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Kritikos M, Franceschi AM, Vaska P, Clouston SAP, Huang C, Salerno M, Deri Y, Tang C, Pellecchia A, Santiago-Michels S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Lucchini RG, Gandy S, Luft BJ. Assessment of Alzheimer's Disease Imaging Biomarkers in World Trade Center Responders with Cognitive Impairment at Midlife. World J Nucl Med 2022; 21:267-275. [PMID: 36398306 PMCID: PMC9666002 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Incidence of early onset neurocognitive dysfunction has been reported in World Trade Center (WTC) responders. Ongoing studies are investigating the underlying etiology, as we are concerned that an underlying risk of neurodegenerative dementia may be occurring because of their stressful and neurotoxic exposures to particulate matter when they responded to the search and rescue efforts on September 11, 2001. The purpose of this study is to report preliminary results from two ongoing positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging studies investigating the presence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, such as β-amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration, and compare our findings to published norms. Methods We present findings on 12 WTC responders diagnosed with either cognitive impairment (CI) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), now at midlife, who underwent PET/MRI brain imaging as part of ongoing studies. Six responders with CI received [ 18 F] florbetaben (FBB) to detect β-amyloidosis and six separate responders with MCI received [ 18 F] flortaucipir (FTP) to detect tauopathy. All 12 responders underwent concomitant MRI scans for gray matter volume analysis of neurodegeneration. Results PET analysis revealed 50% FBB and 50% of FTP scans were clinically read as positive and that 50% of FTP scans identified as consistent with Braak's stage I or II. Furthermore, one responder identified as centiloid positive for AD. Gray matter volumes from MRI analyses were compared with age/sex-matched norms (Neuroquant), identifying abnormally low cortical volumes in the occipital and temporal lobes, as well as the inferior temporal gyri and the entorhinal cortex. Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that WTC responders with neurocognitive dysfunction may be at increased risk for a neurodegenerative dementia process as a result of their exposures at September 11, 2001.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minos Kritikos
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Ana M. Franceschi
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Northwell Health/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York, United States
| | - Paul Vaska
- Department of Radiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Sean A. P. Clouston
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Chuan Huang
- Department of Radiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Michael Salerno
- Department of Radiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Yael Deri
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Cheuk Tang
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States
| | - Alison Pellecchia
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Stephanie Santiago-Michels
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Mary Sano
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States
| | - Evelyn J. Bromet
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Neurology, The Barbara and Maurice Deane Center for Wellness and Cognitive Health and the Mount Sinai Center for NFL Neurological Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States
| | - Benjamin J. Luft
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness Program, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, United States
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Clouston SAP, Hall CB, Kritikos M, Bennett DA, DeKosky S, Edwards J, Finch C, Kreisl WC, Mielke M, Peskind ER, Raskind M, Richards M, Sloan RP, Spiro A, Vasdev N, Brackbill R, Farfel M, Horton M, Lowe S, Lucchini RG, Prezant D, Reibman J, Rosen R, Seil K, Zeig-Owens R, Deri Y, Diminich ED, Fausto BA, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Luft BJ. Cognitive impairment and World Trade Centre-related exposures. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:103-116. [PMID: 34795448 PMCID: PMC8938977 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00576-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
On 11 September 2001 the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York was attacked by terrorists, causing the collapse of multiple buildings including the iconic 110-story 'Twin Towers'. Thousands of people died that day from the collapse of the buildings, fires, falling from the buildings, falling debris, or other related accidents. Survivors of the attacks, those who worked in search and rescue during and after the buildings collapsed, and those working in recovery and clean-up operations were exposed to severe psychological stressors. Concurrently, these 'WTC-affected' individuals breathed and ingested a mixture of organic and particulate neurotoxins and pro-inflammogens generated as a result of the attack and building collapse. Twenty years later, researchers have documented neurocognitive and motor dysfunctions that resemble the typical features of neurodegenerative disease in some WTC responders at midlife. Cortical atrophy, which usually manifests later in life, has also been observed in this population. Evidence indicates that neurocognitive symptoms and corresponding brain atrophy are associated with both physical exposures at the WTC and chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, including regularly re-experiencing traumatic memories of the events while awake or during sleep. Despite these findings, little is understood about the long-term effects of these physical and mental exposures on the brain health of WTC-affected individuals, and the potential for neurocognitive disorders. Here, we review the existing evidence concerning neurological outcomes in WTC-affected individuals, with the aim of contextualizing this research for policymakers, researchers and clinicians and educating WTC-affected individuals and their friends and families. We conclude by providing a rationale and recommendations for monitoring the neurological health of WTC-affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A P Clouston
