factors and quality of life in older age. Thus, the aim of this SIG was to progress the research agenda on current and future directions for autism research in the context of aging. A global issue on how to define 'aging' when referring to ASD was at the forefront of discussions. The 'aging' concept can in principle refer to all developmental transitions. However, in this paper we focus on the cognitive and physical changes that take place from mid-life onwards. Accordingly, it was agreed that aging and ASD research should focus on adults over the age of 50 years, given the high rates of co-occurring physical and mental health concerns and increased risk of premature death in some individuals. Moreover, very little is known about the cognitive change, care needs and outcomes of autistic adults beyond this age. Discussions on the topics of diagnostic and cognitive assessments, and of quality of life and well-being were explored through shared knowledge about which measures are currently being used and which background questions should be asked to obtain comprehensive and informative developmental and medical histories. Accordingly, a survey was completed by SIG delegates who were representatives of international research groups across four continents, and who are currently conducting studies with older autistic adults. Considerable overlap was identified across different research groups in measures of both autism and quality of life, which pointed to combining data and shared learnings as the logical next step. Regarding the background questions that were asked, the different research groups covered similar topics but the groups differed in the way these questions were formulated when working with autistic adults across a range of cognitive abilities. It became clear that continued input from individuals on the autism spectrum is important to ensure that questionnaires used in ongoing and future are accessible and understandable for people across the whole autistic spectrum, including those with limited verbal abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Roestorf
- The Ageing with Autism Project, Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, United Kingdom
| | - D.M. Bowler
- The Ageing with Autism Project, Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, United Kingdom
| | - M.K. Deserno
- Dutch Autism Research Center (d’Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
| | - P. Howlin
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - L. Klinger
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, TEACCH Autism Program, Department of Psychiatry, USA
| | - H. McConachie
- Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - J.R. Parr
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - P. Powell
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Psychology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - B.F.C. Van Heijst
- Dutch Autism Research Center (d’Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
| | - H.M. Geurts
- Dutch Autism Research Center (d’Arc), Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dr. Leo Kannerhuis, Doorwerth, The Netherlands
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Taoufik E, Kouroupi G, Zygogianni O, Matsas R. Synaptic dysfunction in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases: an overview of induced pluripotent stem-cell-based disease models. Open Biol 2019; 8:rsob.180138. [PMID: 30185603 PMCID: PMC6170506 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.180138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction in CNS disorders is the outcome of perturbations in physiological synapse structure and function, and can be either the cause or the consequence in specific pathologies. Accumulating data in the field of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, point to a neurodevelopmental origin of these pathologies. Due to a relatively early onset of behavioural and cognitive symptoms, it is generally acknowledged that mental illness initiates at the synapse level. On the other hand, synaptic dysfunction has been considered as an endpoint incident in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, mainly due to the considerably later onset of clinical symptoms and progressive appearance of cognitive deficits. This dichotomy has recently been challenged, particularly since the discovery of cell reprogramming technologies and the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from patient somatic cells. The creation of 'disease-in-a-dish' models for multiple CNS pathologies has revealed unexpected commonalities in the molecular and cellular mechanisms operating in both developmental and degenerative conditions, most of which meet at the synapse level. In this review we discuss synaptic dysfunction in prototype neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, emphasizing overlapping features of synaptopathy that have been suggested by studies using induced pluripotent stem-cell-based systems. These valuable disease models have highlighted a potential neurodevelopmental component in classical neurodegenerative diseases that is worth pursuing and investigating further. Moving from demonstration of correlation to understanding mechanistic causality forms the basis for developing novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Era Taoufik
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology-Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Kouroupi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology-Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Ourania Zygogianni
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology-Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Rebecca Matsas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology-Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
