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Bueichekú E, Diez I, Gagliardi G, Kim CM, Mimmack K, Sepulcre J, Vannini P. Multi-modal Neuroimaging Phenotyping of Mnemonic Anosognosia in the Aging Brain. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2024; 4:65. [PMID: 38580832 PMCID: PMC10997795 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00497-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unawareness is a behavioral condition characterized by a lack of self-awareness of objective memory decline. In the context of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), unawareness may develop in predementia stages and contributes to disease severity and progression. Here, we use in-vivo multi-modal neuroimaging to profile the brain phenotype of individuals presenting altered self-awareness of memory during aging. METHODS Amyloid- and tau-PET (N = 335) and resting-state functional MRI (N = 713) imaging data of individuals from the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (A4)/Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration (LEARN) Study were used in this research. We applied whole-brain voxel-wise and region-of-interest analyses to characterize the cortical intersections of tau, amyloid, and functional connectivity networks underlying unawareness in the aging brain compared to aware, complainer and control groups. RESULTS Individuals with unawareness present elevated amyloid and tau burden in midline core regions of the default mode network compared to aware, complainer or control individuals. Unawareness is characterized by an altered network connectivity pattern featuring hyperconnectivity in the medial anterior prefrontal cortex and posterior occipito-parietal regions co-locating with amyloid and tau deposition. CONCLUSIONS Unawareness is an early behavioral biomarker of AD pathology. Failure of the self-referential system in unawareness of memory decline can be linked to amyloid and tau burden, along with functional network connectivity disruptions, in several medial frontal and parieto-occipital areas of the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisenda Bueichekú
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ibai Diez
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Geoffroy Gagliardi
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chan-Mi Kim
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kayden Mimmack
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jorge Sepulcre
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Yale PET Center, Yale Medical School, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Patrizia Vannini
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Papazoglou A, Henseler C, Weickhardt S, Teipelke J, Papazoglou P, Daubner J, Schiffer T, Krings D, Broich K, Hescheler J, Sachinidis A, Ehninger D, Scholl C, Haenisch B, Weiergräber M. Sex- and region-specific cortical and hippocampal whole genome transcriptome profiles from control and APP/PS1 Alzheimer's disease mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296959. [PMID: 38324617 PMCID: PMC10849391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
A variety of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models has been established and characterized within the last decades. To get an integrative view of the sophisticated etiopathogenesis of AD, whole genome transcriptome studies turned out to be indispensable. Here we carried out microarray data collection based on RNA extracted from the retrosplenial cortex and hippocampus of age-matched, eight months old male and female APP/PS1 AD mice and control animals to perform sex- and brain region specific analysis of transcriptome profiles. The results of our studies reveal novel, detailed insight into differentially expressed signature genes and related fold changes in the individual APP/PS1 subgroups. Gene ontology and Venn analysis unmasked that intersectional, upregulated genes were predominantly involved in, e.g., activation of microglial, astrocytic and neutrophilic cells, innate immune response/immune effector response, neuroinflammation, phagosome/proteasome activation, and synaptic transmission. The number of (intersectional) downregulated genes was substantially less in the different subgroups and related GO categories included, e.g., the synaptic vesicle docking/fusion machinery, synaptic transmission, rRNA processing, ubiquitination, proteasome degradation, histone modification and cellular senescence. Importantly, this is the first study to systematically unravel sex- and brain region-specific transcriptome fingerprints/signature genes in APP/PS1 mice. The latter will be of central relevance in future preclinical and clinical AD related studies, biomarker characterization and personalized medicinal approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Papazoglou
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Christina Henseler
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Weickhardt
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Jenni Teipelke
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Panagiota Papazoglou
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Johanna Daubner
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Teresa Schiffer
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Damian Krings
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Karl Broich
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dan Ehninger
- Translational Biogerontology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Catharina Scholl
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
| | - Britta Haenisch
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Center for Translational Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marco Weiergräber
- Experimental Neuropsychopharmacology, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte, BfArM), Bonn, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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3
