1
|
Caccamo M, Urso D, Nanni AG, Gnoni V, Giugno A, Vitulli A, Vilella D, Zecca C, Dell’Abate MT, Anastasia A, De Blasi R, Introna A, Logroscino G. Coexisting Logopenic Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia with Amyloid Pathology and Early Parkinsonism. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2024; 8:1023-1030. [PMID: 39114547 PMCID: PMC11305849 DOI: 10.3233/adr-230168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The presence of parkinsonism features in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a subject of ongoing research. These features are usually more pronounced in the advanced stages of the disease, particularly in the non-fluent/agrammatic subtype, and are exceptionally rare in the logopenic variant (lvPPA). Here we report a case of a 63-year-old man presenting as language impairment, predominantly naming and word-finding difficulties, emerged alongside a left-sided internal tremor. Neurological examination revealed bilateral, left-side predominant rigidity, bradykinesia, and resting tremor. Notably, anosmia and constipation were present. Language assessments showed preserved single-word comprehension, object knowledge, and a minimal apraxia of speech, as well as sentence repetition issues. Neuroimaging and biomarker analysis supported a diagnosis of primary progressive logopenic aphasia with amyloid pathology co-existing with prominent and early parkinsonism. This case underlines the intricate relationship between language disorders, parkinsonism, and amyloid pathology in lvPPA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Caccamo
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences, Neurology Unit, Bari, Italy
| | - Daniele Urso
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
| | - Alfredo Gabriele Nanni
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences, Neurology Unit, Bari, Italy
| | - Valentina Gnoni
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park, London, UK
| | - Alessia Giugno
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandra Vitulli
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Davide Vilella
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Chiara Zecca
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Dell’Abate
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Antonio Anastasia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Pia Fondazione di Culto e Religione “Card.G.Panico”, Tricase, Italy
| | - Roberto De Blasi
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Alessandro Introna
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences, Neurology Unit, Bari, Italy
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nabizadeh F, Pirahesh K, Aarabi MH, Wennberg A, Pini L. Behavioral and dysexecutive variant of Alzheimer's disease: Insights from structural and molecular imaging studies. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29420. [PMID: 38638964 PMCID: PMC11024599 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Frontal variant Alzheimer's disease (AD) manifests with either behavioral or dysexecutive syndromes. Recent efforts to gain a deeper understanding of this phenotype have led to a re-conceptualization of frontal AD. Behavioral (bAD) and dysexecutive (dAD) phenotypes could be considered subtypes, as suggested by both clinical and neuroimaging studies. In this review, we focused on imaging studies to highlight specific brain patterns in these two uncommon clinical AD phenotypes. Although studies did not compare directly these two variants, a common epicenter located in the frontal cortex could be inferred. On the contrary, 18F-FDG-PET findings suggested differing metabolic patterns, with bAD showing specific involvement of frontal regions and dAD exhibiting widespread alterations. Structural MRI findings confirmed this pattern, suggesting that degeneration might involve neural circuits associated with behavioral control in bAD and attentional networks in dAD. Furthermore, molecular imaging has identified different neocortical tau distribution in bAD and dAD patients compared to typical AD patients, although the distribution is remarkably heterogeneous. In contrast, Aβ deposition patterns are less differentiated between these atypical variants and typical AD. Although preliminary, these findings underscore the complexity of AD frontal phenotypes and suggest that they represent distinct entities. Further research is essential to refine our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms in frontal AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fardin Nabizadeh
- School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Neuroscience Research Group (NRG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Kasra Pirahesh
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Alexandra Wennberg
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Pini
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kelley CM, Maloney B, Beck JS, Ginsberg SD, Liang W, Lahiri DK, Mufson EJ, Counts SE. Micro-RNA profiles of pathology and resilience in posterior cingulate cortex of cognitively intact elders. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae082. [PMID: 38572270 PMCID: PMC10988646 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is a key hub of the default mode network underlying autobiographical memory retrieval, which falters early in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recently performed RNA sequencing of post-mortem PCC tissue samples from 26 elderly Rush Religious Orders Study participants who came to autopsy with an ante-mortem diagnosis of no cognitive impairment but who collectively displayed a range of Braak I-IV neurofibrillary tangle stages. Notably, cognitively unimpaired subjects displaying high Braak stages may represent cognitive resilience to AD pathology. Transcriptomic data revealed elevated synaptic and ATP-related gene expression in Braak Stages III/IV compared with Stages I/II, suggesting these pathways may be related to PCC resilience. We also mined expression profiles for small non-coding micro-RNAs (miRNAs), which regulate mRNA stability and may represent an underexplored potential mechanism of resilience through the fine-tuning of gene expression within complex cellular networks. Twelve miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed between Braak Stages I/II and III/IV. However, the extent to which the levels of all identified miRNAs were associated with subject demographics, neuropsychological test performance and/or neuropathological diagnostic criteria within this cohort was not explored. Here, we report that a total of 667 miRNAs are significantly associated (rho > 0.38, P < 0.05) with subject variables. There were significant positive correlations between miRNA expression levels and age, perceptual orientation and perceptual speed. By contrast, higher miRNA levels correlated negatively with semantic and episodic memory. Higher expression