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Contains fulltext : 235277.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) BACKGROUND: Balancing the risks of recurrent ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage is important for patients treated with antithrombotic therapy after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. However, existing predictive models offer insufficient performance, particularly for assessing the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. We aimed to develop new risk scores incorporating clinical variables and cerebral microbleeds, an MRI biomarker of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke risk. METHODS: We did a pooled analysis of individual-patient data from the Microbleeds International Collaborative Network (MICON), which includes 38 hospital-based prospective cohort studies from 18 countries. All studies recruited participants with previous ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, acquired baseline MRI allowing quantification of cerebral microbleeds, and followed-up participants for ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. Participants not taking antithrombotic drugs were excluded. We developed Cox regression models to predict the 5-year risks of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke, selecting candidate predictors on biological relevance and simplifying models using backward elimination. We derived integer risk scores for clinical use. We assessed model performance in internal validation, adjusted for optimism using bootstrapping. The study is registered on PROSPERO, CRD42016036602. FINDINGS: The included studies recruited participants between Aug 28, 2001, and Feb 4, 2018. 15 766 participants had follow-up for intracranial haemorrhage, and 15 784 for ischaemic stroke. Over a median follow-up of 2 years, 184 intracranial haemorrhages and 1048 ischaemic strokes were reported. The risk models we developed included cerebral microbleed burden and simple clinical variables. Optimism-adjusted c indices were 0·73 (95% CI 0·69-0·77) with a calibration slope of 0·94 (0·81-1·06) for the intracranial haemorrhage model and 0·63 (0·62-0·65) with a calibration slope of 0·97 (0·87-1·07) for the ischaemic stroke model. There was good agreement between predicted and observed risk for both models. INTERPRETATION: The MICON risk scores, incorporating clinical variables and cerebral microbleeds, offer predictive value for the long-term risks of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke in patients prescribed antithrombotic therapy for secondary stroke prevention; external validation is warranted. FUNDING: British Heart Foundation and Stroke Association.

Mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD-MCI) is associated with consistent structural and functional brain changes. Whether different approaches for diagnosing PD-MCI are equivalent in their neural correlates is presently unknown. We aimed to profile the neuroimaging changes associated with the two endorsed methods of diagnosing PD-MCI. We recruited 53 consecutive non-demented PD patients and classified them as PD-MCI according to comprehensive neuropsychological examination as operationalized by the Movement Disorders Task Force. Voxel-based morphometry, cortical thickness, functional connectivity and graph theoretical measures were obtained on a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. 18 patients (32%) were classified as PD-MCI with Level-II criteria, 19 (33%) with the Parkinson's disease Cognitive Rating Scale (PD-CRS) and 32 (60%) with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale. Though regions of atrophy differed across classifications, reduced gray matter in the precuneus was found using both Level-II and PD-CRS classifications in PD-MCI patients. Patients diagnosed with the PD-CRS also showed extensive changes in cortical thickness, concurring with the MoCA in regions of the cingulate cortex, and again with Level-II regarding cortical thinning in the precuneus. Functional connectivity analysis found higher coherence within salience network regions of interest, and decreased anticorrelations between salience/central executive and default-mode networks in the PD-CRS classification for PD-MCI patients. Graph theoretical metrics showed a widespread decrease in node degree for the three classifications in PD-MCI, whereas betweenness centrality was increased in select nodes of the default mode network (DMN). Clinical and neuroimaging commonalities between the endorsed methods of cognitive assessment suggest a corresponding set of neural correlates in PD-MCI: loss of structural integrity in DMN structures, mainly the precuneus, and a loss of weighted connections in the salience network that might be counterbalanced by increased centrality in the DMN. Furthermore, the similarity of the results between exhaustive Level-II and screening Level-I tools might have practical implications in the search for neuroimaging biomarkers of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Altres ajuts: La Marató de TV3 (20142910) Altres ajuts: Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSIC Background: Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by clinical alterations in the motor, behavioral, and cognitive domains. However, the structure and disruptions to large-scale brain cognitive networks have not yet been established. Objective: We aimed to profile changes in large-scale cognitive networks in premanifest and symptomatic patients with Huntington's disease. Methods: We prospectively recruited premanifest and symptomatic Huntington's disease mutation carriers as well as healthy controls. Clinical and sociodemographic data were obtained from all participants, and resting-state functional connectivity data, using both time-averaged and dynamic functional connectivity, was acquired from whole-brain and cognitively oriented brain parcellations. Results: A total of 64 gene mutation carriers and 23 healthy controls were included; 21 patients with Huntington's disease were classified as premanifest and 43 as symptomatic Huntington's disease. Compared with healthy controls, patients with Huntington's disease showed decreased network connectivity within the posterior hubs of the default-mode network and the medial prefrontal cortex, changes that correlated with cognitive (t = 2.25, P = 0.01) and disease burden scores (t = −2.42, P = 0.009). The salience network showed decreased functional connectivity between insular and supramarginal cortices and also correlated with cognitive (t = 2.11, P = 0.02) and disease burden scores (t = −2.35, P = 0.01). Dynamic analyses showed that network variability was decreased for default-central executive networks, a feature already present in premanifest mutation carriers (dynamic factor 8, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Huntington's disease shows an early and widespread disruption of large-scale cognitive networks. Importantly, these changes are related to cognitive and disease burden scores, and novel dynamic functional analyses uncovered subtler network changes even in the premanifest stages.

Cognitive decline is a major disabling feature in Parkinson's disease (PD). Multimodal imaging studies have shown functional disruption in neurocognitive networks related to cognitive impairment. However, it remains unknown whether these changes are related to gray matter loss, or whether they outline network vulnerability in the early stages of cognitive impairment. In this work, we intended to assess functional connectivity and graph theoretical measures and their relation to gray matter loss in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). We recruited 53 Parkinson's disease patients and classified them for cognitive impairment using Level-1 Movement Disorders Society-Task Force Criteria. Voxel-based morphometry, functional connectivity and graph theoretical measures were obtained on a 3-Tesla MRI scanner. Loss of gray matter was observed in the default mode network (bilateral precuneus), without a corresponding disruption of functional or graph theoretical properties. However, functional and graph theoretical changes appeared in salience network nodes, without evidence of gray matter loss. Global cognition and executive scores showed a correlation with node degree in the right anterior insula. We also found a correlation between visuospatial scores and right supramarginal gyrus node degree. Our findings highlight the loss of functional connectivity and topological features without structural damage in salience network regions in PD-MCI. They also underline the importance of multimodal hubs in the transition to mild cognitive impairment. This functional disruption in the absence of gray matter atrophy suggests that the salience network is a key vulnerable system at the onset of mild cognitive impairment in PD.

