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Iskusnykh IY, Zakharova AA, Kryl’skii ED, Popova TN. Aging, Neurodegenerative Disorders, and Cerebellum. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1018. [PMID: 38256091 PMCID: PMC10815822 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
An important part of the central nervous system (CNS), the cerebellum is involved in motor control, learning, reflex adaptation, and cognition. Diminished cerebellar function results in the motor and cognitive impairment observed in patients with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), and multiple sclerosis (MS), and even during the normal aging process. In most neurodegenerative disorders, impairment mainly occurs as a result of morphological changes over time, although during the early stages of some disorders such as AD, the cerebellum also serves a compensatory function. Biological aging is accompanied by changes in cerebellar circuits, which are predominantly involved in motor control. Despite decades of research, the functional contributions of the cerebellum and the underlying molecular mechanisms in aging and neurodegenerative disorders remain largely unknown. Therefore, this review will highlight the molecular and cellular events in the cerebellum that are disrupted during the process of aging and the development of neurodegenerative disorders. We believe that deeper insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of the cerebellum during aging and the development of neurodegenerative disorders will be essential for the design of new effective strategies for neuroprotection and the alleviation of some neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Y. Iskusnykh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Anastasia A. Zakharova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovitianov St. 1, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Evgenii D. Kryl’skii
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya Sq. 1, Voronezh 394018, Russia; (E.D.K.)
| | - Tatyana N. Popova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya Sq. 1, Voronezh 394018, Russia; (E.D.K.)
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Passiatore R, Antonucci LA, DeRamus TP, Fazio L, Stolfa G, Sportelli L, Kikidis GC, Blasi G, Chen Q, Dukart J, Goldman AL, Mattay VS, Popolizio T, Rampino A, Sambataro F, Selvaggi P, Ulrich W, Weinberger DR, Bertolino A, Calhoun VD, Pergola G. Changes in patterns of age-related network connectivity are associated with risk for schizophrenia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221533120. [PMID: 37527347 PMCID: PMC10410767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221533120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in fMRI-based brain functional network connectivity (FNC) are associated with schizophrenia (SCZ) and the genetic risk or subthreshold clinical symptoms preceding the onset of SCZ, which often occurs in early adulthood. Thus, age-sensitive FNC changes may be relevant to SCZ risk-related FNC. We used independent component analysis to estimate FNC from childhood to adulthood in 9,236 individuals. To capture individual brain features more accurately than single-session fMRI, we studied an average of three fMRI scans per individual. To identify potential familial risk-related FNC changes, we compared age-related FNC in first-degree relatives of SCZ patients mostly including unaffected siblings (SIB) with neurotypical controls (NC) at the same age stage. Then, we examined how polygenic risk scores for SCZ influenced risk-related FNC patterns. Finally, we investigated the same risk-related FNC patterns in adult SCZ patients (oSCZ) and young individuals with subclinical psychotic symptoms (PSY). Age-sensitive risk-related FNC patterns emerge during adolescence and early adulthood, but not before. Young SIB always followed older NC patterns, with decreased FNC in a cerebellar-occipitoparietal circuit and increased FNC in two prefrontal-sensorimotor circuits when compared to young NC. Two of these FNC alterations were also found in oSCZ, with one exhibiting reversed pattern. All were linked to polygenic risk for SCZ in unrelated individuals (R2 varied from 0.02 to 0.05). Young PSY showed FNC alterations in the same direction as SIB when compared to NC. These results suggest that age-related neurotypical FNC correlates with genetic risk for SCZ and is detectable with MRI in young participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Passiatore
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, 30303Atlanta, GA
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behavior, Research Centre Jülich, 52428Jülich, Germany
| | - Linda A. Antonucci
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
| | - Thomas P. DeRamus
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, 30303Atlanta, GA
| | - Leonardo Fazio
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Libera Università Mediterranea Giuseppe Degennaro, 70010Casamassima, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Stolfa
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sportelli
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
| | - Gianluca C. Kikidis
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
| | - Giuseppe Blasi
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Psychiatric Unit, University Hospital, 70124Bari, Italy
| | - Qiang Chen
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
| | - Juergen Dukart
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Brain and Behavior, Research Centre Jülich, 52428Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Aaron L. Goldman
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
| | - Venkata S. Mattay
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21287Baltimore, MD
| | - Teresa Popolizio
- Neuroradiology Unit, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Rampino
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Psychiatric Unit, University Hospital, 70124Bari, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121Padua, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Selvaggi
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Psychiatric Unit, University Hospital, 70124Bari, Italy
| | - William Ulrich
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
| | - Apulian Network on Risk for Psychosis
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Foggia, 71121Foggia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122Foggia, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Barletta-Andria-Trani, 76123Andria, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Bari, 70132Bari, Italy
- Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Brindisi, 72100Brindisi, Italy
| | - Daniel R. Weinberger
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neurology and Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21287Baltimore, MD
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205Baltimore, MD
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21287Baltimore, MD
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21287Baltimore, MD
| | - Alessandro Bertolino
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Psychiatric Unit, University Hospital, 70124Bari, Italy
| | - Vince D. Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, 30303Atlanta, GA
| | - Giulio Pergola
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124Bari, Italy
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 21205Baltimore, MD
