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Nous A, Seynaeve L, Feys O, Wens V, De Tiège X, Van Mierlo P, Baroumand AG, Nieboer K, Allemeersch GJ, Mangelschots S, Michiels V, van der Zee J, Van Broeckhoven C, Ribbens A, Houbrechts R, De Witte S, Wittens MMJ, Bjerke M, Vanlersberghe C, Ceyssens S, Nagels G, Smolders I, Engelborghs S. Subclinical epileptiform activity in the Alzheimer continuum: association with disease, cognition and detection method. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:19. [PMID: 38263073 PMCID: PMC10804650 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01373-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epileptic seizures are an established comorbidity of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Subclinical epileptiform activity (SEA) as detected by 24-h electroencephalography (EEG) or magneto-encephalography (MEG) has been reported in temporal regions of clinically diagnosed AD patients. Although epileptic activity in AD probably arises in the mesial temporal lobe, electrical activity within this region might not propagate to EEG scalp electrodes and could remain undetected by standard EEG. However, SEA might lead to faster cognitive decline in AD. AIMS 1. To estimate the prevalence of SEA and interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) in a well-defined cohort of participants belonging to the AD continuum, including preclinical AD subjects, as compared with cognitively healthy controls. 2. To evaluate whether long-term-EEG (LTM-EEG), high-density-EEG (hd-EEG) or MEG is superior to detect SEA in AD. 3. To characterise AD patients with SEA based on clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging parameters. METHODS Subjects (n = 49) belonging to the AD continuum were diagnosed according to the 2011 NIA-AA research criteria, with a high likelihood of underlying AD pathophysiology. Healthy volunteers (n = 24) scored normal on neuropsychological testing and were amyloid negative. None of the participants experienced a seizure before. Subjects underwent LTM-EEG and/or 50-min MEG and/or 50-min hd-EEG to detect IEDs. RESULTS We found an increased prevalence of SEA in AD subjects (31%) as compared to controls (8%) (p = 0.041; Fisher's exact test), with increasing prevalence over the disease course (50% in dementia, 27% in MCI and 25% in preclinical AD). Although MEG (25%) did not withhold a higher prevalence of SEA in AD as compared to LTM-EEG (19%) and hd-EEG (19%), MEG was significantly superior to detect spikes per 50 min (p = 0.002; Kruskall-Wallis test). AD patients with SEA scored worse on the RBANS visuospatial and attention subset (p = 0.009 and p = 0.05, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test) and had higher left frontal, (left) temporal and (left and right) entorhinal cortex volumes than those without. CONCLUSION We confirmed that SEA is increased in the AD continuum as compared to controls, with increasing prevalence with AD disease stage. In AD patients, SEA is associated with more severe visuospatial and attention deficits and with increased left frontal, (left) temporal and entorhinal cortex volumes. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04131491. 12/02/2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Nous
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
- Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation (NEUR) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information (FASC), Research Group Experimental Pharmacology (EFAR), Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laura Seynaeve
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
- Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation (NEUR) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Odile Feys
- Department of Neurology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratoire de Neuroimagerie Et Neuroanatomie Translationnelles (LN2T), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vincent Wens
- Laboratoire de Neuroimagerie Et Neuroanatomie Translationnelles (LN2T), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neuroimaging, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xavier De Tiège
- Laboratoire de Neuroimagerie Et Neuroanatomie Translationnelles (LN2T), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neuroimaging, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Koenraad Nieboer
- Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gert-Jan Allemeersch
- Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Shana Mangelschots
- Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation (NEUR) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Veronique Michiels
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julie van der Zee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christine Van Broeckhoven
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Sara De Witte
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
- Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation (NEUR) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mandy Melissa Jane Wittens
- Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation (NEUR) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maria Bjerke
- Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation (NEUR) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Clinical Biology, Laboratory of Clinical Neurochemistry, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Caroline Vanlersberghe
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah Ceyssens
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Guy Nagels
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
- Artificial Intelligence Supported Modelling in Clinical Sciences (AIMS) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information (FASC), Research Group Experimental Pharmacology (EFAR), Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sebastiaan Engelborghs
- Department of Neurology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium.
