1
|
Jiménez de la Peña M, Rincón-Pérez I, López-Martín S, Albert J, Martín Fernández-Mayoralas D, Fernández-Perrone AL, Jiménez de Domingo A, Tirado P, Calleja-Pérez B, Porta J, Álvarez S, Fernández-Jaén A. Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome: Novel pathogenic variants and new neuroimaging findings. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:211-217. [PMID: 37795572 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS) or DNMT3A-overgrowth syndrome is characterized by overgrowth and intellectual disability associated with minor dysmorphic features, obesity, and behavioral problems. It is caused by variants of the DNMT3A gene. We report four patients with this syndrome due to de novo DNMT3A pathogenic variants, contributing to a deeper understanding of the genetic basis and pathophysiology of this autosomal dominant syndrome. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging assessments were also performed. All patients showed corpus callosum anomalies, small posterior fossa, and a deep left Sylvian fissure; as well as asymmetry of the uncinate and arcuate fascicles and marked increased cortical thickness. These results suggest that structural neuroimaging anomalies have been previously overlooked, where corpus callosum and brain tract alterations might be unrecognized neuroimaging traits of TBRS syndrome caused by DNMT3A variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Irene Rincón-Pérez
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara López-Martín
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Neuromottiva, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacobo Albert
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Pilar Tirado
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Javier Porta
- Department of Genomics, Genologica, Málaga, Spain
| | - Sara Álvarez
- Department of Genomics and Medicine, NIMGenetics, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández-Jaén
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hospital Universitario Quirónsalud, Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wagner MW, Bernhard N, Mndebele G, Vidarsson L, Ertl-Wagner BB. Volumetric differences of thalamic nuclei in children with trisomy 21. Neuroradiol J 2023; 36:581-587. [PMID: 36942548 PMCID: PMC10569191 DOI: 10.1177/19714009231166100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Histological studies have shown alterations of thalamic nuclei in patients with Down syndrome (DS). The correlation of these changes on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is unclear. Therefore, this study investigates volumetric differences of thalamic nuclei in children with DS compared to controls. METHODS Patients were retrospectively identified between 01/2000 and 10/2021. Patient inclusion criteria were: (1) 0-18 years of age, (2) diagnosis of DS, and (3) availability of a brain MRI without parenchymal injury and a non-motion-degraded volumetric T1-weighted sequence. Whole thalamus and thalamic nuclei (n = 25) volumes were analyzed bilaterally relative to the total brain volume (TBV). Two-sided t-tests were used to evaluate differences between groups. Differences were considered significant if the adjusted p-value was <0.05 after correction for multiple hypothesis testing using the Holm-Bonferroni method. RESULTS 21 children with DS (11 females, 52.4%, mean age: 8.6 ± 4.3 years) and 63 age- and sex-matched controls (32 females, 50.8%, 8.6 ± 4.3 years) were studied using automated volumetric segmentation. Significantly smaller ratios were found for nine thalamic nuclei and the whole thalamus on the right and five thalamic nuclei on the left. TBV was significantly smaller in patients with DS (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS In this exploratory volumetric analysis of the thalamus and thalamic nuclei, we observed statistically significant volumetric changes in children with DS. Our findings confirm prior neuroimaging and histological studies and extend the range of involved thalamic nuclei in pediatric DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias W Wagner
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nirit Bernhard
- The Hospital for Sick Children Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gopolang Mndebele
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Logi Vidarsson
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Birgit B Ertl-Wagner
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shaikh A, Li YQ, Lu J. Perspectives on pain in Down syndrome. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:1411-1437. [PMID: 36924439 DOI: 10.1002/med.21954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 is a genetic condition often accompanied by chronic pain caused by congenital abnormalities and/or conditions, such as osteoarthritis, recurrent infections, and leukemia. Although DS patients are more susceptible to chronic pain as compared to the general population, the pain experience in these individuals may vary, attributed to the heterogenous structural and functional differences in the central nervous system, which might result in abnormal pain sensory information transduction, transmission, modulation, and perception. We tried to elaborate on some key questions and possible explanations in this review. Further clarification of the mechanisms underlying such abnormal conditions induced by the structural and functional differences is needed to help pain management in DS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ammara Shaikh
