Search

It is well-known that the caudate nucleus is associated with motivational behaviors and subjective well-being. However, no longitudinal studies have examined the relationship between brain structure, behavioral orientations, and subjective well-being. This study analyzes data from our previous longitudinal study to examine whether future subjective well-being can be predicted by the volume of the caudate nucleus. We also examined whether behavioral orientation, based on the regulatory focus theory showing two orientations—promotion and prevention focus—was related to the volume of the caudate nucleus. Voxel-based morphometry analysis indicated that the left caudate volume was positively associated with rating scores for future subjective well-being and promotion orientation. Further, mediation analysis indicated that promotion orientation significantly mediated the relationship between future subjective well-being and left caudate volume. The findings indicate that future subjective well-being can be predicted by the volume of the left caudate nucleus, and that this relationship is mediated by promotion focus orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Welding fumes contain various metals. Past studies, however, mainly focused on Manganese (Mn)-related neurotoxicity. This study investigated welding-related mixed metal exposure effects on MRI metrics in the basal ganglia (BG) and their dose–response relationship. Subjects with (N  = 23) and without (N  = 24) a welding exposure history were examined. Metal exposure was estimated with an exposure history questionnaire and whole blood metal levels. T1 (weighted-intensity and relaxation time; estimates of brain Mn accumulation), diffusion tensor imaging (axial [AD], mean [MD], radial diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy [FA]; estimates of microstructural differences) metrics in BG (caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus [GP]), and voxel-based morphometry (for volume) were examined and related with metal exposure measures. Compared with controls, welders showed higher GP R1 (1/T1; P  = 0.034) but no differences in blood metal and T1-weighted (T1W) values in any ROIs (P 's > 0.120). They also had higher AD and MD values in the GP (P 's < 0.033) but lower FA values in the putamen (P  = 0.039) with no morphologic differences. In welders, higher blood Mn and Vanadium (V) levels predicted higher BG R1 and T1W values (P 's < 0.015). There also were significant overall metal mixture effects on GP T1W and R1 values. Moreover, GP AD and MD values showed nonlinear associations with BG T1W values: They increased with increasing T1W values only above certain threshold of T1 values. The current findings suggest that Mn and V individually but also metal mixtures jointly predict GP T1 signals that may in turn contribute to altered DTI metrics in the BG after certain exposure threshold levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroud: Neurological disorders are common in preterm (PT) born individuals. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) effectively detect microstructural white matter (WM) abnormalities in the brain. We conducted this systematic review to integrate the findings of TBSS studies to determine the most consistent WM alterations in PT born individuals. Methods: PubMed, embase, Web of Science and Science Direct were searched. DTI studies using TBSS in PT born individuals were screened up to October 2022. The systematic review included studies reporting alterations in FA values for the entire brain in a stereotactic space, with three coordinates (x, y, z), according to the seed-based d mapping method. Results: The search strategy identified seventeen studies that fulfilled our inclusion criteria, with a total of 911 PT-born individuals and 563 matched controls were analysed. Of the seventeen studies, eight were dedicated to 650 adults, five to 411 children and four to 413 infants. Ten studies recruited 812 individuals born very prematurely (GA <29 weeks), six studies recruited 386 moderately premature individuals (GA = 29-32 weeks) and one study recruited 276 individuals born late prematurely (GA >32 weeks). This meta-analysis of six studies including 388 individuals highlighted four brain regions in which fractional anisotropy (FA) was lower in PT group than in people born at term. The quantitative meta-analysis found that the most robust WM alterations were located in the corpus callosum (CC), the bilateral thalamus and the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) II. Significant changes in FA reflect WM abnormalities in PT born individuals from infant to young adulthood. Conclusions: Significant changes in FA reflect WM abnormalities in individuals born PT from infancy to young adulthood. The abnormal development of the CC, bilateral thalamus and left SLF may play a vital role in the neurodevelopment of PT individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are often associated with depressive symptoms from the prodromal stage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of depression in prodromal to mild DLB patients compared with AD patients. Eighty-three DLB patients, 37 AD patients, and 18 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Depression was evaluated with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), French version 5.0.0. T1-weighted three-dimensional anatomical images were acquired for all participants. Regression and comparison analyses were conducted using a whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach on the grey matter volume (GMV). DLB patients presented a significantly higher mean MINI score than AD patients (p = 0.004), 30.1% of DLB patients had clinical depression, and 56.6% had a history of depression, while 0% of AD patients had clinical depression and 29.7% had a history of depression. VBM regression analyses revealed negative correlations between the MINI score and the GMV of right prefrontal regions in DLB patients (p < 0.001, uncorrected). Comparison analyses between DLB patients taking and those not taking an antidepressant mainly highlighted a decreased GMV in the bilateral middle/inferior temporal gyrus (p < 0.001, uncorrected) in treated DLB patients. In line with the literature, our behavioral analyses revealed higher depression scores in DLB patients than in AD patients. We also showed that depressive symptoms in DLB are associated with decreased GMV in right prefrontal regions. Treated DLB patients with long-standing depression would be more likely to experience GMV loss in the bilateral middle/inferior temporal cortex. These findings should be taken into account when managing DLB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is a common early symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, OD is not specific to PD, as approximatively 20% of the general population exhibit different forms of OD. To use olfactory measures for early Parkinson screening, it is crucial to distinguish PD-related OD from Non-Parkinsonian OD (NPOD). Objectives and hypothesis: This study aimed to compare the structural changes associated with PD-related OD (n = 15) with NPOD (n = 15), focusing on gray matter volumes and white matter fiber integrity in chemosensory regions. We hypothesized that PD-related OD presents specific structural alterations in these regions. Methods: Participants underwent a 3 T MRI scan, which included anatomical T1 and diffusion-weighted imaging. Gray and white matter integrity were assessed using both whole-brain analyses (voxel-based morphometry—VBM and tract-based spatial statistics—TBSS, respectively) and localized approaches, including regions of interest and tractography. Results: PD patients exhibited significantly higher gray matter volume in the left insula using restricted regions-of-interest analyses, while no other significant gray or white matter differences were found between groups. Conclusion: Structural imaging of the gray matter, particularly the insula, but not of white matter, differentiates PD-related OD from NPOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: In this study, a medical decision support system is presented to assist physicians in epileptic focus detection by correlating MRI and EEG data of temporal lobe epilepsy patients. Methods: By exploiting the asymmetry in the hippocampus in MRI images and using voxel-based morphometry analysis, gray matter reduction in the temporal and limbic lobes is detected, and epileptic focus prediction is realized. In addition, an epileptic focus is also determined by calculating the asymmetry score from EEG channels. Finally, epileptic focus detection was performed by associating MRI and EEG data with a decision tree. Results: The results obtained from the proposed algorithm provide 100% overlap with the physician's finding on the EEG data. Conclusions: MRI and EEG correlation in epileptic focus detection was improved compared with physicians. The proposed algorithm can be used as a medical decision support system for epilepsy diagnosis, treatment, and surgery planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal education was strongly correlated with adolescent brain morphology, cognitive performances, and mental health. However, the molecular basis for the effects of maternal education on the structural neurodevelopment remains unknown. Here, we conducted gene-environment-wide interaction study using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort. Seven genomic loci with significant gene-environment interactions (G×E) on regional gray matter volumes were identified, with enriched biological functions related to metabolic process, inflammatory process, and synaptic plasticity. Additionally, genetic overlapping results with behavioral and disease-related phenotypes indicated shared biological mechanism between maternal education modified neurodevelopment and related behavioral traits. Finally, by decomposing the multidimensional components of maternal education, we found that socioeconomic status, rather than family environment, played a more important role in modifying the genetic effects on neurodevelopment. In summary, our study provided analytical evidence for G×E effects regarding adolescent neurodevelopment and explored potential biological mechanisms as well as social mechanisms through which maternal education could modify the genetic effects on regional brain development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence suggests that autobiographical memory (ABM) is altered in Huntington's disease (HD). While these impairments are typically attributed to frontostriatal dysfunction, the neural substrates of ABM impairment