- Neuroprotection and Neuromodulation (NEUR) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, Belgium.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Leitner DF, Kanshin E, Faustin A, Thierry M, Friedman D, Devore S, Ueberheide B, Devinsky O, Wisniewski T. Localized proteomic differences in the choroid plexus of Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy patients. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1221775. [PMID: 37521285 PMCID: PMC10379643 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1221775] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) and epilepsy are reciprocally related. Among sporadic AD patients, clinical seizures occur in 10-22% and subclinical epileptiform abnormalities occur in 22-54%. Cognitive deficits, especially short-term memory impairments, occur in most epilepsy patients. Common neurophysiological and molecular mechanisms occur in AD and epilepsy. The choroid plexus undergoes pathological changes in aging, AD, and epilepsy, including decreased CSF turnover, amyloid beta (Aβ), and tau accumulation due to impaired clearance and disrupted CSF amino acid homeostasis. This pathology may contribute to synaptic dysfunction in AD and epilepsy. Methods We evaluated control (n = 8), severe AD (n = 8; A3, B3, C3 neuropathology), and epilepsy autopsy cases (n = 12) using laser capture microdissection (LCM) followed by label-free quantitative mass spectrometry on the choroid plexus adjacent to the hippocampus at the lateral geniculate nucleus level. Results Proteomics identified 2,459 proteins in the choroid plexus. At a 5% false discovery rate (FDR), 616 proteins were differentially expressed in AD vs. control, 1 protein in epilepsy vs. control, and 438 proteins in AD vs. epilepsy. There was more variability in the epilepsy group across syndromes. The top 20 signaling pathways associated with differentially expressed proteins in AD vs. control included cell metabolism pathways; activated fatty acid beta-oxidation (p = 2.00 x 10-7, z = 3.00), and inhibited glycolysis (p = 1.00 x 10-12, z = -3.46). For AD vs. epilepsy, the altered pathways included cell metabolism pathways, activated complement system (p = 5.62 x 10-5, z = 2.00), and pathogen-induced cytokine storm (p = 2.19 x 10-2, z = 3.61). Of the 617 altered proteins in AD and epilepsy vs. controls, 497 (81%) were positively correlated (p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.27). Discussion We found altered signaling pathways in the choroid plexus of severe AD cases and many correlated changes in the protein expression of cell metabolism pathways in AD and epilepsy cases. The shared molecular mechanisms should be investigated further to distinguish primary pathogenic changes from the secondary ones. These mechanisms could inform novel therapeutic strategies to prevent disease progression or restore normal function. A focus on dual-diagnosed AD/epilepsy cases, specific epilepsy syndromes, such as temporal lobe epilepsy, and changes across different severity levels in AD and epilepsy would add to our understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique F. Leitner
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Evgeny Kanshin
- Proteomics Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Arline Faustin
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Manon Thierry
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Daniel Friedman
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sasha Devore
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Beatrix Ueberheide
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Proteomics Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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Stam CJ, van Nifterick AM, de Haan W, Gouw AA. Network Hyperexcitability in Early Alzheimer's Disease: Is Functional Connectivity a Potential Biomarker? Brain Topogr 2023:10.1007/s10548-023-00968-7. [PMID: 37173584 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-023-00968-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Network hyperexcitability (NH) is an important feature of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. Functional connectivity (FC) of brain networks has been proposed as a potential biomarker for NH. Here we use a whole brain computational model and resting-state MEG recordings to investigate the relation between hyperexcitability and FC. Oscillatory brain activity was simulated with a Stuart Landau model on a network of 78 interconnected brain regions. FC was quantified with amplitude envelope correlation (AEC) and phase coherence (PC). MEG was recorded in 18 subjects with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and 18 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Functional connectivity was determined with the corrected AECc and phase lag index (PLI), in the 4-8 Hz and the 8-13 Hz bands. The excitation/inhibition balance in the model had a strong effect on both AEC and PC. This effect was different for AEC and PC, and was influenced by structural coupling strength and frequency band. Empirical FC matrices of SCD and MCI showed a good correlation with model FC for AEC, but less so for PC. For AEC the fit was best in the hyperexcitable range. We conclude that FC is sensitive to changes in E/I balance. The AEC was more sensitive than the PLI, and results were better for the thetaband than the alpha band. This conclusion was supported by fitting the model to empirical data. Our study justifies the use of functional connectivity measures as surrogate markers for E/I balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Stam
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Vrij Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - A M van Nifterick
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Vrij Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W de Haan
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Vrij Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A A Gouw