of 15 miRNAs associated with lower Braak Stages I-II and 47 miRNAs were associated with higher Braak Stages III-IV, suggesting additional mechanistic influences of PCC miRNA expression with resilience. Pathway analysis showed enrichment for miRNAs operating in pathways related to lysine degradation and fatty acid synthesis and metabolism. Finally, we demonstrated that the 12 resilience-related miRNAs differentially expressed in Braak Stages I/II versus Braak Stages III/IV were predicted to regulate mRNAs related to amyloid processing, tau and inflammation. In summary, we demonstrate a dynamic state wherein differential PCC miRNA levels are associated with cognitive performance and post-mortem neuropathological AD diagnostic criteria in cognitively intact elders. We posit these relationships may inform miRNA transcriptional alterations within the PCC relevant to potential early protective (resilience) or pathogenic (pre-clinical or prodromal) responses to disease pathogenesis and thus may be therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christy M Kelley
- Department of Translational Neuroscience and Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Bryan Maloney
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - John S Beck
- Departments of Translational Neuroscience and Family Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience & Physiology, and the NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Winnie Liang
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Debomoy K Lahiri
- Departments of Psychiatry and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Elliott J Mufson
- Department of Translational Neuroscience and Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Scott E Counts
- Departments of Translational Neuroscience and Family Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Donato L, Mordà D, Scimone C, Alibrandi S, D'Angelo R, Sidoti A. How Many Alzheimer-Perusini's Atypical Forms Do We Still Have to Discover? Biomedicines 2023; 11:2035. [PMID: 37509674 PMCID: PMC10377159 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer-Perusini's (AD) disease represents the most spread dementia around the world and constitutes a serious problem for public health. It was first described by the two physicians from whom it took its name. Nowadays, we have extensively expanded our knowledge about this disease. Starting from a merely clinical and histopathologic description, we have now reached better molecular comprehension. For instance, we passed from an old conceptualization of the disease based on plaques and tangles to a more modern vision of mixed proteinopathy in a one-to-one relationship with an alteration of specific glial and neuronal phenotypes. However, no disease-modifying therapies are yet available. It is likely that the only way to find a few "magic bullets" is to deepen this aspect more and more until we are able to draw up specific molecular profiles for single AD cases. This review reports the most recent classifications of AD atypical variants in order to summarize all the clinical evidence using several discrimina (for example, post mortem neurofibrillary tangle density, cerebral atrophy, or FDG-PET studies). The better defined four atypical forms are posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (LvPPA), behavioral/dysexecutive variant and AD with corticobasal degeneration (CBS). Moreover, we discuss the usefulness of such classifications before outlining the molecular-genetic aspects focusing on microglial activity or, more generally, immune system control of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Donato
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Domenico Mordà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Concetta Scimone
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Strategies, Genetics, Cutting-Edge Therapies, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Via Michele Miraglia, 98139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Alibrandi
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Rosalia D'Angelo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Antonina Sidoti
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dávila G, Torres-Prioris MJ, López-Barroso D, Berthier ML. Turning the Spotlight to Cholinergic Pharmacotherapy of the Human Language System. CNS Drugs 2023; 37:599-637. [PMID: 37341896 PMCID: PMC10374790 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-023-01017-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Even though language is essential in human communication, research on pharmacological therapies for language deficits in highly prevalent neurodegenerative and vascular brain diseases has received little attention. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that disruption of the cholinergic system may play an essential role in language deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment, including post-stroke aphasia. Therefore, current models of cognitive processing are beginning to appraise the implications of the brain modulator acetylcholine in human language functions. Future work should be directed further to analyze the interplay between the cholinergic system and language, focusing on identifying brain regions receiving cholinergic innervation susceptible to modulation with pharmacotherapy to improve affected language domains. The evaluation of language deficits in pharmacological cholinergic trials for Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment has thus far been limited to coarse-grained methods. More precise, fine-grained language testing is needed to refine patient selection for pharmacotherapy to detect subtle deficits in the initial phases of cognitive decline. Additionally, noninvasive biomarkers can help identify cholinergic depletion. However, despite the investigation of cholinergic treatment for language deficits in Alzheimer's disease and vascular cognitive impairment, data on its effectiveness are insufficient and controversial. In the case of post-stroke aphasia, cholinergic agents are showing promise, particularly when combined with speech-language therapy to promote trained-dependent neural plasticity. Future research should explore the potential benefits of cholinergic pharmacotherapy in language deficits and investigate optimal strategies for combining these agents with other therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Dávila
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - María José Torres-Prioris
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - Diana López-Barroso
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain
- Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - Marcelo L Berthier
- Cognitive Neurology and Aphasia Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Médico-Sanitarias, University of Malaga, Marqués de Beccaria 3, 29010, Malaga, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga, Spain.