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yun-Qing Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology & K. K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hamadelseed O, Chan MKS, Wong MBF, Skutella T. Distinct neuroanatomical and neuropsychological features of Down syndrome compared to related neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1225228. [PMID: 37600012 PMCID: PMC10436105 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1225228] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives We critically review research findings on the unique changes in brain structure and cognitive function characteristic of Down syndrome (DS) and summarize the similarities and differences with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Williams syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and fragile X syndrome. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis and systematic literature review of 84 studies identified by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from 1977 to October 2022. This review focuses on the following issues: (1) specific neuroanatomic and histopathological features of DS as revealed by autopsy and modern neuroimaging modalities, (2) language and memory deficits in DS, (3) the relationships between these neuroanatomical and neuropsychological features, and (4) neuroanatomic and neuropsychological differences between DS and related neurodevelopmental syndromes. Results Numerous post-mortem and morphometric neuroimaging investigations of individuals with DS have reported complex changes in regional brain volumes, most notably in the hippocampal formation, temporal lobe, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and cerebellum. Moreover, neuropsychological assessments have revealed deficits in language development, emotional regulation, and memory that reflect these structural changes and are more severe than expected from general cognitive dysfunction. Individuals with DS also show relative preservation of multiple cognitive, linguistic, and social domains compared to normally developed controls and individuals with other neurodevelopmental disorders. However, all these neurodevelopment disorders exhibit substantial heterogeneity among individuals. Conclusion People with Down syndrome demonstrate unique neurodevelopmental abnormalities but cannot be regarded as a homogenous group. A comprehensive evaluation of individual intellectual skills is essential for all individuals with neurodevelopment disorders to develop personalized care programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osama Hamadelseed
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mike K. S. Chan
- EW European Wellness Academy GmbH, Edenkoben, Germany
- Baden R&D Laboratories GmbH, Edenkoben, Germany
| | - Michelle B. F. Wong
- EW European Wellness Academy GmbH, Edenkoben, Germany
- Baden R&D Laboratories GmbH, Edenkoben, Germany
- Stellar Biomolecular Research GmbH, Edenkoben, Germany
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fukami-Gartner A, Baburamani AA, Dimitrova R, Patkee PA, Ojinaga-Alfageme O, Bonthrone AF, Cromb D, Uus AU, Counsell SJ, Hajnal JV, O’Muircheartaigh J, Rutherford MA. Comprehensive volumetric phenotyping of the neonatal brain in Down syndrome. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:8921-8941. [PMID: 37254801 PMCID: PMC10350827 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability with a wide range of neurodevelopmental outcomes. To date, there have been very few in vivo neuroimaging studies of the neonatal brain in DS. In this study we used a cross-sectional sample of 493 preterm- to term-born control neonates from the developing Human Connectome Project to perform normative modeling of regional brain tissue volumes from 32 to 46 weeks postmenstrual age, accounting for sex and age variables. Deviation from the normative mean was quantified in 25 neonates with DS with postnatally confirmed karyotypes from the Early Brain Imaging in DS study. Here, we provide the first comprehensive volumetric phenotyping of the neonatal brain in DS, which is characterized by significantly reduced whole brain, cerebral white matter, and cerebellar volumes; reduced relative frontal and occipital lobar volumes, in contrast with enlarged relative temporal and parietal lobar volumes; enlarged relative deep gray matter volume (particularly the lentiform nuclei); and enlargement of the lateral ventricles, amongst other features. In future, the ability to assess phenotypic severity at the neonatal stage may help guide early interventions and, ultimately, help improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abi Fukami-Gartner
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Ana A Baburamani
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ralica Dimitrova
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Prachi A Patkee
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Olatz Ojinaga-Alfageme
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra F Bonthrone
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Cromb
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Alena U Uus
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Serena J Counsell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph V Hajnal
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan O’Muircheartaigh
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, United Kingdom