Introduction Bilingualism exerts neuroprotective effects against neurodegeneration. In Huntington's disease (HD), the systems involved in bilingual control show early compromise, but the effect of bilingualism on the course of HD is unknown. Methods We addressed the impact of livelong use of bilingualism on the clinical features, brain structure and function in 30 early-mild stage HD patients. Using voxel-wise regression analysis, we explored the effect of levels of use of bilingualism on grey-matter volume (GMV) and 18F-FDG metabolism. Results Higher use of bilingualism was associated with better performance in inhibitory control and set-shifting independently of age and education and with higher GMV in the inferior frontal gyrus. 18F-FDG data revealed a significant effect on multiple fronto-temporal regions, specifically, in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, the anterior insula, the ventromedial orbital prefrontal cortex and the inferior frontal gyrus. These changes contributed to better inhibitory control and set-shifting and to more preserved motor and functional capacity. Conclusion In HD, lifelong use of bilingualism is associated with structural and metabolic brain changes that have an impact on cognition, movement and functionality. These findings highlight the importance of stimulating cognitive and brain reserve in HD and in other neurodegenerative conditions.

We observed atypical astrocytic pTDP-43 pathology in astroglial predominant tauopathy.

Introduction: Huntington's disease (HD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder with no effective treatment. Minimally-invasive biomarkers such as blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) in HD are therefore needed to quantitatively characterize neuronal loss. NfL levels in HD are known to correlate with disease progression and striatal atrophy, but whether they also reflect cortical degeneration remains elusive. Methods: In a sample of 35 HD patients, we characterized the cortical macro (cortical thickness) and microstructural (increased intracortical diffusivity) correlates of plasma NfL levels. We further investigated whether NfL-related cortical alterations correlated with clinical indicators of disease progression. Results: Increased plasma NfL levels in HD reflected posterior-cortical microstructural degeneration, but not reduced cortical thickness (p < 0.05, corrected). Importantly, these imaging alterations correlated, in turn, with more severe motor, cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Conclusion: Plasma NfL levels may be useful for tracking clinically-meaningful cortical deterioration in HD. Additionally, our results further reinforce the role of intracortical diffusivity as a valuable imaging indicator in movement disorders.

Treatment-resistant auditory verbal hallucinations (TRAVH) are a relatively prevalent and devastating symptom in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). Even though their pathological mechanisms are poorly understood, they seem to differ from those underlying non-hallucinating SCZ.& nbsp; In this study, we characterise structural brain changes in SCZ patients with TRAVH. With respect to nonhallucinating patients and healthy controls, we studied macrostructural grey matter changes through cortical thickness and subcortical volumetric data. Additionally, we analysed microstructural differences across groups using intracortical and subcortical mean diffusivity data. This latter imaging metric has been claimed to detect incipient neuronal damage, as water can diffuse more freely in regions with reduced neural density.& nbsp; We found brain macrostructrural and microstructural alterations in SCZ patients with TRAVH (n = 29), both with respect to non-hallucinating (n = 20) patients and healthy controls (n = 27). Importantly, a microstructural & ndash;rather than a macrostructural & ndash; compromise was found in key brain regions such as the ventral ACC, the NAcc and the hippocampus. These microstructural alterations correlated, in turn, with clinical severity. TRAVH patients also showed accentuated age-related cortical deterioration and an abnormal longitudinal loss of cortical integrity over a one-year period.& nbsp; These findings highlight the potential role of microstructural imaging biomarkers in SCZ. Notably, they could be used both to detect and to monitor subtle grey matter alterations in critical brain regions such as deep brain stimulation targets. Moreover, our results support the existence of a more aggressive and active pathological mechanism in patients with TRAVH, providing new insight into the aetiology of this debilitating illness.

Context Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, where severe hypoglycemia (SH) and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) may play a role. While there is evidence of a possible association between IAH and brain damage, the potential brain changes remain poorly characterized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Objective To investigate whether there are structural brain differences in a group of T1D patients with IAH compared with normal awareness of hypoglycemia (NAH). Design General practice, population-based, cross-sectional study (July 2018 to July 2019). Setting Endocrinology Department, Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Participants A total of 40 T1D patients (20 each with IAH and NAH) matched for age, sex, T1D duration, and education level. Main Outcome Measures Using different neuroimaging techniques, we compared whole-brain gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) differences. We used voxel-based morphometry and cortical surface area analysis methods to assess GM differences, and fractional anisotropy (FA) to assess WM differences. Results Compared with patients with T1D-NAH, patients with T1D-IAH had reduced GM volumes and cortical surface areas, especially in frontal and parietal regions (P Conclusions MRI for patients with T1D show that IAH is associated with brain changes involving both GM and WM. Further research is needed to elucidate whether the observed differences are a consequence of increased SH episode frequency and increased IAH severity.

