Trait Respect Is Linked to Reduced Gray Matter Volume in the Anterior Temporal Lobe

Behavioral disinhibition in stroke

Background

Post-stroke behavioral disinhibition (PSBD) is common in stroke survivors and often presents as impulsive, tactless or vulgar behavior. However, it often remains undiagnosed and thus untreated, even though it can lead to a longer length of stay in a rehabilitation facility. The proposed study will aim to evaluate the clinical, neuropsychological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlates of PSBD in a cohort of stroke survivors and describe its 12-month course.

Methods

This prospective cohort study will recruit 237 patients and will be conducted at the Neurology Unit of the Prince of Wales Hospital. The project duration will be 24 months. The patients will be examined by multiple MRI methods, including diffusion-weighted imaging, within 1 week after stroke onset. The patients and their caregivers will receive a detailed assessment at a research clinic at 3, 9 and 15 months after stroke onset (T1, T2 and T3, respectively). The disinhibition subscale of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) will be completed by each subject and caregiver, and scores ≥65 will be considered to indicate PSBD.A stepwise logistic regression will be performed to assess the importance of lesions in the regions of interest (ROIs), together with other significant variables identified in the univariate analyses. For patients with PSBD at T1, the FrSBe disinhibition scores will be compared between the groups of patients with and without ROI infarcts, using covariance analysis. The demographic, clinical and MRI variables of remitters and non-remitters will be examined again at T2 and T3 by logistic regression.

Discussion

This project will be the first MRI study on PSBD in stroke survivors. The results will shed light on the associations of lesions in the orbitofrontal cortex, anterior temporal lobe and subcortical brain structures with the risk of PSBD. The obtained data will advance our understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical course of PSBD in stroke, as well as other neurological conditions. The findings are thus likely to be applicable to the large population of patients with neurological disorders at risk of PSBD and are expected to stimulate further research in this field.

Impact of respect, equity, and leadership in brain health

Respect is a feeling of admiration for someone. It forms one of the core values of the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), which strives to protect the world's aging populations from threats to brain health. These values guide us as we advocate for reducing the global impact of dementia. By taking a values-based approach to brain health, we can drive global changes for millions of people. Respect fortifies gratitude and embraces diversity. Philosophical discussions of the ideas support the assertion that respect is crucial in everyday conversations and actions as well as in personal, social, political, and moral spheres. No one can become a leader unless they genuinely respect and care about the success of each team member. Diversity, equity, and inclusivity form the fundamental cornerstones of respect. Understanding this core value of respect will ensure altruistic behavior among the leaders that may help mitigate racism, cultural insults, gender discrimination, stigmatization, religious hatred, and, worst of all, poor leadership abilities that have been the disconcerting examples of disrespect in recent years. We present the underlying neurobiology of respect and its impact on equity and leadership.

Functional comorbidities and brain tissue changes before and after lung transplant in adults

Background

Adults undergoing lung transplant, as a lifesaving treatment for end stage lung disease, exhibit high levels of peri-operative neurocognitive dysfunction in multiple domains, including delirium, cognition, and autonomic deficits. These complications impact healthcare costs, quality of life, and patient outcomes. Post-operative symptoms likely result from loss of brain tissue integrity in sites mediating such regulatory functions. Our aim in this study was to examine peri-operative neurocognitive dysfunction and brain tissue changes after lung transplant in adults.

Methods

We retrospectively examined the UCLA lung transplant database to identify 114 lung transplant patients with pre-operative clinical and neurocognitive data. Of 114 patients, 9 lung transplant patients had pre- and post-transplant brain magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and neurocognitive data were summarized for all subjects, and brain tissue volume changes, using T1-weighted images, before and after transplant were examined. T1-weighted images were partitioned into gray matter (GM)-tissue type, normalized to a common space, smoothed, and the smoothed GM-volume maps were compared between pre- and post-transplant (paired t-tests; covariate, age; SPM12, p < 0.005).

Results

Increased comorbidities, including the diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, kidney disease, and sleep disordered breathing, as well as higher rates of neurocognitive dysfunction were observed in the lung transplant patients, with 41% experiencing post-operative delirium, 49% diagnosed with a mood disorder, and 25% of patients diagnosed with cognitive deficits, despite incomplete documentation. Similarly, high levels of delirium, cognitive dysfunction, and mood disorder were noted in a subset of patients used for brain MRI evaluation. Significantly decreased GM volumes emerged in multiple brain regions, including the frontal and prefrontal, parietal, temporal, bilateral anterior cingulate and insula, putamen, and cerebellar cortices.

Conclusion

Adults undergoing lung transplant often show significant pre-operative comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, as well as neurocognitive dysfunction. In addition, patients with lung transplant show significant brain tissue changes in regions that mediate cognition, autonomic, and mood functions. The findings indicate a brain structural basis for many enhanced post-operative symptoms and suggest a need for brain tissue protection in adults undergoing lung transplant to improve health outcomes.