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Vrij Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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van Nifterick AM, Mulder D, Duineveld DJ, Diachenko M, Scheltens P, Stam CJ, van Kesteren RE, Linkenkaer-Hansen K, Hillebrand A, Gouw AA. Resting-state oscillations reveal disturbed excitation-inhibition ratio in Alzheimer's disease patients. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7419. [PMID: 37150756 PMCID: PMC10164744 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33973-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
An early disruption of neuronal excitation-inhibition (E-I) balance in preclinical animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been frequently reported, but is difficult to measure directly and non-invasively in humans. Here, we examined known and novel neurophysiological measures sensitive to E-I in patients across the AD continuum. Resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) data of 86 amyloid-biomarker-confirmed subjects across the AD continuum (17 patients diagnosed with subjective cognitive decline, 18 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 51 with dementia due to probable AD (AD dementia)), 46 healthy elderly and 20 young control subjects were reconstructed to source-space. E-I balance was investigated by detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), a functional E/I (fE/I) algorithm, and the aperiodic exponent of the power spectrum. We found a disrupted E-I ratio in AD dementia patients specifically, by a lower DFA, and a shift towards higher excitation, by a higher fE/I and a lower aperiodic exponent. Healthy subjects showed lower fE/I ratios (< 1.0) than reported in previous literature, not explained by age or choice of an arbitrary threshold parameter, which warrants caution in interpretation of fE/I results. Correlation analyses showed that a lower DFA (E-I imbalance) and a lower aperiodic exponent (more excitation) was associated with a worse cognitive score in AD dementia patients. In contrast, a higher DFA in the hippocampi of MCI patients was associated with a worse cognitive score. This MEG-study showed E-I imbalance, likely due to increased excitation, in AD dementia, but not in early stage AD patients. To accurately determine the direction of shift in E-I balance, validations of the currently used markers and additional in vivo markers of E-I are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M van Nifterick
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Systems and Network Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Danique Mulder
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Denise J Duineveld
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marina Diachenko
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Systems and Network Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis J Stam
- Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Systems and Network Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald E van Kesteren
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus Linkenkaer-Hansen
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Systems and Network Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Hillebrand
- Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Systems and Network Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alida A Gouw
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Sarkis RA. Levetiracetam in Alzheimer's Disease: Do Epileptologists Already Have the Cure? Epilepsy Curr 2022; 22:225-227. [PMID: 36187150 PMCID: PMC9483755 DOI: 10.1177/15357597221096020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Effect of Levetiracetam on Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease With and
Without Epileptiform Activity: A Randomized Clinical Trial Vossel K, Ranasinghe KG, Beagle AJ, et al. JAMA Neurol.
2021;78(11):1345-1354. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.3310. Importance: Network hyperexcitability may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in patients with
Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective: To determine the ability of the antiseizure drug levetiracetam to improve cognition
in persons with AD. Design, setting, and participants: The Levetiracetam for Alzheimer’s Disease–Associated Network Hyperexcitability
(LEV-AD) study was a phase 2a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled crossover
clinical trial of 34 adults with AD that was conducted at the University of
California, San Francisco, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, between
October 16, 2014, and July 21, 2020. Participants were adults 80 years and younger
who had a Mini Mental State Examination score of 18 points or higher and/or a
Clinical Dementia Rating score of less than 2 points. Screening included overnight
video electroencephalography and a 1-hour resting magnetoencephalography
examination. Interventions: Group A received placebo twice daily for 4 weeks followed by a 4-week washout
period, then oral levetiracetam, 125 mg, twice daily for 4 weeks. Group B received
treatment using the reverse sequence. Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was the ability of levetiracetam treatment to improve executive
function (measured by the National Institutes of Health Executive Abilities:
Measures and Instruments for Neurobehavioral Evaluation and Research [NIH-EXAMINER]
composite score). Secondary outcomes were cognition (measured by the Stroop Color
and Word Test [Stroop] interference naming subscale and the Alzheimer’s Disease
Assessment Scale—Cognitive Subscale) and disability. Exploratory outcomes included
performance on a virtual route learning test and scores on cognitive and functional
tests among participants with epileptiform activity. Results: Of 54 adults assessed for eligibility, 11 did not meet study criteria, and 9
declined to participate. A total of 34 adults (21 women [61.8%]; mean [SD] age, 62.3