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Chen Z, Chen K, Li Y, Geng D, Li X, Liang X, Lu H, Ding S, Xiao Z, Ma X, Zheng L, Ding D, Zhao Q, Yang L. Structural, static, and dynamic functional MRI predictors for conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease: Inter-cohort validation of Shanghai Memory Study and ADNI. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26529. [PMID: 37991144 PMCID: PMC10789213 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a critical prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the mechanism underlying the conversion is not fully explored. Construction and inter-cohort validation of imaging biomarkers for predicting MCI conversion is of great challenge at present, due to lack of longitudinal cohorts and poor reproducibility of various study-specific imaging indices. We proposed a novel framework for inter-cohort MCI conversion prediction, involving comparison of structural, static, and dynamic functional brain features from structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) between MCI converters (MCI_C) and non-converters (MCI_NC), and support vector machine for construction of prediction models. A total of 218 MCI patients with 3-year follow-up outcome were selected from two independent cohorts: Shanghai Memory Study cohort for internal cross-validation, and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort for external validation. In comparison with MCI_NC, MCI_C were mainly characterized by atrophy, regional hyperactivity and inter-network hypo-connectivity, and dynamic alterations characterized by regional and connectional instability, involving medial temporal lobe (MTL), posterior parietal cortex (PPC), and occipital cortex. All imaging-based prediction models achieved an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.7 in both cohorts, with the multi-modality MRI models as the best with excellent performances of AUC > 0.85. Notably, the combination of static and dynamic fMRI resulted in overall better performance as relative to static or dynamic fMRI solely, supporting the contribution of dynamic features. This inter-cohort validation study provides a new insight into the mechanisms of MCI conversion involving brain dynamics, and paves a way for clinical use of structural and functional MRI biomarkers in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihan Chen
- Department of Radiology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Academy for Engineering & TechnologyFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Keliang Chen
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuxin Li
- Department of Radiology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical ImagingFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Daoying Geng
- Department of Radiology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Academy for Engineering & TechnologyFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical ImagingFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiantao Li
- Department of Critical Care MedicineHuashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoniu Liang
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Huimeng Lu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Saineng Ding
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zhenxu Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoxi Ma
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Li Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ding Ding
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qianhua Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- National Center for Neurological DisordersHuashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- MOE Frontiers Center for Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Aging and MedicineHuashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Liqin Yang
- Department of Radiology, Huashan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical ImagingFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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4
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Das D, Shaw ME, Hämäläinen MS, Dykstra AR, Doll L, Gutschalk A. A role for retro-splenial cortex in the task-related P3 network. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 157:96-109. [PMID: 38091872 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The P3 is an event-related response observed in relation to task-relevant sensory events. Despite its ubiquitous presence, the neural generators of the P3 are controversial and not well identified. METHODS We compared source analysis of combined magneto- and electroencephalography (M/EEG) data with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and simulation studies to better understand the sources of the P3 in an auditory oddball paradigm. RESULTS Our results suggest that the dominant source of the classical, postero-central P3 lies in the retro-splenial cortex of the ventral cingulate gyrus. A second P3 source in the anterior insular cortex contributes little to the postero-central maximum. Multiple other sources in the auditory, somatosensory, and anterior midcingulate cortex are active in an overlapping time window but can be functionally dissociated based on their activation time courses. CONCLUSIONS The retro-splenial cortex is a dominant source of the parietal P3 maximum in EEG. SIGNIFICANCE These results provide a new perspective for the interpretation of the extensive research based on the P3 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diptyajit Das
- Department of Neurology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marnie E Shaw
- College of Engineering & Computer Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Matti S Hämäläinen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA; Harvard, MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Finland
| | - Andrew R Dykstra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA
| | - Laura Doll
- Department of Neurology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Gutschalk
- Department of Neurology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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5
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Bitra VR, Challa SR, Adiukwu PC, Rapaka D. Tau trajectory in Alzheimer's disease: Evidence from the connectome-based computational models. Brain Res Bull 2023; 203:110777. [PMID: 37813312 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an impairment of cognition and memory. Current research on connectomics have now related changes in the network organization in AD to the patterns of accumulation and spread of amyloid and tau, providing insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of the disease. In addition, network analysis and modeling focus on particular use of graphs to provide intuition into key organizational principles of brain structure, that stipulate how neural activity propagates along structural connections. The utility of connectome-based computational models aids in early predicting, tracking the progression of biomarker-directed AD neuropathology. In this article, we present a short review of tau trajectory, the connectome changes in tau pathology, and the dependent recent connectome-based computational modelling approaches for tau spreading, reproducing pragmatic findings, and developing significant novel tau targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veera Raghavulu Bitra
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, P/Bag-0022, Gaborone, Botswana.