- Program in Public Health, Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - Charles B Hall
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Minos Kritikos
- Program in Public Health, Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical College, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Steven DeKosky
- Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute and Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jerri Edwards
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Caleb Finch
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - William C Kreisl
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Mielke
- Specialized Center of Research Excellence on Sex Differences, Department of Neurology, Department of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Elaine R Peskind
- Veteran's Association VISN 20 Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Murray Raskind
- Veteran's Association VISN 20 Northwest Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veteran's Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marcus Richards
- Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Richard P Sloan
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Avron Spiro
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center (MAVERIC), Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neil Vasdev
- Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Brain Health Imaging Center, Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Brackbill
- World Trade Center Health Registry, New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark Farfel
- World Trade Center Health Registry, New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sandra Lowe
- The World Trade Center Mental Health Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David Prezant
- World Trade Center Health Program, Fire Department of the City of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Joan Reibman
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Rosen
- World Trade Center Environmental Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kacie Seil
- World Trade Center Health Registry, New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Zeig-Owens
- World Trade Center Health Program, Fire Department of the City of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Yael Deri
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Erica D Diminich
- Program in Public Health, Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Bernadette A Fausto
- Center for Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Sano
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Evelyn J Bromet
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin J Luft
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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Deri Y, Clouston SAP, DeLorenzo C, Gardus JD, Bartlett EA, Santiago-Michels S, Bangiyev L, Kreisl WC, Kotov R, Huang C, Slifstein M, Parsey RV, Luft BJ. Neuroinflammation in World Trade Center responders at midlife: A pilot study using [ 18F]-FEPPA PET imaging. Brain Behav Immun Health 2021; 16:100287. [PMID: 34589784 PMCID: PMC8474562 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroinflammation has long been theorized to arise from exposures to fine particulate matter and to be modulated when individuals experience chronic stress, both of which are also though to cause cognitive decline in part as a result of neuroinflammation. Objectives Hypothesizing that neuroinflammation might be linked to experiences at the World Trade Center (WTC) events, this study explored associations between glial activation and neuropsychological measures including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and WTC exposure duration. Methods Translocator protein 18-kDa (TSPO) is overexpressed by activated glial cells, predominantly microglia and astrocytes, making TSPO distribution a putative biomarker for neuroinflammation. Twenty WTC responders completed neuropsychological assessments and in vivo PET brain scan with [18F]-FEPPA. Generalized linear modeling was used to test associations between PTSD, and WTC exposure duratiioni as the predictor and both global and regional [18F]-FEPPA total distribution volumes as the outcomes. Result Responders were 56.0 ± 4.7 years-old, and 75% were police officers on 9/11/2001, and all had at least a high school education. Higher PTSD symptom severity was associated with global and regional elevations in [18F]-FEPPA binding predominantly in the hippocampus (d = 0.72, P = 0.001) and frontal cortex (d = 0.64, P = 0.004). Longer exposure duration to WTC sites was associated with higher [18F]-FEPPA binding in the parietal cortex. Conclusion Findings from this study of WTC responders at midlife suggest that glial activation is associated with PTSD symptoms, and WTC exposure duration. Future investigation is needed to understand the important role of neuroinflammation in highly exposed WTC responders. We examined the theory that glial activation is associated with 9/11 exposures. TSPO-Vt was examined using PET in 20 responders adjusting for TSPO genotype. Responders with PTSD had increased TSPO distribution volume in the hippocampus. Heavily exposed responders had increased TSPO distribution in the parietal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Deri
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Sean A P Clouston
- Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Christine DeLorenzo
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - John D Gardus
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Bartlett
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Area, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie Santiago-Michels
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness Program, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Lev Bangiyev
- Department of Radiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - William C Kreisl
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roman Kotov
