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Kim GW, Park K, Kim YH, Jeong GW. Altered brain morphology and functional connectivity in postmenopausal women: automatic segmentation of whole-brain and thalamic subnuclei and resting-state fMRI. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:4965-4979. [PMID: 38526330 PMCID: PMC11006480 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205662] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The transition to menopause is associated with various physiological changes, including alterations in brain structure and function. However, menopause-related structural and functional changes are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was not only to compare the brain volume changes between premenopausal and postmenopausal women, but also to evaluate the functional connectivity between the targeted brain regions associated with structural atrophy in postmenopausal women. Each 21 premenopausal and postmenopausal women underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). T1-weighted MRI and resting-state functional MRI data were used to compare the brain volume and seed-based functional connectivity, respectively. In statistical analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, with age and whole brain volume as covariates, was used to evaluate surface areas and subcortical volumes between the two groups. Postmenopausal women showed significantly smaller cortical surface, especially in the left medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC), right superior temporal cortex, and right lateral orbitofrontal cortex, compared to premenopausal women (p < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected) as well as significantly decreased functional connectivity between the left mOFC and the right thalamus was observed (p < 0.005, Monte-Carlo corrected). Although postmenopausal women did not show volume atrophy in the right thalamus, the volume of the right pulvinar anterior, which is one of the distinguished thalamic subnuclei, was significantly decreased (p < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected). Taken together, our findings suggest that diminished brain volume and functional connectivity may be linked to menopause-related symptoms caused by the lower sex hormone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwang-Won Kim
- Advanced Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangsung Park
- Advanced Institute of Aging Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
- Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Hyeon Kim
- Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang-Woo Jeong
- Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea
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Ramli NZ, Yahaya MF, Mohd Fahami NA, Abdul Manan H, Singh M, Damanhuri HA. Brain volumetric changes in menopausal women and its association with cognitive function: a structured review. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1158001. [PMID: 37818479 PMCID: PMC10561270 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1158001] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The menopausal transition has been proposed to put women at risk for undesirable neurological symptoms, including cognitive decline. Previous studies suggest that alterations in the hormonal milieu modulate brain structures associated with cognitive function. This structured review provides an overview of the relevant studies that have utilized MRI to report volumetric differences in the brain following menopause, and its correlations with the evaluated cognitive functions. We performed an electronic literature search using Medline (Ovid) and Scopus to identify studies that assessed the influence of menopause on brain structure with MRI. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Brain volumetric differences have been reported most frequently in the frontal and temporal cortices as well as the hippocampus. These regions are important for higher cognitive tasks and memory. Additionally, the deficit in verbal and visuospatial memory in postmenopausal women has been associated with smaller regional brain volumes. Nevertheless, the limited number of eligible studies and cross-sectional study designs warrant further research to draw more robust conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Zuliani Ramli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Fairuz Yahaya
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nur Azlina Mohd Fahami
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hanani Abdul Manan
- Functional Image Processing Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Meharvan Singh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States
| | - Hanafi Ahmad Damanhuri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Mao L, Wang L, Bennett S, Xu J, Zou J. Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone on fat metabolism and cognitive impairment in women during menopause. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1043237. [PMID: 36545281 PMCID: PMC9760686 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1043237] [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: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid metabolism disorder is a common pathological manifestation of menopausal women, and is also an important risk factor for many diseases at this stage of life. Epidemiological studies have shown that high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in menopausal women are closely associated with changes in body composition, central obesity, and cognitive decline. Exogenous FSH causes growth and proliferation of adipose, whereas blockage of the FSH signaling pathway leads to decline in adipose. Mechanistically, FSH, FSH receptor (FSHR), G protein coupling, gene mutation and other pathways are involved in adipogenesis and cognitive impairment. Here, we review the critical role and potential interactions of FSH in adipogenesis and cognitive impairment in menopausal women. Further understanding of the exact mechanisms of FSH aggravating obesity and cognitive impairment may provide a new perspective for promoting healthy aging in menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Mao
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Lian Wang
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Samuel Bennett
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jiake Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jun Zou
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Jun Zou,
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Jett S, Schelbaum E, Jang G, Boneu Yepez C, Dyke JP, Pahlajani S, Diaz Brinton R, Mosconi L. Ovarian steroid hormones: A long overlooked but critical contributor to brain aging and Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:948219. [PMID: 35928995 PMCID: PMC9344010 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.948219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian hormones, particularly 17β-estradiol, are involved in numerous neurophysiological and neurochemical processes, including those subserving cognitive function. Estradiol plays a key role in the neurobiology of aging, in part due to extensive interconnectivity of the neural and endocrine system. This aspect of aging is fundamental for women's brains as all women experience a drop in circulating estradiol levels in midlife, after menopause. Given the importance of estradiol for brain function, it is not surprising that up to 80% of peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women report neurological symptoms including changes in thermoregulation (vasomotor symptoms), mood, sleep, and cognitive performance. Preclinical evidence for neuroprotective effects of 17β-estradiol also indicate associations between menopause, cognitive aging, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia affecting nearly twice more women than men. Brain imaging studies demonstrated that middle-aged women exhibit increased indicators of AD endophenotype as compared to men of the same age, with onset in perimenopause. Herein, we take a translational approach to illustrate the contribution of ovarian hormones in maintaining cognition in women, with evidence implicating menopause-related declines in 17β-estradiol in cognitive aging and AD risk. We will review research focused on the role of endogenous and exogenous estrogen exposure as a key underlying mechanism to neuropathological aging in women, with a focus on whether brain structure, function and neurochemistry respond to hormone treatment. While still in development, this research area offers a new sex-based perspective on brain aging and risk of AD, while also highlighting an urgent need for better integration between neurology, psychiatry, and women's health practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Jett
