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Tassone F, Protic D, Allen EG, Archibald AD, Baud A, Brown TW, Budimirovic DB, Cohen J, Dufour B, Eiges R, Elvassore N, Gabis LV, Grudzien SJ, Hall DA, Hessl D, Hogan A, Hunter JE, Jin P, Jiraanont P, Klusek J, Kooy RF, Kraan CM, Laterza C, Lee A, Lipworth K, Losh M, Loesch D, Lozano R, Mailick MR, Manolopoulos A, Martinez-Cerdeno V, McLennan Y, Miller RM, Montanaro FAM, Mosconi MW, Potter SN, Raspa M, Rivera SM, Shelly K, Todd PK, Tutak K, Wang JY, Wheeler A, Winarni TI, Zafarullah M, Hagerman RJ. Insight and Recommendations for Fragile X-Premutation-Associated Conditions from the Fifth International Conference on FMR1 Premutation. Cells 2023; 12:2330. [PMID: 37759552 PMCID: PMC10529056 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The premutation of the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene is characterized by an expansion of the CGG trinucleotide repeats (55 to 200 CGGs) in the 5' untranslated region and increased levels of FMR1 mRNA. Molecular mechanisms leading to fragile X-premutation-associated conditions (FXPAC) include cotranscriptional R-loop formations, FMR1 mRNA toxicity through both RNA gelation into nuclear foci and sequestration of various CGG-repeat-binding proteins, and the repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN)-initiated translation of potentially toxic proteins. Such molecular mechanisms contribute to subsequent consequences, including mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death. Clinically, premutation carriers may exhibit a wide range of symptoms and phenotypes. Any of the problems associated with the premutation can appropriately be called FXPAC. Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI), and fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (FXAND) can fall under FXPAC. Understanding the molecular and clinical aspects of the premutation of the FMR1 gene is crucial for the accurate diagnosis, genetic counseling, and appropriate management of affected individuals and families. This paper summarizes all the known problems associated with the premutation and documents the presentations and discussions that occurred at the International Premutation Conference, which took place in New Zealand in 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Tassone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA; (B.D.); (D.H.); (V.M.-C.)
| | - Dragana Protic
- Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11129 Belgrade, Serbia;
- Fragile X Clinic, Special Hospital for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Neurology, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Emily Graves Allen
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (E.G.A.); (P.J.); (K.S.)
| | - Alison D. Archibald
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Genomics in Society Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anna Baud
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznan, Poland; (A.B.); (K.T.)
| | - Ted W. Brown
- Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
- Fragile X Association of Australia, Brookvale, NSW 2100, Australia;
- NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Dejan B. Budimirovic
- Department of Psychiatry, Fragile X Clinic, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences-Child Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jonathan Cohen
- Fragile X Alliance Clinic, Melbourne, VIC 3161, Australia;
| | - Brett Dufour
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA; (B.D.); (D.H.); (V.M.-C.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
| | - Rachel Eiges
- Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Medical Genetics Institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center Affiliated with the Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem 91031, Israel;
| | - Nicola Elvassore
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy; (N.E.); (C.L.)
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Lidia V. Gabis
- Keshet Autism Center Maccabi Wolfson, Holon 5822012, Israel;
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Samantha J. Grudzien
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 4148 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (S.J.G.); (P.K.T.)
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Deborah A. Hall
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - David Hessl
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA; (B.D.); (D.H.); (V.M.-C.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Abigail Hogan
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Jessica Ezzell Hunter
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (J.E.H.); (S.N.P.); (M.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (E.G.A.); (P.J.); (K.S.)
| | - Poonnada Jiraanont
- Faculty of Medicine, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand;
| | - Jessica Klusek
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (A.H.); (J.K.)
| | - R. Frank Kooy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Claudine M. Kraan
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Diagnosis and Development, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Cecilia Laterza
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy; (N.E.); (C.L.)
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Lee
- Fragile X New Zealand, Nelson 7040, New Zealand;
| | - Karen Lipworth
- Fragile X Association of Australia, Brookvale, NSW 2100, Australia;
| | - Molly Losh
- Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201, USA;
| | - Danuta Loesch
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia;
| | - Reymundo Lozano
- Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
| | - Marsha R. Mailick
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Apostolos Manolopoulos
- Intramural Research Program, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA;
| | - Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA; (B.D.); (D.H.); (V.M.-C.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
| | - Yingratana McLennan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
| | | | - Federica Alice Maria Montanaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Matthew W. Mosconi
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA;
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Sarah Nelson Potter
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (J.E.H.); (S.N.P.); (M.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Melissa Raspa
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (J.E.H.); (S.N.P.); (M.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Susan M. Rivera
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA;
| | - Katharine Shelly
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (E.G.A.); (P.J.); (K.S.)
| | - Peter K. Todd
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 4148 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (S.J.G.); (P.K.T.)
- Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Healthcare, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Katarzyna Tutak
- Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznan, Poland; (A.B.); (K.T.)
| | - Jun Yi Wang
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95618, USA;
| | - Anne Wheeler
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; (J.E.H.); (S.N.P.); (M.R.); (A.W.)
| | - Tri Indah Winarni
- Center for Biomedical Research (CEBIOR), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 502754, Central Java, Indonesia;
| | - Marwa Zafarullah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA;
| | - Randi J. Hagerman
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA; (B.D.); (D.H.); (V.M.-C.)
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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Friedman L, Lauber M, Behroozmand R, Fogerty D, Kunecki D, Berry-Kravis E, Klusek J. Atypical vocal quality in women with the FMR1 premutation: an indicator of impaired sensorimotor control. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:1975-1987. [PMID: 37347418 PMCID: PMC10863608 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06653-2] [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: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Women with the FMR1 premutation are susceptible to motor involvement related to atypical cerebellar function, including risk for developing fragile X tremor ataxia syndrome. Vocal quality analyses are sensitive to subtle differences in motor skills but have not yet been applied to the FMR1 premutation. This study examined whether women with the FMR1 premutation demonstrate differences in vocal quality, and whether such differences relate to FMR1 genetic, executive, motor, or health features of the FMR1 premutation. Participants included 35 women with the FMR1 premutation and 45 age-matched women without the FMR1 premutation who served as a comparison group. Three sustained /a/ vowels were analyzed for pitch (mean F0), variability of pitch (standard deviation of F0), and overall vocal quality (jitter, shimmer, and harmonics-to-noise ratio). Executive, motor, and health indices were obtained from direct and self-report measures and genetic samples were analyzed for FMR1 CGG repeat length and activation ratio. Women with the FMR1 premutation had a lower pitch, larger pitch variability, and poorer vocal quality than the comparison group. Working memory was related to harmonics-to-noise ratio and shimmer in women with the FMR1 premutation. Vocal quality abnormalities differentiated women with the FMR1 premutation from the comparison group and were evident even in the absence of other clinically evident motor deficits. This study supports vocal quality analyses as a tool that may prove useful in the detection of early signs of motor involvement in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Friedman
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA
| | - Meagan Lauber
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA
| | - Roozbeh Behroozmand
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA
| | - Daniel Fogerty
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA
| | - Dariusz Kunecki
- Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
| | | | - Jessica Klusek
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
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Unruh KE, Bartolotti JV, McKinney WS, Schmitt LM, Sweeney JA, Mosconi MW. Functional connectivity of cortical-cerebellar networks in relation to sensorimotor behavior and clinical features in autism spectrum disorder. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:8990-9002. [PMID: 37246152 PMCID: PMC10350826 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor issues are present in the majority of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are associated with core symptoms. The neural systems associated with these impairments remain unclear. Using a visually guided precision gripping task during functional magnetic resonance imaging, we characterized task-based connectivity and activation of cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar visuomotor networks. Participants with ASD (n = 19; ages 10-33) and age- and sex-matched neurotypical controls (n = 18) completed a visuomotor task at low and high force levels. Relative to controls, individuals with ASD showed reduced functional connectivity of right primary motor-anterior cingulate cortex and left anterior intraparietal lobule (aIPL)-right Crus I at high force only. At low force, increased caudate, and cerebellar activation each were associated with sensorimotor behavior in controls, but not in ASD. Reduced left aIPL-right Crus I connectivity was associated with more severe clinically rated ASD symptoms. These findings suggest that sensorimotor problems in ASD, particularly at high force levels, involve deficits in the integration of multimodal sensory feedback and reduced reliance on error-monitoring processes. Adding to literature positing that cerebellar dysfunction contributes to multiple developmental issues in ASD, our data implicate parietal-cerebellar connectivity as a key neural marker underlying both core and comorbid features of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Unruh
- Life Span Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - James V Bartolotti
- Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Walker S McKinney
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Lauren M Schmitt
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Life Span Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
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4