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Capkova P, Srovnal J, Capkova Z, Staffova K, Becvarova V, Trkova M, Adamova K, Santava A, Curtisova V, Hajduch M, Prochazka M. MLPA is a practical and complementary alternative to CMA for diagnostic testing in patients with autism spectrum disorders and identifying new candidate CNVs associated with autism. PeerJ 2019; 6:e6183. [PMID: 30647996 PMCID: PMC6330045 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous developmental disease with a significant genetic background that is frequently caused by rare copy number variants (CNVs). Microarray-based whole-genome approaches for CNV detection are widely accepted. However, the clinical significance of most CNV is poorly understood, so results obtained using such methods are sometimes ambiguous. We therefore evaluated a targeted approach based on multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) using selected probemixes to detect clinically relevant variants for diagnostic testing of ASD patients. We compare the reliability and efficiency of this test to those of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and other tests available to our laboratory. In addition, we identify new candidate genes for ASD identified in a cohort of ASD-diagnosed patients. METHOD We describe the use of MLPA, CMA, and karyotyping to detect CNV in 92 ASD patients and evaluate their clinical significance. RESULT Pathogenic and likely pathogenic mutations were identified by CMA in eight (8.07% of the studied cohort) and 12 (13.04%) ASD patients, respectively, and in eight (8.07%) and four (4.35%) patients, respectively, by MLPA. The detected mutations include the 22q13.3 deletion, which was attributed to ring chromosome 22 formation based on karyotyping. CMA revealed a total of 91 rare CNV in 55 patients: eight pathogenic, 15 designated variants of unknown significance (VOUS)-likely pathogenic, 10 VOUS-uncertain, and 58 VOUS-likely benign or benign. MLPA revealed 18 CNV in 18 individuals: eight pathogenic, four designated as VOUS-likely pathogenic, and six designated as VOUS-likely benign/benign. Rare CNVs were detected in 17 (58.62%) out of 29 females and 38 (60.32%) out of 63 males in the cohort. Two genes, DOCK8 and PARK2, were found to be overlapped by CNV designated pathogenic, VOUS-likely pathogenic, or VOUS-uncertain in multiple patients. Moreover, the studied ASD cohort exhibited significant (p < 0.05) enrichment of duplications encompassing DOCK8. CONCLUSION Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and CMA yielded concordant results for 12 patients bearing CNV designated pathogenic or VOUS-likely pathogenic. Unambiguous diagnoses were achieved for eight patients (corresponding to 8.7% of the total studied population) by both MLPA and CMA, for one (1.09%) patient by karyotyping, and for one (1.09%) patient by FRAXA testing. MLPA and CMA thus achieved identical reliability with respect to clinically relevant findings. As such, MLPA could be useful as a fast and inexpensive test in patients with syndromic autism. The detection rate of potentially pathogenic variants (VOUS-likely pathogenic) achieved by CMA was higher than that for MLPA (13.04% vs. 4.35%). However, there was no corresponding difference in the rate of unambiguous diagnoses of ASD patients. In addition, the results obtained suggest that DOCK8 may play a role in the etiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Capkova
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Srovnal
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Capkova
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Staffova
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Katerina Adamova
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Santava
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclava Curtisova
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Hajduch
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Prochazka
- Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Hirjak D, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Fritze S, Sambataro F, Kubera KM, Wolf RC. Motor dysfunction as research domain across bipolar, obsessive-compulsive and neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 95:315-335. [PMID: 30236781 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although genuine motor abnormalities (GMA) are frequently found in schizophrenia, they are also considered as an intrinsic feature of bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and neurodevelopmental disorders with early onset such as autism, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome. Such transnosological observations strongly suggest a common neural pathophysiology. This systematic review highlights the evidence on GMA and their neuroanatomical substrates in bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and neurodevelopmental disorders. The data lends support for a common pattern contributing to GMA expression in these diseases that seems to be related to cerebello-thalamo-cortical, fronto-parietal, and cortico-subcortical motor circuit dysfunction. The identified studies provide first evidence for a motor network dysfunction as a correlate of early neurodevelopmental deviance prior to clinical symptom expression. There are also first hints for a developmental risk factor model of these mental disorders. An in-depth analysis of motor networks and related patho-(physiological) mechanisms will not only help promoting Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Motor System construct, but also facilitate the development of novel psychopharmacological models, as well as the identification of neurobiologically plausible target sites for non-invasive brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusan Hirjak