| | - Mary A Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Campbell NB, Patel Y, Moore TL, Medalla M, Zeldich E. Extracellular Vesicle Treatment Alleviates Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Pathology in Cortical Spheroid Model of Down Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3477. [PMID: 36834891 PMCID: PMC9960302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, is manifested in a variety of anatomical and cellular abnormalities resulting in intellectual deficits and early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with no effective treatments available to alleviate the pathologies associated with the disorder. The therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has emerged recently in relation to various neurological conditions. We have previously demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived EVs (MSC-EVs) in cellular and functional recovery in a rhesus monkey model of cortical injury. In the current study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of MSC-EVs in a cortical spheroid (CS) model of DS generated from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Compared to euploid controls, trisomic CS display smaller size, deficient neurogenesis, and AD-related pathological features, such as enhanced cell death and depositions of amyloid beta (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau). EV-treated trisomic CS demonstrated preserved size, partial rescue in the production of neurons, significantly decreased levels of Aβ and p-tau, and a reduction in the extent of cell death as compared to the untreated trisomic CS. Together, these results show the efficacy of EVs in mitigating DS and AD-related cellular phenotypes and pathological depositions in human CS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Baker Campbell
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Yesha Patel
- Commonwealth Honors College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Tara L. Moore
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maria Medalla
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ella Zeldich
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedesian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Porter M, Gavria P, Reeve J, Green M, Baracz S, Rossi A, Boulton K. Neuroanatomical correlates of social approach in Williams Syndrome and down syndrome. Neuropsychologia 2022; 175:108366. [PMID: 36088994 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108366] [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: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) or Downs Syndrome (DS) are often described as hypersociable, friendly and overly trusting of others. This hypersociability is a major concern for parents/caregivers due to the associated increased risk of exploitation and victimisation. Two brain regions - the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) - have been implicated in driving this hypersociability in WS, and in the general population and have associations with emotional evaluation, threat detection and social motivation. However, there has been little neuroimaging research on this topic, especially in DS, to date. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential neuroanatomical and neuropsychological correlates of hypersociability in WS and DS. Twelve individuals with WS (M = 22 years of age) and eleven individuals with DS (M = 26 years of age) completed a neuropsychological battery of executive functioning and social measures, including informant ratings on an ecologically measure of social approach. Clinical groups and twelve typically developing controls (M = 23 years) underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan to investigate volumetric differences in the OFC and the amygdala. As expected, WS individuals displayed the highest overall social approach, especially in relation to need to approach strangers and drive to interact with strangers, as well as inappropriate/overfriendly behaviours. Both groups rated similarly in terms of social trust and unconditional positive regard. Emotion recognition abilities were similar across groups, with the DS group displaying some difficulties with negative emotions (especially anger). Inhibition and flexibility were similarly impaired across WS and DS. Compared to neurotypical controls, the DS group showed increased amygdala volumes bilaterally, while the WS group showed an enlarged right medial OFC. Approach ratings were significantly correlated with left amygdala and medial and left lateral OFC volumes in WS, and with these same regions bilaterally in DS. Results provide potential biological explanations for the hypersociability seen in WS and DS. Future research should focus on other potential neural correlates, as well as potential genetic and hormonal contributions to approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Porter
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Polina Gavria
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jessica Reeve
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Michael Green
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sarah Baracz
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Adriana Rossi
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Kelsie Boulton
- School of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
McCann B, Lam M, Shiohama T, Ijner P, Takahashi E, Levman J. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Demonstrates Gyral Abnormalities in Tourette Syndrome. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 82:539-547. [PMID: 35775746 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10209] [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: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary and repetitive movements known as tics. A retrospective analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 39 children and adolescents with TS was performed and subsequently compared to MRI scans from 834 neurotypical controls. The purpose of this study was to identify any differences in the regions of motor circuitry in TS to further our understanding of their disturbances in motor control (i.e., motor tics). Measures of volume, cortical thickness, surface area, and surface curvature for specific motor regions were derived from each MRI scan. The results revealed increased surface curvature in the opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus and the triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus in the TS group compared to the neurotypical control group. These novel findings offer some of the first evidence for surface curvature differences in motor circuitry regions in TS, which may be associated with known motor and vocal tics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernadette McCann