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Klusek J, Newman-Norlund R, Fairchild AJ, Newman-Norlund S, Sayers S, Stewart JC, Berry-Kravis E, Fridriksson J. Low normal FMR1 genotype in older adult women: Psychological well-being and motor function. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2022; 103:104789. [PMID: 35981426 PMCID: PMC9464716 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The FMR1 gene plays a key role in adult neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, and thus may contribute to age-related health in the population. The current study focused on the "low normal" FMR1 genotype, defined by lower-than-typical numbers of FMR1 CGG repeats (<26), as a potential genetic determinant of age-related health. We characterized the effect of the low normal FMR1 genotype on psychological well-being and motor function in a racially diverse non-clinical sample of older adult women. Women with low CGG repeats were distinguished from those with CGGs falling within the mid-high end of the normal range by reduced performance on multimodal assessments of motor function and psychological well-being, with large effect sizes. Robust continuous associations were also detected between lower CGG repeat length and reduced psychological well-being, balance, and dexterity. Findings suggest that FMR1 may represent an important mediator of individual differences in age-related health; larger epidemiological studies are needed. Given that approximately 23-35% of females carry the low normal genotype, efforts to understand its clinical effects have relevance a broad swath of the aging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Klusek
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Close-Hipp Building, 1705 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
| | - Roger Newman-Norlund
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Close-Hipp Building, 1705 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, 1512 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Amanda J Fairchild
- Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, 1512 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Sarah Newman-Norlund
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Close-Hipp Building, 1705 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Sara Sayers
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Close-Hipp Building, 1705 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jill C Stewart
- Physical Therapy Program, Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Elizabeth Berry-Kravis
- Department of Pediatrics, Neurological Sciences and Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 718, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Julius Fridriksson
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Close-Hipp Building, 1705 College Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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Statsenko Y, Habuza T, Gorkom KNV, Zaki N, Almansoori TM, Al Zahmi F, Ljubisavljevic MR, Belghali M. Proportional Changes in Cognitive Subdomains During Normal Brain Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:673469. [PMID: 34867263 PMCID: PMC8634589 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.673469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neuroscience lacks a reliable method of screening the early stages of dementia. Objective: To improve the diagnostics of age-related cognitive functions by developing insight into the proportionality of age-related changes in cognitive subdomains. Materials and Methods: We composed a battery of psychophysiological tests and collected an open-access psychophysiological outcomes of brain atrophy (POBA) dataset by testing individuals without dementia. To extend the utility of machine learning (ML) classification in cognitive studies, we proposed estimates of the disproportional changes in cognitive functions: an index of simple reaction time to decision-making time (ISD), ISD with the accuracy performance (ISDA), and an index of performance in simple and complex visual-motor reaction with account for accuracy (ISCA). Studying the distribution of the values of the indices over age allowed us to verify whether diverse cognitive functions decline equally throughout life or there is a divergence in age-related cognitive changes. Results: Unsupervised ML clustering shows that the optimal number of homogeneous age groups is four. The sample is segregated into the following age-groups: Adolescents ∈ [0, 20), Young adults ∈ [20, 40), Midlife adults ∈ [40, 60) and Older adults ≥60 year of age. For ISD, ISDA, and ISCA values, only the median of the Adolescents group is different from that of the other three age-groups sharing a similar distribution pattern (p > 0.01). After neurodevelopment and maturation, the indices preserve almost constant values with a slight trend toward functional decline. The reaction to a moving object (RMO) test results (RMO_mean) follow another tendency. The Midlife adults group's median significantly differs from the remaining three age subsamples (p < 0.01). No general trend in age-related changes of this dependent variable is observed. For all the data (ISD, ISDA, ISCA, and RMO_mean), Levene's test reveals no significant changes of the variances in age-groups (p > 0.05). Homoscedasticity also supports our assumption about a linear dependency between the observed features and age. Conclusion: In healthy brain aging, there are proportional age-related changes in the time estimates of information processing speed and inhibitory control in task switching. Future studies should test patients with dementia to determine whether the changes of the aforementioned indicators follow different patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yauhen Statsenko
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tetiana Habuza
- Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Klaus Neidl-Van Gorkom
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nazar Zaki
- Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Taleb M Almansoori
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fatmah Al Zahmi
- Department of Neurology, Mediclinic Middle East Parkview Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Clinical Science, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Milos R Ljubisavljevic
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maroua Belghali
