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Faris P, Pischedda D, Palesi F, D’Angelo E. New clues for the role of cerebellum in schizophrenia and the associated cognitive impairment. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1386583. [PMID: 38799988 PMCID: PMC11116653 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1386583] [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: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder associated with severe cognitive dysfunction. Although research has mainly focused on forebrain abnormalities, emerging results support the involvement of the cerebellum in SZ physiopathology, particularly in Cognitive Impairment Associated with SZ (CIAS). Besides its role in motor learning and control, the cerebellum is implicated in cognition and emotion. Recent research suggests that structural and functional changes in the cerebellum are linked to deficits in various cognitive domains including attention, working memory, and decision-making. Moreover, cerebellar dysfunction is related to altered cerebellar circuit activities and connectivity with brain regions associated with cognitive processing. This review delves into the role of the cerebellum in CIAS. We initially consider the major forebrain alterations in CIAS, addressing impairments in neurotransmitter systems, synaptic plasticity, and connectivity. We then focus on recent findings showing that several mechanisms are also altered in the cerebellum and that cerebellar communication with the forebrain is impaired. This evidence implicates the cerebellum as a key component of circuits underpinning CIAS physiopathology. Further studies addressing cerebellar involvement in SZ and CIAS are warranted and might open new perspectives toward understanding the physiopathology and effective treatment of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Faris
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Doris Pischedda
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fulvia Palesi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D’Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Digital Neuroscience Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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Gill JS, Nguyen MX, Hull M, van der Heijden ME, Nguyen K, Thomas SP, Sillitoe RV. Function and dysfunction of the dystonia network: an exploration of neural circuits that underlie the acquired and isolated dystonias. DYSTONIA 2023; 2:11805. [PMID: 38273865 PMCID: PMC10810232 DOI: 10.3389/dyst.2023.11805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Dystonia is a highly prevalent movement disorder that can manifest at any time across the lifespan. An increasing number of investigations have tied this disorder to dysfunction of a broad "dystonia network" encompassing the cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, and cortex. However, pinpointing how dysfunction of the various anatomic components of the network produces the wide variety of dystonia presentations across etiologies remains a difficult problem. In this review, a discussion of functional network findings in non-mendelian etiologies of dystonia is undertaken. Initially acquired etiologies of dystonia and how lesion location leads to alterations in network function are explored, first through an examination of cerebral palsy, in which early brain injury may lead to dystonic/dyskinetic forms of the movement disorder. The discussion of acquired etiologies then continues with an evaluation of the literature covering dystonia resulting from focal lesions followed by the isolated focal dystonias, both idiopathic and task dependent. Next, how the dystonia network responds to therapeutic interventions, from the "geste antagoniste" or "sensory trick" to botulinum toxin and deep brain stimulation, is covered with an eye towards finding similarities in network responses with effective treatment. Finally, an examination of how focal network disruptions in mouse models has informed our understanding of the circuits involved in dystonia is provided. Together, this article aims to offer a synthesis of the literature examining dystonia from the perspective of brain networks and it provides grounding for the perspective of dystonia as disorder of network function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S. Gill
- Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Megan X. Nguyen
- Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mariam Hull
- Division of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Meike E. van der Heijden
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United State
| | - Ken Nguyen
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United State
| | - Sruthi P. Thomas
- H. Ben Taub Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Roy V. Sillitoe
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United State
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Development, Disease Models and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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van der Heijden ME, Sillitoe RV. Cerebellar dysfunction in rodent models with dystonia, tremor, and ataxia. DYSTONIA 2023; 2:11515. [PMID: 38105800 PMCID: PMC10722573 DOI: 10.3389/dyst.2023.11515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary co- or over-contractions of the muscles, which results in abnormal postures and movements. These symptoms arise from the pathophysiology of a brain-wide dystonia network. There is mounting evidence suggesting that the cerebellum is a central node in this network. For example, manipulations that target the cerebellum cause dystonic symptoms in mice, and cerebellar neuromodulation reduces these symptoms. Although numerous findings provide insight into dystonia pathophysiology, they also raise further questions. Namely, how does cerebellar pathophysiology cause the diverse motor abnormalities in dystonia, tremor, and ataxia? Here, we describe recent work in rodents showing that distinct cerebellar circuit abnormalities could define different disorders and we discuss potential mechanisms that determine the behavioral presentation of cerebellar diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike E. van der Heijden
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Roy V. Sillitoe
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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Rey Hipolito AG, van der Heijden ME, Sillitoe RV. Physiology of Dystonia: Animal Studies. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 169:163-215. [PMID: 37482392 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Dystonia is currently ranked as the third most prevalent motor disorder. It is typically characterized by involuntary muscle over- or co-contractions that can cause painful abnormal postures and jerky movements. Dystonia is a heterogenous disorder-across patients, dystonic symptoms vary in their severity, body distribution, temporal pattern, onset, and progression. There are also a growing number of genes that are associated with hereditary dystonia. In addition, multiple brain regions are associated with dystonic symptoms in both genetic and sporadic forms of the disease. The heterogeneity of dystonia has made it difficult to fully understand its underlying pathophysiology. However, the use of animal models has been used to uncover the complex circuit mechanisms that lead to dystonic behaviors. Here, we summarize findings from animal models harboring mutations in dystonia-associated genes and phenotypic animal models with overt dystonic motor signs resulting from spontaneous mutations, neural circuit perturbations, or pharmacological manipulations. Taken together, an emerging picture depicts dystonia as a result of brain-wide network dysfunction driven by basal ganglia and cerebellar dysfunction. In the basal ganglia, changes in dopaminergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic, and cholinergic signaling are found across different animal models. In the cerebellum, abnormal burst firing activity is observed in multiple dystonia models. We are now beginning to unveil the extent to which these structures mechanistically interact with each other. Such mechanisms inspire the use of pre-clinical animal models that will be used to design new therapies including drug treatments and brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro G Rey Hipolito
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Meike E van der Heijden
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Roy V Sillitoe
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States.
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Corp DT, Morrison-Ham J, Jinnah HA, Joutsa J. The functional anatomy of dystonia: Recent developments. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 169:105-136. [PMID: 37482390 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
While dystonia has traditionally been viewed as a disorder of the basal ganglia, the involvement of other key brain structures is now accepted. However, just what these structures are remains to be defined. Neuroimaging has been an especially valuable tool in dystonia, yet traditional cross-sectional designs have not been able to separate causal from compensatory brain activity. Therefore, this chapter discusses recent studies using causal brain lesions, and animal models, to converge upon the brain regions responsible for dystonia with increasing precision. This evidence strongly implicates the basal ganglia, thalamus, brainstem, cerebellum, and somatosensory cortex, yet shows that different types of dystonia involve different nodes of this brain network. Nearly all of these nodes fall within the recently identified two-way networks connecting the basal ganglia and cerebellum, suggesting dysfunction of these specific pathways. Localisation of the functional anatomy of dystonia has strong implications for targeted treatment options, such as deep brain stimulation, and non-invasive brain stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Corp
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Jordan Morrison-Ham
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - H A Jinnah
- Departments of Neurology, Human Genetics, and Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Juho Joutsa
- Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Turku Brain and Mind Center, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku PET Centre, Neurocenter, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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