- Department of Human Kinetics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Melanie Lam
- Department of Human Kinetics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Tadashi Shiohama
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan
| | - Prahar Ijner
- Department of Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jacob Levman
- Department of Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada.,Nova Scotia Health Authority - Research, Innovation and Discovery, Center for Clinical Research, Halifax, NS, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Casingal CR, Descant KD, Anton ES. Coordinating cerebral cortical construction and connectivity: Unifying influence of radial progenitors. Neuron 2022; 110:1100-1115. [PMID: 35216663 PMCID: PMC8989671 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Radial progenitor development and function lay the foundation for the construction of the cerebral cortex. Radial glial scaffold, through its functions as a source of neurogenic progenitors and neuronal migration guide, is thought to provide a template for the formation of the cerebral cortex. Emerging evidence is challenging this limited view. Intriguingly, radial glial scaffold may also play a role in axonal growth, guidance, and neuronal connectivity. Radial glial cells not only facilitate the generation, placement, and allocation of neurons in the cortex but also regulate how they wire up. The organization and function of radial glial cells may thus be a unifying feature of the developing cortex that helps to precisely coordinate the right patterns of neurogenesis, neuronal placement, and connectivity necessary for the emergence of a functional cerebral cortex. This perspective critically explores this emerging view and its impact in the context of human brain development and disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristine R Casingal
- UNC Neuroscience Center, the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Katherine D Descant
- UNC Neuroscience Center, the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - E S Anton
- UNC Neuroscience Center, the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Shiohama T, Tsujimura K. Quantitative Structural Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analyses: Methodological Overview and Application to Rett Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:835964. [PMID: 35450016 PMCID: PMC9016334 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.835964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital genetic disorders often present with neurological manifestations such as neurodevelopmental disorders, motor developmental retardation, epilepsy, and involuntary movement. Through qualitative morphometric evaluation of neuroimaging studies, remarkable structural abnormalities, such as lissencephaly, polymicrogyria, white matter lesions, and cortical tubers, have been identified in these disorders, while no structural abnormalities were identified in clinical settings in a large population. Recent advances in data analysis programs have led to significant progress in the quantitative analysis of anatomical structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted MRI tractography, and these approaches have been used to investigate psychological and congenital genetic disorders. Evaluation of morphometric brain characteristics may contribute to the identification of neuroimaging biomarkers for early diagnosis and response evaluation in patients with congenital genetic diseases. This mini-review focuses on the methodologies and attempts employed to study Rett syndrome using quantitative structural brain MRI analyses, including voxel- and surface-based morphometry and diffusion-weighted MRI tractography. The mini-review aims to deepen our understanding of how neuroimaging studies are used to examine congenital genetic disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Shiohama
- Department of Pediatrics, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan
- *Correspondence: Tadashi Shiohama,
| | - Keita Tsujimura
- Group of Brain Function and Development, Nagoya University Neuroscience Institute of the Graduate School of Science, Nagoya, Japan
- Research Unit for Developmental Disorders, Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ijner P, Tompkins G, Shiohama T, Takahashi E, Levman J. Structural Abnormalities in Pediatric Moyamoya Disease Revealed by Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Regionally Distributed Relative Signal Intensities and Volumes. Int J Dev Neurosci 2021; 82:146-158. [PMID: 34969179 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare, progressive cerebrovascular disorder, with an unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It is characterized by steno-occlusive changes at the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA), which is accompanied by variable development of the basal collaterals called moyamoya vessels. In this study, we investigate the potential for structural T1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help characterize MMD clinically, with the help of regionally distributed relative signal intensities (RRSIs) and volumes (RRVs). These RRSIs and RRVs provide the ability to characterize aspects of regional brain development and represent an extension to existing automated biomarker extraction technologies. This study included 269 MRI examinations from MMD patients and 993 MRI examinations from neurotypical controls, with regional biomarkers compared between groups with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results demonstrate abnormal presentation of RRSIs and RRVs in the insula (15-20 year old cohort, left AUC: 0.74, right AUC: 0.71), and the lateral orbitofrontal region (5-10 year old cohort, left AUC: 0.67; 15-20 year cohort, left AUC: 0.62, right AUC: 0.65). Results indicate that RRSIs and RRVs may help in characterizing brain development, assist in the assessment of the presentation of the brains of children with MMD, and may help overcome standardization challenges in multi-protocol clinical MRI. Further investigation of the potential for RRSIs and RRVs in clinical imaging is warranted and supported through the release of open source software.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prahar Ijner
