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Donovan A, Assari S, Grella C, Shaheen M, Richter L, Friedman TC. Neuroendocrine mechanisms in the links between early life stress, affect, and youth substance use: A conceptual model for the study of sex and gender differences. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 73:101121. [PMID: 38253240 PMCID: PMC11088508 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2024.101121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) is defined as an acute or chronic stressor that negatively impacts a child's development. ELS is associated with substance use and mental health problems. This narrative literature review focuses on sex and gender differences in the effects of ELS on 1) adolescent neuroendocrine development; 2) pubertal brain maturation; and 3) development of internalizing symptoms and subsequent substance use. We posit that ELS may generate larger hormonal dysregulation in females than males during puberty, increasing internalizing symptoms and substance use. Future research should consider sex and gender differences in neuroendocrine developmental processes when studying the link between ELS and negative health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Donovan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Shervin Assari
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA; Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Christine Grella
- Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 10911 Weyburn Ave, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90024-2886, USA.
| | - Magda Shaheen
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
| | - Linda Richter
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA; Partnership to End Addiction, 711 Third Ave, 5(th) Floor, Suite 500, New York City, NY 10017, USA.
| | - Theodore C Friedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
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Gottschewsky N, Kraft D, Kaufmann T. Menarche, pubertal timing and the brain: female-specific patterns of brain maturation beyond age-related development. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:25. [PMID: 38532493 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00604-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Puberty depicts a period of profound and multifactorial changes ranging from social to biological factors. While brain development in youths has been studied mostly from an age perspective, recent evidence suggests that pubertal measures may be more sensitive to study adolescent neurodevelopment, however, studies on pubertal timing in relation to brain development are still scarce. METHODS We investigated if pre- vs. post-menarche status can be classified using machine learning on cortical and subcortical structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from strictly age-matched adolescent females from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) cohort. For comparison of the identified menarche-related patterns to age-related patterns of neurodevelopment, we trained a brain age prediction model on data from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort and applied it to the same ABCD data, yielding differences between predicted and chronological age referred to as brain age gaps. We tested the sensitivity of both these frameworks to measures of pubertal maturation, specifically age at menarche and puberty status. RESULTS The machine learning model achieved moderate but statistically significant accuracy in the menarche classification task, yielding for each subject a class probability ranging from 0 (pre-) to 1 (post- menarche). Comparison to brain age predictions revealed shared and distinct patterns of neurodevelopment captured by both approaches. Continuous menarche class probabilities were positively associated with brain age gaps, but only the menarche class probabilities-not the brain age gaps-were associated with age at menarche. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the use of a machine learning model to classify menarche status from structural MRI data while accounting for age-related neurodevelopment. Given its sensitivity towards measures of puberty timing, our work suggests that menarche class probabilities may be developed toward an objective brain-based marker of pubertal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Gottschewsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Max Planck School of Cognition, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Dominik Kraft
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Kaufmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Centre for Precision Psychiatry, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Nishat E, Scratch SE, Ameis SH, Wheeler AL. Disrupted Maturation of White Matter Microstructure After Concussion Is Associated With Internalizing Behavior Scores in Female Children. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)00031-3. [PMID: 38237797 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some children who experience concussions, particularly females, develop long-lasting emotional and behavioral problems. Establishing the potential contribution of preexisting behavioral problems and disrupted white matter maturation has been challenging due to a lack of preinjury data. METHODS From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort, 239 (90 female) children age 12.1 ± 0.6 years who experienced a concussion after study entry at 10.0 ± 0.6 years were compared to 6438 (3245 female) children without head injuries who were age 9.9 ± 0.6 years at baseline and 12.0 ± 0.6 years at follow-up. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess internalizing and externalizing behavior at study entry and follow-up. In the children with magnetic resonance imaging data available (concussion n = 134, comparison n = 3520), deep and superficial white matter was characterized by neurite density from restriction spectrum image modeling of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. Longitudinal ComBat harmonization removed scanner effects. Linear regressions modeled 1) behavior problems at follow-up controlling for baseline behavior, 2) impact of concussion on white matter maturation, and 3) contribution of deviations in white matter maturation to postconcussion behavior problems. RESULTS Only female children with concussion had higher internalizing behavior problem scores. The youngest children with concussion showed less change in superficial white matter neurite density over 2 years than children with no concussion. In females with concussion, less change in superficial white matter neurite density was correlated with increased internalizing behavior problem scores. CONCLUSIONS Concussions in female children are associated with emotional problems beyond preinjury levels. Injury to superficial white matter may contribute to persistent internalizing behavior problems in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Nishat
- Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shannon E Scratch
- Department of Paediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephanie H Ameis
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Cundill Centre for Child and Youth Depression, Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne L Wheeler
- Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Beck D, Ferschmann L, MacSweeney N, Norbom LB, Wiker T, Aksnes E, Karl V, Dégeilh F, Holm M, Mills KL, Andreassen OA, Agartz I, Westlye LT, von Soest T, Tamnes CK. Puberty differentially predicts brain maturation in male and female youth: A longitudinal ABCD Study. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 61:101261. [PMID: 37295068 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Research has demonstrated associations between pubertal development and brain maturation. However, existing studies have been limited by small samples, cross-sectional designs, and inconclusive findings regarding directionality of effects and sex differences. We examined the longitudinal temporal coupling of puberty status assessed using the Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based grey and white matter brain structure. Our sample consisted of 8896 children and adolescents at baseline (mean age = 9.9) and 6099 at follow-up (mean age = 11.9) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study cohort. Applying multigroup Bivariate Latent Change Score (BLCS) models, we found that baseline PDS predicted the rate of change in cortical thickness among females and rate of change in cortical surface area for both males and females. We also found a correlation between baseline PDS and surface area and co-occurring changes over time in males. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analyses revealed correlated change between PDS and fractional anisotropy (FA) for both males and females, but no significant associations for mean diffusivity (MD). Our results suggest that pubertal status predicts cortical maturation, and that the strength of the associations differ between sex. Further research spanning the entire duration of puberty is needed to understand the extent and contribution of pubertal development on the youth brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dani Beck
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.
| | - Lia Ferschmann
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Niamh MacSweeney
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Linn B Norbom
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Thea Wiker
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Eira Aksnes
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Valerie Karl
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Fanny Dégeilh
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, Inria, Inserm, IRISA UMR 6074, EMPENN - ERL U 1228, Rennes, France
| | - Madelene Holm
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Kathryn L Mills
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars T Westlye
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Tilmann von Soest
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Christian K Tamnes
- Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
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The role of brain structure in the association between pubertal timing and depression risk in an early adolescent sample (the ABCD Study®): A registered report. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 60:101223. [PMID: 36870214 PMCID: PMC10009199 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Earlier pubertal timing is associated with higher rates of depressive disorders in adolescence. Neuroimaging studies report brain structural associations with both pubertal timing and depression. However, whether brain structure mediates the relationship between pubertal timing and depression remains unclear. METHODS The current registered report examined associations between pubertal timing (indexed via perceived pubertal development), brain structure (cortical and subcortical metrics, and white matter microstructure) and depressive symptoms in a large sample (N = ∼5000) of adolescents (aged 9-13 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. We used three waves of follow-up data when the youth were aged 10-11 years, 11-12 years, and 12-13 years, respectively. We used generalised linear-mixed models (H1) and structural equation modelling (H2 & H3) to test our hypotheses. HYPOTHESES We hypothesised that earlier pubertal timing at Year 1 would be associated with increased depressive symptoms at Year 3 (H1), and that this relationship would be mediated by global (H2a-b) and regional (H3a-g) brain structural measures at Year 2. Global measures included reduced cortical volume, thickness, surface area and sulcal depth. Regional measures included reduced cortical thickness and volume in temporal and fronto-parietal areas, increased cortical volume in the ventral diencephalon, increased sulcal depth in the pars orbitalis, and reduced fractional anisotropy in the cortico-striatal tract and corpus callosum. These regions of interest were informed by our pilot analyses using baseline ABCD data when the youth were aged 9-10 years. RESULTS Earlier pubertal timing was associated with increased depressive symptoms two years later. The magnitude of effect was stronger in female youth and the association remained significant when controlling for parental depression, family income, and BMI in females but not in male youth. Our hypothesised brain structural measures did not however mediate the association between earlier pubertal timing and later depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION The present results demonstrate that youth, particularly females, who begin puberty ahead of their peers are at an increased risk for adolescent-onset depression. Future work should explore additional biological and socio-environmental factors that may affect this association so that we can identify targets for intervention to help these at-risk youth.
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