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Amian JG, Fernandez-Portero C, de la Bella R, Arenilla-Villalba MJ, López-Lluch G, Alarcon D. Cognitive Reserve and Frontotemporal Disorders: Exploring the Relationship Between Education, Physical Activity, and Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adults. Percept Mot Skills 2024; 131:720-736. [PMID: 38523555 DOI: 10.1177/00315125241241358] [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: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
In this study we investigated the relationship between cognitive reserve (CR) proxies, such as education, physical activity (PA), and cognitive dysfunction (CD) in the presence or absence of frontotemporal disorders (FTD). Previous research has suggested that education and PA may delay the onset of CD and reduce the risk of developing dementia. However, it remains unclear whether these CR proxies can protect against CD when FTD is present. We aimed to explore this relationship and determine whether sustained CR may be evident regardless of FTD. We recruited 149 older adults (aged 65-99 years) from community centers where they were voluntarily participating in leisure activities. We used bioelectrical impedance to measure their body composition, and we administered the International PA Questionnaire and the Mini-Mental State Examination to measure their PA and cognitive function, respectively. We used the Frontal Assessment Battery to screen for frontotemporal dementia. Our results showed that people with FTD were older, had lower education, and engaged in less PA, relative to other participants. Regression models revealed that age, education, and PA were significant predictors of FTD. More specifically, FTD was negatively associated with cognitive functioning, and there were significant interaction effects between FTD and education and PA. PA and education were significant predictors of cognitive functioning, and, when values for PA and education were high, they offset the effects of FTD on cognitive function. These findings support impressions that PA and years of education provide an insulating or compensatory effect on cognitive functioning in older adults with executive dysfunction or frontotemporal dementia, highlighting the importance of encouraging both pursuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josue G Amian
- Department of Social Anthropology, Psychology and Public Health, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Portero
- Department of Social Anthropology, Psychology and Public Health, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Rocío de la Bella
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Andalusian Centre of Developmental Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Guillermo López-Lluch
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Andalusian Centre of Developmental Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, U729), IICS-Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de investigación en Rendimiento Físico y Deportivo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - David Alarcon
- Department of Social Anthropology, Psychology and Public Health, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
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Yang T, Guo Z, Li J, Zhu H, Cao Y, Ding Y, Liu X. Abnormally decreased functional connectivity of the right nucleus basalis of Meynert in Alzheimer's disease patients with depression symptoms. Biol Psychol 2024; 188:108785. [PMID: 38527571 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108785] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the basal forebrain is the main pathological feature in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to explore whether depressive symptoms cause changes in the functional network of the basal forebrain in AD patients. We collected MRI data from depressed AD patients (n = 24), nondepressed AD patients (n = 14) and healthy controls (n = 20). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data and functional connectivity analysis were used to study the characteristics of the basal forebrain functional network of the three groups of participants. The functional connectivity differences among the three groups were compared using ANCOVA and post hoc analyses. Compared to healthy controls, depressed AD patients showed reduced functional connectivity between the right nucleus basalis of Meynert and the left supramarginal gyrus and the supplementary motor area. These results increase our understanding of the neural mechanism of depressive symptoms in AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Zhongwei Guo
- Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China
| | - Jiapeng Li
- Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China
| | - Yulin Cao
- Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China
| | - Yanping Ding
- Air Force Health Care Center for Special Services, Hangzhou 310007, China
| | - Xiaozheng Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China; Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Structural and Functional Imaging, Wenzhou 325027, China.