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eva Schelbaum
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Grace Jang
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Camila Boneu Yepez
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Dyke
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Silky Pahlajani
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Roberta Diaz Brinton
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lisa Mosconi
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
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Zhang S, Fan W, Hu H, Wen L, Gong M, Liu B, Hu J, Li G, Zhang D. Subcortical Volume Changes in Early Menopausal Women and Correlation With Neuropsychological Tests. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:738679. [PMID: 34955807 PMCID: PMC8692945 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.738679] [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: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The aging process and declining estradiol levels are two important factors that cause structural brain alterations. Many prior studies have investigated these two elements and revealed controversial results in menopausal women. Here, a cross-sectional study was designed to individually evaluate estradiol-related structural changes in the brain. Methods: A total of 45 early menopausal women and 54 age-matched premenopausal controls were enrolled and subjected to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, blood biochemistry tests, and neuropsychological tests. MRI structural images were analyzed using FreeSurfer to detect changes in subcortical and cortical volumes as well as cortical thickness. Finally, structural brain data as well as clinical and neuropsychological data were used for Pearson's correlation analyses to individually determine estradiol-related structural and functional changes in the brains of early menopausal women. Results: Compared with the premenopausal controls, the early menopausal women showed significant subcortical volumetric loss in the left amygdala and right amygdala, higher serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, more recognizable climacteric and depressive symptoms, decreased quality of sleep, and decreased working memory and executive functions. Simultaneously, FSH levels were related to lower working memory accuracy and longer working memory reaction time. Decreased subcortical volume in the bilateral amygdala was also related to lower working memory accuracy and longer executive reaction time in early menopausal women. Conclusion: The data suggest that estradiol deficiency in early menopausal women can lead to subcortical volume and functional brain changes, which may contribute to further understanding the neurobiological role of declined estradiol levels in early menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Zhang
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weijie Fan
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hao Hu
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Wen
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mingfu Gong
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junhao Hu
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guanghui Li
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Radiology, XinQiao Hosptial, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Kara F, Belloy ME, Voncken R, Sarwari Z, Garima Y, Anckaerts C, Langbeen A, Leysen V, Shah D, Jacobs J, Hamaide J, Bols P, Van Audekerke J, Daans J, Guglielmetti C, Kantarci K, Prevot V, Roßner S, Ponsaerts P, Van der Linden A, Verhoye M. Long-term ovarian hormone deprivation alters functional connectivity, brain neurochemical profile and white matter integrity in the Tg2576 amyloid mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 102:139-150. [PMID: 33765427 PMCID: PMC8312737 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Premenopausal bilateral ovariectomy is considered to be one of the risk factors of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate long-term neurological consequences of ovariectomy in a rodent AD model, TG2576 (TG), and wild-type mice (WT) that underwent an ovariectomy or sham-operation, using in vivo MRI biomarkers. An increase in osmoregulation and energy metabolism biomarkers in the hypothalamus, a decrease in white matter integrity, and a decrease in the resting-state functional connectivity was observed in ovariectomized TG mice compared to sham-operated TG mice. In addition, we observed an increase in functional connectivity in ovariectomized WT mice compared to sham-operated WT mice. Furthermore, genotype (TG vs. WT) effects on imaging markers and GFAP immunoreactivity levels were observed, but there was no effect of interaction (Genotype × Surgery) on amyloid-beta-and GFAP immunoreactivity levels. Taken together, our results indicated that both genotype and ovariectomy alters imaging biomarkers associated with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firat Kara
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Michael E Belloy
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rick Voncken
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Zahra Sarwari
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Yadav Garima
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Cynthia Anckaerts
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - An Langbeen
- Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Valerie Leysen
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neurosciences and Cognition, UMR-S1172, DistalZ, Lille, France
| | - Disha Shah
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jules Jacobs
- University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Julie Hamaide
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter Bols
- Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Audekerke
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jasmijn Daans
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (Vaxinfectio), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Kejal Kantarci
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Vincent Prevot
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Development and Plasticity of the Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille Neurosciences and Cognition, UMR-S1172, DistalZ, Lille, France
| | - Steffen Roßner
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Ponsaerts
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (Vaxinfectio), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annemie Van der Linden
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-imaging Lab- Member of INMIND consortium, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Slow electroencephalographic oscillations and behavioral measures as predictors of high executive processing in early postmenopausal females: A discriminant analysis approach. Brain Cogn 2020; 145:105613. [PMID: 32911233 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Decline in cognitive function is frequent in early postmenopause. There are postmenopausal females who show high performance while others display low performance in executive function, modulated by the prefrontal cortex. These differences have led to confusing and inconclusive results, which have not been explained entirely by the decline in estrogens, which affect the prefrontal cortex functions. An analysis of brain function and the application of a discriminant analysis can help to clarify the deficits in executive function shown by some postmenopausal females. The objective was to examine electroencephalographic recording during the performance of an executive function test in early postmenopausal females, ten with a high level of performance and ten with a low level of performance. Absolute power of delta, theta, alpha1, alpha2, beta1 and beta2 and the numbers of completed categories, trials, perseverative errors and overall errors were submitted to stepwise discriminant analysis to identify predictor variables. Four predictors emerged as significant of group membership based on cognitive performance, with the high-performance group characterized by more completed categories, more delta power, less theta power and more alpha1 power. These findings suggest that postmenopausal females classified in the high-performance group displayed appropriate temporary activation in slow oscillations during executive processing.
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