in HD remain unexplored. To this end, we assessed ABM in 30 participants with genetically confirmed HD (18 premanifest, 12 manifest) and 24 age‐matched healthy controls. Participants completed the Autobiographical Interview to assess free and probed ABM recall and underwent structural brain imaging. Whole‐brain voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) was used to explore voxel‐wise associations between ABM performance and grey matter intensity (False Discovery Rate corrected at q = 0.05). Relative to controls, HD participants displayed significantly less detailed ABM retrieval across free and probed recall conditions, irrespective of disease stage. Recall performance did not differ significantly between manifest and premanifest HD groups. VBM analyses indicated that poorer ABM performance was associated with atrophy of a distributed cortico‐subcortical network. Key regions implicated irrespective of ABM condition included the bilateral occipital cortex, left precuneus, right parahippocampal gyrus and right caudate nucleus. In addition, probed ABM recall was associated with the superior and inferior frontal gyri, frontal pole, right hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, paracingulate gyrus and cerebellum. Overall, our findings indicate that ABM impairments in HD reflect the progressive degeneration of a distributed cortico‐subcortical brain network comprising medial temporal, frontal, striatal and posterior parietal cortices. Our findings advance our understanding of the neurocognitive profile of HD, providing an important foundation for future interventions to support memory function in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers are challenging to use for diagnosing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in large populations, and there is an urgent need for new blood biomarkers. The aim of this study is to investigate whether astrocyte activation is correlated with hippocampal atrophy, and to assess the potential of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as a biomarker for diagnosing MCI among community-dwelling older individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 107 older adults. The levels of GFAP in serum were measured, and the volumetric assessment of gray matter within hippocampal subregions was conducted using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM). The relationship between hippocampal subregion volume and blood biomarkers were analyzed using partial correlation. The effectiveness of blood biomarkers in differentiating MCI was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: We found that serum GFAP levels were significantly elevated in the MCI group compared to the cognitively normal (CN) group. Additionally, individuals with MCI exhibited a reduction gray matter volume in specific hippocampal subregions. Notably, the right dentate gyrus (DG) and right cornu ammonis (CA) subregions were found to be effective for distinguishing MCI patients from CN individuals. Serum levels of GFAP demonstrate a sensitivity of 65.9% and a specificity of 75.6% in differentiating patients with MCI from CN individuals. Conclusion: Specific atrophy within hippocampal subregions has been observed in the brains of community-dwelling elderly individuals. Elevated levels of circulating GFAP may serve as a sensitive peripheral biomarker indicative of hippocampal-specific cognitive alterations in patients with MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado–Joseph disease, is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansion in exon 10 of ATXN3. Extra-cerebellar manifestations, including external ophthalmoplegia, dystonia, Parkinsonism, and peripheral neuropathy, are predominantly present in SCA3 cases. Here, we report a case of SCA3 presenting with a split hand and minipolymyoclonus. Case presentation: A 73-year-old female patient presented with a 5-year history of ataxic gait. Neurological examination revealed cerebellar ataxia and minipolymyoclonus in the digits on both sides and muscle atrophy in the right hand, consistent with the split hand pattern. Electrodiagnostic studies demonstrated decreased amplitude of compound muscle action potentials and neurogenic motor unit potentials, indicating lower motor neuron involvement. Conclusions: Our patient's case indicated a split hand and minipolymyoclonus in SCA3. Clinicians should consider these extra-cerebellar manifestations in patients with SCA3. Although neither split hand nor minipolymyoclonus are likely to directly result in a specific etiological diagnosis, a common pathophysiological mechanism for both may be lower motor neuron involvement. This extracerebellar manifestation contributes to narrowing down the diagnostic possibilities for cases presenting with progressive cerebellar ataxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was applied to explore structural changes induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and the relationship with clinical outcomes. Moreover, the relationship between each segmented regional gray matter (GM) volume was investigated to identify circuits involved in the rTMS treatment process in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Methods: Nineteen patients with DRE were finally included in the analysis. A session of rTMS was applied for 5 consecutive days. Participants received either 1,000 or 3,000 pulses, at a frequency of 0.5 Hz and the intensity was set at 90% of the individual's resting motor threshold. VBM analysis was performed to explore regional GM volume changes 2 months after rTMS application. The regional volume change was correlated with seizure reduction rate. Relationships between changes in GM volume in each anatomically parcellated region were analyzed using a fully-automated segmentation pipeline. Results: Compared to the baseline, seizure frequency was reduced, and quality of life was improved after rTMS treatment. Regional volume was increased in the cerebellar vermis 2 months after rTMS application. The increased cerebellar vermis volume correlated with the reduced seizure frequency. Regional volume changes in the cerebellar vermis were correlated with changes in the subcortical and cortical GM regions including the thalamus, caudate, and frontal cortex. Discussion: These results indicate that rTMS treatment effectively reduced seizure frequency in patients with DRE. Increased volume in the cerebellar vermis and activations of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit may be a crucial mechanism underlying the effectiveness of rTMS application in patients with DRE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare neurodegenerative disease, is usually accompanied by brain morphological alterations. However, the causal relationships between progressive gray matter atrophy in MSA parkinsonian (MSA-P) subtype remain unknown. Methods: In total, thirty-five MSA-P patients and thirty-five healthy controls (HC) underwent three-dimensional high-resolution T1-weighted structural imaging and voxel-based morphometry analysis. The causal structural covariance network (CaSCN) of gray matter was assessed to explore the causal relationships in MSA-P. Results: With greater illness duration, the reduction of gray matter was originated from right cerebellum and progressed to bilateral cerebellum, fusiform gyrus, insula, putamen, caudate nucleus, frontal lobe, right angular gyrus, right precuneus, left middle occipital lobe and left inferior temporal lobe, then expanded to midbrain, bilateral para-hippocampus, thalamus, temporal lobe, inferior parietal lobule (IPL), precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus and middle cingulate cortex. The right cerebellum was revealed to be the core node of the directional network and projected positive causal effects to bilateral cerebellum, caudate nucleus and left IPL. Conclusion: MSA-P patients showed progression of gray matter atrophy over time, with the right cerebellum probably as a primary hub. Furthermore, the early structural vulnerability of cerebellum in MSA-P may play a pivotal role in the modulation of motor and non-motor circuits at the structural level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Are there neurobiological changes induced by endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER Women with endometriosis demonstrate specific neurobiological changes distinct from those in patients with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in the absence of endometriosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting women of reproductive age that presents with pain and infertility often accompanied by comorbid mental disorders. Only one study with a number of limitations has investigated changes in gray matter volumes and functional connectivity in a small group of patients with endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This prospective study recruited 53 women undergoing a laparoscopy due to suspicion of symptomatic endometriosis and 25 healthy, pain-free women. Clinical and psychological characteristics, thermal pain perception, and voxel- and surface-based morphology were assessed in all study participants. Thereafter, the patients underwent a laparoscopy, where endometriosis was either histologically confirmed and removed, or ruled out. Correspondingly, patients were assigned into the group with endometriosis (n = 27) or with endometriosis-independent CPP (n = 26) and compared to the pain-free controls. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The study groups were generally representative for the population of women with endometriosis. Sociodemographic, medical, clinical, and psychological characteristics were collected using various questionnaires and a structured clinical interview. Thermal pain perception and voxel- and surface-based morphometry were assessed using thermode and MRI, respectively. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Despite comparable pain intensity and burden of mental disorders, both patient groups demonstrated distinct neurobiological patterns. Women with endometriosis exhibited increased gray matter volume (GMV) in the left cerebellum, lingual gyrus and calcarine gyrus, compared to those with endometriosis-independent CPP. Patients with CPP had decreased GMV in the right cerebellum as compared to controls. Dysmenorrhoea severity correlated positively with GMV in the left inferior parietal lobule, whereas depressive symptoms were associated with decreased GMV in the right superior medial gyrus across patient groups. Dyspareunia correlated negatively with cortical thickness in the left inferior temporal gyrus and left middle temporal gyrus. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The study groups differed in a few baseline-characteristics, including educational levels, smoking and BMI. While measuring pain perception thresholds, we did not attempt to mimic CPP by placement of the thermode on the abdominal wall. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Changes in gray matter volume associated with endometriosis differ from those observed in women with endometriosis-independent CPP. Our results underline an involvement of the cerebellum in pain perception and the pathogenesis of pain associated with endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was funded by the START Program of the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Germany, and supported by the International Research Training Group (IRTG 2150) of the German Research Foundation (DFG)—269953372/GRK2150, Germany. S.T. was supported by postdoctoral fellowship of the Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen, Germany. There are no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER DRKS00021236 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upper elementary grade students encounter increasingly complex texts with abundant morphologically complex words. Despite the positive effects of morphology‐based vocabulary instruction, emergent bilinguals with limited word reading skills may need additional support. Methods: This study investigated the effects of morphological analysis and morphophonemic analysis instruction on the orthographic and semantic learning of morphologically complex academic words. Fourth‐ and fifth‐grade Spanish–English bilingual students (N = 30) in the United States participated in two learning tasks. In learning task one, participants learned two sets of carefully matched derivational words under morphological and whole‐word learning conditions. In learning task two, the same participants learned two other sets of words under morphophonemic and whole‐word learning conditions. Each learning task included two learning sessions interweaved by meaning recall and spelling production assessments. Cross‐classified multilevel regression was used to assess the effects of intervention conditions, child and item predictors, as well as cross‐level interactions. Results: Findings showed no significant difference in meaning recall and spelling measures between morphological and whole‐word conditions. Students performed significantly better in the morphophonemic condition than in the whole‐word condition for both meaning and affix spelling outcomes. The effect of morphophonemic intervention over whole word condition was stronger for younger students and words of lower base frequencies. Student meaning and spelling performance was significantly predicted by their word reading skills. Conclusions: Morphophonemic analysis instruction enhances word meaning recall and spelling of complex derivative words. Highlights: What is already known about this topicUpper elementary emergent bilinguals experience challenges in comprehending complex texts largely due to their limited English vocabulary.Morphology‐focused interventions led to generally positive literacy gains among native English speakers and emergent bilinguals. What this paper addsCompared with whole‐word learning, morphophonemic analysis instruction enhanced word meaning recall and spelling of derivative words for bilinguals who were still developing word reading skills.Compared with the whole‐word learning approach, no advantage was observed for the morphology‐focused instruction on word meaning or spelling recall. Implications for theory, policy, or practiceMaking explicit linkages between word decoding and meaning enhances new word learning for emergent bilingual students.Emergent bilingual students with limited word reading skills benefit from additional phonological support in morphology instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) often experience emotional changes and cognitive impairments. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these impairments are still not fully understood. Methods: In the present study, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surfacebased morphometry (SBM) were employed to investigate structural alterations in 49 patients diagnosed with UIAs compared with 50 healthy controls. Additionally, this study aimed to analyze the correlations among cortical morphological indices, cerebral blood perfusion values and neuropsychological test results. Results: Compared with control group, UIA patients exhibited increased gray matter volume in the right anterior orbitofrontal cortex and decreased gray matter volume in the left thalamus pulvinar and hippocampus. Furthermore, the fractal dimension was lower in the right postcentral gyrus and entorhinal cortex. The cerebral perfusion values in the abnormal brain regions demonstrated a downward trend, which was associated with a reduction in gray matter volume in the left thalamus pulvinar and hippocampus, elevated anxiety levels and impaired executive function. Conclusion: UIA patients are prone to cognitive impairment and emotional dysregulation, which are accompanied by subtle changes in local gray matter volume and decreases in fractal dimension and cerebral blood flow. These findings provide new insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the cognitive impairment observed in UIA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sex differences in human brain anatomy have been well-documented, though remain significantly underexplored during early development. The neonatal period is a critical stage for brain development and can provide key insights into the role that prenatal and early postnatal factors play in shaping sex differences in the brain. Methods: Here, we assessed on-average sex differences in global and regional brain volumes in 514 newborns aged 0–28 days (236 birth-assigned females and 278 birth-assigned males) using data from the developing Human Connectome Project. We also assessed sex-by-age interactions to investigate sex differences in early postnatal brain development. Results: On average, males had significantly larger intracranial and total brain volumes, even after controlling for birth weight. After controlling for total brain volume, females showed significantly greater total cortical gray matter volumes, whilst males showed greater total white matter volumes. After controlling for total brain volume in regional comparisons, females had significantly increased white matter volumes in the corpus callosum and increased gray matter volumes in the bilateral parahippocampal gyri (posterior parts), left anterior cingulate gyrus, bilateral parietal lobes, and left caudate nucleus. Males had significantly increased gray matter volumes in the right medial and inferior temporal gyrus (posterior part) and right subthalamic nucleus. Effect sizes ranged from small for regional comparisons to large for global comparisons. Significant sex-by-age interactions were noted in the left anterior cingulate gyrus and left superior temporal gyrus (posterior parts). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that sex differences in brain structure are already present at birth and remain comparatively stable during early postnatal development, highlighting an important role of prenatal factors in shaping sex differences in the brain. Plain Language Summary: Sex differences in the human brain have attracted substantial scientific and societal interest, but less is known about whether the brain shows sex differences at birth. Studying sex differences at birth can help to understand how prenatal factors (e.g., hormone levels before birth) and early postnatal factors (e.g., exposure to the sensory environment and caregiver interactions) contribute to shaping sex differences in the brain. In this study, we investigated on-average sex differences in brain structure in a large sample of newborn infants shortly after birth. Our findings show that several on-average differences are present at birth, suggesting that factors before birth play an important role in initiating sex differences in the brain. Highlights: At birth, males on average show significantly increased total brain volumes compared to females even after accounting for sex differences in birth weight. After controlling for total brain volume, females on average show significantly increased total cortical gray matter volumes, while males show increased total white matter volumes. After controlling for total brain volume, significant on-average sex differences are observed in regions such as the corpus callosum (F > M), bilateral parietal lobes (F > M), left anterior cingulate gyrus (F > M), left caudate nucleus (F > M), and right medial and inferior temporal gyri (M > F). Fewer global and regional volumes showed significant sex-by-age interactions, except for the left anterior cingulate gyrus (F > M) and left superior temporal gyrus (M > F). Several sex differences that have previously been observed later in development are present from birth, emphasising the key role that prenatal factors play in initiating sex differences in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Melancholic depression (MD) is a common subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD). It is difficult to treat because its neurobiological basis is poorly understood. Therefore, to investigate whether MD patients have any structural changes in gray matter (GM) and the molecular foundation of these changes, we combined voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) analysis with neurotransmitter system‐derived mapping from public data. Methods: 137 drug‐naive MDD patients and 75 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for structural magnetic resonance imaging. The imaging results were analyzed using VBM analysis. MDD patients were then divided into MD and nonmelancholic depression (NMD) subgroups according to their scores on the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Next, we analyzed the spatial correlation between the changes in the gray matter volume (GMV) maps and the neurotransmitter receptor/transporter protein density maps provided by the JuSpace toolbox. Results: Compared to HCs, patients with MD had significant GMV reduction in the bilateral hippocampus, bilateral thalamus, right amygdala, and right posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus. Compared to patients with NMD, MD patients had significant GMV reduction in the bilateral PCC/precuneus and lateral occipital cortex. Moreover, compared to HCs, changes in GMV introduced by MD were spatially associated with the serotonin transporter, cannabinoid