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Yuan H, Li X, Wei B. Modeling default mode network patterns via a universal spatio-temporal brain attention skip network. Neuroimage 2024; 287:120522. [PMID: 38253216 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120522] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Designing a comprehensive four-dimensional resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (4D Rs-fMRI) based default mode network (DMN) modeling methodology to reveal the spatio-temporal patterns of individual DMN, is crucial for understanding the cognitive mechanisms of the brain and the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. However, there are still two limitations of existing approaches for DMN modeling. The approaches either (1) simply split the spatio-temporal components and ignore the overall character of the spatio-temporal patterns or (2) are biased in the process of feature extraction for DMN modeling, and their spatio-temporal accuracy is thus not warranted. To this end, we propose a novel Spatio-Temporal Brain Attention Skip Network (STBAS-Net) to model the personalized spatio-temporal patterns of the DMN. STBAS-Net consists of spatial and temporal components, where the multi-head attention skip connection block in the spatial component achieves detailed feature extraction and enhancement in the shallow stage. Under the guidance of spatial information, we technically fuse multiple spatio-temporal information in the temporal component, which dexterously exploits the overall spatio-temporal features and achieves mutual constraints of spatio-temporal patterns to characterize the spatio-temporal patterns of the DMN. We verify the proposed STBAS-Net on a publicly released 4D Rs-fMRI dataset and an EMCI dataset. The experimental results show that compared with existing advanced methods, the proposed network can more accurately model the personalized spatio-temporal patterns of the human brain DMN and successfully identify abnormal spatio-temporal patterns in EMCI patients. This study provides a potential tool for revealing the spatio-temporal patterns of the human brain DMN and is expected to provide an effective methodological framework for future exploration of abnormal brain spatio-temporal patterns and modeling of other functional brain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yuan
- Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong 266112, PR China; Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong 266112, PR China
| | - Xiang Li
- Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong 266112, PR China; Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong 266112, PR China
| | - Benzheng Wei
- Center for Medical Artificial Intelligence, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong 266112, PR China; Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, Shandong 266112, PR China.
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Munro CE, Boyle R, Chen X, Coughlan G, Gonzalez C, Jutten RJ, Martinez J, Orlovsky I, Robinson T, Weizenbaum E, Pluim CF, Quiroz YT, Gatchel JR, Vannini P, Amariglio R. Recent contributions to the field of subjective cognitive decline in aging: A literature review. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12475. [PMID: 37869044 PMCID: PMC10585124 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is defined as self-experienced, persistent concerns of decline in cognitive capacity in the context of normal performance on objective cognitive measures. Although SCD was initially thought to represent the "worried well," these concerns can be linked to subtle brain changes prior to changes in objective cognitive performance and, therefore, in some individuals, SCD may represent the early stages of an underlying neurodegenerative disease process (e.g., Alzheimer's disease). The field of SCD research has expanded rapidly over the years, and this review aims to provide an update on new advances in, and contributions to, the field of SCD in key areas and themes identified by researchers in this field as particularly important and impactful. First, we highlight recent studies examining sociodemographic and genetic risk factors for SCD, including explorations of SCD across racial and ethnic minoritized groups, and examinations of sex and gender considerations. Next, we review new findings on relationships between SCD and in vivo markers of pathophysiology, utilizing neuroimaging and biofluid data, as well as associations between SCD and objective cognitive tests and neuropsychiatric measures. Finally, we summarize recent work on interventions for SCD and areas of future growth in the field of SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rory Boyle
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Xi Chen
- Helen Wills Neuroscience InstituteUniversity of California BerkeleyBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Gillian Coughlan
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Christopher Gonzalez
- Department of PsychologyIllinois Institute of TechnologyChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Roos J. Jutten
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jairo Martinez
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Irina Orlovsky
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstAmherstMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Emma Weizenbaum
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Celina F. Pluim
- Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesBoston UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Yakeel T. Quiroz
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jennifer R. Gatchel
- Department of PsychiatryMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Patrizia Vannini
- Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurologyMassachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Cui L, Zhang Z, Huang YL, Xie F, Guan YH, Lo CYZ, Guo YH, Jiang JH, Guo QH. Brain amyloid-β deposition associated functional connectivity changes of ultra-large structural scale in mild cognitive impairment. Brain Imaging Behav 2023; 17:494-506. [PMID: 37188840 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00780-8] [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] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In preclinical Alzheimer's disease, neuro-functional changes due to amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition are not synchronized in different brain lobes and subcortical nuclei. This study aimed to explore the correlation between brain Aβ burden, connectivity changes in an ultra-large structural scale, and cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment. Participants with mild cognitive impairment were recruited and underwent florbetapir (F18-AV45) PET, resting-state functional MRI, and multidomain neuropsychological tests. AV-45 standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and functional connectivity of all participants were calculated. Of the total 144 participants, 72 were put in the low Aβ burden group and 72 in the high Aβ burden group. In the low Aβ burden group, all connectivities between lobes and nuclei had no correlation with SUVR. In the high Aβ burden group, SUVR showed negative correlations with the Subcortical-Occipital connectivity (r=-0.36, P = 0.02) and Subcortical-Parietal connectivity (r=-0.26, P = 0.026). Meanwhile, in the high Aβ burden group, SUVR showed positive correlations with the Temporal-Prefrontal connectivity (r = 0.27, P = 0.023), Temporal-Occipital connectivity (r = 0.24, P = 0.038), and Temporal-Parietal connectivity (r = 0.32, P = 0.006). Subcortical to Occipital and Parietal connectivities had positive correlations with general cognition, language, memory, and executive function. Temporal to Prefrontal, Occipital, and Parietal connectivities had negative correlations with memory function, executive function, and visuospatial function, and a positive correlation with language function. In conclusion, Individuals with mild cognitive impairment with high Aβ burden have Aβ-related bidirectional functional connectivity changes between lobes and subcortical nuclei that are associated with cognitive decline in multiple domains. These connectivity changes reflect neurological impairment and failed compensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Cui
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yan-Lu Huang
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Fang Xie
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 518 East Wuzhong Road, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yi-Hui Guan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 518 East Wuzhong Road, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Chun-Yi Zac Lo
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yi-Han Guo
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jie-Hui Jiang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Qi-Hao Guo
- Department of Gerontology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China.