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Fritze
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Katharina M Kubera
- Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert C Wolf
- Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Rubenstein E, Bishop-Fitzpatrick L. A matter of time: The necessity of temporal language in research on health conditions that present with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2018; 12:20-25. [PMID: 30184325 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Relatively consistent findings from recent studies using population-level data identify heightened physical and psychiatric morbidity in autistic people compared to the general population. Health problems that commonly present with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are generally discussed in the literature as "co-occurring" or "comorbid" regardless of their known or hypothesized causal mechanisms. In this commentary, we introduce a new temporally focused terminology to describe health conditions that present with ASD. Emphasizing the temporal development of health conditions in research will help the field understand whether conditions are (1) "truly co-occurring" (share an etiologic origin with ASD in utero and are a defining characteristic of a subphenotype), (2) "resulting" (caused by ASD related disparity or the health effect of behaviors developed to cope with ASD symptoms), or (3) "associated" (conditions more common in individuals with ASD with etiology not yet known or hypothesized, or an artifact of diagnostic process or trends). Whether a health condition is "truly co-occurring", "resulting", or "associated" has implications for how we design interventions to prevent and treat health conditions in people on the autism spectrum. Ultimately, we think that using clear and temporally focused language can set us on a path to better deduce etiology and develop effective prevention and intervention efforts for health conditions that impact the lives of autistic individuals. We hope that this approach to temporal language to describe health conditions that present with ASD promotes thought and discussion in research, advocate, and autistic communities. Autism Research 2019, 12: 20-25. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Research finds autistic people have more health problems than the general population but we do not understand why. In this commentary, we argue researchers need to use language describing the timing of health problems in autistic people, specifying whether problems truly co-occur (share a cause), result from autism-related disparities, or are more common in autistic people for an unknown reason. Clarifying language can provide more specificity in research and improve efforts to prevent and treat health problems in autistic people.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lauren Bishop-Fitzpatrick
- The Waisman Center, Madison, Wisconsin.,School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
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Bishop-Fitzpatrick L, Movaghar A, Greenberg JS, Page D, DaWalt LS, Brilliant MH, Mailick MR. Using machine learning to identify patterns of lifetime health problems in decedents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2018; 11:1120-1128. [PMID: 29734508 PMCID: PMC6203659 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Very little is known about the health problems experienced by individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) throughout their life course. We retrospectively analyzed diagnostic codes associated with de-identified electronic health records using a machine learning algorithm to characterize diagnostic patterns in decedents with ASD and matched decedent community controls. Participants were 91 decedents with ASD and 6,186 sex and birth year matched decedent community controls who had died since 1979, the majority of whom were middle aged or older adults at the time of their death. We analyzed all ICD-9 codes, V-codes, and E-codes available in the electronic health record and Elixhauser comorbidity categories associated with those codes. Diagnostic patterns distinguished decedents with ASD from decedent community controls with 75% sensitivity and 94% specificity solely based on their lifetime ICD-9 codes, V-codes, and E-codes. Decedents with ASD had higher rates of most conditions, including cardiovascular disease, motor problems, ear problems, urinary problems, digestive problems, side effects from long-term medication use, and nonspecific lab tests and encounters. In contrast, decedents with ASD had lower rates of cancer. Findings suggest distinctive lifetime diagnostic patterns among decedents with ASD and highlight the need for more research on health outcomes across the lifespan as the population of individuals with ASD ages. As a large wave of individuals with ASD diagnosed in the 1990s enters adulthood and middle age, knowledge about lifetime health problems will become increasingly important for care and prevention efforts. Autism Res 2018, 11: 1120-1128. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: This study looked at patterns of lifetime health problems to find differences between people with autism who had died and community controls who had died. People with autism had higher rates of most health problems, including cardiovascular, urinary, respiratory, digestive, and motor problems, in their electronic health records. They also had lower rates of cancer. More research is needed to understand these potential health risks as a large number of individuals with autism enter adulthood and middle age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Bishop-Fitzpatrick
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison WI 53705
- School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706