receptor, and μ‐opioid receptor. Compared to NMD patients, changes in GMV introduced by MD were spatially associated with the vesicular acetylcholine transporter. Conclusion: The present study discovered abnormal GMV alterations in patients with subtypes of depression. We also found a series of neurotransmitter receptors that may be associated with the alterations. The findings of the current study may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the structural abnormalities in subtypes of depression and potentially offer new insights into developing new therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) epileptiform discharges have been reported to arise from the hippocampus or the extrahippocampal medial temporal cortex, such as the amygdala, and then propagate to the temporal lobe cortex. The surgical ablation of which of these structures would result in a better postoperative outcome is debatable. Objective: To assess the possible factors that might have influenced the postoperative outcome of a group of drug-resistant mesial MTLE patients who underwent stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG)-guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC). Design: Single-center, retrospective. Methods: The present study utilized a pre- and postoperative gray matter voxel-by-voxel ablation mapping comparison approach, along with a white matter mapping of longitudinal changes in the native space technique, to evaluate the association between the post-SEEG implantation signal recordings (obtained from clinically relevant electrode contacts used during RFTC) and the post-RFTC ablation volume of the different selected regions of interest (ROIs). Results: The study included 22 patients (12 men and 10 women, mean age 28.86 ± 14.04 years). Sixteen patients (72.72%) were seizure-free (SF), and six patients (27.27%) were non-SF. Five patients (22.72%) experienced mild side effects following RFTC. The post-RFTC follow-up period varied from 12 to 48 months, with an average of 24.17 ± 9.86 months. The SF group was associated with a higher number of implanted electrode contacts in the amygdala that were used during RFTC, a larger preoperative volume of the amygdala; a larger ablation volume of both the amygdala and rhinal cortex. The ablation volume of the white matter was statistically similar between both groups. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the significance of the amygdala and rhinal cortex as ROIs in the preoperative evaluation of patients with MTLE. Future implantation scheme plans should consider evaluating the preoperative volume of these ROIs. Additionally, increasing the number of electrode contacts implanted within these regions might be beneficial to capture more clinically relevant signals and enhance their ablation volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy is a type of autosomal dominant leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) gene. Subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVaD), which is caused by cerebral small vessel disease, is similar to CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy in that it mainly affects subcortical white matter. In this study, we compared the patterns of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and cortical thickness in CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy with those in SIVaD. Methods: Fourteen patients with CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy and 129 with SIVaD were retrospectively recruited from three tertiary medical centers. We extracted and visualized WMH data using voxel-based morphometry to compare the WMH distributions between the two groups. Cortical thickness was measured using a surface-based method. Statistical maps of differences in cortical thickness between the two groups were generated using a surface model, with age, sex, education, and intracranial volume as covariates. Results: Predominant distribution of WMH in the CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy group was in the bilateral frontal and parietal areas, whereas the SIVaD group showed diffuse WMH involvement in the bilateral frontal, parietal, and temporal areas. Compared with the SIVaD group, the CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy group showed more severe corpus callosum atrophy (CCA) and widespread cortical thinning. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study using the automated MR measurement to capture WMH, cortical thinning, and CCA with signal changes in CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy. It provides new evidence regarding differences in the patterns of WMH distribution and cortical thinning between CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy and SIVaD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study identified cortical and subcortical structural changes in MCI patients. • Correlation analysis linked structural changes to cognitive performance in MCI. • SVM classification achieved 89% accuracy in distinguishing MCI from controls. • Findings provide insights into neural mechanisms behind MCI-related memory loss. Gray matter changes are thought to be closely related to cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. The study aimed to explore cortical and subcortical structural alterations in MCI and their association with cognitive assessment. 24 MCI patients and 22 normal controls (NCs) were included. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), vertex-based shape analysis and surface-based morphometry (SBM) analysis were applied to explore subcortical nuclei volume, shape and cortical morphology. Correlations between structural changes and cognition were explored using spearman correlation analysis. Support vector machine (SVM) classification evaluated MCI identification accuracy. MCI patients showed significant atrophy in the left thalamus, left hippocampus, left amygdala, right pallidum, right hippocampus, along with inward deformation in the left amygdala. SBM analysis revealed that MCI group exhibited shallower sulci depth in the left hemisphere and increased cortical gyrification index (GI) in the right frontal gyrus. Correlation analysis showed the positive correlation between right hippocampus volume and episodic memory, while negative correlation between the altered GI and memory performance in MCI group. SVM analysis demonstrated superior performance of sulci depth and GI derived from SBM in MCI identification. When combined with cortical and subcortical metrics, SVM achieved a peak accuracy of 89 % in distinguishing MCI from NC. The study reveals significant gray matter structural changes in MCI, suggesting their potential role in underlying functional differences and neural mechanisms behind memory impairment in MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Depression is a prevalent mental disorder characterized by persistent negative mood and loss of pleasure. Although there are various treatment modalities available for depression, the rates of response and remission remain low. Xiaoyaosan (XYS), a traditional Chinese herbal formula with a long history of use in treating depression, has shown promising effects. However, the underlying mechanism of its therapeutic action remains elusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the neuroimaging changes in the brain associated with the antidepressant-like effects of XYS. Methods: Here, we combined voxel-based morphometry of T2-weighted images and voxel-based analysis on diffusion tensor images to evaluate alterations in brain morphometry and microstructure between chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model mice and control mice. Additionally, we examined the effect of XYS treatment on structural disruptions in the brains of XYS-treated mice. Furthermore, we explored the therapeutic effect of 18b-glycyrrhetinic acid (18b-GA), which was identified as the primary compound present in the brain following administration of XYS. Significant differences in brain structure were utilized as classification features for distinguishing mice with depression model form the controls using a machine learning method. Results: Significant changes in brain volume and diffusion metrics were observed in the CSDS model mice, primarily concentrated in the nucleus accumbens (ACB), primary somatosensory area (SSP), thalamus (TH), hypothalamus (HY), basomedical amygdala nucleus (BMA), caudoputamen (CP), and retrosplenial area (RSP). However, both XYS and 18b-GA treatment prevented disruptions in brain volume and diffusion metrics in certain regions, including bilateral HY, right SSP, right ACB, bilateral CP, and left TH. The classification models based on each type of neuroimaging feature achieved high accuracy levels (gray matter volume: 76.39%, AUC=0.83; white matter volume: 76.39%, AUC=0.92; fractional anisotropy: 82.64%, AUC=0.9; radial diffusivity: 76.39%, AUC=0.82). Among these machine learning analyses, the right ACB, right HY, and right CP were identified as the most important brain regions for classification purposes. Conclusion: These findings suggested that XYS can prevent abnormal changes in brain volume and microstructure within TH, SSP, ACB, and CP to exert prophylactic antidepressant-like effects in CSDS model mice. The neuroimaging features within these regions demonstrate excellent performance for classifying CSDS model mice from controls while providing valuable insights into the antidepressant effects of XYS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, there is still a lack of valuable neuroimaging markers to assess the clinical severity of stroke patients with small artery occlusion (SAO). Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is a quantitative processing method for neuroradiological diagnostics. Gray matter (GM) volume changes in stroke patients are also proved to be associated with neurological deficits. This study aims to explore the predictive value of QSM and GM volume in neurological deficits of patients with SAO. Methods: As neurological deficits, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used. Sixty‐six SAO participants within 24 h of first onset were enrolled and divided into mild and moderate groups based on NIHSS. QSM values of infarct area and GM volume were calculated from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Two‐sample t‐tests were used to compare differences in QSM value and GM volume between the two groups, and the diagnostic efficacy of the combination of QSM value and GM volume was evaluated. Results: The results revealed both the QSM value and GM volume within the infarct area of the moderate group were lower compared to the mild group. Moderate group exhibited lower GM volume in some specific gyrus compared with mild group in the case of voxel‐wise GM volume on whole‐brain voxel level. The support vector machine (SVM) classifier's analysis showed a high power for the combination of QSM value, GM volume within the infarct area, and voxel‐wise GM volume. Conclusion: Our research first reported the combination of QSM value, GM volume within the infarct area, and voxel‐wise GM volume could be used to predict neurological impairment of patients with SAO, which provides new insights for further understanding the SAO stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic factors confer risks for depression. Understanding the neural endophenotypes, including brain morphometrics, of genetic predisposition to depression would help in unraveling the pathophysiology of depression. We employed voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine how gray matter volumes (GMVs) were correlated with the polygenic risk score (PRS) for depression in 993 young adults of the Human Connectome Project. The phenotype of depression was quantified with a DSM-oriented scale of the Achenbach Adult Self-Report. The PRS for depression was computed for each subject using the Psychiatric Genomics Association Study as the base sample. In multiple regression with age, sex, race, drinking severity, and total intracranial volume as covariates, regional GMVs in positive correlation with the PRS were observed in bilateral hippocampi and right gyrus rectus. Regional GMVs in negative correlation with the PRS were observed in a wide swath of brain regions, including bilateral frontal and temporal lobes, anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus, lingual gyri, cerebellum, and the left postcentral gyrus, cuneus, and parahippocampal gyrus. We also found sex difference in anterior cingulate volumes in manifesting the genetic risk of depression. In addition, the GMV of the right cerebellum crus I partially mediated the link from PRS to depression severity. These findings add to the literature by highlighting 1) a more diverse pattern of the volumetric markers of depression, with most regions showing lower but others higher GMVs in association with the genetic risks of depression, and 2) the cerebellar GMV as a genetically informed neural phenotype of depression, in neurotypical individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing evidence suggests that anterior insula plays a crucial role in cognitive control and emotional regulation and is implicated in the onset and maintenance of bulimia nervosa (BN). However, it remains unclear how structural and functional abnormalities in specific subregions of anterior insula contribute to BN. In this study, we analyzed structural MRI and resting-state functional MRI data from 54 BN patients and 56 healthy controls (HCs). We conducted voxel-based morphometry, amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (conventional band: 0.01–0.08 Hz, slow-5: 0.01–0.027 Hz) and seed-based whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis of the anterior insula subregions for both groups. Additionally, we investigated the correlation between neuroimaging findings and clinical characteristics in the BN group. Our findings revealed that BN patients exhibited reduced gray matter volume in the right dorsal anterior insula (dAI) and bilateral ventral anterior insula (vAI) and demonstrated decreased ALFF in slow-5 band of bilateral dAI. The BN group also showed increased FC between bilateral dAI and precuneus or right superior frontal gyri which significantly correlated with the severity of BN or its key symptom. In addition, the decreased FC between bilateral vAI and anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri and/or median cingulate and paracingulate gyri were both significantly correlated with the severity and its restrained eating behavior. Our findings further indicate that the functional separation of anterior insula subregions may underlie the pathophysiology of BN. Notably, the vAI associated with emotional processing may serve as a promising neuroimaging biomarker which could inform therapeutic strategy. • Bulimia nervosa (BN) selectively reshapes the structure and intrinsic function of anterior insula (AI) subregions. • The functional separation of anterior insula subregions may underlie the pathophysiology of BN. • The ventral AI associated with emotional processing may serve as a promising neuroimaging biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify the relationship between myelin water fraction (MWF) and R1⋅R2* and to develop a method to calculate MWF directly from parameters derived from QPM, i.e., MWF converted from QPM (MWFQPM). Materials and methods: Subjects were 12 healthy volunteers. On a 3 T MR scanner, dataset was acquired using spoiled gradient-echo sequence for QPM. MWF and R1⋅R2* maps were derived from the multi-gradient-echo (mGRE) dataset. Volume-of-interest (VOI) analysis using the JHU-white matter (WM) atlas was performed. All the data in the 48 WM regions measured VOI were plotted, and quadratic polynomial approximations of each region were derived from the relationship between R1·R2* and the two-pool model-MWF. The R1·R2* map was converted to MWFQPM map. MWF atlas template was generated using converted to MWF from R1·R2* per WM region. Results: The mean MWF and R1·R2* values for the 48 WM regions were 11.96 ± 6.63%, and 19.94 ± 4.59 s−2, respectively. A non-linear relationship in 48 regions of the WM between MWF and R1·R2* values was observed by quadratic polynomial approximation (R2 ≥ 0.963, P < 0.0001). Discussion: MWFQPM map improved image quality compared to the mGRE-MWF map. Myelin water atlas template derived from MWFQPM may be generated with combined multiple WM regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People often reflect on how things end up and imagine how they could have turned out differently. The pervasive cognitive process of imagining alternative scenarios of actual events is termed counterfactual thinking (CT). Though evidence has been established linking CT and personality, little is known about the association between CT and trait anxiety and its underpinning neural substrates. This study leveraged multi-modality fMRI to address these issues. We conducted voxel-based morphometry analyses and functional connectivity analyses using a relatively large sample (n = 85) to explore the neural basis of the relationship between upward CT and trait anxiety. The behavioral data revealed a positive correlation between upward CT and trait anxiety. The VBM results found that upward CT was negatively associated with the GMV in the left precentral gyrus. Further, functional results revealed functional connectivities of the left precentral gyrus-dmPFC positively predicted upward CT. Finally, the impact of trait anxiety on upward CT was mediated by this functional connectivity. The results suggest that the somatosensory and monitoring network play vital roles in the influence of trait anxiety on upward CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in gray matter structure among individuals diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study included a cohort of 32 diabetic patients with retinopathy (DR group, n = 32) and 38 healthy adults (HC group, n = 38). Both cohorts underwent comprehensive psychological and cognitive assessments alongside structural magnetic resonance imaging. The brain's gray matter volume and morphology were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM). Partial correlation analysis was employed to investigate the associations between differences in gray matter volume (GMV) across diverse brain regions and the outcomes of cognitive psychological tests as well as clinical indicators. The VBM results revealed that, in comparison to the healthy control (HC) group, patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) exhibited reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the right fusiform gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, opercular part, and left hippocampus; conversely, an increase in GMV was observed in the right thalamus. The SBM results indicated cortical thinning in the left caudal anterior cingulate cortex, left superior frontal gyrus, left parahippocampal gyrus, and bilateral lingual gyrus in the DR group. Sulcal depth (SD) exhibited increased values in the bilateral rostral middle frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, frontal pole, left precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, lateral orbitofrontal gyrus, and right paracentral gyrus. Local gyrification indices (LGIs) decreased in the left caudal middle frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus. The fractal dimension (FD) decreased in the posterior cingulate gyrus and isthmus of the cingulate gyrus. The left hippocampal gray matter volume (GMV) in patients with diabetic retinopathy was negatively correlated with disease duration (r = -0.478, p = 0.008) and self-rating depression scale (SAS) score (r = -0.381, p = 0.038). The structural alterations in specific brain regions of individuals with DR, which may contribute to impairments in cognition, emotion, and behavior, provide valuable insights into the neurobiological basis underlying these dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado–Joseph disease, is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansion in exon 10 of ATXN3. Extra-cerebellar manifestations, including external ophthalmoplegia, dystonia, Parkinsonism, and peripheral neuropathy, are predominantly present in SCA3 cases. Here, we report a case of SCA3 presenting with a split hand and minipolymyoclonus. Case presentation A 73-year-old female patient presented with a 5-year history of ataxic gait. Neurological examination revealed cerebellar ataxia and minipolymyoclonus in the digits on both sides and muscle atrophy in the right hand, consistent with the split hand pattern. Electrodiagnostic studies demonstrated decreased amplitude of compound muscle action potentials and neurogenic motor unit potentials, indicating lower motor neuron involvement. Conclusions Our patient’s case indicated a split hand and minipolymyoclonus in SCA3. Clinicians should consider these extra-cerebellar manifestations in patients with SCA3. Although neither split hand nor minipolymyoclonus are likely to directly result in a specific etiological diagnosis, a common pathophysiological mechanism for both may be lower motor neuron involvement. This extracerebellar manifestation contributes to narrowing down the diagnostic possibilities for cases presenting with progressive cerebellar ataxia.