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Jiang Y, Yuan TS, Chen YC, Guo P, Lian TH, Liu YY, Liu W, Bai YT, Zhang Q, Zhang W, Zhang JG. Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert modulates hippocampal-frontoparietal networks in patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:51. [PMID: 36471370 PMCID: PMC9721033 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00327-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) has shown potential for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is little evidence of whether NBM-DBS can improve cognitive functioning in patients with advanced AD. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the modulation of brain networks remain unclear. This study was aimed to assess the cognitive function and the resting-state connectivity following NBM-DBS in patients with advanced AD. METHODS Eight patients with advanced AD underwent bilateral NBM-DBS and were followed up for 12 months. Clinical outcomes were assessed by neuropsychological examinations using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography data were also collected. RESULTS The cognitive functioning of AD patients did not change from baseline to the 12-month follow-up. Interestingly, the MMSE score indicated clinical efficacy at 1 month of follow-up. At this time point, the connectivity between the hippocampal network and frontoparietal network tended to increase in the DBS-on state compared to the DBS-off state. Additionally, the increased functional connectivity between the parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) and the parietal cortex was associated with cognitive improvement. Further dynamic functional network analysis showed that NBM-DBS increased the proportion of the PHG-related connections, which was related to improved cognitive performance. CONCLUSION The results indicated that NBM-DBS improves short-term cognitive performance in patients with advanced AD, which may be related to the modulation of multi-network connectivity patterns, and the hippocampus plays an important role within these networks. TRIAL REGISTRATION ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900022324. Registered 5 April 2019-Prospective registration. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=37712.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Jiang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Tian-Shuo Yuan
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Ying-Chuan Chen
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Peng Guo
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XCenter for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Teng-Hong Lian
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XCenter for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Yu-Ye Liu
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Wei Liu
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Yu-Tong Bai
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Quan Zhang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Wei Zhang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XCenter for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China
| | - Jian-Guo Zhang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China ,grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 China ,grid.413259.80000 0004 0632 3337Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurostimulation, Beijing, 100070 China
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Liu X, Zeng Q, Luo X, Li K, Xu X, Hong L, Li J, Guan X, Xu X, Huang P, Zhang M. Effects of APOE ε2 allele on basal forebrain functional connectivity in mild cognitive impairment. CNS Neurosci Ther 2022; 29:597-608. [PMID: 36468416 PMCID: PMC9873529 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS) dysfunction is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 is a protective genetic factor in AD and MCI, and cholinergic sprouting depends on APOE. OBJECTIVE We investigated the effect of the APOE ε2 allele on BFCS functional connectivity (FC) in cognitively normal (CN) subjects and MCI patients. METHOD We included 60 MCI patients with APOE ε3/ε3, 18 MCI patients with APOE ε2/ε3, 73 CN subjects with APOE ε3/ε3, and 36 CN subjects with APOE ε2/ε3 genotypes who had resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative. We used BFCS subregions (Ch1-3 and Ch4) as seeds and calculated the FC with other brain areas. Using a mixed-effect analysis, we explored the interaction effects of APOE ε2 allele × cognitive status on BFCS-FC. Furthermore, we examined the relationships between imaging metrics, cognitive abilities, and AD pathology markers, controlling for sex, age, and education as covariates. RESULTS An interaction effect on functional connectivity was found between the right Ch4 (RCh4) and left insula (p < 0.05, corrected), and between the RCh4 and left Rolandic operculum (p < 0.05, corrected). Among all subjects and APOE ε2 carriers, RCh4-left Insula FC was associated with early tau deposition. Furthermore, no correlation was found between imaging metrics and amyloid burden. Among all subjects and APOE ε2 carriers, FC metrics were associated with cognitive performance. CONCLUSION The APOE ε2 genotype may play a protective role during BFCS degeneration in MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocao Liu
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Qingze Zeng
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiao Luo
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Kaicheng Li
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaopei Xu
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Luwei Hong
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Jixuan Li
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaojun Guan
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaojun Xu
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Peiyu Huang
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Min‐Ming Zhang
- Department of RadiologyThe 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
