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Frontiers in Neuroscience 2022Gray matter volume (GMV) alteration in specific brain regions has been widely regarded as one of the most important neuroplasticity features in chronic pain patients...
BACKGROUND
Gray matter volume (GMV) alteration in specific brain regions has been widely regarded as one of the most important neuroplasticity features in chronic pain patients with depressive symptoms (CP-D). However, the consistent and significant results were still lacking. Thus, further exploration was suggested to be performed.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to comprehensively collect the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies on GMV alteration between CP-D and healthy controls (HCs). And a systemic review and meta-analysis were made to explore the characteristic brain regions in chronic pain and depression comorbidity.
METHODS
Search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases updated to July 13, 2021. The altered GMV between CP-D and HCs in VBM studies was included in this meta-analysis. In total, 18 studies (20 datasets) and 1320 participants (520 patients and 800 HCs) were included. The significant coordinate information (, , ) reported in standard space and the effect size (value or -score) were extracted and analyzed by anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) 5.15 software.
RESULTS
According to the main analysis results, CP-D showed significant and consistent increased GMV in the left hippocampus (HIP. L) and decreased GMV in the medial part of the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG. L, BA 10) compared to HCs. Subgroup analysis showed significant decreased GMV in the medial orbital part of SFG.R (BA 10) in neuropathic pain, as well as significant increased GMV in the right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG.R, BA 35), left hippocampus (HIP.L, BA 20), and right middle frontal gyrus (MFG.R) in musculoskeletal pain. Furthermore, meta-regression showed a positive relationship between the decreased GMV in the medial part of SFG.L and the percentage of female patients.
CONCLUSION
GMV abnormality in specific brain areas (e.g., HIP.L and SFG) was robust and reproducible, which could be significantly involved in this comorbidity disease. The findings in this study may be a valuable reference for future research.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
[www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/].
PubMed: 35733934
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.826759 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2022With advancing age, individuals experience a gradual decline in recollection, the ability to retrieve personal experiences accompanied by details, such as temporal and...
With advancing age, individuals experience a gradual decline in recollection, the ability to retrieve personal experiences accompanied by details, such as temporal and spatial contextual information. Numerous studies have identified several brain regions that exhibit age-related activation differences during recollection tasks. More recently, an increasing number of studies have provided evidence regarding how brain connectivity among the regions supporting recollection contributes to the explanation of recollection deficits in aging. However, brain connectivity evidence has not been examined jointly to provide an integrative view of how these new findings have improved our knowledge of the neurofunctional changes underlying the recollection deficits associated with aging. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that employed one of the numerous methods available for analyzing brain connectivity in older adults. Only studies that applied connectivity analysis to data recorded during episodic recollection tasks, either during encoding or retrieval, were assessed. First, the different brain connectivity analysis methods and the information conveyed were briefly described. Then, the brain connectivity findings from the different studies were described and discussed to provide an integrative point of view of how these findings explain the decline in recollection associated with aging. The studies reviewed provide evidence that the hippocampus consistently decreased its connectivity with the parahippocampal gyrus and the posterior cingulate cortex, essential regions of the recollection network, in older adults relative to young adults. In addition, older adults exhibited increased connectivity between the hippocampus and several widespread regions compared to young adults. The increased connectivity was interpreted as brain intensification recourse to overcome recollection decay. Additionally, suggestions for future research in the field are outlined.
PubMed: 36389073
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1012870 -
Asian Journal of Psychiatry Apr 2019Hoarding is a disorder characterized by excessive acquisition and persistent difficulty in discarding possessions. The behaviour has adverse emotional, physical, social,...
BACKGROUND
Hoarding is a disorder characterized by excessive acquisition and persistent difficulty in discarding possessions. The behaviour has adverse emotional, physical, social, financial, and legal outcomes for the person with the disorder and family members, and might pose a significant public health problem. Hoarding has been included as a distinct disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth edition (DSM-5). The prevalence of hoarding disorder is approximately 2-6% globally. The current state of the evidence does not offer clear understanding of the causes of hoarding behaviours. A systematic review of the extant literature was carried out to determine the possible causal factors of hoarding behaviours.