- Department of Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Grace Tompkins
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| | - Tadashi Shiohama
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jacob Levman
- Department of Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
McCann B, Levman J, Baumer N, Lam MY, Shiohama T, Cogger L, MacDonald A, Ijner P, Takahashi E. Structural magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates volumetric brain abnormalities in down syndrome: Newborns to young adults. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 32:102815. [PMID: 34520978 PMCID: PMC8441087 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21 and characterized by intellectual disability. We hypothesize that performing a retrospective analysis of 73 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of participants with DS (aged 0 to 22 years) and comparing them to a large cohort of 993 brain MRI examinations of neurotypical participants (aged 0 to 32 years), will assist in better understanding what brain differences may explain phenotypic developmental features in DS, as well as to provide valuable confirmation of prospective literature findings clinically. Measurements for both absolute volumes and volumes corrected as a percentage of estimated total intracranial volume (%ETIV) were extracted from each examination. Our results presented novel findings such as volume increases (%ETIV) in the perirhinal cortex, entorhinal cortex, choroid plexus, and Brodmann's areas (BA) 3a, 3b, and 44, as well as volume decreases (%ETIV) in the white matter of the cuneus, the paracentral lobule, the postcentral gyrus, and the supramarginal gyrus. We also confirmed volumetric brain abnormalities previously discussed in the literature. Findings suggest the presence of volumetric brain abnormalities in DS that can be detected clinically with MRI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernadette McCann
- Department of Human Kinetics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Jacob Levman
- Department of Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada.
| | - Nicole Baumer
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Melanie Y Lam
- Department of Human Kinetics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Tadashi Shiohama
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Liam Cogger
- Department of Education, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Allissa MacDonald
- Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Prahar Ijner
- Department of Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 401 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, 149 Thirteenth Street, Suite 2301, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Koenig KA, Oh SH, Stasko MR, Roth EC, Taylor HG, Ruedrich S, Wang ZI, Leverenz JB, Costa ACS. High resolution structural and functional MRI of the hippocampus in young adults with Down syndrome. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab088. [PMID: 33977271 PMCID: PMC8100000 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome is the phenotypic consequence of trisomy 21, with clinical presentation including both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative components. Although the intellectual disability typically displayed by individuals with Down syndrome is generally global, it also involves disproportionate deficits in hippocampally-mediated cognitive processes. Hippocampal dysfunction may also relate to Alzheimer’s disease-type pathology, which can appear in as early as the first decade of life and becomes universal by age 40. Using 7-tesla MRI of the brain, we present an assessment of the structure and function of the hippocampus in 34 individuals with Down syndrome (mean age 24.5 years ± 6.5) and 27 age- and sex-matched typically developing healthy controls. In addition to increased whole-brain mean cortical thickness and lateral ventricle volumes (P < 1.0 × 10−4), individuals with Down syndrome showed selective volume reductions in bilateral hippocampal subfields cornu Ammonis field 1, dentate gyrus, and tail (P < 0.005). In the group with Down syndrome, bilateral hippocampi showed widespread reductions in the strength of functional connectivity, predominately to frontal regions (P < 0.02). Age was not related to hippocampal volumes or functional connectivity measures in either group, but both groups showed similar relationships of age to whole-brain volume measures (P < 0.05). Finally, we performed an exploratory analysis of a subgroup of individuals with Down syndrome with both imaging and neuropsychological assessments. This analysis indicated that measures of spatial memory were related to mean cortical thickness, total grey matter volume and right hemisphere hippocampal subfield volumes (P < 0.02). This work provides a first demonstration of the usefulness of high-field MRI to detect subtle differences in structure and function of the hippocampus in individuals with Down syndrome, and suggests the potential for development of MRI-derived measures as surrogate markers of drug efficacy in pharmacological studies designed to investigate enhancement of cognitive function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Koenig