Depression is a heterogeneous disorder, both in terms of patient symptomatology and in patient sociodemographic factors. Here, we examine the contribution of age to this heterogeneity, by characterizing the associations of depressive symptoms with cognitive performance and brain structure across the lifespan. We analyzed data from the Cambridge Centre for Aging Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) cohort (N = 2591, age 18–99). A subset of this cohort (N = 647) underwent structural MRI. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Cognitive assessments were performed using The Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised. Generalized linear models were employed to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive performance. Statistical parametric mapping explored age-dependent associations between depressive symptoms and grey matter volume. Cognitive performance was associated with a significant age by depression by cognitive domain interaction, indicating that older individuals with more depressive symptoms had a lower cognitive performance, particularly in the fluency domain. Structural MRI revealed preferential depression-related reduction in grey matter volume in the left and right hippocampi in older adults. By contrast, in younger adults, depressive symptoms were more strongly associated with grey matter volume reduction in the left superior frontal gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus. Collectively, these findings indicate that the associations of depression with cognitive performance and brain structure are age-dependent, suggesting that the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying depression may differ between young and older adults. Recognizing these differences will support the development of better diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions for depression across the lifespan. • Older individuals with more depressive symptoms have a lower cognitive performance. • This effect is significantly stronger for fluency domain. • Depressive symptoms are associated with different brain regions across the lifespan. • Depressive symptoms in older adults are associated with reduced hippocampal volume. • Depressive symptoms in young adults are associated with reduced frontal volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder currently diagnosed based on clinical features only, and characterized by a compulsive urge to move the legs triggered by rest or diminished arousal. This systematic review aimed at integrating all current brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities for a convergent pathophysiological understanding of RLS phenomenology. We performed a MEDLINE (PubMed)-based systematic review for research articles in patients with primary RLS published in English from 2010 till November 2023. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria were systematically assessed for quality using modality-specific checklists, bias using AXIS tool and a narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. A total of 49 studies (22 structural, 12 DTI, 7 iron-imaging, 4 spectroscopy with 10 datasets combining multiple approaches) involving 1273 patients (414 males) and 1333 healthy controls (478 males) met the eligibility criteria. Despite participant, technical/device-related and statistical heterogeneity, most agree that patients with primary RLS have structural and metabolite alterations, changes in multiple white matter tract architectures, and disrupted functional connectivity within multiple brain areas. Most of the studies (n = 43, 88 %) have a low-risk of bias on the AXIS scale. Scores on the modality-specific checklist ranged from 46 to 92 %, 70–93 % and 54–92 % for structural MRI, DTI and MRS Datasets, respectively. Notwithstanding the large heterogeneity in the methods employed, global connectivity alterations suggest the utility of casting RLS within a system-level perspective rather than viewing it as related to the dysfunction of a single or particular brain region. A holistic approach and its integration within the framework of molecular vulnerability and neurotransmitter alterations are warranted to disentangle the complex pathophysiology of RLS and to identify new therapeutic targets. • This paper systematically reviewed all studies on different brain MRI modalities in RLS. • Changes in white matter tract and functional connectivity within different areas in RLS. • RLS as a system-level network disorder rather than a deficit of single brain regions. • The limited number of studies and their heterogeneity prevent definitive conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qingyang Yu,1,2 Yuanyuan Cui,1 Shuwen Dong,1 Yanqing Ma,1 Yi Xiao,1 Li Fan,1 Shiyuan Liu1 1Department of Radiology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurosurgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shiyuan Liu, Department of Radiology, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai, 200003, People’s Republic of China, Fax +86 2181886012, Email radiology_cz@163.comObjective: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a clinical neurosurgical disease, which brain structural alterations caused by HFS remain a topic of debate. We evaluated changes in brain microstructure associated with HFS and observed their relevance to clinical characteristics.Methods: We enrolled 72 participants. T1-weighted structural and diffusion tensor images were collected from all participants using 3.0T magnetic resonance equipment. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to identify changes in gray matter volume (GMV) and disruptions in white matter (WM) integrity. The severity of the spasms was graded using the Cohn scale.Results: VBM analysis revealed that the GMV was significantly reduced in the left Thalamus and increased GMV in the right Cerebellum IV-V of the HFS group. TBSS analysis showed that FA in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) of the HFS group was significantly increased. GMV in the thalamus showed a negative correlation with disease duration and Cohn grade, while FA in the left SLF had a positive correlation with both the disease duration and Cohn grade.Conclusion: We identified regions with altered GMV in HFS patients. Additionally, we determined that FA in the left SLF might serve as a significant neural indicator of HFS.Keywords: hemifacial spasm, voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, tract-based spatial statistics, Cohn grading

Abstract In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reports on the association between false recognition and brain structure have been inconsistent. In dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), no such association has been reported. This study aimed to identify brain regions associated with false recognition in AD and DLB by analyzing regional gray matter volume (rGMV). We included 184 patients with AD and 60 patients with DLB. The number of false recognitions was assessed using the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale’ word recognition task. Brain regions associated with the number of false recognitions were examined by voxel-based morphometry analysis. The number of false recognitions significantly negatively correlated with rGMV in the bilateral hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral amygdala, and bilateral entorhinal cortex in patients with AD (p < 0.05, family-wise error [FEW] corrected) and in the bilateral hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, right basal forebrain, right insula, left medial and lateral orbital gyri, and left fusiform in those with DLB (p < 0.05, FWE corrected). Bilateral hippocampus and left parahippocampal gyrus were associated with false recognition in both diseases. However, we found there were regions where the association between false recognition and rGMV differed from disease to disease.

Introduction: Although the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is higher in older people compared to younger people, dementia has also been documented in younger adults. Although early-onset dementia and late-onset dementia had been considered a single disease in pathological investigations, many studies revealed differences in cognitive and neuroimaging changes between them. We evaluated differences in cognitive and neuroimaging changes among the following groups: individuals with early-onset AD (EOAD), late-onset AD (LOAD), early-onset mild cognitive impairment (EOMCI), or late-onset MCI (LOMCI), and healthy controls (HCs). Methods: Patients underwent both a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scan and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Differences in regional gray matter volumes and MMSE subscales were investigated among the five diagnostic groups. Results: Compared to the EOAD group, the LOAD group had significantly higher scores on orientation in place. Compared to the LOMCI patients, the EOMCI patients achieved significantly higher recall scores. The LOAD and LOMC groups showed significant volume reductions in bilateral medial temporal regions compared to the HCs. The EOAD and EOMCI groups did not show significant atrophy of the medial temporal region compared to the HC group. Conclusions: The hippocampal volume and memory were preserved in the patients with EOMCI or EOAD compared to those with LOMCI or LOAD. These findings may indicate that the distinct and differing patterns of neuropsychological changes between EOAD and LOAD are also common in MCI, which is intermediate between normal cognition and AD.

Abstract Due to extensive connectivity of the parietal lobe, non‐lesional drug‐resistant (DRE) parietal lobe epilepsies (PLEs) are difficult to localize and often imitate other epilepsies. Therefore, patients with PLEs have low rates of seizure freedom following epilepsy surgery. Previous studies have highlighted the need to combine EEG and semiology for more accurate localization of PLEs. As sophisticated tools for localization become more available, the use of multiple different neuroimaging and neurophysiologic diagnostic tests may more readily identify PLE. We hereby report a unique case of a complex localization in a non‐lesional PLE, which was initially falsely localized to frontal lobe. This case underscores the utility of voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) in identifying an epileptogenic lesion on a non‐lesional MRI and the significance of multimodality approach including PET, magnetoencephalopathy (MEG), interictal and ictal EEG, semiology and cortical stimulation for accurate localization of PLEs. Understanding epilepsy through multimodality approach in this fashion can help with accurate localization especially in difficulty to localize and deceptive non‐lesional PLEs. Plain Language Summary Parietal lobe epilepsies are hard to pinpoint in the brain and can mimic other types of epilepsy, especially when brain MRIs appear normal. As sophisticated tools for locating epilepsies in the brain become more available, using multiple diagnostic tests may help identify parietal lobe epilepsies more easily. We describe a unique case of a parietal lobe epilepsy patient with normal brain MRI whose epilepsy was initially misidentified as being in the frontal lobe. Using various advanced diagnostic tests, we accurately found the epilepsy's true location in the parietal lobe and successfully treated the patient with surgery.