METHODS
This review is conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. The following electronic databases: Medline through Ovid, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched for relevant articles published between January 2000 and November 2018. Only articles published in English language were included. Two reviewers independently scrutinized the studies and included them in this review.
RESULTS
Our search strategy returned a total of 396 references. Preliminary findings suggest that individuals with hoarding behaviours may have a genetic susceptibility; abnormal neural activity in the fronto-temporal, para-hippocampal gyrus and insular parts of the brain has also been identified. Traumatic life experiences have also been posited to predispose individuals to hoard.
CONCLUSION
Although the understanding of hoarding disorder hasgrown in recent years, greater efforts are still needed to clarify the etiology and mechanisms of hoarding disorder as these may help in planning of more holistic interventions to treat the problem.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Female; Hoarding Disorder; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Young Adult
PubMed: 31003207
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.04.001 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2021Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional state between normal aging and dementia disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). The disruption of the...
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional state between normal aging and dementia disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD). The disruption of the default mode network (DMN) is often considered to be a potential biomarker for the progression from MCI to AD. The purpose of this study was to assess MRI-specific changes of DMN in MCI patients by elucidating the convergence of brain regions with abnormal DMN function. We systematically searched PubMed, Ovid, and Web of science for relevant articles. We identified neuroimaging studies by using amplitude of low frequency fluctuation /fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF/fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC) in MCI patients. Based on the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) algorithm, we carried out connectivity modeling of coordination-based meta-analysis and functional meta-analysis. In total, this meta-analysis includes 39 articles on functional neuroimaging studies. Using computer software analysis, we discovered that DMN changes in patients with MCI mainly occur in bilateral inferior frontal lobe, right medial frontal lobe, left inferior parietal lobe, bilateral precuneus, bilateral temporal lobe, and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG). Herein, we confirmed the presence of DMN-specific damage in MCI, which is helpful in revealing pathology of MCI and further explore mechanisms of conversion from MCI to AD. Therefore, we provide a new specific target and direction for delaying conversion from MCI to AD.
PubMed: 34675797
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.708687 -
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology &... Aug 2021Schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depression disorder (MDD) have been regarded as highly diverged independent entities in current psychiatric... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depression disorder (MDD) have been regarded as highly diverged independent entities in current psychiatric diagnosis. However, ample new evidence suggests that they may have common biological traits. Neuroimaging studies showed that psychiatric disorders might associated with altered grey matter (GM) asymmetry compared to controls; however, the degree to which SZ, BD and MDD have common and/or distinct asymmetrical alterations in GM is still ambiguous. In this study, we analysed 169 voxel-based studies (including 3517 SZ patients, 1575 BD patients, 3280 MDD patients and 9733 controls) using activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis to systematically review the existence of similar GM atrophy and asymmetrical alteration patterns among these psychiatric disorders, and the functional association between behaviour domains and topological alterations. We found that the right parahippocampal gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus showed commonly altered GM volume across all three illnesses, but did not identify common asymmetrical alteration. The asymmetrical alteration with leftward bias appeared in SZ and bipolar disorder at different locations, but more asymmetrical alteration with rightward bias appeared in MDD. Moreover, these changes have been confirmed to be associate with several symptoms and may have roles in functional networks. Our findings support the existence of common neurobiological damnification in these psychiatric disorders and provides valuable insights for the neural commonalties among different psychiatric disorders based on a large sample size.
Topics: Bipolar Disorder; Brain; Depressive Disorder, Major; Gray Matter; Humans; Likelihood Functions; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mental Disorders; Positron-Emission Tomography; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 33838150
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110322 -
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy Jan 2018The MAPT c.1216C > T (p.Arg406Trp; R406W) mutation is a known cause of frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 tau with Alzheimer's...
BACKGROUND
The MAPT c.1216C > T (p.Arg406Trp; R406W) mutation is a known cause of frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 tau with Alzheimer's disease-like clinical features.