| | - Siva Reddy Challa
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61614, USA; KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Paul C Adiukwu
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, P/Bag-0022, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Deepthi Rapaka
- Pharmacology Division, D.D.T. College of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana.
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6
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Das D, Shaw ME, Hämäläinen MS, Dykstra AR, Doll L, Gutschalk A. A role for retro-splenial cortex in the task-related P3 network. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.03.530970. [PMID: 36945516 PMCID: PMC10028840 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.03.530970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Objective The P3 is an event-related response observed in relation to task-relevant sensory events. Despite its ubiquitous presence, the neural generators of the P3 are controversial and not well identified. Methods We compared source analysis of combined magneto- and electroencephalography (M/EEG) data with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and simulation studies to better understand the sources of the P3 in an auditory oddball paradigm. Results Our results suggest that the dominant source of the classical, postero-central P3 lies in the retro-splenial cortex of the ventral cingulate gyrus. A second P3 source in the anterior insular cortex contributes little to the postero-central maximum. Multiple other sources in the auditory, somatosensory, and anterior midcingulate cortex are active in an overlapping time window but can be functionally dissociated based on their activation time courses. Conclusion The retro-splenial cortex is a dominant source of the parietal P3 maximum in EEG. Significance These results provide a new perspective for the interpretation of the extensive research based on the P3 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diptyajit Das
- Department of Neurology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marnie E. Shaw
- College of Engineering & Computer Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Matti S. Hämäläinen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- Harvard, MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University school of Science, Finland
| | - Andrew R. Dykstra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, USA
| | - Laura Doll
- Department of Neurology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Gutschalk
- Department of Neurology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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7
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Adams JN, Chappel-Farley MG, Yaros JL, Taylor L, Harris AL, Mikhail A, McMillan L, Keator DB, Yassa MA. Functional network structure supports resilience to memory deficits in cognitively normal older adults with amyloid-β pathology. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13953. [PMID: 37626094 PMCID: PMC10457346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40092-x] [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: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Older adults may harbor large amounts of amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology, yet still perform at age-normal levels on memory assessments. We tested whether functional brain networks confer resilience or compensatory mechanisms to support memory in the face of Aβ pathology. Sixty-five cognitively normal older adults received high-resolution resting state fMRI to assess functional networks, 18F-florbetapir-PET to measure Aβ, and a memory assessment. We characterized functional networks with graph metrics of local efficiency (information transfer), modularity (specialization of functional modules), and small worldness (balance of integration and segregation). There was no difference in functional network measures between older adults with high Aβ (Aβ+) compared to those with no/low Aβ (Aβ-). However, in Aβ+ older adults, increased local efficiency, modularity, and small worldness were associated with better memory performance, while this relationship did not occur Aβ- older adults. Further, the association between increased local efficiency and better memory performance in Aβ+ older adults was localized to local efficiency of the default mode network and hippocampus, regions vulnerable to Aβ and involved in memory processing. Our results suggest functional networks with modular and efficient structures are associated with resilience to Aβ pathology, providing a functional target for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna N Adams
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA.
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Miranda G Chappel-Farley
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Jessica L Yaros
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Lisa Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1418 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
| | - Alyssa L Harris
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Abanoub Mikhail
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Liv McMillan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - David B Keator
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1418 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA
| | - Michael A Yassa
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1400 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA.
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 1418 Biological Sciences 3, Irvine, CA, 92697-3800, USA.