- Language Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kelley CM, Ginsberg SD, Liang WS, Counts SE, Mufson EJ. Posterior cingulate cortex reveals an expression profile of resilience in cognitively intact elders. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac162. [PMID: 35813880 PMCID: PMC9263888 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The posterior cingulate cortex, a key hub of the default mode network, underlies autobiographical memory retrieval and displays hypometabolic changes early in Alzheimer disease. To obtain an unbiased understanding of the molecular pathobiology of the aged posterior cingulate cortex, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on tissue obtained from 26 participants of the Rush Religious Orders Study (11 males/15 females; aged 76-96 years) with a pre-mortem clinical diagnosis of no cognitive impairment and post-mortem neurofibrillary tangle Braak Stages I/II, III, and IV. Transcriptomic data were gathered using next-generation sequencing of RNA extracted from posterior cingulate cortex generating an average of 60 million paired reads per subject. Normalized expression of RNA-seq data was calculated using a global gene annotation and a microRNA profile. Differential expression (DESeq2, edgeR) using Braak staging as the comparison structure isolated genes for dimensional scaling, associative network building and functional clustering. Curated genes were correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination and semantic, working and episodic memory, visuospatial ability, and a composite Global Cognitive Score. Regulatory mechanisms were determined by co-expression networks with microRNAs and an overlap of transcription factor binding sites. Analysis revealed 750 genes and 12 microRNAs significantly differentially expressed between Braak Stages I/II and III/IV and an associated six groups of transcription factor binding sites. Inputting significantly different gene/network data into a functional annotation clustering model revealed elevated presynaptic, postsynaptic and ATP-related expression in Braak Stages III and IV compared with Stages I/II, suggesting these pathways are integral for cognitive resilience seen in unimpaired elderly subjects. Principal component analysis and Kruskal-Wallis testing did not associate Braak stage with cognitive function. However, Spearman correlations between genes and cognitive test scores followed by network analysis revealed upregulation of classes of synaptic genes positively associated with performance on the visuospatial perceptual orientation domain. Upregulation of key synaptic genes suggests a role for these transcripts and associated synaptic pathways in cognitive resilience seen in elders despite Alzheimer disease pathology and dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christy M Kelley
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Winnie S Liang
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Scott E Counts
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Elliott J Mufson
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Singleton EH, Pijnenburg YAL, Gami-Patel P, Boon BDC, Bouwman F, Papma JM, Seelaar H, Scheltens P, Grinberg LT, Spina S, Nana AL, Rabinovici GD, Seeley WW, Ossenkoppele R, Dijkstra AA. The behavioral variant of Alzheimer's disease does not show a selective loss of Von Economo and phylogenetically related neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:11. [PMID: 35057846 PMCID: PMC8772094 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00947-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neurobiological origins of the early and predominant behavioral changes seen in the behavioral variant of Alzheimer's disease (bvAD) remain unclear. A selective loss of Von Economo neurons (VENs) and phylogenetically related neurons have been observed in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and several psychiatric diseases. Here, we assessed whether these specific neuronal populations show a selective loss in bvAD. METHODS VENs and GABA receptor subunit theta (GABRQ)-immunoreactive pyramidal neurons of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were quantified in post-mortem tissue of patients with bvAD (n = 9) and compared to typical AD (tAD, n = 6), bvFTD due to frontotemporal lobar degeneration based on TDP-43 pathology (FTLD, n = 18) and controls (n = 13) using ANCOVAs adjusted for age and Bonferroni corrected. In addition, ratios of VENs and GABRQ-immunoreactive (GABRQ-ir) pyramidal neurons over all Layer 5 neurons were compared between groups to correct for overall Layer 5 neuronal loss. RESULTS The number of VENs or GABRQ-ir neurons did not differ significantly between bvAD (VENs: 26.0 ± 15.3, GABRQ-ir pyramidal: 260.4 ± 87.1) and tAD (VENs: 32.0 ± 18.1, p = 1.00, GABRQ-ir pyramidal: 349.8 ± 109.6, p = 0.38) and controls (VENs: 33.5 ± 20.3, p = 1.00, GABRQ-ir pyramidal: 339.4 ± 95.9, p = 0.37). Compared to bvFTD, patients with bvAD showed significantly more GABRQ-ir pyramidal neurons (bvFTD: 140.5 ± 82.658, p = 0.01) and no significant differences in number of VENs (bvFTD: 10.9 ± 13.8, p = 0.13). Results were similar when assessing the number of VENs and GABRQ-ir relative to all neurons of Layer 5. DISCUSSION VENs and phylogenetically related neurons did not show a selective loss in the ACC in patients with bvAD. Our results suggest that, unlike in bvFTD, the clinical presentation in bvAD may not be related to the loss of VENs and related neurons in the ACC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E. H. Singleton
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Y. A. L. Pijnenburg
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P. Gami-Patel