METHODS
We compiled clinical data from a new Swedish kindred with R406W mutation. Seven family members were followed longitudinally for up to 22 years. Radiological examinations were performed in six family members and neuropathological examinations in three. We systematically reviewed the literature and compiled clinical, radiological, and neuropathological data on 63 previously described R406W heterozygotes and 3 homozygotes.
RESULTS
For all cases combined, the median age of onset was 56 years and the median disease duration was 13 years. Memory impairment was the most frequent symptom, behavioral disturbance and language impairment were less common, and Parkinsonism was rare. Disease progression was most often slow. The most frequent clinical diagnosis was Alzheimer's disease. R406W homozygotes had an earlier age at onset and a higher frequency of behavioral symptoms and Parkinsonism than heterozygotes. In the new Swedish kindred, a consistent imaging finding was ventromedial temporal lobe atrophy, which was evident also in early disease stages as a widening of the collateral sulcus with ensuing atrophy of the parahippocampal gyrus. Unlike previously published R406W carriers, all three autopsied patients from the novel family showed neuropathological similarities with progressive supranuclear palsy, with predominant four-repeat (exon 10+) tau isoform (4R) tauopathy and neurofibrillary tangles accentuated in the basal-medial temporal lobe. Amyloid-β pathology was absent.
CONCLUSIONS
Dominance of 4R over three-repeat (exon 10-) tau isoforms contrasts with earlier reports of R406W patients and was not sufficiently explained by the presence of H1/H2 haplotypes in two of the autopsied patients. R406W patients often show a long course of disease with marked memory deficits. Both our neuropathological results and our imaging findings revealed that the ventromedial temporal lobes were extensively affected in the disease. We suggest that this area may represent the point of origin of tau deposition in this disease with relatively isolated tauopathy.
Topics: Age of Onset; Aged; Brain; Dementia; Disease Progression; Family; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation; tau Proteins
PubMed: 29370822
DOI: 10.1186/s13195-017-0330-2 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2022Prior research suggests that conscious face processing occurs preferentially in right hemisphere occipito-parietal regions. However, less is known about brain regions...
Prior research suggests that conscious face processing occurs preferentially in right hemisphere occipito-parietal regions. However, less is known about brain regions associated with non-conscious processing of faces, and whether a right-hemispheric dominance persists in line with specific affective responses. We aim to review the neural responses systematically, quantitatively, and qualitatively underlying subliminal face processing. PubMed was searched for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) publications assessing subliminal emotional face stimuli up to March 2022. Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analyses and narrative reviews were conducted on all studies that met ALE requirements. Risk of bias was assessed using the AXIS tool. In a meta-analysis of all 22 eligible studies (merging clinical and non-clinical populations, whole brain and region of interest analyses), bilateral amygdala activation was reported in the left (x = -19.2, y = 1.5, z = -17.1) in 59% of studies, and in the right (x = 24.4, y = -1.7, z = -17.4) in 68% of studies. In a second meta-analysis of non-clinical participants only ( = 18), bilateral amygdala was again reported in the left (x = -18, y = 3.9, z = -18.4) and right (x = 22.8, y = -0.9, z = -17.4) in 56% of studies for both clusters. In a final meta-analysis of whole-brain studies only (n=14), bilateral amygdala was also reported in the left (x = -20.2, y = 2.9, z = -17.2) in 64% of studies, and right (x = 24.2, y = -0.7, z = -17.8) in 71% of studies. The findings suggest that non-consciously detected emotional faces may influence amygdala activation, especially right-lateralized (a higher percentage of convergence in studies), which are integral for pre-conscious affect and long-term memory processing.
PubMed: 35924231
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.868366 -
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Sep 2011Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare multisystemic infectious disease that can involve a variety of organs namely the gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, heart and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare multisystemic infectious disease that can involve a variety of organs namely the gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, heart and nervous system. Myorhythmia is a hallmark of WD. Isolated CNS involvement is very rare.
CASE
We present a 50 year-old African-American woman with rapid cognitive decline, visual hallucinations, insomnia, dysarthria, and gait unsteadiness. She subsequently developed pendular nystagmus and gaze paresis. Serial brain MRI scans showed T2 hyperintense lesions in the left striatum and right parahippocampal gyrus. FDG-PET scan showed marked increase of glucose uptake in the left putamen. Serum and CSF PCR for Tropheryma whipplei was negative. Stereotactic biopsy of the lesion and tissue PCR was consistent with WD.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A systematic review identified 24 cases of isolated intracranial presentation of WD since 1975. Cases with systemic and extracranial manifestations were excluded.