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Chuan Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Radiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Mark Slifstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Ramin V Parsey
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin J Luft
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness Program, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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4
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Deri Y, Clouston SAP, DeLorenzo C, Gardus JD, Horton M, Tang C, Pellecchia AC, Santiago‐Michels S, Carr MA, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Lucchini RG, Luft BJ. Selective hippocampal subfield volume reductions in World Trade Center responders with cognitive impairment. Alzheimers Dement (Amst) 2021; 13:e12165. [PMID: 33816755 PMCID: PMC8011041 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to investigate associations between dementia in World Trade Center (WTC) responders and in vivo volumetric measures of hippocampal subfield volumes in WTC responders at midlife. METHODS A sample of 99 WTC responders was divided into dementia and unimpaired groups. Participants underwent structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Volumetric measures included the overall hippocampus and eight subfields. Regression models examined volumetric measure of interest adjusting for confounders including intracranial volume. RESULTS Dementia was associated with smaller hippocampal volume and with reductions across hippocampal subfields. Smaller hippocampal subfield volumes were associated with longer cumulative time worked at the WTC. Domain-specific cognitive performance was associated with lower volumetric measures across hippocampal subregions. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to investigate hippocampal subfield volumes in a sample of WTC responders at midlife. Selective hippocampal subfield volume reductions suggested abnormal cognition that were associated with WTC exposure duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Deri
- Department of MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Sean A. P. Clouston
- Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population, and Preventive MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Christine DeLorenzo
- Department of PsychiatryRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringStony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - John D. Gardus
- Department of PsychiatryRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Megan Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public HealthIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Cheuk Tang
- Biomedical Engineering and Imaging InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Alison C. Pellecchia
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Stephanie Santiago‐Michels
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Melissa A. Carr
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Barbara and Maurice Deane Center for Wellness and Cognitive Health and the Mount Sinai Center for NFL Neurological Care, Department of NeurologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Mary Sano
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Evelyn J. Bromet
- Department of PsychiatryRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public HealthIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Benjamin J. Luft
- Department of MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
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5
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Huang C, Kritikos M, Clouston SAP, Deri Y, Serrano-Sosa M, Bangiyev L, Santiago-Michels S, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Luft BJ. White Matter Connectivity in Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Diffusion Spectrum Imaging Study of World Trade Center Responders at Midlife. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 80:1209-1219. [PMID: 33646156 PMCID: PMC8150516 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Background: Individuals who participated in response efforts at the World Trade Center (WTC) following 9/11/2001 are experiencing elevated incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at midlife. Objective: We hypothesized that white matter connectivity measured using diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) would be restructured in WTC responders with MCI versus cognitively unimpaired responders. Methods: Twenty responders (mean age 56; 10 MCI/10 unimpaired) recruited from an epidemiological study were characterized using NIA-AA criteria alongside controls matched on demographics (age/sex/occupation/race/education). Axial DSI was acquired on a 3T Siemen’s Biograph mMR scanner (12-channel head coil) using a multi-band diffusion sequence. Connectometry examined whole-brain tract-level differences in white matter integrity. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and quantified anisotropy were extracted for region of interest (ROI) analyses using the Desikan-Killiany atlas. Results: Connectometry identified both increased and decreased connectivity within regions of the brains of responders with MCI identified in the corticothalamic pathway and cortico-striatal pathway that survived adjustment for multiple comparisons. MCI was also associated with higher FA values in five ROIs including in the rostral anterior cingulate; lower MD values in four ROIs including the left rostral anterior cingulate; and higher MD values in the right inferior circular insula. Analyses by cognitive domain revealed nominal associations in domains of response speed, verbal learning, verbal retention, and visuospatial learning. Conclusions: WTC responders with MCI at midlife showed early signs of neurodegeneration characterized by both increased and decreased white matter diffusivity in regions commonly affected by early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Radiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Minos Kritikos
- Program in Public Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Sean A P Clouston
- Program in Public Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Yael Deri