- Imaging Sciences, Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Se-Hong Oh
- Imaging Sciences, Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin 449-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Melissa R Stasko
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Roth
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - H Gerry Taylor
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Stephen Ruedrich
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Z Irene Wang
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - James B Leverenz
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Alberto C S Costa
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Baburamani AA, Vontell RT, Uus A, Pietsch M, Patkee PA, Wyatt-Ashmead J, Chin-Smith EC, Supramaniam VG, Donald Tournier J, Deprez M, Rutherford MA. Assessment of radial glia in the frontal lobe of fetuses with Down syndrome. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:141. [PMID: 32819430 PMCID: PMC7441567 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-01015-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) occurs with triplication of human chromosome 21 and is associated with deviations in cortical development evidenced by simplified gyral appearance and reduced cortical surface area. Radial glia are neuronal and glial progenitors that also create a scaffolding structure essential for migrating neurons to reach cortical targets and therefore play a critical role in cortical development. The aim of this study was to characterise radial glial expression pattern and morphology in the frontal lobe of the developing human fetal brain with DS and age-matched controls. Secondly, we investigated whether microstructural information from in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could reflect histological findings from human brain tissue samples. Immunohistochemistry was performed on paraffin-embedded human post-mortem brain tissue from nine fetuses and neonates with DS (15-39 gestational weeks (GW)) and nine euploid age-matched brains (18-39 GW). Radial glia markers CRYAB, HOPX, SOX2, GFAP and Vimentin were assessed in the Ventricular Zone, Subventricular Zone and Intermediate Zone. In vivo diffusion MRI was used to assess microstructure in these regions in one DS (21 GW) and one control (22 GW) fetal brain. We found a significant reduction in radial glial progenitor SOX2 and subtle deviations in radial glia expression (GFAP and Vimentin) prior to 24 GW in DS. In vivo, fetal MRI demonstrates underlying radial projections consistent with immunohistopathology. Radial glial alterations may contribute to the subsequent simplified gyral patterns and decreased cortical volumes observed in the DS brain. Recent advances in fetal MRI acquisition and analysis could provide non-invasive imaging-based biomarkers of early developmental deviations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana A. Baburamani
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Regina T. Vontell
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
- University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank, Miami, FL 33136 USA
| | - Alena Uus
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Maximilian Pietsch
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Prachi A. Patkee
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Jo Wyatt-Ashmead
- Neuropathology and Pediatric-Perinatal Pathology Service [NaPPPS], Holly Springs, MS 38635 USA
| | - Evonne C. Chin-Smith
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Veena G. Supramaniam
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - J. Donald Tournier
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Maria Deprez
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| | - Mary A. Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, SE1 7EH UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Patkee PA, Baburamani AA, Kyriakopoulou V, Davidson A, Avini E, Dimitrova R, Allsop J, Hughes E, Kangas J, McAlonan G, Rutherford MA. Early alterations in cortical and cerebellar regional brain growth in Down Syndrome: An in vivo fetal and neonatal MRI assessment. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 25:102139. [PMID: 31887718 DOI: 10.1101/683656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability with a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental outcomes. At present, the relationship between structural brain morphology and the spectrum of cognitive phenotypes in DS, is not well understood. This study aimed to quantify the development of the fetal and neonatal brain in DS participants, with and without a congenital cardiac defect compared with a control population using dedicated, optimised and motion-corrected in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We detected deviations in development and altered regional brain growth in the fetus with DS from 21 weeks' gestation, when compared to age-matched controls. Reduced cerebellar volume was apparent in the second trimester with significant alteration in cortical growth becoming evident during the third trimester. Developmental abnormalities in the cortex and cerebellum are likely substrates for later neurocognitive impairment, and ongoing studies will allow us to confirm the role of antenatal MRI as an early biomarker for subsequent cognitive ability in DS. In the era of rapidly developing technologies, we believe that the results of this study will assist counselling for prospective parents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prachi A Patkee
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ana A Baburamani
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Kyriakopoulou
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Davidson
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Elhaam Avini