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205Baltimore, MD
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Mirino P, Mercuri S, Pecchinenda A, Boccia M, Di Piero A, Soldani M, Guariglia C. The time squares sequences: a new task for assessing visuospatial working memory. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1165906. [PMID: 37324520 PMCID: PMC10267982 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1165906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Several studies have shown that the working memory is sensitive to temporal variations. We used a new visuospatial working memory task, the "Time Squares Sequences," to investigate whether implicit variations in stimuli presentation time affect task performance. Methods A total of 50 healthy participants saw two sequences (S1 and S2) of seven white squares presented in a matrix of gray squares and assessed whether S2 matched S1. There were four conditions depending on the spatial position and the presentation time (i.e., timing) of the white squares in S1 and S2: two with the same (S1 fixed/S2 fixed and S1 variable/S2 variable) and two with different (S1 fixed/S2 variable and S1 variable/S2 fixed) presentation times. Results Findings showed impaired performance when S1 had a fixed presentation time and S2 had a variable presentation time. Conclusion These findings are attributed to increased cognitive load due to S2 timing difference, pointing to a monitoring process, sensitive to temporal variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierandrea Mirino
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Mercuri
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Pecchinenda
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Boccia
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Piero
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Soldani
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Guariglia
- Department of Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Cognitive and Motor Rehabilitation and Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Gruol DL, Calderon D, French K, Melkonian C, Huitron-Resendiz S, Cates-Gatto C, Roberts AJ. Neuroimmune interactions with binge alcohol drinking in the cerebellum of IL-6 transgenic mice. Neuropharmacology 2023; 228:109455. [PMID: 36775097 PMCID: PMC10029700 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109455] [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: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
The neuroimmune system of the brain, which is comprised primarily of astrocytes and microglia, regulates a variety of homeostatic mechanisms that underlie normal brain function. Numerous conditions, including alcohol consumption, can disrupt this regulatory process by altering brain levels of neuroimmune factors. Alcohol and neuroimmune factors, such as proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha, act at similar targets in the brain, including excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission. Thus, alcohol-induced production of IL-6 and/or TNF-alpha could be important contributing factors to the effects of alcohol on the brain. Recent studies indicate that IL-6 plays a role in alcohol drinking and the effects of alcohol on the brain activity following the cessation of alcohol consumption (post-alcohol period), however information on these topics is limited. Here we used homozygous and heterozygous female and male transgenic mice with increased astrocyte expression of IL-6 to examined further the interactions between alcohol and IL-6 with respect to voluntary alcohol drinking, brain activity during the post-alcohol period, IL-6 signal transduction, and expression of synaptic proteins. Wildtype littermates (WT) served as controls. The transgenic mice model brain neuroimmune status with respect to IL-6 in subjects with a history of persistent alcohol use. Results showed a genotype dependent reduction in voluntary alcohol consumption in the Drinking in the Dark protocol and in frequency-dependent relationships between brain activity in EEG recordings during the post-alcohol period and alcohol consumption. IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-6 signal transduction partners pSTAT3 and c/EBP beta, and synaptic proteins were shown to play a role in these genotypic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna L Gruol
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - Delilah Calderon
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Katharine French
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Claudia Melkonian
- Neuroscience Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | | | - Chelsea Cates-Gatto
- Animal Models Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Amanda J Roberts
- Animal Models Core Facility, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
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Castilla A, Berthoz A, Urukalo D, Zaoui M, Perrochon A, Kronovsek T. Age and sex impact on visuospatial working memory (VSWM), mental rotation, and cognitive strategies during navigation. Neurosci Res 2022; 183:84-96. [PMID: 35905778 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study assessed the impact of sex and typical aging on visuospatial working memory (VSWM), mental rotations, and navigational strategies using behavioral information. Fifty healthy participants regrouped in older (OA) and young adults (YA) performed the Walking Corsi test (WalCT) and the Redrawn Mental Rotation Test (MRT) to explore mental rotation abilities. We recorded kinematic data such as locomotion trajectories, and spatial orientations during navigation. We created a new method of data analysis for the WalCT performances and compared it with the classical approach. This original method allowed us to identify cognitive strategies based on errors analysis. Our data suggested that VSWM and mental rotation capacities in locomotion were modulated by age (YA scored higher than OA), and sex (Young Adult Males (YA-M) having higher performance than Young Adult Females (YA-F). We observed a preferential use of cognitive strategies related to sex; YA-F relied more on egocentric strategies whereas YA-M relied more on allocentric strategies. The preferential use of cognitive strategies in the YA group was not observed in the OA group producing more random errors per sequence. The results suggest the effects that age and sex have on VSWM, cognitive strategies, and mental rotation during navigation and highlight the importance of navigational strategies training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Castilla
- Laboratoire de Psychologie du Développement et de l'Éducation de l'Enfant (LaPsyDÉ), Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France; Laboratoire Psychologie & Neurosciences Institut de Médecine Environnementale (IME), 114 Bd Malesherbes, 75017 Paris, France; Collège de France, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Biologie, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Alain Berthoz
- Collège de France, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Biologie, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Mohamed Zaoui
- Collège de France, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Biologie, 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Téo Kronovsek
- Université de Limoges, HAVAE, EA 6310, F-87000 Limoges, France
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