BackgroundMinor hallucinations and well-structured hallucinations are considered in the severity continuum of the psychotic spectrum associated with Parkinson's disease. Although their chronological relationship is largely unknown, the spatial patterns of brain atrophy in these 2 forms of hallucinations partially overlap, suggesting they share similar pathophysiological processes. Functional connectivity studies show that disruption of functional networks involved in perception and attention could be relevant in the emergence of well-structured hallucinations. However, functional neuroimaging studies in patients with isolated minor hallucinations are lacking. The objectives of this study were to explore the structural and functional changes underlying minor hallucinations. MethodsWe compared patients with (n=18) and without (n=14) minor hallucinations using a multimodal structural (gray-matter volume voxel-based morphometry) and functional (seed-to-whole-brain resting-state functional MRI) neuroimaging study. ResultsCoincident with previously described structural changes in well-structured hallucinations in Parkinson's disease, patients with minor hallucinations exhibited gray-matter atrophy with significant voxel-wise differences in visuoperceptual processing areas and core regions of the default mode network. Functional connectivity changes consisted of altered connectivity within the default mode network, reduced negative correlation with task-positive network, and aberrant connectivity between posterior regions of the default mode network and visual-processing areas. These changes are in accordance with the attentional networks hypothesis proposed for well-structured hallucinations. ConclusionsAlthough longitudinal studies are needed to assess the potential role of minor hallucinations as an early clinical biomarker of progression to well-structured hallucinations, the present findings show that the 2 phenomena share similar structural and functional brain correlates. (c) 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Purpose Cushing's syndrome (CS) is an endocrine disorder due to prolonged exposure to cortisol. Recently, microstructural white matter (WM) alterations detected by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) have been reported in CS patients, and related to depression, but other functional significances. remain otherwise unclear. We aimed at investigating in more depth mood symptoms in CS patients, and how these relate to cognition (information processing speed), and to WM alterations on DTI. Methods The sample comprised 35 CS patients and 35 healthy controls. Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was used to measure depressive symptoms, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to assess anxiety, and processing speed was measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). DTI studies were acquired using a 3-Tesla Philips-Achieva MR-facility. Voxelwise statistical analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean, axial and radial diffusivities (MD, AD, RD) data were performed using FMRIB Software Library. Correlation analysis were obtained between mood and processing speed variables, and FA, MD, AD and RD values, taking both CS patients and healthy controls. Results Active, controlled and cured CS patients showed greater depression (F = 12.4, p < 0.001), anxious state (F = 4.8, p = 0.005) and anxious trait (F = 9.6, p < 0.001) scores, than controls. Using the entire sample, depression scores correlated negatively to FA and positively to RD values. Although there were no differences in processing speed between groups, SDMT scores correlated positively to both FA and AD values. Conclusions There were greater depressive and anxious symptoms in CS patients than in healthy controls, but no difference in processing speed. However, DTI is related to depression and information processing speed in CS.

Background and purpose Impulsivity is an aspect of personality and a major component of multiple neuropsychiatric conditions. In Parkinson's disease, it has been associated with the expression of impulse control disorders, a highly prevalent non-motor complication. Even though multiple tests of impulsivity have been used in this context, the impact of test choice has not been addressed. The aim was to evaluate whether different impulsivity measures in Parkinson's disease share substantial inter-scale and anatomical correlations or rather mirror different underlying phenomena. Methods In a consecutive sample of 89 Parkinson's disease patients without impulse control disorders, four common tests were evaluated assessing different aspects of impulsivity: impulsiveness trait, decisions under implicit risk with and without losses, and delay discounting. Correlations among test scores were analysed and each score was used as a regressor in a set of grey matter volume (GMV) voxel-based morphometry analyses to explore their brain structural correlates. Results No significant correlations were found between the different impulsivity tests. Furthermore, their structural brain correlates were divergent. Impulsiveness trait appeared to be associated with lower GMV in dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortices, implicit risk (with losses) with higher GMV in the left nucleus accumbens and lower left insular GMV, implicit risk (without losses) with higher GMV in the left lingual gyrus and lower GMV in the gyri recti and delay discounting with higher GMV in the left nucleus accumbens. Conclusions In Parkinson's disease, different impulsivity measures reflect very dissimilar behavioural and brain structural correlates. Our results suggest that parkinsonian impulsivity is not a unitary phenomenon but rather a heterogeneous entity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Huntington disease is a devastating genetic neurodegenerative disorder for which no effective treatment is yet available. Although progressive striatal atrophy is its pathologic hallmark, concomitant cortical deterioration is assumed to occur, but it is poorly characterized. Our objective was to study the loss of cortical integrity and its association with clinical indicators throughout the course of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a cohort of 39 patients with Huntington disease and 25 controls with available MR imaging (T1WI and DTI), we compared cortical atrophy and intracortical diffusivity across disease stages. Intracortical diffusivity is a DTI-derived metric that has recently been suggested to detect incipient neuronal death because water can diffuse more freely in cortical regions with reduced neural density. RESULTS: We observed progressive thinning and increasing diffusivity within the cerebral cortex of patients with Huntington disease (P < .05, corrected for multiple comparisons). Most important, in the absence of pronounced atrophy, widespread increased diffusivity was already present in individuals with premanifest Huntington disease, correlating, in turn, with clinical and disease-specific progression markers. CONCLUSIONS: Intracortical diffusivity may be more sensitive than cortical thinning for tracking early neurodegeneration in Huntington disease. Moreover, our findings provide further evidence of an early cortical compromise in Huntington disease, which contributes to our understanding of its clinical phenotype and could have important therapeutic implications.

Contains fulltext : 208975.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds are a neuroimaging biomarker of stroke risk. A crucial clinical question is whether cerebral microbleeds indicate patients with recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack in whom the rate of future intracranial haemorrhage is likely to exceed that of recurrent ischaemic stroke when treated with antithrombotic drugs. We therefore aimed to establish whether a large burden of cerebral microbleeds or particular anatomical patterns of cerebral microbleeds can identify ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack patients at higher absolute risk of intracranial haemorrhage than ischaemic stroke. METHODS: We did a pooled analysis of individual patient data from cohort studies in adults with recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Cohorts were eligible for inclusion if they prospectively recruited adult participants with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack; included at least 50 participants; collected data on stroke events over at least 3 months follow-up; used an appropriate MRI sequence that is sensitive to magnetic susceptibility; and documented the number and anatomical distribution of cerebral microbleeds reliably using consensus criteria and validated scales. Our prespecified primary outcomes were a composite of any symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage or ischaemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and symptomatic ischaemic stroke. We registered this study with the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews, number CRD42016036602. FINDINGS: Between Jan 1, 1996, and Dec 1, 2018, we identified 344 studies. After exclusions for ineligibility or declined requests for inclusion, 20 322 patients from 38 cohorts (over 35 225 patient-years of follow-up; median 1.34 years [IQR 0.19-2.44]) were included in our analyses. The adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] comparing patients with cerebral microbleeds to those without was 1.35 (95% CI 1.20-1.50) for the composite outcome of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke; 2.45 (1.82-3.29) for intracranial haemorrhage and 1.23 (1.08-1.40) for ischaemic stroke. The aHR increased with increasing cerebral microbleed burden for intracranial haemorrhage but this effect was less marked for ischaemic stroke (for five or more cerebral microbleeds, aHR 4.55 [95% CI 3.08-6.72] for intracranial haemorrhage vs 1.47 [1.19-1.80] for ischaemic stroke; for ten or more cerebral microbleeds, aHR 5.52 [3.36-9.05] vs 1.43 [1.07-1.91]; and for >/=20 cerebral microbleeds, aHR 8.61 [4.69-15.81] vs 1.86 [1.23-1.82]). However, irrespective of cerebral microbleed anatomical distribution or burden, the rate of ischaemic stroke exceeded that of intracranial haemorrhage (for ten or more cerebral microbleeds, 64 ischaemic strokes [95% CI 48-84] per 1000 patient-years vs 27 intracranial haemorrhages [17-41] per 1000 patient-years; and for >/=20 cerebral microbleeds, 73 ischaemic strokes [46-108] per 1000 patient-years vs 39 intracranial haemorrhages [21-67] per 1000 patient-years). INTERPRETATION: In patients with recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, cerebral microbleeds are associated with a greater relative hazard (aHR) for subsequent intracranial haemorrhage than for ischaemic stroke, but the absolute risk of ischaemic stroke is higher than that of intracranial haemorrhage, regardless of cerebral microbleed presence, antomical distribution, or burden. FUNDING: British Heart Foundation and UK Stroke Association.