- College of Education, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Lepping RJ, McKinney WS, Magnon GC, Keedy SK, Wang Z, Coombes SA, Vaillancourt DE, Sweeney JA, Mosconi MW. Visuomotor brain network activation and functional connectivity among individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 43:844-859. [PMID: 34716740 PMCID: PMC8720186 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor abnormalities are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and predictive of functional outcomes, though their neural underpinnings remain poorly understood. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined both brain activation and functional connectivity during visuomotor behavior in 27 individuals with ASD and 30 typically developing (TD) controls (ages 9–35 years). Participants maintained a constant grip force while receiving visual feedback at three different visual gain levels. Relative to controls, ASD participants showed increased force variability, especially at high gain, and reduced entropy. Brain activation was greater in individuals with ASD than controls in supplementary motor area, bilateral superior parietal lobules, and contralateral middle frontal gyrus at high gain. During motor action, functional connectivity was reduced between parietal‐premotor and parietal‐putamen in individuals with ASD compared to controls. Individuals with ASD also showed greater age‐associated increases in functional connectivity between cerebellum and visual, motor, and prefrontal cortical areas relative to controls. These results indicate that visuomotor deficits in ASD are associated with atypical activation and functional connectivity of posterior parietal, premotor, and striatal circuits involved in translating sensory feedback information into precision motor behaviors, and that functional connectivity of cerebellar–cortical sensorimotor and nonsensorimotor networks show delayed maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Lepping
- Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Walker S McKinney
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, Clinical Child Psychology Program, and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Grant C Magnon
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sarah K Keedy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Stephen A Coombes
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David E Vaillancourt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, Clinical Child Psychology Program, and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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7
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Hocking DR, Loesch DZ, Stimpson P, Tassone F, Atkinson A, Storey E. Delineating the Relationships Between Motor, Cognitive-Executive and Psychiatric Symptoms in Female FMR1 Premutation Carriers. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:742929. [PMID: 34925088 PMCID: PMC8678043 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.742929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Premutation expansions (55-200 CGG repeats) of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene on the X chromosome are associated with a range of clinical features. Apart from the most severe - Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) - where the most typical white matter changes affect cerebellar peduncles, more subtle changes may include impairment of executive functioning, affective disorders and/or subtle motor changes. Here we aimed to examine whether performance in selected components of executive functioning is associated with subclinical psychiatric symptoms in non-FXTAS, adult females carrying the FMR1 premutation. Methods and Sample: A total of 47 female premutation carriers (sub-symptomatic for FXTAS) of wide age range (26-77 years; M = 50.3; SD = 10.9) were assessed using standard neuropsychological tests, three motor rating scales and self-reported measures of psychiatric symptoms using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Results: After adjusting for age and educational level where appropriate, both non-verbal reasoning and response inhibition as assessed on the Stroop task (i.e., the ability to resolve cognitive interference) were associated with a range of primary psychiatric symptom dimensions, and response inhibition uniquely predicted some primary symptoms and global psychiatric features. Importantly, lower scores (worse performance) in response inhibition were also strongly correlated with higher (worse) scores on standard motor rating scales for tremor-ataxia and for parkinsonism. Conclusion: These results provide evidence for the importance of response inhibition in the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms and subtle tremor-ataxia motor features, suggestive of the presence of early cerebellar changes in female premutation carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren R Hocking
- Developmental Neuromotor and Cognition Lab, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Danuta Z Loesch
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paige Stimpson
- Psychology Department, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Flora Tassone
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California Davis Medical Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Anna Atkinson
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elsdon Storey
- Department of Medicine (Neuroscience), Monash University, Alfred Hospital Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Wang Z, Lane C, Terza M, Khemani P, Lui S, McKinney WS, Mosconi MW. Upper and Lower Limb Movement Kinematics in Aging FMR1 Gene Premutation Carriers. Brain Sci 2020; 11:E13. [PMID: 33374331 PMCID: PMC7823457 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a premutation cytosine-guanine-guanine (CGG) trinucleotide repeat expansion of the FMR1 gene. FXTAS is estimated to be the most common single-gene form of ataxia in the aging population. Gait ataxia and intention tremor are the primary behavioral symptoms of FXTAS, though clinical evaluation of these symptoms often is subjective, contributing to difficulties in reliably differentiating individuals with FXTAS and asymptomatic premutation carriers. This study aimed to clarify the extent to which quantitative measures of gait and upper limb kinematics may serve as biobehavioral markers of FXTAS degeneration. Nineteen premutation carriers (aged 46-77 years), including 9 with possible, probable, or definite FXTAS and 16 sex- and IQ-matched healthy controls, completed tests of non-constrained walking and reaching while both standing (static reaching) and walking (dynamic reaching) to quantify gait and upper limb control, respectively. For the non-constrained walking task, participants wore reflective markers and walked at their preferred speed on a walkway. During the static reaching task, participants reached and lifted boxes of different sizes while standing. During the dynamic reaching task, participants walked to reach and lift the boxes. Movement kinematics were examined in relation to clinical ratings of neuromotor impairments and CGG repeat length. During non-constrained walking, individuals with FXTAS showed decreased stride lengths and stride velocities, increased percentages of double support time, and increased variabilities of cadence and center of mass relative to both