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ralica Dimitrova
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Allsop
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Emer Hughes
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Johanna Kangas
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Mary A Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Patkee PA, Baburamani AA, Kyriakopoulou V, Davidson A, Avini E, Dimitrova R, Allsop J, Hughes E, Kangas J, McAlonan G, Rutherford MA. Early alterations in cortical and cerebellar regional brain growth in Down Syndrome: An in vivo fetal and neonatal MRI assessment. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 25:102139. [PMID: 31887718 PMCID: PMC6938981 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability with a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental outcomes. At present, the relationship between structural brain morphology and the spectrum of cognitive phenotypes in DS, is not well understood. This study aimed to quantify the development of the fetal and neonatal brain in DS participants, with and without a congenital cardiac defect compared with a control population using dedicated, optimised and motion-corrected in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We detected deviations in development and altered regional brain growth in the fetus with DS from 21 weeks' gestation, when compared to age-matched controls. Reduced cerebellar volume was apparent in the second trimester with significant alteration in cortical growth becoming evident during the third trimester. Developmental abnormalities in the cortex and cerebellum are likely substrates for later neurocognitive impairment, and ongoing studies will allow us to confirm the role of antenatal MRI as an early biomarker for subsequent cognitive ability in DS. In the era of rapidly developing technologies, we believe that the results of this study will assist counselling for prospective parents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prachi A Patkee
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ana A Baburamani
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa Kyriakopoulou
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Davidson
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Elhaam Avini
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ralica Dimitrova
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Allsop
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Emer Hughes
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Johanna Kangas
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Grainne McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science, Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Mary A Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wilson LR, Vatansever D, Annus T, Williams GB, Hong YT, Fryer TD, Nestor PJ, Holland AJ, Zaman SH. Differential effects of Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's neuropathology on default mode connectivity. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:4551-4563. [PMID: 31350817 PMCID: PMC6865660 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Down's syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that invariably results in both intellectual disability and Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. However, only a limited number of studies to date have investigated intrinsic brain network organisation in people with Down's syndrome, none of which addressed the links between functional connectivity and Alzheimer's disease. In this cross‐sectional study, we employed 11C‐Pittsburgh Compound‐B (PiB) positron emission tomography in order to group participants with Down's syndrome based on the presence of fibrillar beta‐amyloid neuropathology. We also acquired resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging data to interrogate the connectivity of the default mode network; a large‐scale system with demonstrated links to Alzheimer's disease. The results revealed widespread positive connectivity of the default mode network in people with Down's syndrome (n = 34, ages 30–55, median age = 43.5) and a stark lack of anti‐correlation. However, in contrast to typically developing controls (n = 20, ages 30–55, median age = 43.5), the Down's syndrome group also showed significantly weaker connections in localised frontal and posterior brain regions. Notably, while a comparison of the PiB‐negative Down's syndrome group (n = 19, ages 30–48, median age = 41.0) to controls suggested that alterations in default mode connectivity to frontal brain regions are related to atypical development, a comparison of the PiB‐positive (n = 15, ages 39–55, median age = 48.0) and PiB‐negative Down's syndrome groups indicated that aberrant connectivity in posterior cortices is associated with the presence of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. Such distinct profiles of altered connectivity not only further our understanding of the brain physiology that underlies these two inherently linked conditions but may also potentially provide a biomarker for future studies of neurodegeneration in people with Down's syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liam R Wilson
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Deniz Vatansever
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiina Annus
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Guy B Williams
- The Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Young T Hong
- The Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tim D Fryer
- The Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter J Nestor
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Anthony J Holland
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shahid H Zaman
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|