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Zeng Q, Qiu T, Li K, Luo X, Wang S, Xu X, Liu X, Hong L, Li J, Huang P, Zhang M. Increased functional connectivity between nucleus basalis of Meynert and amygdala in cognitively intact elderly along the Alzheimer's continuum. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103256. [PMID: 36451361 PMCID: PMC9668640 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of research reported the degeneration of the basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic system in the early course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, functional changes of the BF in asymptomatic individuals along the Alzheimer's continuum remain unclear. METHODS A total of 229 cognitively intact participants were included from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset and further divided into four groups based on the "A/T" profile using amyloid and tau positron emission tomography (PET). All A-T+ subjects were excluded. One hundred and seventy-three subjects along the Alzheimer's continuum (A-T-, A+ T-, A+ T+) were used for further study. The seed-based functional connectivity (FC) maps of the BF subregions (Ch1-3 and Ch4 [nucleus basalis of Meynert, NBM]) with whole-brain voxels were constructed. Analyses of covariance to detect the between-group differences and to further investigated the relations between FC values and AD biomarkers or cognition. RESULTS We found increased FC between right Ch4 and bilateral amygdala among three groups, and the FC value could well distinguish between the A-T- group and the Alzheimer's continuum groups. Furthermore, increased FC between the Ch4 and amygdala was associated with higher pathological burden reflected by amyloid and tau PET in the entire population as well as better logistic memory function in A + T+ group. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated the NBM functional connectivity increased in cognitively normal elderly along the Alzheimer's continuum, which indicated a potential compensatory mechanism to counteract pathological changes in AD and maintain intact cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingze Zeng
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tiantian Qiu
- Department of Radiology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China
| | - Kaicheng Li
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuyue Wang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaopei Xu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaocao Liu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Luwei Hong
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jixuan Li
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peiyu Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minming Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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Song Y, Wu H, Chen S, Ge H, Yan Z, Xue C, Qi W, Yuan Q, Liang X, Lin X, Chen J. Differential Abnormality in Functional Connectivity Density in Preclinical and Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:879836. [PMID: 35693335 PMCID: PMC9177137 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.879836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Both subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) have a high risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). While most of the available evidence described changes in functional connectivity (FC) in SCD and aMCI, there was no confirmation of changes in functional connectivity density (FCD) that have not been confirmed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the specific alterations in resting-state FCD in SCD and aMCI and further assess the extent to which these changes can distinguish the preclinical and early-stage AD. Methods A total of 57 patients with SCD, 59 patients with aMCI, and 78 healthy controls (HC) were included. The global FCD, local FCD, and long-range FCD were calculated for each voxel to identify brain regions with significant FCD alterations. The brain regions with abnormal FCD were then used as regions of interest for FC analysis. In addition, we calculated correlations between neuroimaging alterations and cognitive function and performed receiver-operating characteristic analyses to assess the diagnostic effect of the FCD and FC alterations on SCD and aMCI. Results FCD mapping revealed significantly increased global FCD in the left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG.L) and increased long-range FCD in the left hippocampus for patients with SCD when compared to HCs. However, when compared to SCD, patients with aMCI showed significantly decreased global FCD and long-range FCD in the PHG.L. The follow-up FC analysis further revealed significant variations between the PHG.L and the occipital lobe in patients with SCD and aMCI. In addition, patients with SCD also presented significant changes in FC between the left hippocampus, the left cerebellum anterior lobe, and the inferior temporal gyrus. Moreover, changes in abnormal indicators in the SCD and aMCI groups were significantly associated with cognitive function. Finally, combining FCD and FC abnormalities allowed for a more precise differentiation of the clinical stages. Conclusion To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate specific alterations in FCD and FC for both patients with SCD and aMCI and confirms differential abnormalities that can serve as potential imaging markers for preclinical and early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). Also, it adds a new dimension of understanding to the diagnosis of SCD and aMCI as well as the evaluation of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Song
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huimin Wu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Honglin Ge
- Institute of Neuropsychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Brain Functional Imaging, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Yan
- Institute of Neuropsychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Brain Functional Imaging, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Xue
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenzhang Qi
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qianqian Yuan
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuhong Liang