asymptomatic premutation carriers and controls. While individuals with FXTAS did not show any static reaching differences relative to the other two groups, they showed multiple differences during dynamic reaching trials, including reduced maximum reaching velocity, prolonged acceleration time, and jerkier movement of the shoulder, elbow, and hand. Gait differences during non-constrained walking were associated with more severe clinically rated posture and gait symptoms. Reduced maximum reaching velocity and increased jerkiness during dynamic reaching were each related to more severe clinically rated kinetic dysfunction and overall neuromotor symptoms in FMR1 premutation carriers. Our findings suggest kinematic alterations consistent with gait ataxia and upper limb bradykinesia are each selectively present in individuals with FXTAS, but not asymptomatic aging premutation carriers. Consistent with neuropathological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of FXTAS, these findings implicate cerebellar and basal ganglia degeneration associated with neuromotor decline. Our results showing associations between quantitative kinematic differences in FXTAS and clinical ratings suggest that objective assessments of gait and reaching behaviors may serve as critical and reliable targets for detecting FXTAS risk and monitoring progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0164, USA;
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K−CART) and Life Span Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Callie Lane
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA;
| | - Matthew Terza
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA;
| | - Pravin Khemani
- Department of Neurology, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA 98121, USA;
| | - Su Lui
- Huaxi Magnetic Resonance Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
| | - Walker S. McKinney
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K−CART) and Life Span Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Matthew W. Mosconi
- Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K−CART) and Life Span Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
- Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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McKinney WS, Bartolotti J, Khemani P, Wang JY, Hagerman RJ, Mosconi MW. Cerebellar-cortical function and connectivity during sensorimotor behavior in aging FMR1 gene premutation carriers. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 27:102332. [PMID: 32711390 PMCID: PMC7381687 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
FMR1 premutation carriers show increased variability in motor control. Premutation carriers show reduced extrastriate activation during motor behavior. Premutation carriers show reduced extrastriate-cerebellar functional connectivity. Reduced extrastriate-cerebellar functional connectivity is related to motor issues.
Introduction Premutation carriers of the FMR1 gene are at risk of developing fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric decline as well as cerebellar and cerebral white matter pathology. Several studies have documented preclinical sensorimotor issues in aging premutation carriers, but the extent to which sensorimotor brain systems are affected and may represent early indicators of atypical neurodegeneration has not been determined. Materials and methods Eighteen healthy controls and 16 FMR1 premutation carriers (including five with possible, probable, or definite FXTAS) group-matched on age, sex, and handedness completed a visually guided precision gripping task with their right hand during fMRI. During the test, they used a modified pinch grip to press at 60% of their maximum force against a custom fiber-optic transducer. Participants viewed a horizontal white force bar that moved upward with increased force and downward with decreased force and a static target bar that was red during rest and turned green to cue the participant to begin pressing at the beginning of each trial. Participants were instructed to press so that the white force bar stayed as steady as possible at the level of the green target bar. Trials were 2-sec in duration and alternated with 2-sec rest periods. Five 24-sec blocks consisting of six trials were presented. Participants’ reaction time, the accuracy of their force relative to the target force, and the variability of their force accuracy across trials were examined. BOLD signal change and task-based functional connectivity (FC) were examined during force vs. rest. Results Relative to healthy controls, premutation carriers showed increased trial-to-trial variability of force output, though this was specific to younger premutation carriers in our sample. Relative to healthy controls, premutation carriers also showed reduced extrastriate activation during force relative to rest. FC between ipsilateral cerebellar Crus I and extrastriate cortex was reduced in premutation carriers compared to controls. Reduced Crus I-extrastriate FC was related to increased force accuracy variability in premutation carriers. Increased reaction time was associated with more severe clinically rated neurological abnormalities. Conclusions Findings of reduced activation in extrastriate cortex and reduced Crus I-extrastriate FC implicate deficient visual feedback processing and reduced cerebellar modulation of corrective motor commands. Our results are consistent with documented cerebellar pathology and visual-spatial processing in FXTAS and pre-symptomatic premutation carriers, and suggest FC alterations of cerebellar-cortical networks during sensorimotor behavior may represent a “prodromal” feature associated with FXTAS degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walker S McKinney
- Life Span Institute and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
| | - James Bartolotti
- Life Span Institute and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
| | - Pravin Khemani
- Department of Neurology, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98122, USA.
| | - Jun Yi Wang
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618, USA.
| | - Randi J Hagerman
- MIND Institute and Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, 2825 50th St., Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
| | - Matthew W Mosconi
- Life Span Institute and Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART), Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
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