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Mario Serrano-Sosa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Lev Bangiyev
- Department of Radiology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie Santiago-Michels
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Center for Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Sano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,Center for Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Evelyn J Bromet
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin J Luft
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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6
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Clouston SA, Kritikos M, Deri Y, Horton M, Pellecchia AC, Santiago-Michels S, Carr MA, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Lucchini RG, Luft BJ. A cortical thinning signature to identify World Trade Center responders with possible dementia. Intelligence-Based Medicine 2021; 5. [PMID: 35991958 PMCID: PMC9387912 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmed.2021.100032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: World Trade Center (WTC) responders have a high risk of early-onset cognitive impairment (CI), but little is known about the etiology including the extent to which CI in WTC responders is accompanied by cortical atrophy as is common in progressive diseases causing age-related CI such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. In the current study, we entrained an artificial neural network (ANN) to determine the accuracy of cortical thickness (CTX) on magnetic resonance imaging to identify World Trade Center responders at midlife (aged 44–65 years) with possible dementia. Methods: A total of 119 WTC responders (57 with CI and 62 with intact cognition) underwent a structural MRI scanning protocol including T1-weighted MPRAGE as part of two imaging studies. The discovery study was divided into training and validation samples, while a second replication sample was used. An ANN was trained using regional CTX measured across 34 unilateral regions of interest (ROIs) using Freesurfer software and ‘Desikan-Killiany’ brain atlas. The discovery sample was used for model development, and the replication sample was used to evaluate predictive accuracy. Results: In the WTC responder cohort, the ANN algorithm showed high discrimination performance for CI. The ANN model using regional CTX data from both hemispheres achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.96 95% C.I. = [0.91–1.00] (Accuracy = 96.0%, Precision = 97.8%, Recall = 95.8%, Sensitivity = 95.8%, Specificity = 98.0%, F1 = 96.8%) for the discovery sample and AUC = 0.90 [0.70–1.00] (Accuracy = 90.0%, Precision = 90.0%, Sensitivity = 90.0%, Specificity = 90.0%, F1 = 90.0%) in the replication sample. Conclusion: Analysis of bilateral regional CTX data derived from T1-weighted MPRAGE images by ANN analysis demonstrated excellent accuracy in distinguishing WTC responders with early-onset CI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A.P. Clouston
- Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Corresponding author. Program in Public Health, 101 Nichols Rd., Health Sciences Center, #3-071, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA. (S.A.P. Clouston)
| | - Minos Kritikos
- Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Yael Deri
- Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Megan Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Alison C. Pellecchia
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness Program, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Stephanie Santiago-Michels
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness Program, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Melissa A. Carr
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness Program, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Center for Cognitive Health and NFL Neurological Care, Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Mary Sano
- Department of Psychiatry and Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Evelyn J. Bromet
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Benjamin J. Luft
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
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Clouston S, Deri Y, Horton M, Tang C, Diminich ED, Pellecchia A, Carr M, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet E, Lucchini R, Luft B. Reduced cortical thickness in World Trade Center responders with cognitive impairment. Alzheimers Dement 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.039996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yael Deri
- Stony Brook University Stony Brook NY USA
| | - Megan Horton
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | | | - Erica D Diminich
- Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook Stony Brook NY USA
| | | | - Melissa Carr
- Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook Stony Brook NY USA
| | - Samuel Gandy
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
| | - Mary Sano
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY USA
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Clouston SAP, Deri Y, Horton M, Tang C, Diminich E, DeLorenzo C, Kritikos M, Pellecchia AC, Santiago‐Michels S, Carr MA, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Lucchini RG, Luft BJ. Reduced cortical thickness in World Trade Center responders with cognitive impairment. Alzheimers Dement (Amst) 2020; 12:e12059. [PMID: 32695871 PMCID: PMC7364857 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study examined cortical thickness (CTX) in World Trade Center (WTC) responders with cognitive impairment (CI). METHODS WTC responders (N = 99) with/without CI, recruited from an epidemiologic study, completed a T1-MPRAGE protocol. CTX was automatically computed in 34 regions of interest. Region-based and surface-based morphometry examined CTX in CI versus unimpaired responders. CTX was automatically computed in 34 regions of interest. Region-based measures were also compared to published norms. RESULTS Participants were 55.8 (SD = 0.52) years old; 48 had CI. Compared to unimpaired responders, global mean CTX was reduced in CI and across 21/34 cortical subregions. Surface-based analyses revealed reduced CTX across frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes when adjusting for multiple comparisons. Both CI and unimpaired WTC groups had reduced CTX in the entorhinal and temporal cortices compared to published normative data. DISCUSSION Results from the first structural magnetic resonance imaging study in WTC responders identified reduced CTX consistent with a neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A. P. Clouston