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Gaynor LS, Ravi M, Zequeira S, Hampton AM, Pyon WS, Smith S, Colon-Perez LM, Pompilus M, Bizon JL, Maurer AP, Febo M, Burke SN. Touchscreen-Based Cognitive Training Alters Functional Connectivity Patterns in Aged But Not Young Male Rats. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0329-22.2023. [PMID: 36754628 PMCID: PMC9961373 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0329-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related cognitive decline is related to cellular and systems-level disruptions across multiple brain regions. Because age-related cellular changes within different structures do not show the same patterns of dysfunction, interventions aimed at optimizing function of large-scale brain networks may show greater efficacy at improving cognitive outcomes in older adults than traditional pharmacotherapies. The current study aimed to leverage a preclinical rat model of aging to determine whether cognitive training in young and aged male rats with a computerized paired-associates learning (PAL) task resulted in changes in global resting-state functional connectivity. Moreover, seed-based functional connectivity was used to examine resting state connectivity of cortical areas involved in object-location associative memory and vulnerable in old age, namely the medial temporal lobe (MTL; hippocampal cortex and perirhinal cortex), retrosplenial cortex (RSC), and frontal cortical areas (prelimbic and infralimbic cortices). There was an age-related increase in global functional connectivity between baseline and post-training resting state scans in aged, cognitively trained rats. This change in connectivity following cognitive training was not observed in young animals, or rats that traversed a track for a reward between scan sessions. Relatedly, an increase in connectivity between perirhinal and prelimbic cortices, as well as reduced reciprocal connectivity within the RSC, was found in aged rats that underwent cognitive training, but not the other groups. Subnetwork activation was associated with task performance across age groups. Greater global functional connectivity and connectivity between task-relevant brain regions may elucidate compensatory mechanisms that can be engaged by cognitive training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie S Gaynor
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Meena Ravi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Sabrina Zequeira
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Andreina M Hampton
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Wonn S Pyon
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Samantha Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Luis M Colon-Perez
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107
| | - Marjory Pompilus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Jennifer L Bizon
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Andrew P Maurer
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Sara N Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
- McKnight Brain Institute and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
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Yin W, Wan K, Zhu W, Zhou X, Tang Y, Zheng W, Cao J, Song Y, Zhao H, Zhu X, Sun Z. Bilateral Hippocampal Volume Mediated the Relationship Between Plasma BACE1 Concentration and Memory Function in the Early Stage of Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 92:1001-1013. [PMID: 36847009 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is a key enzyme in the formation of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein. Increasing evidence suggests that BACE1 concentration is a potential biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the correlations between plasma BACE1 concentration, cognition, and hippocampal volume at different stages of the AD continuum. METHODS Plasma BACE1 concentrations were measured in 32 patients with probable dementia due to AD (ADD), 48 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, and 40 cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals. Memory function was evaluated using the auditory verbal learning test (AVLT), and voxel-based morphometry was used to analyze bilateral hippocampal volumes. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed to investigate the associations between plasma BACE1 concentration, cognition, and hippocampal atrophy. RESULTS The MCI and ADD groups exhibited elevated BACE1 concentrations compared with the CU group after adjusting for age, sex, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Increased BACE1 concentration was found in AD continuum patients who were APOE ɛ4 carriers (p < 0.05). BACE1 concentration was negatively associated with the scores of the subitems of the AVLT and hippocampal volume (p < 0.05, false discovery rate correction) in the MCI group. Moreover, bilateral hippocampal volume mediated the relationship between BACE1 concentration and recognition in the MCI group. CONCLUSION BACE1 expression increased in the AD continuum, and bilateral hippocampal volume mediated the effect of BACE1 concentration on memory function in patients with MCI. Research has indicated that the plasma BACE1 concentration might be a biomarker at the early stage of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Yin
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Ke Wan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Wenhao Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xia Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yating Tang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Wenhui Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Han Zhao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xiaoqun Zhu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Zhongwu Sun
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