Introduction: Working memory (WM) as one of the executive functions is an essential neurocognitive ability for daily life. Findings have suggested that aging is often associated with working memory and neural decline, but the brain structures and resting-state brain networks that mediate age-related differences in WM remain unclear. Methods: A sample consisting of 252 healthy participants in the age range of 20 to 70years was used. Several cognitive tasks, including the n-back task and the forward and backward digit span tests were used. Also, resting-state functional imaging, as well as structural imaging using a 3T MRI scanner, were performed, resulting in 85 gray matter volumes and five resting-state networks, namely the anterior and posterior default mode, the right and left executive control, and the salience networks. Also, mediation analyses were used to investigate the role of gray matter volumes and resting-state networks in the relationship between age and WM. Results: Behaviorally, aging was associated with decreased performance in the digit span task. Also, aging was associated with a decreased gray matter volume in 80 brain regions, and with a decreased activity in the anterior default mode network, executive control, and salience networks. Importantly, the path analysis showed that the GMV of the medial orbitofrontal, precentral, parieto-occipital, amygdala, middle occipital, posterior cingulate, and thalamus areas mediated the age-related differences in the forward digit span task, and the GMV of superior temporal gyrus mediated the age-related differences in the backward digit span task. Discussion: This study identified the brain structures mediating the relationship between age and working memory, and we hope that our research provides an opportunity for early detection of individuals at risk of age-related memory decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), reports on the association between false recognition and brain structure have been inconsistent. In dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), no such association has been reported. This study aimed to identify brain regions associated with false recognition in AD and DLB by analyzing regional gray matter volume (rGMV). We included 184 patients with AD and 60 patients with DLB. The number of false recognitions was assessed using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale' word recognition task. Brain regions associated with the number of false recognitions were examined by voxel-based morphometry analysis. The number of false recognitions significantly negatively correlated with rGMV in the bilateral hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral amygdala, and bilateral entorhinal cortex in patients with AD (p < 0.05, family-wise error [FEW] corrected) and in the bilateral hippocampus, left parahippocampal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, right basal forebrain, right insula, left medial and lateral orbital gyri, and left fusiform in those with DLB (p < 0.05, FWE corrected). Bilateral hippocampus and left parahippocampal gyrus were associated with false recognition in both diseases. However, we found there were regions where the association between false recognition and rGMV differed from disease to disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) is a condition impairing limb function caused by birth injury. In 20 to 30% of cases, severe OBPP can cause life constraints in feeding, grooming, and clothing tasks. Objective: The present study, using voxel- and surface-based morphometry (VBM and SBM), examined the brain structure of pediatric OBPP patients to better understand the effects of this peripheral motor deficit on early brain development. Methods: Thirty-six T1-weighted images of 18 patients (2-17 years old, mean age = 11.3, 8 females) and 18 healthy controls (2-17 years old, mean age = 10.1, 8 females) were collected for this study. MRI data were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 (SPM12) toolbox. The custom pediatric tissue probability map was created with the CerebroMatic (COM) toolbox. The results were considered significant if they survived whole-brain family-wise error correction (P <.05). Results: We have found differences in grey matter volumes in the bilateral anterior hippocampus (left P <.001 and right P =.01) and left cerebellum exterior (Crus I) (P <.001). We have also found differences in cortical thickness in the bilateral parahippocampal gyri (left P =.001 and right P =.005) and right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) (P <.001). Conclusions: These structural differences might be linked to the altered environmental adaptation that children with OBPP face due to their primary motor deficit. Our findings hint at a complex interplay between motor capabilities, brain structure development, and cognitive functions. However, more research combining neuroimaging, behavioral, cognitive, and clinical data is needed to support stronger conclusions on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prematurity has been related to altered brain structure and cognition, and so our aim was to describe them in the absence of major structural brain injury following low-risk preterm birth during adolescence and young adulthood. The sample consisted of 250 participants, 132 of whom were low-risk preterm (30–36 weeks' gestational age) and 118 were full-term individuals (37–42 weeks' gestational age), aged between 16 and 38 years old. All participants underwent an extensive neuropsychological assessment. T1- and diffusion-weighted MRI images of 33 low-risk preterm and 31 full-term young adults (20–32 years old) were analyzed. No differences were found in terms of general cognitive functioning score or current socioeconomic status; however, the low-risk preterm group obtained lower scores in phonetic and semantic fluencies, and theory of mind. Significant reductions were identified in the thalamus volume as well as thicker cortex in the inferior temporal gyrus in the low-risk preterm group. Low-risk preterm young adults evidenced greater regional AD and MD compared to the full-term sample; while low-risk preterm group showed lower mean NDI and ODI (FWE-corrected, p < 0.05). Being born preterm is associated with poorer performance in various cognitive domains (i.e., phonetic and semantic fluencies, and theory of mind) later in life, along with differences in normative structural brain development in inferior temporal gyrus and regional white matter microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Most infants born as small for gestational age (SGA) demonstrate catch up growth by 2–4  years, but some fail to do so. This failure is associated with several health risks, including neuropsychological development issues. However, data on the morphological characteristics of the brains of infants born as SGA without achieving catch up growth are lacking. This study aims to determine the structural aspects of the brains of children born as SGA without catch up growth. Methods: We conducted voxel- and surface-based morphometric analyses of 1.5-T  T1-weighted brain images scanned from eight infants born as SGA who could not achieve catch up growth by 3  years and sixteen individuals with idiopathic short stature (ISS) to exclude body size effects. Growth hormone (GH) secretion stimulation tests were used to rule out GH deficiency in all SGA and ISS cases. The magnetic resonance imaging data were assessed using Levene’s test for equality of variances and a two-tailed unpaired t-test for equality of means. The Benjamini–Hochberg procedure was used to apply discovery rate correction for multiple comparisons. Results: Morphometric analyses of both t-statical map and surface-based analyses using general linear multiple analysis determined decreased left insula thickness and volume in SGA without catch up growth compared with ISS. Conclusion: The brain scans of patients with SGA who lack catch up growth indicated distinct morphological disparities when compared to those with ISS. The discernible features of brain morphology observed in patients born as SGA without catch up growth may improve understanding of the association of SGA without catch up growth with both intellectual and psychological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a compilation of references to various scientific articles and studies related to the cerebellum and its role in various neurological conditions and cognitive processes. The articles cover topics such as the development of the cerebellum, its involvement in autism spectrum disorder and dementia, and the impact of cerebellar dysfunction on cognitive function. The references provide a starting point for library patrons conducting research on these specific topics and offer a diverse range of perspectives on the subject matter. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Previous studies based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) have demonstrated significant abnormalities in brain structure and resting-state functional brain activity in patients with early-onset schizophrenia (EOS), compared with healthy controls (HCs), and these alterations were closely related to the pathogenesis of EOS. However, previous studies suffer from the limitations of small sample sizes and high heterogeneity of results. Therefore, the present study aimed to effectively integrate previous studies to identify common and specific brain functional and structural abnormalities in patients with EOS. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang databases were systematically searched to identify publications on abnormalities in resting-state regional functional brain activity and gray matter volume (GMV) in patients with EOS. Then, we utilized the Seed-based d Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images (SDM-PSI) software to conduct a whole-brain voxel meta-analysis of VBM and rs-fMRI studies, respectively, and followed by multimodal overlapping on this basis to comprehensively identify brain structural and functional abnormalities in patients with EOS. Results: A total of 27 original studies (28 datasets) were included in the present meta-analysis, including 12 studies (13 datasets) related to resting-state functional brain activity (496 EOS patients, 395 HCs) and 15 studies (15 datasets) related to GMV (458 EOS patients, 531 HCs). Overall, in the functional meta-analysis, patients with EOS showed significantly increased resting-state functional brain activity in the left middle frontal gyrus (extending to the triangular part of the left inferior frontal gyrus) and the right caudate nucleus. On the other hand, in the structural meta-analysis, patients with EOS showed significantly decreased GMV in the right superior temporal gyrus (extending to the right rolandic operculum), the right middle temporal gyrus, and the temporal pole (superior temporal gyrus). Conclusion: This meta-analysis revealed that some regions in the EOS exhibited significant structural or functional abnormalities, such as the temporal gyri, prefrontal cortex, and striatum. These findings may help deepen our understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of EOS and provide potential biomarkers for the diagnosis or treatment of EOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between structural changes in the cerebral gray matter and diminished balance control performance in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) has remained unclear. This paper aimed to assess the difference in gray matter volume (GMV) between participants with CAI and healthy controls (HC) and to characterize the role of GMV in the relationship between disease duration and balance performance in CAI. 42 participants with CAI and 33 HC completed the structural brain MRI scans, one‐legged standing test, and Y‐balance test. Regional GMV was measured by applying voxel‐based morphometry methods. The result showed that, compared with HC, participants with CAI exhibited lower GMV in multiple brain regions (familywise error [FWE] corrected p < 0.021). Within CAI only, but not in HC, lower GMV in the thalamus (β = −0.53, p = 0.003) and hippocampus (β = −0.57, p = 0.001) was associated with faster sway velocity of the center of pressure (CoP) in eyes closed condition (i.e., worse balance control performance). The GMV in the thalamus (percentage mediated [PM] = 32.02%; indirect effect β = 0.119, 95% CI = 0.003 to 0.282) and hippocampus (PM = 33.71%; indirect effect β = 0.122, 95% CI = 0.005 to 0.278) significantly mediated the association between the disease duration and balance performance. These findings suggest that the structural characteristics of the supraspinal elements is critical to the maintenance of balance control performance in individuals suffering from CAI, which deserve careful consideration in the management and rehabilitation programs in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may begin developing years or even decades prior to the manifestation of its first symptoms. The APOE ε4 genotype is a prominent genetic risk for AD that has been found to be associated with brain changes across the lifespan since early adulthood. Thus, studying brain changes that may occur in young adults with an APOE ε4 status is highly relevant. Objective: Examine potential differences in grey matter (GM) and functional connectivity (FC) in brains of cognitively healthy young APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers, denoted here as ε4(+) and ε4(−), respectively. Methods: Three Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans were acquired from cognitively healthy young participants aged approximately 20 years (n = 151). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was employed to identify potential structural differences in GM between ε4(+) and ε4(−). In a subsequent seed-based connectivity (SBC) analysis, brain regions that structurally differed in the VBM analysis were considered as seeds and correlated with all the remaining voxels across the brains to then measure the differences in FC between groups. Results: The VBM analysis suggested that ε4(+) (n = 28) had greater GM densities relative to ε4(−) (n = 123) in the left hippocampus and the left posterior insula (puncorr < 0.001). However, the effect did not survive the correction for multiple comparisons, suggesting minimal structural differences in this age range. In contrast, the SBC analysis indicated that ε4(+) exhibited significantly decreased FC between the left hippocampus and areas of the left middle temporal gyrus (n = 27) compared to ε4(−) (n = 102). These results remained significant after multiple comparisons (pFDR < 0.05). Lastly, no statistically significant differences in FC between groups were observed for the left insular seed (pFDR > 0.05). Discussion: These results suggest early structural and functional brain changes associated with the APOE ε4 genotype on young adults. Yet, they must be cautiously interpreted and contrasted with both older adults with genetic risk for AD and patients diagnosed with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), considered as the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease, is characterized by isolated memory impairment and cerebral gray matter volume (GMV) alterations. Previous structural MRI studies in aMCI have been mainly based on univariate statistics using voxel-based morphometry. Objective: We investigated structural network differences between aMCI patients and cognitively normal older adults by using source-based morphometry, a multivariate approach that considers the relationship between voxels of various parts of the brain. Methods: Ninety-one aMCI patients and 80 cognitively normal controls underwent structural MRI and neuropsychological assessment. Spatially independent components (ICs) that covaried between participants were estimated and a multivariate analysis of covariance was performed with ICs as dependent variables, diagnosis as independent variable, and age, sex, education level, and site as covariates. Results: aMCI patients exhibited reduced GMV in the precentral, temporo-cerebellar, frontal, and temporal network, and increased GMV in the left superior parietal network compared to controls (pFWER < 0.05, Holm-Bonferroni correction). Moreover, we found that diagnosis, more specifically aMCI, moderated the positive relationship between occipital network and Mini-Mental State Examination scores (pFWER < 0.05, Holm-Bonferroni correction). Conclusions: Our results showed GMV alterations in temporo-fronto-parieto-cerebellar networks in aMCI, extending previous results obtained with univariate approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The development of minimally invasive endoscopic neurosurgery has enabled widespread application of endoscopic surgery via the ipsilateral transfrontal approach for putaminal hematoma evacuation. However, this approach is unsuitable for putaminal hematomas that extend into the temporal lobe. We adopted the endoscopic trans-middle temporal gyrus approach, instead of the conventional surgical approach, for the management of these complicated cases and determined its safety and feasibility. Methods Twenty patients with putaminal hemorrhage underwent surgical treatment at the Shinshu University Hospital between January 2016 and May 2021. Of these, two patients with left putaminal hemorrhage that extended into the temporal lobe underwent surgical treatment using the endoscopic trans-middle temporal gyrus approach. The procedure entailed the use of a thinner transparent sheath to reduce the technique's invasiveness, a navigation system to determine the location of the middle temporal gyrus and the sheath's trajectory, and an endoscope with a 4K camera for higher image quality and utility. The sylvian fissure was compressed superiorly using our novel "port retraction technique" (i.e., by tilting the transparent sheath superiorly) to avoid damage to the middle cerebral artery and Wernicke's area. Results The endoscopic trans-middle temporal gyrus approach allowed sufficient hematoma evacuation and hemostasis under endoscopic observation without any surgical complexities or complications. The postoperative course was uneventful in both patients. Conclusion The endoscopic trans-middle temporal gyrus approach for putaminal hematoma evacuation helps avoid damage to normal brain tissue, which could result from the wide range of motion of the conventional technique, particularly when the hemorrhage extends to the temporal lobe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Potential brain structural differences in people with obesity (PwO) who achieve over or less than 50% excess weight loss (EWL) after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are currently unknown. We compared measures of gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter (WM) microstructural integrity of PwO who achieved over or less than 50% EWL after SG with a group of controls with obesity (CwO) without a past history of metabolic bariatric surgery. Methods: Sixty-two PwO underwent 1.5 T MRI scanning: 24 who achieved more than 50% of EWL after SG ("group a"), 18 who achieved less than 50% EWL after SG ("group b"), and 20 CwO ("group c"). Voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial Statistics analyses were performed to investigate GMV and WM differences among groups. Multiple regression analyses were performed to investigate relationships between structural and psychological measures. Results: Group a demonstrated significantly lower GMV loss and higher WM microstructural integrity with respect to group b and c in some cortical regions and several WM tracts. Positive correlations were observed in group a between WM integrity and several psychological measures; the lower the WM integrity, the higher the mental distress, emotional dysregulation, and binge eating behavior. Conclusion: The present results gain a new understanding of the neural mechanisms of outcome in patients who undergo SG. We found limited GMV changes and extensive WM microstructural differences between PwO who achieved over or less than 50% EWL after SG, which may be due to higher vulnerability of WM to the metabolic dysfunction present in PwO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Soybean is a rich source of bioactive components with good nutritional support and is easily available. In the treatment of cancer, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from plant-based samples has gained attentions due to its potency and feasibility. In the present study, using soybean extracts (GM), silver nanoparticles are synthesized and analyzed for their anticancer potency. Methods: The synthesized GM-AgNPs were characterized via UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques for further analysis. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the disc method and anti-hemolysis activity using the in vitro method, followed by anticancer property evaluation by cytotoxicity, cell migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Results and discussion: Our results showed that the synthesized GM-AgNPs were spiral-shaped with a size range of 5-50 nm. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the maximum zone of inhibition at 250 ^ig/mL in comparison with gentamicin. On exploring the anti-hemolysis efficiency, at 200 pg/mL, GM-AgNPs showed no hemolysis in comparison to the extract which showed 40% hemolysis. On analysis of GM-AgNPs against the breast cancer cell line, the nanoparticles displayed the IC50 value of 74.04 pg/mL. Furthermore, at the IC50 concentration, cancer cell migration was reduced. The mechanism of action of GM-AgNPs confirmed the initiation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the sub-G0/G1 (growth phase) phase by 48.19%. In gene expression and protein expression analyses, Bax and Bcl-2 were altered to those of normal physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LSD is a hallucinogen with complex neurobiological and behavioral effects. Underlying these effects are changes in brain neuroplasticity. This is the first study to follow the developmental changes in brain structure and function following LSD exposure in periadolescence. We hypothesized LSD given during a time of heightened neuroplasticity, particularly in the forebrain, would affect cognitive and emotional behavior and the associated underlying neuroanatomy and neurocircuitry. Female and male mice were given vehicle, single or multiple treatments of 3.3 µg of LSD by oral gavage starting on postnatal day 51. Between postnatal days 90–120 mice were imaged and tested for cognitive and motor behavior. MRI data from voxel-based morphometry, diffusion weighted imaging, and BOLD resting state functional connectivity were registered to a mouse 3D MRI atlas with 139 brain regions providing site-specific differences in global brain structure and functional connectivity between experimental groups. Motor behavior and cognitive performance were unaffected by periadolescent exposure to LSD. Differences across experimental groups in brain volume for any of the 139 brain areas were few in number and not focused on any specific brain region. Multiple exposures to LSD significantly altered gray matter microarchitecture across much of the brain. These changes were primary associated with the thalamus, sensory and motor cortices, and basal ganglia. The forebrain olfactory system and prefrontal cortex and hindbrain cerebellum and brainstem were unaffected. The functional connectivity between forebrain white matter tracts and sensorimotor cortices and hippocampus was reduced with multidose LSD exposure. Does exposure to LSD in late adolescence have lasting effects on brain development? The bulk of our significant findings were seen through changes is DWI values across 74 brain areas in the multi-dose LSD group. The pronounced changes in indices of anisotropy across much of the brain would suggest altered gray matter microarchitecture and neuroplasticity. There was no evidence of LSD having consequential effects on cognitive or motor behavior when animal were evaluated as young adults 90–120 days of age. Neither were there any differences in the volume of specific brain areas between experimental conditions. The reduction in connectivity in forebrain white matter tracts with multidose LSD and consolidation around sensorimotor and hippocampal brain areas requires a battery of tests to understand the consequences of these changes on behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]