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder that occurs in FMR1 premutation carriers. The prevalence of FMR1 premutation carriers in the general population is relatively high, and although rare, a premutation in both X chromosomes may occur in females inheriting a premutation allele from each of both parent carriers. Here, we report the first female with an autozygous (homozygous by descendent) FMR1 premutation allele, who fulfills neurological and radiological FXTAS findings/criteria. Molecular characterization included CGG repeat length, AGG interruption pattern, FMR1 messenger RNA (mRNA), fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) level quantification, and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray. Neuroradiological assessment of 3-T magnetic resonance imaging and neurological and cognitive/neuropsychological evaluations were performed. Neurological and neuroradiological examination of the female with the same FMR1 allele in the premutation range (77 CGGs) demonstrated FXTAS features. Further familial evaluation showed a similar neuropsychiatric profile, with impairments in cognitive flexibility and visuospatial function, mainly. A unique family with an autozygous FMR1 premutation female is presented. Neurological/cognitive and neuroradiological examinations revealed FXTAS-specific findings in the female with the autozygous FMR1 premutation allele. The consistent molecular and cognitive/psychiatric phenotype in family members suggests that carrying one or two FMR1 premutation alleles has no effect on illness severity.

Behavioral symptoms and traits have been proposed as early markers in neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate social anxiety and autism in FMR1 premutation carriers using the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaires. Fifty-nine premutation carriers were compared with 50 controls. The SPIN test showed statistically significant differences between female but not male carriers. The AQ questionnaire found statistically significant differences between premutation carriers and controls in the total AQ as well as in the social skills and attention switching subdomains. A gender effect was only observed for the social skills subdomain. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a moderately positive correlation with the total AQ scores as well as the social skills and communication subdomains. Our results show that fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) patients have higher AQ scores. Moreover, this is the first study to find statistically significant differences between FXTAS and no-FXTAS premutation carriers in the communication and the imagination subdomains, suggesting that FXTAS patients present a broader autistic phenotype than premutation carriers without FXTAS. Based on our results, a wide range of behavioral/psychiatric traits should be included within the broader phenotypic presentation of individuals with the FMR1 premutation.

Purpose Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with no effective treatment currently available. Although the pathological hallmark of HD is massive striatal atrophy, it has been suggested that cortical deterioration may concomitantly occur and play a major role in the patient's functional independence. Our objective was to characterize cortical structural and metabolic neurodegeneration in the transition from premanifest to early-stage Huntington's disease (HD). Methods Using a surface-based neuroimaging approach, we compared cortical thickness and intracortical FDG-PET uptake in 19 early-symptomatic HD patients with respect to 21 premanifest HD individuals. Results Early-HD patients showed significant cortical atrophy and intracortical hypometabolism when compared to premanifest subjects (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons). However, whereas the atrophy pattern was restricted to precentral and parieto-occipital regions, a pronounced frontotemporal hypometabolism was observed. Importantly, structural changes correlated with motor and cognitive performance, and metabolic changes were associated with the presence and severity of apathy in this population, a core neuropsychiatric feature of this disorder. Conclusion Our findings reveal an asynchronous neuronal loss and metabolic compromise across the cerebral cortex in early HD. Hence, the use of structural and metabolic imaging indicators to characterize disease progression in this population should take into consideration the dissociation which occurs between cortical atrophy and hypometabolism.

ObjectiveCushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with neuropsychological deficits. As the cerebellum plays a key role in neuropsychological functions it may be affected in CS. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with CS have a smaller cerebellar volume than healthy controls, and to analyse whether cerebellar volume is associated with neuropsychological performance and clinical parameters.DesignA cross-sectional study was performed.MethodsThirty-six CS patients (15 with active CS and 21 with CS in remission) and 36 controls matched for age, sex, and education underwent neuropsychological testing, quality of life assessment, clinical evaluation, and magnetic resonance imaging brain scan. Cerebellar volumes (white matter and cortex, bilateral) were calculated using FreeSurfer Software.ResultsPatients with active CS showed smaller bilateral cerebellar cortex volumes than controls (left,P=0.035 and right,P=0.034), as well as a trend toward smaller right cerebellar cortex volumes than patients in remission CS (P=0.051). No differences were observed in the volume of cerebellar white matter between the three groups. Both right and left cerebellar cortex volumes correlated negatively with triglyceride levels (right:r=−0.358,P=0.002 and left:r=−0.317,P=0.005) and age at diagnosis (right:r=−0.433,P=0.008 and left:r=−0.457,P=0.005). Left cerebellar cortex volume also correlated positively with visual memory performance (r=0.245,P=0.038). Right cerebellar cortex volume positively correlated with quality-of-life scores (r=0.468,P=0.004).ConclusionsThe cerebellar cortex volume is smaller in active CS patients than in controls. This finding is associated with poor visual memory and quality of life and is mostly pronounced in patients with higher triglyceride levels and older age at diagnosis.