| | - Arezoo Movaghar
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison WI 53705
| | - Jan S. Greenberg
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison WI 53705
- School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706
| | - David Page
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792
| | - Leann S. DaWalt
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison WI 53705
| | - Murray H. Brilliant
- Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, 1000 N. Oak Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449
| | - Marsha R. Mailick
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison WI 53705
- School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706
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Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased morbidity and decreased life expectancy compared to the general population, and these disparities are likely exacerbated for those individuals who are otherwise disadvantaged. We conducted a review to ascertain what is known about health and health system quality (e.g., high quality care delivery, adequate care access) disparities in ASD. Nine studies met final inclusion criteria. Seven studies identified racial disparities in access to general medical services for children with ASD. No studies examined disparities in health outcomes or included older adults. We present a model of health disparities (Fundamental Causes Model) that guides future research. Additional work should examine health disparities, and their causal pathways, in ASD, particularly for older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Bishop-Fitzpatrick
- School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Amy J H Kind
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- VA Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Madison, WI, USA
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46
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Peralta V, Cuesta MJ. Motor Abnormalities: From Neurodevelopmental to Neurodegenerative Through "Functional" (Neuro)Psychiatric Disorders. Schizophr Bull 2017; 43:956-971. [PMID: 28911050 PMCID: PMC5581892 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbx089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Motor abnormalities (MAs) of severe mental disorders have been traditionally neglected both in clinical practice and research, although they are an increasing focus of attention because of their clinical and neurobiological relevance. For historical reasons, most of the literature on MAs has been focused to a great extent on schizophrenia, and as a consequence their prevalence and featural properties in other psychiatric or neuropsychiatric disorders are poorly known. In this article, we evaluated the extent to which catatonic, extrapyramidal and neurological soft signs, and their associated clinical features, are present transdiagnostically. Methods We examined motor-related features in neurodevelopmental (schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders), "functional" (nonschizophrenic nonaffective psychoses, mood disorders) and neurodegenerative (Alzheimer's disease) disorders. Examination of the literature revealed that there have been very few comparisons of motor-related features across diagnoses and we had to rely mainly in disorder-specific studies to compare it transdiagnostically. Results One or more motor domains had a substantial prevalence in all the diagnoses examined. In "functional" disorders, MAs, and particularly catatonic signs, appear to be markers of episode severity; in chronic disorders, although with different degree of strength or evidence, all motor domains are indicators of both disorder severity and poor outcome; lastly, in Alzheimer's disease they are also indicators of disorder progression. Conclusions MAs appear to represent a true transdiagnostic domain putatively sharing neurobiological mechanisms of neurodevelopmental, functional or neurodegenerative origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Peralta
- Mental Health Department, Servicio Navarro de Salud, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Manuel J Cuesta
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Psychiatry Service, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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Subramanian K, Brandenburg C, Orsati F, Soghomonian JJ, Hussman JP, Blatt GJ. Basal ganglia and autism - a translational perspective. Autism Res 2017; 10:1751-1775. [PMID: 28730641 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The basal ganglia are a collection of nuclei below the cortical surface that are involved in both motor and non-motor functions, including higher order cognition, social interactions, speech, and repetitive behaviors. Motor development milestones that are delayed in autism such as gross motor, fine motor and walking can aid in early diagnosis of autism. Neuropathology and neuroimaging findings in autism cases revealed volumetric changes and altered cell density in select basal ganglia nuclei. Interestingly, in autism, both the basal ganglia and the cerebellum are impacted both in their motor and non-motor domains and recently, found to be connected via the pons through a short disynaptic pathway. In typically developing individuals, the basal ganglia plays an important role in: eye movement, movement coordination, sensory modulation and processing, eye-hand coordination, action chaining, and inhibition control. Genetic models have proved to be useful toward understanding cellular and molecular changes at the synaptic level in the basal ganglia that may in part contribute to these autism-related behaviors. In autism, basal ganglia functions in motor skill acquisition and development are altered, thus disrupting the normal flow of feedback to the cortex. Taken together, there is an abundance of emerging evidence that the basal ganglia likely plays critical roles in maintaining an inhibitory balance between cortical and subcortical structures, critical for normal motor actions and cognitive functions. In autism, this inhibitory balance is disturbed thus impacting key pathways that affect normal cortical network activity. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1751-1775. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY Habit learning, action selection and performance are modulated by the basal ganglia, a collection of groups of neurons located below the cerebral cortex in the brain. In autism, there is emerging evidence that parts of the basal ganglia are structurally and functionally altered disrupting normal information flow. The basal ganglia through its interconnected circuits with the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum can potentially impact various motor and cognitive functions in the autism brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheryl Brandenburg
- Program on Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, 21201
| | - Fernanda Orsati
- Program on Supports, Hussman Institute for Autism, Catonsville, MD, 21228
| | | | - John P Hussman
- Program on Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, 21201.,Program on Supports, Hussman Institute for Autism, Catonsville, MD, 21228
| | - Gene J Blatt
- Program on Neuroscience, Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, 21201
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Defective synaptic connectivity and axonal neuropathology in a human iPSC-based model of familial Parkinson's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E3679-E3688. [PMID: 28416701 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1617259114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αSyn) is the major gene linked to sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), whereas the G209A (p.A53T) αSyn mutation causes a familial form of PD characterized by early onset and a generally severe phenotype, including nonmotor manifestations. Here we generated de novo induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients harboring the p.A53T mutation and developed a robust model that captures PD pathogenic processes under basal conditions. iPSC-derived mutant neurons displayed novel disease-relevant phenotypes, including protein aggregation, compromised neuritic outgrowth, and contorted or fragmented axons with swollen varicosities containing αSyn and Tau. The identified neuropathological features closely resembled those in brains of p.A53T patients. Small molecules targeting αSyn reverted the degenerative phenotype under both basal and induced stress conditions, indicating a treatment strategy for PD and other synucleinopathies. Furthermore, mutant neurons showed disrupted synaptic connectivity and widespread transcriptional alterations in genes involved in synaptic signaling, a number of which have been previously linked to mental disorders, raising intriguing implications for potentially converging disease mechanisms.
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Abstract
5-methylcytosine and the oxidation product 5-hydroxymethylcytosine are two prominent epigenetic variants of the cytosine base in nuclear DNA of mammalian brains. We measured levels of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in DNA from post-mortem cerebella of individuals with Parkinson’s disease and age-matched controls. 5-methylcytosine levels showed no significant differences between Parkinson’s disease and control DNA sample sets. In contrast, median 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels were almost twice as high (p < 0.001) in both male and female Parkinson’s disease individuals compared with controls. The distinct epigenetic profile identified in cerebellar DNA of Parkinson’s disease patients raises the question whether elevated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels are a driver or a consequence of Parkinson’s disease.
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A developmental neuroscience approach to the search for biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder. Curr Opin Neurol 2016; 29:123-9. [PMID: 26953849 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000000298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The delineation of biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) offers a promising approach to inform precision-medicine-based approaches to ASD diagnosis and treatment and to move toward a mechanistic description of the disorder. However, biomarkers with sufficient sensitivity or specificity for clinical application in ASD are yet to be realized. Here, we review recent evidence for early, low-level alterations in brain and behavior development that may offer promising avenues for biomarker development in ASD. RECENT FINDINGS Accumulating evidence suggests that signs associated with ASD may unfold in a manner that maps onto the hierarchical organization of brain development. Genetic and neuroimaging evidence points towards perturbations in brain development early in life, and emerging evidence indicates that sensorimotor development may be among the earliest emerging signs associated with ASD, preceding social and cognitive impairment. SUMMARY The search for biomarkers of risk, prediction and stratification in ASD may be advanced through a developmental neuroscience approach that looks outside of the core signs of ASD and considers the bottom-up nature of brain development alongside the dynamic nature of development over time. We provide examples of assays that could be incorporated in studies to target low-level circuits.
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