DISCUSSION
In patients with rapidly progressive cognitive decline with negative workup for common etiologies, there should be a high index of suspicion for WD. Diagnosis of WD remains a challenge as traditional methods commonly fail to culture T. whipplei. PET scans can help in identifying areas of inflammation that can be biopsied. Our case proves that a negative serum and CSF PCR should not exclude CNS WD and a brain biopsy of the lesion with PCR assay should be performed when possible.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brain Diseases; Cognition Disorders; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Whipple Disease
PubMed: 21696776
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2011.05.029 -
Brain Imaging and Behavior Oct 2018We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to systematically determine the most consistent regions of gray matter volume (GMV) abnormality in patients of unilateral mesial... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to systematically determine the most consistent regions of gray matter volume (GMV) abnormality in patients of unilateral mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS), and to reveal the difference of GMV abnormality between the patients with left-sided and right-sided MTLE-HS. A comprehensive and systematic search was performed in PubMed for voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies of MTLE-HS. A total of 12 MTLE-HS studies, including 9 left-sided MTLE-HS (LMTLE-HS) and 8 right-sided MTLE-HS (RMTLE-HS) studies were included. The activation likelihood estimation (ALE) method was applied in our meta-analysis. Compared to the healthy controls, MTLE-HS patients showed significant GMV decrease in the parahippocampal gyrus, left pulvinar and right pyramis. For LMTLE-HS, the most consistent GMV decrease was detected in the left parahippocampal gyrus. For RMTLE-HS, the most consistent GMV decrease was found in the right parahippocampal gyrus. No shared regions of significant GMV reduction were found between LMTLE-HS and RMTLE-HS either. This meta-analysis revealed that MTLE-HS patients had significant GMV reduction even beyond the hippocampus, and the subtypes showed distinct reduction patterns. Our findings, if were further verified with larger samples, would have implications for the clinical diagnosis of MTLE-HS.
Topics: Atrophy; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe; Functional Laterality; Gray Matter; Hippocampus; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Sclerosis
PubMed: 29302917
DOI: 10.1007/s11682-017-9797-5 -
Biology of Mood & Anxiety Disorders Nov 2011Cognitive models of depression suggest that major depression is characterized by biased facial emotion processing, making facial stimuli particularly valuable for...
BACKGROUND
Cognitive models of depression suggest that major depression is characterized by biased facial emotion processing, making facial stimuli particularly valuable for neuroimaging research on the neurobiological correlates of depression. The present review provides an overview of functional neuroimaging studies on abnormal facial emotion processing in major depression. Our main objective was to describe neurobiological differences between depressed patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HCs) regarding brain responsiveness to facial expressions and, furthermore, to delineate altered neural activation patterns associated with mood-congruent processing bias and to integrate these data with recent functional connectivity results. We further discuss methodological aspects potentially explaining the heterogeneity of results.
METHODS
A Medline search was performed up to August 2011 in order to identify studies on emotional face processing in acutely depressed patients compared with HCs. A total of 25 studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed.
RESULTS
The analysis of neural activation data showed abnormalities in MDD patients in a common face processing network, pointing to mood-congruent processing bias (hyperactivation to negative and hypoactivation to positive stimuli) particularly in the amygdala, insula, parahippocampal gyrus, fusiform face area, and putamen. Furthermore, abnormal activation patterns were repeatedly found in parts of the cingulate gyrus and the orbitofrontal cortex, which are extended by investigations implementing functional connectivity analysis. However, despite several converging findings, some inconsistencies are observed, particularly in prefrontal areas, probably caused by heterogeneities in paradigms and patient samples.
CONCLUSIONS
Further studies in remitted patients and high-risk samples are required to discern whether the described abnormalities represent state or trait characteristics of depression.
PubMed: 22738433
DOI: 10.1186/2045-5380-1-10