- Program in Public Health Department of Family, Population, and Preventive MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Yael Deri
- Department of MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Megan Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public HealthIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Cheuk Tang
- Department of RadiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of NeurologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Erica Diminich
- Program in Public Health Department of Family, Population, and Preventive MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Christine DeLorenzo
- Department of PsychiatryRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Minos Kritikos
- Program in Public Health Department of Family, Population, and Preventive MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Alison C. Pellecchia
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Stephanie Santiago‐Michels
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Melissa A. Carr
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Samuel Gandy
- Department of NeurologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Psychiatry and Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Mary Sano
- Department of Psychiatry and Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Evelyn J. Bromet
- Department of PsychiatryRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public HealthIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Benjamin J. Luft
- Department of MedicineRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
- Stony Brook World Trade Center Wellness ProgramRenaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook UniversityStony BrookNew YorkUSA
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Kritikos M, Clouston SAP, Diminich ED, Deri Y, Yang X, Carr M, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Luft BJ. Pathway Analysis for Plasma β-Amyloid, Tau and Neurofilament Light (ATN) in World Trade Center Responders at Midlife. Neurol Ther 2020; 9:159-171. [PMID: 32350803 PMCID: PMC7229074 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-020-00189-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION World Trade Center (WTC) responders who aided in the search and rescue efforts are now at midlife, and evidence has demonstrated that many are experiencing early-onset cognitive impairment and are at risk of developing dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). According to the recent NIA-AA framework, AD is characterized by a neuropathological cascade commencing with β-amyloid deposition (A), followed by tauopathy (T) and neurodegeneration (N). However, the ATN model has not been replicated utilizing recently validated plasma-based biomarkers, and the role of the Aβ40 subtype in A is not well understood. This study examined plasma-based neuropathological markers of Aβ42 and Aβ40 for A, total tau for T, and NfL for N in a cohort of World Trade Center responders at midlife in order to determine the role for the two β-amyloid subtypes in the ATN model. METHODS Ultrasensitive Simoa technology was utilized to measure neuropathology in plasma collected from a consecutive clinical sample (n =398). Generalized structural equation modeling was utilized for modeling linkages between pathological markers. Model fit was utilized to determine proposed directions of association. RESULTS Our findings support the ATN neuropathological cascade model of AD and further identify an associative role for Aβ40 in A as playing a central role linking T to N. A strong correlation was found between CI and age, and it was found that women may be at increased risk of elevated T levels, with plasma NfL levels higher in responders with CI. Notably, our model reported associations between: Aβ42, CI and N; Aβ40, T and N; T and CI; Aβ42 and Aβ40. CONCLUSIONS The current ATN model of AD does not specify the subtype of β-amyloid to be considered, which may be overlooking the differential roles that these two subtypes serve in the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minos Kritikos
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Program in Public Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - Sean A P Clouston
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Program in Public Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Erica D Diminich
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Program in Public Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Yael Deri
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Melissa Carr
- World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NYC, New York, NY, USA
- James J Peters VAMC, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Mary Sano
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NYC, New York, NY, USA
- James J Peters VAMC, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Evelyn J Bromet
- Department of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin J Luft