[7.7] years) with AD were enrolled and randomized (17 participants to group A and 17
participants to group B). Thirteen participants (38.2%) were categorized as having
epileptiform activity. In total, 28 participants (82.4%) completed the study, 10 of
whom (35.7%) had epileptiform activity. Overall, treatment with levetiracetam did
not change NIH-EXAMINER composite scores (mean difference vs placebo, .07 points;
95% CI, −.18 to .32 points; P = .55) or secondary measures. However, among
participants with epileptiform activity, levetiracetam treatment improved
performance on the Stroop interference naming subscale (net improvement vs placebo,
7.4 points; 95% CI, .2–14.7 points; P = .046) and the virtual route learning test (t
= 2.36; Cohen f2 = .11; P = .02). There were no treatment discontinuations because
of adverse events. Conclusions and relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, levetiracetam was well tolerated and, although
it did not improve the primary outcome, in prespecified analysis, levetiracetam
improved performance on spatial memory and executive function tasks in patients with
AD and epileptiform activity. These exploratory findings warrant further assessment
of antiseizure approaches in AD.
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van Vliet EA, Marchi N. Neurovascular unit dysfunction as a mechanism of seizures and epilepsy during aging. Epilepsia 2022; 63:1297-1313. [PMID: 35218208 PMCID: PMC9321014 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The term neurovascular unit (NVU) describes the structural and functional liaison between specialized brain endothelium, glial and mural cells, and neurons. Within the NVU, the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) is the microvascular structure regulating neuronal physiology and immune cross‐talk, and its properties adapt to brain aging. Here, we analyze a research framework where NVU dysfunction, caused by acute insults or disease progression in the aging brain, represents a converging mechanism underlying late‐onset seizures or epilepsy and neurological or neurodegenerative sequelae. Furthermore, seizure activity may accelerate brain aging by sustaining regional NVU dysfunction, and a cerebrovascular pathology may link seizures to comorbidities. Next, we focus on NVU diagnostic approaches that could be tailored to seizure conditions in the elderly. We also examine the impending disease‐modifying strategies based on the restoration of the NVU and, more in general, the homeostatic control of anti‐ and pro‐inflammatory players. We conclude with an outlook on current pre‐clinical knowledge gaps and clinical challenges pertinent to seizure onset and conditions in an aging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin A van Vliet
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, dept. of (Neuro)pathology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,University of Amsterdam, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicola Marchi
- Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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7
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Yu T, Liu X, Wu J, Wang Q. Electrophysiological Biomarkers of Epileptogenicity in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:747077. [PMID: 34916917 PMCID: PMC8669481 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.747077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical network hyperexcitability is an inextricable feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that also might accelerate its progression. Seizures are reported in 10–22% of patients with AD, and subclinical epileptiform abnormalities have been identified in 21–42% of patients with AD without seizures. Accurate identification of hyperexcitability and appropriate intervention to slow the compromise of cognitive functions of AD might open up a new approach to treatment. Based on the results of several studies, epileptiform discharges, especially those with specific features (including high frequency, robust morphology, right temporal location, and occurrence during awake or rapid eye movement states), frequent small sharp spikes (SSSs), temporal intermittent rhythmic delta activities (TIRDAs), and paroxysmal slow wave events (PSWEs) recorded in long-term scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) provide sufficient sensitivity and specificity in detecting cortical network hyperexcitability and epileptogenicity of AD. In addition, magnetoencephalogram (MEG), foramen ovale (FO) electrodes, and computational approaches help to find subclinical seizures that are invisible on scalp EEGs. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the aforementioned electrophysiological biomarkers of AD-related seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jianping Wu
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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8
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Vossel K, Ranasinghe KG, Beagle AJ, La A, Ah Pook K, Castro M, Mizuiri D, Honma SM, Venkateswaran N, Koestler M, Zhang W, Mucke L, Howell MJ, Possin KL, Kramer JH, Boxer AL, Miller BL, Nagarajan SS, Kirsch HE. Effect of Levetiracetam on Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease With and Without Epileptiform Activity: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Neurol 2021; 78:1345-1354. [PMID: 34570177 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.3310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Importance Network hyperexcitability may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective To determine the ability of the antiseizure drug levetiracetam to improve cognition in persons with AD. Design, Setting, and Participants The Levetiracetam for Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Network Hyperexcitability (LEV-AD) study was a phase 2a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial of 34 adults with AD that was conducted at the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, between October 16, 2014, and July 21, 2020. Participants were adults 80 years and younger who had a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 18 points or higher and/or a Clinical Dementia Rating score of less than 2 points. Screening included overnight video electroencephalography and a 1-hour resting magnetoencephalography examination. Interventions Group A received placebo twice daily for 4 weeks followed by a 4-week washout period, then oral levetiracetam, 125 mg, twice daily for 4 weeks. Group B received treatment using the reverse sequence. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the ability of levetiracetam treatment to improve executive function (measured by the National Institutes of Health Executive Abilities: Measures and Instruments for Neurobehavioral Evaluation and Research [NIH-EXAMINER] composite score). Secondary outcomes were cognition (measured by the Stroop Color and Word Test [Stroop] interference naming subscale and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale) and disability. Exploratory outcomes included performance on a virtual route learning test and scores on cognitive and functional tests among participants with epileptiform activity. Results Of 54 adults assessed for eligibility, 11 did not meet study criteria, and 9 declined to participate. A total of 34 adults (21 women [61.8%]; mean [SD] age, 62.3 [7.7] years) with AD were enrolled and randomized (17 participants to group A and 17 participants to group B). Thirteen participants (38.2%) were categorized as having epileptiform activity. In total, 28 participants (82.4%) completed the study, 10 of whom (35.7%) had epileptiform activity. Overall, treatment with levetiracetam did not change NIH-EXAMINER composite scores (mean difference vs placebo, 0.07 points; 95% CI, -0.18 to 0.32 points; P = .55) or secondary measures. However, among participants with epileptiform activity, levetiracetam treatment improved performance on the Stroop interference naming subscale (net improvement vs placebo, 7.4 points; 95% CI, 0.2-14.7 points; P = .046) and the virtual route learning test (t = 2.36; Cohen f2 = 0.11; P = .02). There were no treatment discontinuations because of adverse events. Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, levetiracetam was well tolerated and, although it did not improve the primary outcome, in prespecified analysis, levetiracetam improved performance on spatial memory and executive function tasks in patients with AD and epileptiform activity. These exploratory findings warrant further assessment of antiseizure approaches in AD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02002819.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Vossel
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco.,N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.,Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.,Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Los Angeles.,Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California
| | - Kamalini G Ranasinghe
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Alexander J Beagle
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Alice La
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Kasey Ah Pook
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Madelyn Castro
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Danielle Mizuiri
- Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Susanne M Honma
- Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Nisha Venkateswaran
- N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.,Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), Los Angeles
| | - Mary Koestler
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Minnesota Epilepsy Group, St Paul, Minnesota.,Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Lennart Mucke
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco.,Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Katherine L Possin
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Joel H Kramer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Srikantan S Nagarajan
- Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
| | - Heidi E Kirsch
- Biomagnetic Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco.,Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco
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De Stefano P, Carboni M, Marquis R, Spinelli L, Seeck M, Vulliemoz S. Increased delta power as a scalp marker of epileptic activity: a simultaneous scalp and intracranial electroencephalography study. Eur J Neurol 2021; 29:26-35. [PMID: 34528320 PMCID: PMC9293335 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose was to evaluate whether intracranial interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) that are not visible on the scalp are associated with changes in the frequency spectrum on scalp electroencephalograms (EEGs). METHODS Simultaneous scalp high-density EEG and intracranial EEG recordings were recorded in nine patients undergoing pre-surgical invasive recordings for pharmaco-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy. Epochs with hippocampal IED visible on intracranial EEG (ic-IED) but not on scalp EEG were selected, as well as control epochs without ic-IED. Welch's power spectral density was computed for each scalp electrode and for each subject; the power spectral density was further averaged across the canonical frequency bands and compared between the two conditions with and without ic-IED. For each patient the peak frequency in the delta band (the significantly strongest frequency band in all patients) was determined during periods of ic-IED. The five electrodes showing strongest power at the peak frequency were also determined. RESULTS It was found that intracranial IEDs are associated with an increase in delta power on scalp EEGs, in particular at a frequency ≥1.4 Hz. Electrodes showing slow frequency power changes associated with IEDs were consistent with the hemispheric lateralization of IEDs. Electrodes with maximum power of slow activity were not limited to temporal regions but also involved frontal (bilateral or unilateral) regions. CONCLUSIONS In patients with a clinical picture suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy, the presence of delta slowing ≥1.4 Hz in anterior temporal regions can represent a scalp marker of hippocampal IEDs. To our best knowledge this is the first study that demonstrates the co-occurrence of ic-IED and increased delta power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia De Stefano