SummaryContext and objective Cushing's syndrome (CS) is caused by a glucocorticoid excess. This hypercortisolism can damage the prefrontal cortex, known to be important in decision-making. Our aim was to evaluate decision-making in CS and to explore cortical thickness. Subjects and methods Thirty-five patients with CS (27 cured, eight medically treated) and thirty-five matched controls were evaluated using Iowa gambling task (IGT) and 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess cortical thickness. The IGT evaluates decision-making, including strategy and learning during the test. Cortical thickness was determined on MRI using freesurfer software tools, including a whole-brain analysis. Results There were no differences between medically treated and cured CS patients. They presented an altered decision-making strategy compared to controls, choosing a lower number of the safer cards (P

Keywords: Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker; progressive supanuclear palsy; corticobasal syndrome; frontotemporal dementia; MRI

BackgroundFindings of brain structural changes in major depressive disorder are still inconsistent, partly because some crucial clinical variables have not been taken into account.AimsTo investigate the effect of major depressive disorder on grey matter volumes.MethodVoxel-based morphometry was used to compare 66 patients with depression at different illness stages (22 each with first-episode, remitted-recurrent and treatment resistant/chronic depression) with 32 healthy controls. Brain volumes were correlated with clinical variables.ResultsVoxel-based morphometry showed a significant group effect in right superior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus and left cingulate gyrus (PConclusionsFrontotemporolimbic areas are smaller in the patients with severe depression and are associated with duration of illness, but not with medication patterns, suggesting negative effects of long-lasting major depressive disorder on grey matter.

Smaller hippocampal volumes in major depressive disorder (MDD) have been linked with earlier onset, previous recurrences and treatment refractoriness. The aim of our study was to investigate metabolite abnormalities in the hippocampus associated with past depressive illness burden.Glutamate/glutamine (Glx), N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and choline (Cho), potential markers of glial/neuronal integrity and membrane turnover, respectively, were measured in adults with depression and healthy controls using a 3 T magnetic resonance spectroscopy scanner. Voxels were placed in the head of the right and left hippocampus. We controlled for systematic differences resulting from volume-of-interest (VOI) tissue composition and total hippocampal volume.Our final sample comprised a total of 16 healthy controls and 52 adult patients with depression in different stages of the illness (20 treatment-resistant/chronic, 18 remitted-recurrent and 14 first-episode), comparable for age and sex distribution. Patients with treatment-resistant/chronic and remitted-recurrent depression had significantly lower levels of Glx and NAA than controls, especially in the right hippocampal region (p ≤ 0.025). Diminished levels of Glx were correlated with longer illness duration (left VOI r = -0.34, p = 0.01). By contrast, Cho levels were significantly higher in patients with treatment-resistant/chronic depression than those with first-episode depression or controls in the right and left hippocampus (up to 19% higher; all p ≤ 0.025) and were consistently related to longer illness duration (right VOI r = 0.30, p = 0.028; left VOI r = 0.38, p = 0.004) and more previous episodes (right VOI r = 0.46, p = 0.001; left VOI r = 0.44, p = 0.001).The cross-sectional design and the inclusion of treated patients are the main limitations of the study.Our results support that metabolite alterations within the hippocampus are more pronounced in patients with a clinical evolution characterized by recurrences and/or chronicity and add further evidence to the potential deleterious effects of stress and depression on this region.

To date, no study has evaluated the effects on brain function of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for persistent auditory hallucinations. This study explored the changes in brain activation associated with an emotional auditory paradigm when patients with schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations were treated with CBT. Functional magnetic resonance (fMR) imaging data were obtained from 55 subjects (17 patients with schizophrenia in the therapy group, 24 patients with schizophrenia in the control patient group, and 14 healthy control subjects). The patients in the experimental group were treated with 16-20 bi-weekly sessions of CBT, whereas the patients in the control group received treatment as usual. fMR images were obtained at baseline, 9 and 14 months after enrollment. Patients who received CBT showed significant decrease in brain activation in right and left amygdalae, and the left middle temporal gyrus, compared to both control groups. Significantly reductions in the brain activation of therapy patients were found in both amygdalae, but also in the left superior temporal gyrus and the right superior frontal gyrus at 14-month follow-up. Significant and stable reductions in the abnormal activation of key limbic regions appear to be attributable to the CBT during an emotional auditory paradigm in patients with schizophrenia and persistent auditory hallucinations. These results point to the availability of a biological imaging biomarker for CBT effects in patients with persistent auditory hallucinations. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The aim of this study is to analyze the differences in low frequency fluctuation (LFF) values between schizophrenia patients with and without auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). Nineteen schizophrenia patients with persistent AVH (HP), fourteen non-hallucinating schizophrenia patients (nHP) and twenty healthy controls (HC) underwent R-fMRI. LFF values were calculated in the slow frequency band (0.01-0.08 Hz). By means of group level contrasts, we performed direct voxel-wise group comparisons. Both groups of patients showed decreased amplitude LFF (ALFF) values in the occipital pole and lingual gyrus compared to HC, whereas increased ALFF values were found in the temporal pole and fusifom gyrus. Schizophrenia patients exhibited decreased fractional ALFF (fALFF) values in the precuneus, occipital pole and bilateral occipital cortex, and increased fALFF in the insula compared to HC. There were also differences between patients with and without AVH. (Ok to start with lower case?) fALFF values were higher in the putamen and insular cortex and lower in the frontal pole in HP compared to nHP and HC. ALFF increased in HP patients in the bilateral thalamus and bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, compared to nHP patients and HC. Our results suggest that altered dynamics in low-frequency fluctuations may play a key role in the neurophysiology of auditory hallucinations. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Context: Cushing's syndrome (CS) affects cognition and memory. Objective: Our objective was to evaluate memory and hippocampal volumes (HV) on 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI) in CS patients and controls. Patients and Methods: Thirty-three CS patients (11 active, 22 cured) and 34 controls matched for age, sex, and education underwent Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure memory tests. Gray matter and HV were calculated on 3T MRI, using FreeSurfer image analyses software. Results: No differences in HV were observed between active and cured CS or controls. Memory performance was worse in CS patients than controls (P < 0.04 in active; P < 0.03 in cured CS) but did not differ among CS groups, which were therefore analyzed together; they performed worse for verbal (P = 0.02) and visual memory (P = 0.04) than controls. In 12 CS patients, memory was below normative cutoff values for verbal (n = 6, cured), visual memory (n = 10, six cured) or both (n = 4); these patients with severe memory impairments showed smaller HV compared with their matched controls (P = 0.02 with verbal impairment; P = 0.03 with visual impairment). They were older (P = 0.04), had shorter education (P = 0.02), and showed a trend toward longer duration of hypercortisolism (P = 0.07) than the remaining CS patients. Total (P = 0.004) and cortical (P = 0.03) brain gray matter volumes were decreased in CS compared with controls, indicating brain atrophy, whereas subcortical gray matter (which includes HV) was reduced only in the 12 patients with severe memory impairment. Conclusion: Verbal and visual memory is worse in CS patients than controls, even after biochemical cure. HV was decreased only in those whose memory scores were below normative cutoff values. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97: 663-671, 2012)

The authors describe a patient with persistent headache initially diagnosed as idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis after a comprehensive study that included meningeal biopsy. Despite early response to corticosteroids, the headache relapsed 3 years later and he further developed painful ophthalmoplegia and multiple cranial neuropathies (V1, VI, VIII, and X). A cervical lymph node biopsy revealed caseating granulomas and antituberculous therapy was started. Symptoms had resolved at 3-month follow-up. The authors discuss tuberculosis as a possible cause of pachymeningitis, painful ophthalmoplegia, and multiple cranial neuropathy syndromes, and describe the common features of these clinical conditions.