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - B. D. C. Boon
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - F. Bouwman
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J. M. Papma
- grid.5645.2000000040459992XNeurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ,grid.5645.2000000040459992XRadiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H. Seelaar
- grid.5645.2000000040459992XNeurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P. Scheltens
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - L. T. Grinberg
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - S. Spina
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - A. L. Nana
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - G. D. Rabinovici
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - W. W. Seeley
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Departments of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - R. Ossenkoppele
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands ,grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - A. A. Dijkstra
- grid.509540.d0000 0004 6880 3010Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ossenkoppele R, Singleton EH, Groot C, Dijkstra AA, Eikelboom WS, Seeley WW, Miller B, Laforce RJ, Scheltens P, Papma JM, Rabinovici GD, Pijnenburg YAL. Research Criteria for the Behavioral Variant of Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Neurol 2021; 79:48-60. [PMID: 34870696 PMCID: PMC8649917 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.4417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Importance The behavioral variant of Alzheimer disease (bvAD) is characterized by early and predominant behavioral deficits caused by AD pathology. This AD phenotype is insufficiently understood and lacks standardized clinical criteria, limiting reliability and reproducibility of diagnosis and scientific reporting. Objective To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the bvAD literature and use the outcomes to propose research criteria for this syndrome. Data Sources A systematic literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science databases (from inception through April 7, 2021) was performed in duplicate. Study Selection Studies reporting on behavioral, neuropsychological, or neuroimaging features in bvAD and, when available, providing comparisons with typical amnestic-predominant AD (tAD) or behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Data Extraction and Synthesis This analysis involved random-effects meta-analyses on group-level study results of clinical data and systematic review of the neuroimaging literature. The study was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Main Outcomes and Measures Behavioral symptoms (neuropsychiatric symptoms and bvFTD core clinical criteria), cognitive function (global cognition, episodic memory, and executive functioning), and neuroimaging features (structural magnetic resonance imaging, [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography, perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography, amyloid positron emission tomography, and tau positron emission tomography). Results The search led to the assessment of 83 studies, including 13 suitable for meta-analysis. Data were collected for 591 patients with bvAD. There was moderate to substantial heterogeneity and moderate risk of bias across studies. Cases with bvAD showed more severe behavioral symptoms than tAD (standardized mean difference [SMD], 1.16 [95% CI, 0.74-1.59]; P < .001) and a trend toward less severe behavioral symptoms compared with bvFTD (SMD, -0.22 [95% CI, -0.47 to 0.04]; P = .10). Meta-analyses of cognitive data indicated worse executive performance in bvAD vs tAD (SMD, -1.03 [95% CI, -1.74 to -0.32]; P = .008) but not compared with bvFTD (SMD, -0.61 [95% CI, -1.75 to 0.53]; P = .29). Cases with bvAD showed a nonsignificant difference of worse memory performance compared with bvFTD (SMD, -1.31 [95% CI, -2.75 to 0.14]; P = .08) but did not differ from tAD (SMD, 0.43 [95% CI, -0.46 to 1.33]; P = .34). The neuroimaging literature revealed 2 distinct bvAD neuroimaging phenotypes: an AD-like pattern with relative frontal sparing and a relatively more bvFTD-like pattern characterized by additional anterior involvement, with the AD-like pattern being more prevalent. Conclusions and Relevance These data indicate that bvAD is clinically most similar to bvFTD, while it shares most pathophysiological features with tAD. Based on these insights, we propose research criteria for bvAD aimed at improving the consistency and reliability of future research and aiding the clinical assessment of this AD phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rik Ossenkoppele
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Lund University, Clinical Memory Research Unit, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ellen H Singleton
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Colin Groot
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anke A Dijkstra
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Location VUMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Willem S Eikelboom
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Bruce Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Robert Jr Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janne M Papma
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gil D Rabinovici
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco.,Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco.,Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco.,Associate Editor, JAMA Neurology
| | - Yolande A L Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|