- World Trade Center Health and Wellness Program, Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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Clouston SA, Deri Y, Diminich E, Kew R, Kotov R, Stewart C, Yang X, Gandy S, Sano M, Bromet EJ, Luft BJ. Posttraumatic stress disorder and total amyloid burden and amyloid-β 42/40 ratios in plasma: Results from a pilot study of World Trade Center responders. Alzheimers Dement (Amst) 2019; 11:216-220. [PMID: 30859121 PMCID: PMC6396325 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadm.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with poor memory and increased burden of various degenerative cerebral neuropathologies. The goal of this pilot study was to determine whether PTSD was associated with changes in plasma-based neuropathological biomarkers of neurodegeneration among World Trade Center (WTC) responders. METHODS Thirty-four WTC responders had blood drawn and flash-frozen within 15 minutes of retrieval. PTSD symptoms were assessed at that time. Age, sex, and WTC exposure duration were obtained from medical records. Plasma was assayed in duplicate using an ultra-sensitive single-molecule enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to examine the distribution of amyloid-β (Aβ) 42/40 ratios, total Aβ, total tau, and neurofilament light (NfL). The comparison group was drawn from a bank of healthy controls collected and assayed at the same facility. RESULTS The average age of WTC responders at blood draw was 53 years. Half were PTSD positive (PTSD+) as indicated by symptom severity. WTC responders had lower Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios but higher total tau and NfL levels in the plasma than healthy controls. PTSD+ status was associated with lower plasma Aβ load and higher Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios. DISCUSSION Findings suggest that PTSD may be associated with alterations in plasma markers related to Aβ, tau, and NfL, highlighting the potential association between PTSD status and neurodegenerative neuropathology in WTC responders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean A.P. Clouston
- Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Program in Public Health, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Yael Deri
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Erica Diminich
- Program in Public Health, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Richard Kew
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Roman Kotov
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Candace Stewart
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Xiaohua Yang
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Sam Gandy
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY
| | - Mary Sano
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY
- James J Peters VAMC, Bronx NY
| | - Evelyn J. Bromet
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
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Clouston S, Pietrzak RH, Kotov R, Richards M, Spiro A, Scott S, Deri Y, Mukherjee S, Stewart C, Bromet E, Luft BJ. Traumatic exposures, posttraumatic stress disorder, and cognitive functioning in World Trade Center responders. Alzheimers Dement (N Y) 2017; 3:593-602. [PMID: 29201993 PMCID: PMC5700827 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study examined whether World Trade Center (WTC)-related exposures and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were associated with cognitive function and whether WTC responders' cognition differed from normative data. METHODS A computer-assisted neuropsychological battery was administered to a prospective cohort study of 1193 WTC responders with no history of stroke or WTC-related head injuries. Data were linked to information collected prospectively since 2002. Sample averages were compared to published norms. RESULTS Approximately 14.8% of sampled responders had cognitive dysfunction. WTC responders had worse cognitive function compared to normative data. PTSD symptom severity and working >5 weeks on-site was associated with lower cognition. DISCUSSION Results from this sample highlight the potential for WTC responders to be experiencing an increased burden of cognitive dysfunction and linked lowered cognitive functioning to physical exposures and to PTSD. Future research is warranted to understand the extent to which cognitive dysfunction is evident in neural dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roman Kotov
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yael Deri
- Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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Inbar R, Weiss R, Tomljenovic L, Arango MT, Deri Y, Shaw CA, Chapman J, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y. Behavioral abnormalities in female mice following administration of aluminum adjuvants and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil. Immunol Res 2016; 65:136-149. [DOI: 10.1007/s12026-016-8826-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Inbar R, Weiss R, Tomljenovic L, Arango MT, Deri Y, Shaw CA, Chapman J, Blank M, Shoenfeld Y. WITHDRAWN: Behavioral abnormalities in young female mice following administration of aluminum adjuvants and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil. Vaccine 2016:S0264-410X(16)00016-5. [PMID: 26778424 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.12.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the Editor-in-Chief due to serious concerns regarding the scientific soundness of the article. Review by the Editor-in-Chief and evaluation by outside experts, confirmed that the methodology is seriously flawed, and the claims that the article makes are unjustified. As an international peer-reviewed journal we believe it is our duty to withdraw the article from further circulation, and to notify the community of this issue. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Inbar
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ronen Weiss
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Lucija Tomljenovic
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel; Neural Dynamics Research Group, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, 828 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1L8
| | - Maria-Teresa Arango
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel; Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota 111221, Colombia
| | - Yael Deri
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Christopher A Shaw
- Neural Dynamics Research Group, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, 828 W. 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1L8
| | - Joab Chapman
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel; Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Miri Blank
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yehuda Shoenfeld
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, 52621 Ramat Gan, Israel; Incumbent of the Laura Schwarz-Kip Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel.
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