Structural and neuropathological alterations in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) described in depression (MDD) might become even more pronounced over the course of illness. Measurement of brain metabolites by means of Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (MRS) can indirectly deliver information about glial and neuronal integrity or potential cellular loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Glutamate (Glu), Choline (Cho) and total N-acetylaspartate (total-NAA) levels in the vmPFC differed among MOD patients in distinct stages of illness and healthy controls. We hypothesized that high-past illness-burden would represent more metabolite abnormalities independently of mood state. A 3-Tesla MR facility was used to measure these metabolites in vmPFC of 45 depressive patients (10 first-episode-MOD, 16 remitted-recurrent-MDD and 19 chronic-MDD) and 15 healthy controls. Multivariate and correlation analyses were carried out to explore the influence of duration of illness, age at onset and mood-state. Levels of Glu were significantly decreased in remitted-recurrent and chronic patients compared with both first-episode and controls (up to 28% mean reduction; p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 2.88) and were negatively correlated with illness duration (r = -0.56; p < 0.001). Cho levels showed an opposite pattern: highest values were detected in chronic patients, correlating positively with duration of illness (r = 0.32; p = 0.03). Total-NAA levels were significantly lowered in remitted-recurrent and chronic patients, which were associated with an earlier age at onset (r = 0.50; p = 0.001). Our data suggest that abnormalities in Glu, Cho and total-NAA levels are consistently related to the course of MDD, supporting the hypothesis that cellular changes would take place in vmPFC over time. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This study describes the cognitive profile of Prd-AD, the neuropsychological tests that may predict progression to dementia, and to study their brain structural correlates. We enrolled 24 stable amnesics who did not develop dementia after two years follow-up; 27 patients were considered as Prd-AD, in the initial visit, since they fulfilled NINCDS-ADRDA criteria after two years; 31 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 27 controls (CTR). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as a neuropsychological battery was performed at the initial visit. The key findings were: Prd-AD patients were characterized by prominent episodic memory dysfunction and minimal semantic memory and executive dysfunction. Semantic fluency test (Sem-Flu), delayed text memory test (Del-text-mem) and memory alteration test (M@T) (including both episodic and semantic memory), together with trail making test A (TMT-A), resulted significant predictors for dementia development in this group of amnesic patients. This optimal predictive model obtained an estimated accuracy of 53% after two years follow-up. M@T and semantic Sem-Flu test performance presented high correlation with decreased gray matter density in the left lateral temporal lobe. We conclude that Prd-AD is characterized by prominent episodic memory dysfunction and minimal semantic memory and executive dysfunction which are related with left medial, inferior and lateral temporal density loss, predominantly in the left side. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Purpose: To investigate grey matter volumes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in preclinical Huntington's disease (HD), and their relationship to neuropsychology and CAG number. Material and methods: Twenty preclinical HD carriers and 21 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and educational level were included in this study. Clinical (UHDRS), and detailed neuropsychological assessments, and 3d IR SPGR axial MR acquisition. Calculation of global, segmented (SIENAX), and focal (voxel based morphometry, VBM) grey matter volumes was carried out. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a general linear model for VBM analysis were used to compare preclinical HD carriers and controls. Small volume correction was used, and clusters at p < 0.05 were considered significant. Correlation analysis (VBM) with neuropsychology, and CAG number was also performed. Results: Preclinical HD carriers showed, compared to controls, smaller global volumes of the brain (1279 +/- 6 vs. 133 +/- 46, p = 0.003), total (666 +/- 48 vs. 698 +/- 34, p = 0.020) and cortical grey matter (551 +/- 44 vs. 577 +/- 32, p = 0.035). When compared to the controls, preclinical carriers showed focal volume losses, which were more prominent in the left prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and right posterior temporal cortex. Preclinical HD performed slower in a visuomotor integration task, the 15-Objects test, than controls (t (1,25.02) = 3.69; p = 0.001: pre-HD: 69.55 +/- 28.86; controls: 45.79 +/- 8.38). A correlation was found between Volume loss in the prefrontal cortex, visuomotor performance, and CAG number. Conclusion: Preclinical HD carriers show grey matter volume reduction involving the prefrontal cortex, which relates to the visuomotor performance and CAG number. This suggests that regionally selective neuronal loss/dysfunction occurs prior to the clinical onset of Symptoms. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background/Aims: To prospectively follow up a group of amnesic patients at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), to characterize a group of patients whose features were intermediate between amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and probable AD, prodromal AD (Prd-AD), and to investigate if these patients were at higher risk for AD conversion. Methods: A total of 109 subjects were assessed by neuropsychological evaluation and by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS): 27 controls, and 16 aMCI, 34 probable AD and 32 Prd-AD patients. Results: Episodic memory and frontal test scores resulted lower in Prd-AD compared to aMCI patients. Prd-AD patients obtained significantly higher scores than AD ones in language, perception, praxis and frontal functions. Although Prd-AD and AD patients had distinct 1H-MRS features from aMCI ones, there were no 1H-MRS differences between Prd-AD and AD patients. The AD annual conversion rate after 1 year of follow-up for Prd-AD (57.1%) was higher than in aMCI patients (20%; p < 0.01). A logistic regression, in which all amnesic patients were treated as a single group, showed that the Visual Memory Test was a significant neuropsychological predictor for AD conversion. Conclusions: Prd-AD patients are a clinically distinguishable group, with distinct neuropsychological and 1H-MRS features and a higher conversion rate to probable AD than aMCI patients.

ObjectiveCushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with high cardiovascular risk. White matter lesions (WML) are common on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with increased cardiovascular risk.AimTo investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk, WML, neuropsychological performance and brain volume in CS.Design/methodsThirty-eight patients with CS (23 in remission, 15 active) and 38 controls sex-, age- and education-level matched underwent a neuropsychological and clinical evaluation, blood and urine tests and 3Tesla brain MRI. WML were analysed with the Scheltens scale. Ten-year cardiovascular risk (10CVR) and vascular age (VA) were calculated according to an algorithm based on the Framingham heart study.ResultsPatients in remission had a higher degree of WML than controls and active patients (PP=0.008 respectively), which did not correlate with cognitive performance in any group. WML severity positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r=0.659,P=0.001) and duration of hypertension (r=0.478,P=0.021) in patients in remission. Both patient groups (active and in remission) had higher 10CVR (P=0.030,P=0.041) and VA than controls (P=0.013,P=0.039). Neither the 10CVR nor the VA correlated with WML, although both negatively correlated with cognitive function and brain volume in patients in remission (PTotal brain volume and grey matter volume in both CS patient groups were reduced compared to controls (total volume: activeP=0.006, in remissionP=0.012; grey matter: activeP=0.001, in remissionP=0.003), with no differences in white matter volume between groups.ConclusionsPatients in remission of Cushing's syndrome (but not active patients) have more severe white matter lesions than controls, positively correlated with diastolic pressure and duration of hypertension. Ten-year cardiovascular risk and vascular age appear to be negatively correlated with the cognitive function and brain volume in patients in remission of Cushing's syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cushing syndrome appears after chronic exposure to elevated glucocorticoid levels. Cortisol excess may alter white matter microstructure. Our purpose was to study WM changes in patients with Cushing syndrome compared with controls by using DTI and the influence of hypercortisolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with Cushing syndrome and 35 healthy controls, matched for age, education, and sex, were analyzed through DTI (tract-based spatial statistics) for fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity (general linear model, family-wise error, and threshold-free cluster enhancement corrections, P < .05). Furthermore, the influence of hypercortisolism on WM DTI changes was studied by comparing 4 subgroups: 8 patients with Cushing syndrome with active hypercortisolism, 7 with Cushing syndrome with medication-remitted cortisol, 20 surgically cured, and 35 controls. Cardiovascular risk factors were used as covariates. In addition, correlations were analyzed among DTI values, concomitant 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels, and disease duration. RESULTS: There were widespread alterations (reduced fractional anisotropy, and increased mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity values; P < .05) in patients with Cushing syndrome compared with controls, independent of the cardiovascular risk factors present. Both active and cured Cushing syndrome subgroups showed similar changes compared with controls. Patients with medically remitted Cushing syndrome also had reduced fractional anisotropy and increased mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity values, compared with controls. No correlations were found between DTI maps and 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels or with disease duration. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse WM alterations in patients with Cushing syndrome suggest underlying loss of WM integrity and demyelination. Once present, they seem to be independent of concomitant hypercortisolism, persisting after remission/cure.

BackgroundAlthough white-matter abnormalities have been reported in middle-aged patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), few data are available on treatment-resistant MDD and the influence of relevant variables related to clinical burden of illness is far from being well established.MethodThe present study examined white-matter microstructure in a sample of 52 patients with MDD in different stages (treatment-resistant/chronic MDD, n = 18; remitted-recurrent MDD, n = 15; first-episode MDD, n = 19) and 17 healthy controls, using diffusion tensor imaging with a tract-based spatial statistics approach. Groups were comparable in age and gender distribution, and results were corrected for familywise error (FWE) rate.ResultsWidespread significant reductions of fractional anisotropy (FA) – including the cingulum, corpus callosum, superior and inferior longitudinal fascicule – were evident in treatment-resistant/chronic MDD compared with first-episode MDD and controls (p p β = –0.49, p = 0.04) and higher depression severity (at a trend level: β = –0.26, p = 0.06) predicted lower FA in linear multiple regression analysis at the whole-brain level. The number of previous episodes and severity of symptoms were significant predictors when focused on the ventromedial prefrontal area (β = −0.28, p = 0.04; and β = −0.29, p = 0.03, respectively). Medication effects were controlled for in the analyses and results remained unaltered.ConclusionsOur findings support the notion that disruptions of white-matter microstructure, particularly in fronto-limbic networks, are associated with resistance to treatment and higher current and past burden of depression.

Parkinson's disease (PD) has broadly been associated with mild cognitive impairment (PDMCI) and dementia (PDD). Researchers have studied surrogate, neuroanatomic biomarkers provided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that may help in the early diagnosis of this condition. In this article, four classification models (naive Bayes, multivariate filter-based nave Bayes, filter selective naive Bayes and support vector machines, SVM) have been applied to evaluate their capacity to discriminate between cognitively intact patients with Parkinson's disease (PDCI), PDMCI and PDD. For this purpose, the MRI studies of 45 subjects (16 PDCI, 15 PDMCI and 14 PDD) were acquired and post-processed with Freesurfer, obtaining 112 variables (volumes of subcortical structures and thickness of cortical parcels) per subject. A multivariate filter-based naive Bayes model was found to be the best classifier, having the highest cross-validated sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Additionally, the most relevant variables related to dementia in PD, as predicted by our classifiers, were cerebral white matter, and volumes of the lateral ventricles and hippocampi. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: Default network (DN) abnormalities have been identified in patients with chronic schizophrenia using "resting state" functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI). Here, we examined the integrity of the DN in patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis (FEP) compared with sex-and age-matched healthy controls. Methods: We collected R-fMRI data from 19 FEP patients (mean age 24.9 +/- 4.8 yrs, 14 males) and 19 healthy controls (26.1 +/- 4.8 yrs, 14 males) at 3 T. Following standard preprocessing, we examined the functional connectivity (FC) of two DN subsystems and the two DN hubs (P

Diagnosis of rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) poses a complex medical challenge that requires an exhaustive evaluation. Although prion diseases, in particular Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), are often suspected, many other nonprion diseases may present as RPD. Our aim was to review the causes of RPD in our center to better understand the underlying conditions. We reviewed clinical, neuroimaging, and cerebrospinal fluid data from patients with RPD admitted to our hospital from 1994 to 2009. Forty-nine patients (mean age at onset 72.4 y) with RPD were admitted to our center during the study period. The mean interval between the onset of symptoms and admission was 4.6 months. The final clinical diagnoses were as follows: nonprion neurodegenerative diseases (36.8%), CJD (30.6%), vascular dementia (8.2%), toxic-metabolic conditions (8.2%), and other disorders (16.2%). Among cases with informed death (n = 19), the average survival time was 8.6 +/- 9.5 months. Survival was shorter among patients with prion disease (n = 10) than in those with other diagnoses (n = 9, P = 0.004). In conclusion, nonprion neurodegenerative diseases are the most common cause of RPD in our center. Our results suggest that although CJD is often suspected as a cause of RPD, its frequency depends on the referral differences across specialized centers