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xingjian Lin
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xingjian Lin
| | - Jiu Chen
- Institute of Neuropsychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Brain Functional Imaging, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Jiu Chen
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Hu Q, Wang Q, Li Y, Xie Z, Lin X, Huang G, Zhan L, Jia X, Zhao X. Intrinsic Brain Activity Alterations in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment-to-Normal Reversion: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study From Voxel to Whole-Brain Level. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:788765. [PMID: 35111039 PMCID: PMC8802752 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.788765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) reversion refers to patients with MCI who revert from MCI to a normal cognitive state. Exploring the underlying neuromechanism of MCI reverters may contribute to providing new insights into the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and developing therapeutic interventions. Information on patients with MCI and healthy controls (HCs) was collected from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. We redefined MCI reverters as patients with MCI whose logical memory scores changed from MCI to normal levels using the logical memory criteria. We explored intrinsic brain activity alterations in MCI reverters from voxel, regional, and whole-brain levels by comparing resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging metrics of the amplitude of low-frequency of fluctuation (ALFF), the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), percent amplitude of fluctuation (PerAF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree centrality (DC) between MCI reverters and HCs. Finally, partial correlation analyses were conducted between cognitive scale scores and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging metrics of brain regions, revealing significant group differences. Thirty-two patients with MCI from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database were identified as reverters. Thirty-seven age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy individuals were also enrolled. At the voxel level, compared with the HCs, MCI reverters had increased ALFF, fALFF, and PerAF in the frontal gyrus (including the bilateral orbital inferior frontal gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus), increased PerAF in the left fusiform gyrus, and decreased ALFF and fALFF in the right inferior cerebellum. Regarding regional and whole-brain levels, MCI reverters showed increased ReHo in the left fusiform gyrus and right median cingulate and paracingulate gyri; increased DC in the left inferior temporal gyrus and left medial superior frontal; decreased DC in the right inferior cerebellum and bilateral insular gyrus relative to HCs. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between cognitive performance and neuroimaging changes. These findings suggest that MCI reverters show significant intrinsic brain activity changes compared with HCs, potentially related to the cognitive reversion of patients with MCI. These results enhance our understanding of the underlying neuromechanism of MCI reverters and may contribute to further exploration of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qili Hu
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yunfei Li
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhou Xie
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - Xiaomei Lin
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guofeng Huang
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China
| | - LinLin Zhan
- School of Western Language, Heilongjiang University, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xize Jia
- School of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xiaohu Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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11
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Li S, Wei J, Chen T. Editorial: Gut Microbiota in the Occurrence, Development and Treatment of Gut-Brain Disorders. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:808454. [PMID: 34976874 PMCID: PMC8714825 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.808454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Li
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jing Wei
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tingtao Chen
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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12
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Miao D, Zhou X, Wu X, Chen C, Tian L. Distinct profiles of functional connectivity density aberrance in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1079149. [PMID: 36590612 PMCID: PMC9797864 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1079149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Investigating the neuroimaging changes from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is of great significance. However, the details about the distinct functional characteristics of AD and MCI remain unknown. METHODS In this study, we investigated distinct profiles of functional connectivity density (FCD) differences between AD and MCI compared with the normal population, aiming to depict the progressive brain changes from MCI to AD. As a data-driven method, FCD measures the profiles of FC for the given voxel at different scales. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) images were obtained from patients with AD and MCI and matched healthy controls (HCs). One-way ANCOVA was used to investigate (global, long-range, and local) FCD differences among the three groups followed by post-hoc analysis controlling age, sex, and head motion. RESULTS The three groups exhibited significant global FCD differences in the superior frontal gyrus. The post-hoc results further showed that patients with AD had a significant increase in global FCD values than those with MCI and HCs. Patients with MCI exhibited an increased trend compared with HCs. We further identified brain regions contributing to the observed global FCD differences by conducting seed-based FC analysis. We also identified that the observed global FCD differences were the additive effects of altered FC between the superior frontal gyrus and the posterior default model network. DISCUSSION These results depicted the global information communication capability impairment in AD and MCI providing a new insight into the progressive brain changes from MCI to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Miao