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Lissaman R, Lancaster TM, Parker GD, Graham KS, Lawrence AD, Hodgetts CJ. Tract-specific differences in white matter microstructure between young adult APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers: A replication and extension study. NEUROIMAGE. REPORTS 2022; 2:None. [PMID: 36507069 PMCID: PMC9726682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2022.100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The parahippocampal cingulum bundle (PHCB) interconnects regions known to be vulnerable to early Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, including posteromedial cortex and medial temporal lobe. While AD-related pathology has been robustly associated with alterations in PHCB microstructure, specifically lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity (MD), emerging evidence indicates that the reverse pattern is evident in younger adults at increased risk of AD. In one such study, Hodgetts et al. (2019) reported that healthy young adult carriers of the apolipoprotein-E (APOE) ε4 allele - the strongest common genetic risk factor for AD - showed higher FA and lower MD in the PHCB but not the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). These results are consistent with proposals claiming that heightened neural activity and intrinsic connectivity play a significant role in increasing posteromedial cortex vulnerability to amyloid-β and tau spread beyond the medial temporal lobe. Given the implications for understanding AD risk, here we sought to replicate Hodgetts et al.'s finding in a larger sample (N = 128; 40 APOE ε4 carriers, 88 APOE ε4 non-carriers) of young adults (age range = 19-33). Extending this work, we also conducted an exploratory analysis using a more advanced measure of white matter microstructure: hindrance modulated orientational anisotropy (HMOA). Contrary to the original study, we did not observe higher FA or lower MD in the PHCB of APOE ε4 carriers relative to non-carriers. Bayes factors (BFs) further revealed moderate-to-strong evidence in support of these null findings. In addition, we observed no APOE ε4-related differences in PHCB HMOA. Our findings indicate that young adult APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers do not differ in PHCB microstructure, casting some doubt on the notion that early-life variation in PHCB tract microstructure might enhance vulnerability to amyloid-β accumulation and/or tau spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikki Lissaman
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Douglas Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thomas M. Lancaster
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, England, United Kingdom
| | - Greg D. Parker
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Kim S. Graham
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Lawrence
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Carl J. Hodgetts
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, England, United Kingdom
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11
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Nava-Gómez L, Calero-Vargas I, Higinio-Rodríguez F, Vázquez-Prieto B, Olivares-Moreno R, Ortiz-Retana J, Aranda P, Hernández-Chan N, Rojas-Piloni G, Alcauter S, López-Hidalgo M. AGING-ASSOCIATED COGNITIVE DECLINE IS REVERSED BY D-SERINE SUPPLEMENTATION. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0176-22.2022. [PMID: 35584913 PMCID: PMC9186414 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0176-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain aging is a natural process that involves structural and functional changes that lead to cognitive decline, even in healthy subjects. This detriment has been associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction due to a reduction in the brain levels of D-serine, the endogenous NMDAR co-agonist. However, it is not clear if D-serine supplementation could be used as an intervention to reduce or reverse age-related brain alterations. In the present work, we aimed to analyze the D-serine effect on aging-associated alterations in cellular and large-scale brain systems that could support cognitive flexibility in rats. We found that D-serine supplementation reverts the age-related decline in cognitive flexibility, frontal dendritic spine density, and partially restored large-scale functional connectivity without inducing nephrotoxicity; instead, D-serine restored the thickness of the renal epithelial cells that were affected by age. Our results suggest that D-serine could be used as a therapeutic target to reverse age-related brain alterations.SIGNIFICANT STATEMENTAge-related behavioral changes in cognitive performance occur as a physiological process of aging. Then, it is important to explore possible therapeutics to decrease, retard or reverse aging effects on the brain. NMDA receptor hypofunction contributes to the aging-associated cognitive decline. In the aged brain, there is a reduction in the brain levels of the NMDAR co-agonist, D-Serine. However, it is unclear if chronic D-serine supplementation could revert the age-detriment in brain functions. Our results show that D-serine supplementation reverts the age-associated decrease in cognitive flexibility, functional brain connectivity, and neuronal morphology. Our findings raise the possibility that restoring the brain levels of D-serine could be used as a therapeutic target to recover brain alterations associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Nava-Gómez
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla. UNAM
- Facultad de Medicina. UAQ
| | - I Calero-Vargas
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla. UNAM
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - F Higinio-Rodríguez
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla. UNAM
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - B Vázquez-Prieto
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla. UNAM
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - R Olivares-Moreno
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - J Ortiz-Retana
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - P Aranda
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, UAQ
| | | | - G Rojas-Piloni
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - S Alcauter
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, México
| | - M López-Hidalgo
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla. UNAM
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