- EEG and Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Margherita Carboni
- EEG and Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Renaud Marquis
- EEG and Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Spinelli
- EEG and Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Margitta Seeck
- EEG and Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Vulliemoz
- EEG and Epilepsy Unit, Neurology Department, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Alcantara-Gonzalez D, Chartampila E, Criscuolo C, Scharfman HE. Early changes in synaptic and intrinsic properties of dentate gyrus granule cells in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and atypical effects of the cholinergic antagonist atropine. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 152:105274. [PMID: 33484828 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that hyperexcitability occurs in a subset of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and hyperexcitability could contribute to the disease. Several studies have suggested that the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) may be an important area where hyperexcitability occurs. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the principal DG cell type, granule cells (GCs), would exhibit changes at the single-cell level which would be consistent with hyperexcitability and might help explain it. We used the Tg2576 mouse, where it has been shown that hyperexcitability is robust at 2-3 months of age. GCs from 2 to 3-month-old Tg2576 mice were compared to age-matched wild type (WT) mice. Effects of muscarinic cholinergic antagonism were tested because previously we found that Tg2576 mice exhibited hyperexcitability in vivo that was reduced by the muscarinic cholinergic antagonist atropine, counter to the dogma that in AD one needs to boost cholinergic function. The results showed that GCs from Tg2576 mice exhibited increased frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic potentials/currents (sEPSP/Cs) and reduced frequency of spontaneous inhibitory synaptic events (sIPSCs) relative to WT, increasing the excitation:inhibition (E:I) ratio. There was an inward NMDA receptor-dependent current that we defined here as a novel synaptic current (nsC) in Tg2576 mice because it was very weak in WT mice. Intrinsic properties were distinct in Tg2576 GCs relative to WT. In summary, GCs of the Tg2576 mouse exhibit early electrophysiological alterations that are consistent with increased synaptic excitation, reduced inhibition, and muscarinic cholinergic dysregulation. The data support previous suggestions that the DG contributes to hyperexcitability and there is cholinergic dysfunction early in life in AD mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Alcantara-Gonzalez
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
| | - Elissavet Chartampila
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
| | - Chiara Criscuolo
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
| | - Helen E Scharfman
- Center for Dementia Research, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA; Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuroscience & Physiology, and Psychiatry, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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11
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Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease: Potential mechanisms for an association. Brain Res Bull 2020; 160:107-120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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12
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Liu Y, Li Z, Ge Q, Lin N, Xiong M. Deep Feature Selection and Causal Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1198. [PMID: 31802999 PMCID: PMC6872503 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) have achieved great success for image classification in medical research. Deep learning with brain imaging is the imaging method of choice for the diagnosis and prediction of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it is also well known that DCNNs are “black boxes” owing to their low interpretability to humans. The lack of transparency of deep learning compromises its application to the prediction and mechanism investigation in AD. To overcome this limitation, we develop a novel general framework that integrates deep leaning, feature selection, causal inference, and genetic-imaging data analysis for predicting and understanding AD. The proposed algorithm not only improves the prediction accuracy but also identifies the brain regions underlying the development of AD and causal paths from genetic variants to AD via image mediation. The proposed algorithm is applied to the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in 151 subjects (51 AD and 100 non-AD) who were measured at four time points of baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. The algorithm identified brain regions underlying AD consisting of the temporal lobes (including the hippocampus) and the ventricular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Zhouxuan Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qiyang Ge
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nan Lin
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Momiao Xiong
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, United States
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