- School of Automation, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoguang Zhou
- School of Automation, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Wu
- School of Economics and Management, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chengdong Chen
- School of Economics and Management, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Le Tian
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, China
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13
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Qiu T, Zeng Q, Luo X, Xu T, Shen Z, Xu X, Wang C, Li K, Huang P, Li X, Xie F, Dai S, Zhang M. Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Resting-State Functional Connectivity of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:755630. [PMID: 34867281 PMCID: PMC8638702 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.755630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the prodromal phase of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and has a high risk of progression to AD. Cigarette smoking is one of the important modifiable risk factors in AD progression. Cholinergic dysfunction, especially the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), is the converging target connecting smoking and AD. However, how cigarette smoking affects NBM connectivity in MCI remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the interaction effects of condition (non-smoking vs. smoking) and diagnosis [cognitively normal (CN) vs. MCI] based on the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the NBM. Methods: After propensity score matching, we included 86 non-smoking CN, 44 smoking CN, 62 non-smoking MCI, and 32 smoking MCI. All subjects underwent structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging scans and neuropsychological tests. The seed-based rsFC of the NBM with the whole-brain voxel was calculated. Furthermore, the mixed effect analysis was performed to explore the interaction effects between condition and diagnosis on rsFC of the NBM. Results: The interaction effects of condition × diagnosis on rsFC of the NBM were observed in the bilateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), and right precuneus/middle occipital gyrus (MOG). Specifically, the smoking CN showed decreased rsFC between left NBM and PFC and increased rsFC between left NBM and SMA compared with non-smoking CN and smoking MCI. The smoking MCI showed reduced rsFC between right NBM and precuneus/MOG compared with non-smoking MCI. Additionally, rsFC between the NBM and SMA showed a significant negative correlation with Wechsler Memory Scale-Logical Memory (WMS-LM) immediate recall in smoking CN (r = −0.321, p = 0.041). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that chronic nicotine exposure through smoking may lead to functional connectivity disruption between the NBM and precuneus in MCI patients. The distinct alteration patterns on NBM connectivity in CN smokers and MCI smokers suggest that cigarette smoking has different influences on normal and impaired cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Qiu
- Department of Radiology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China
| | - Qingze Zeng
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tongcheng Xu
- Department of Radiology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China
| | - Zhujing Shen
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaopei Xu
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kaicheng Li
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peiyu Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Radiology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China
| | - Fei Xie
- Department of Equipment and Medical Engineering, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China
| | - Shouping Dai
- Department of Radiology, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China
| | - Minming Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Inhibition of Astrocytic Histamine N-Methyltransferase as a Possible Target for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101408. [PMID: 34680041 PMCID: PMC8533269 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101408] [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: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents the principal cause of dementia among the elderly. Great efforts have been established to understand the physiopathology of AD. Changes in neurotransmitter systems in patients with AD, including cholinergic, GABAergic, serotoninergic, noradrenergic, and histaminergic changes have been reported. Interestingly, changes in the histaminergic system have been related to cognitive impairment in AD patients. The principal pathological changes in the brains of AD patients, related to the histaminergic system, are neurofibrillary degeneration of the tuberomammillary nucleus, the main source of histamine in the brain, low histamine levels, and altered signaling of its receptors. The increase of histamine levels can be achieved by inhibiting its degrading enzyme, histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT), a cytoplasmatic enzyme located in astrocytes. Thus, increasing histamine levels could be employed in AD patients as co-therapy due to their effects on cognitive functions, neuroplasticity, neuronal survival, neurogenesis, and the degradation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides. In this sense, the evaluation of the impact of HNMT inhibitors on animal models of AD would be interesting, consequently highlighting its relevance.
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