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently tested as an experimental therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Here we report on the short-and long-term (1 yr) clinical outcomes and tolerance of DBS in eight TRD patients. Electrodes were implanted bilaterally in the subgenual cingulate gyrus (SCG; Broadman areas 24-25), and stimulated at 135 Hz (90-μs pulsewidth). Voltage and active electrode contacts were adjusted to maximize short-term responses. Clinical assessments included the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17; primary measure), the Montgomery-Ãsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale. In the first week after surgery, response and remission (HAMD ≤7) rates were, respectively 87.5% and 50%. These early responses were followed by an overall worsening, with a response and remission rates of 37.5% (3/8) at 1 month. From then onwards, patients showed a progressive improvement, with response and remission rates of 87.5% and 37.5%, respectively, at 6 months. The corresponding figures at 1 yr were 62.5% and 50%, respectively. Clinical effects were seen in all HAMD subscales without a significant incidence of side-effects. Surgical procedure and post-operative period were well-tolerated for all patients. This is the second independent study on the use of DBS of the SCG to treat chronic depression resistant to current therapeutic strategies. DBS fully remitted 50% of the patients at 1 yr, supporting its validity as a new therapeutic strategy for TRD. © 2011 CINP., This study is funded by the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS: PI 06/0662, PS 09/00580), Instituto Carlos III, and by the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM) intramural funding (P91G), the “VI Plan Nacional I+D+I 2008-2011”, and the “Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, programa CONSOLIDER, acción CIBER”. Support from grant SAF2007-62378 is also acknowledged. Dr. Portella is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Instituto de Investigación Carlos III through a “Miguel Servet” research contract, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2007-2013).

The abbreviated Barcelona Test (a-BT) is an instrument widely used in Spain and Latin American countries for general neuropsychological assessment. The purpose of the present study was to provide new norms for the a-BT as part of the Neuronorma project. The sample consisted of 346 healthy controls. Overlapping cell procedure and midpoint techniques were applied to develop the normative data. Age, education, and sex influences were studied. Results indicated that although age and education affected the score on this test, sex did not. Raw scores were transformed to age-adjusted scaled scores (SS_A) based on percentile ranks. These SS_A were also converted into age–education scaled scores using a linear regression model. Norms were presented on age–education scaled scores. Also, the a-BT cognitive profile was presented and should prove to be clinically useful for interpretation. These co-normed data will allow clinicians to compare scores from a-BT with all the tests included in the Neuronorma project.

Context: Transsphenoidal surgery is considered first-line therapy for acromegaly; however, there is often a need for adjunctive therapy. Somatostatin analogs (SSA) have greatly improved the effectiveness of medical treatment, but one third of patients are resistant. Objective: The aim was to evaluate whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal could predict long-term response to SSA in patients with active acromegaly after neurosurgery. Patients and Methods: Sixty-two patients who were active acromegalic after surgery were included in this retrospective study. Remaining pituitary tumor was classified as hyper-, iso-, or hypointense by evaluating T2-weighted MRI signal. Treatment with SSA at maximal effective doses was prescribed and evaluated at 6 and 12 months by monitoring IGF-I, GH, and T2 MRI. Results: Complete response to SSA treatment (defined as normal IGF-I) at 6 months was observed in 30%, partial response (defined as IGF-I between 2 and 3 sd score) in 15%, and no response in 55% of patients. At 12 months, 28, 20, and 52% were observed, respectively. MRI signal was hypointense in 40%, hyperintense in 48%, and isointense in 12%. At 6 months, complete response to SSA was observed in 71% of cases having hypointense MRI signal and in 20% of hyperintense (P = 0.04). At 12 months, 62% of hypointense remained well controlled, whereas in the hyperintense group, good, partial, or no response results did not change from that observed at 6 months (P = 0.04). Conclusion: In active acromegalic patients after surgery, a hypointense T2-weighted MRI signal is associated with a better response to SSA treatment at 6 and 12 months.

This article aimed to study the correlations for both the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) and the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) with regard to the volumetric measures of hippocampal formation and entorhinal cortex and to explore the effect size of these measures. Methods: A total of 34 healthy controls, 24 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 20 mild-to-moderate-staged Alzheimer disease (AD) participants underwent neuropsychological testing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Global volumetric measures were obtained and hippocampal and entorhinal volumes were calculated. Spearman correlations were calculated between memory scores and brain volumes and an effect size analysis was performed. Results: No significant correlations with global brain volumes were found. There were dissimilar correlations among groups regarding memory and hippocampal and entorhinal volumes. No significant relationships were observed in healthy controls. The MCI group reached the higher correlation indexes, up to r = .55. In AD, only one significant correlation was observed between the delayed score of the FCSRT and the left hippocampus. Effect size values were higher for memory tests than for MRI measures, reaching d = 4.3 for the delayed score of the FCSRT. Conclusions: Although the MIS did not reach the strong results of the FCSRT, it demonstrated a similar pattern to the FCSRT in correlational analysis. These results support the validity and usefulness of the MIS despite its brevity of application. Memory testing showed better discrimination among healthy controls, MCI, and AD participants than MRI measures by means of effect size analysis.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered a transitional state between normal aging and Alzheimer disease. Most MCI subjects present disturbances in multiple neuropsychological domains, including executive function. This study aimed at exploring frontal lobe cortical thinning in MCI and healthy controls, and its relationship with problem-solving abilities. Twenty-three MCI patients and 30 elderly controls underwent MRI and neuropsychological assessment. Cortical thickness was measured by means of FreeSurfer. Problem-solving was assessed by means of the Tower of London (TOL) task. MCI showed a global thinning of the cortex. With regard to specific regions of interest, a thinning in the left frontal lobe and the bilateral posterior cingulate gyri was found. Partial correlations, after controlling for age, education, Mini-Mental Status Examination, and non-frontal mean thickness revealed negative significant correlations between frontal lobe thickness and executive outcomes in the control group. This counterintuitive relationship was not observed in the MCI group, suggesting that the frontal cortical atrophy observed in MCI entails a specific pathology-related relationship with high-level executive outcomes that is qualitatively different from that observed in healthy aging. (JINS, 2010, 16, 836–845.)