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Vieites V, Ralph Y, Reeb-Sutherland B, Dick AS, Mattfeld AT, Pruden SM. Neurite density of the hippocampus is associated with trace eyeblink conditioning latency in 4- to 6-year-olds. Eur J Neurosci 2024; 59:358-369. [PMID: 38092417 PMCID: PMC10872972 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16217] [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: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Limited options exist to evaluate the development of hippocampal function in young children. Research has established that trace eyeblink conditioning (EBC) relies on a functional hippocampus. Hence, we set out to investigate whether trace EBC is linked to hippocampal structure, potentially serving as a valuable indicator of hippocampal development. Our study explored potential associations between individual differences in hippocampal volume and neurite density with trace EBC performance in young children. We used onset latency of conditioned responses (CR) and percentage of conditioned responses (% CR) as measures of hippocampal-dependent associative learning. Using a sample of typically developing children aged 4 to 6 years (N = 30; 14 girls; M = 5.70 years), participants underwent T1- and diffusion-weighted MRI scans and completed a 15-min trace eyeblink conditioning task conducted outside the MRI. % CR and CR onset latency were calculated based on all trials involving tone-puff presentations and tone-alone trials. Findings revealed a connection between greater left hippocampal neurite density and delayed CR onset latency. Children with higher neurite density in the left hippocampus tended to blink closer to the onset of the unconditioned stimulus, indicating that structural variations in the hippocampus were associated with more precise timing of conditioned responses. No other relationships were observed between hippocampal volume, cerebellum volume or neurite density, hippocampal white matter connectivity and any EBC measures. Preliminary results suggest that trace EBC may serve as a straightforward yet innovative approach for studying hippocampal development in young children and populations with atypical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Vieites
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yvonne Ralph
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA
| | | | - Anthony Steven Dick
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Aaron T Mattfeld
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Shannon M Pruden
- Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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2
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Rice LC, Langan MT, Cheng DT, Sheu YS, Peterburs J, Hua J, Qin Q, Rilee JJ, Faulkner ML, Mathena JR, Munro CA, Wand GS, McCaul ME, Desmond JE. Disrupted executive cerebro-cerebellar functional connectivity in alcohol use disorder. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 48:33-47. [PMID: 38206281 PMCID: PMC10784638 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects 283 million people worldwide and its prevalence is increasing. Despite the role of the cerebellum in executive control and its sensitivity to alcohol, few studies have assessed its involvement in AUD-relevant functional networks. The goal of this study is to compare resting-state functional connectivity (FC) patterns in abstinent adults with a history of AUD and controls (CTL). We hypothesized that group differences in cerebro-cerebellar FC would be present, particularly within the frontoparietal/executive control network (FPN). METHODS Twenty-eight participants completed a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) study. CTL participants had no history of AUD, comorbid psychological conditions, or recent heavy drinking and/or drug use. AUD participants had a history of AUD, with sobriety for at least 30 days prior to data collection. Multivariate pattern analysis, an agnostic, whole-brain approach, was used to identify regions with significant differences in FC between groups. Seed-based analyses were then conducted to determine the directionality and extent of these FC differences. Associations between FC strength and executive function were assessed using correlations with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) performance. RESULTS There were significant group differences in FC in nodes of the FPN, ventral attention network, and default mode network. Post hoc analyses predominantly identified FC differences within the cerebro-cerebellar FPN, with AUD showing significantly less FC within the FPN. In AUD, FC strength between FPN clusters identified in the multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) analysis (Left Crus II, Right Frontal Cortex) was positively associated with performance on the WCST. CONCLUSIONS Our results show less engagement of the FPN in individuals with AUD than in CTL. FC strength within this network was positively associated with performance on the WCST. These findings suggest that long-term heavy drinking alters cerebro-cerebellar FC, particularly within networks that are involved in executive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Rice
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Yi-Shin Sheu
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jutta Peterburs
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Institute for Systems Medicine & Department of Human Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jun Hua
- Neurosection, Division of MRI Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qin Qin
- Neurosection, Division of MRI Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Gary S. Wand
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mary E. McCaul
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John E. Desmond
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Leung ECH, Jain P, Michealson MA, Choi H, Ellsworth-Kopkowski A, Valenzuela CF. Recent breakthroughs in understanding the cerebellum's role in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Alcohol 2023; 119:37-71. [PMID: 38097146 PMCID: PMC11166889 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Exposure to alcohol during fetal development can lead to structural and functional abnormalities in the cerebellum, a brain region responsible for motor coordination, balance, and specific cognitive functions. In this systematic review, we comprehensively analyze a vast body of research conducted on vertebrate animals and humans over the past 13 years. We identified studies through PubMed and screened them following PRISMA guidelines. Data extraction and quality analysis were conducted using Covidence systematic review software. A total of 108 studies met our inclusion criteria, with the majority (79 studies) involving vertebrate animal models and 29 studies focusing on human subjects. Animal models included zebrafish, mice, rats, sheep, and non-human primates, investigating the impact of ethanol on cerebellar structure, gene/protein expression, physiology, and cerebellar-dependent behaviors. Additionally, some animal studies explored potential therapeutic interventions against ethanol-induced cerebellar damage. The human studies predominantly adopted cohort designs, exploring the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on cerebellar structure and function. Certain human studies delved into innovative cerebellar-based diagnostic approaches for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). The collective findings from these studies clearly indicate that the cerebellum is involved in various neurophysiological deficits associated with FASD, emphasizing the importance of evaluating both cerebellar structure and function in the diagnostic process for this condition. Moreover, this review sheds light into potential therapeutic strategies that can mitigate prenatal alcohol exposure-induced cerebellar damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C H Leung
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Priyanka Jain
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Marisa A Michealson
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Hyesun Choi
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - Alexis Ellsworth-Kopkowski
- Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
| | - C Fernando Valenzuela
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States.
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Zhu J, Qiu A. Interindividual variability in functional connectivity discovers differential development of cognition and transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology in youth. Neuroimage 2022; 260:119482. [PMID: 35842101 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119482] [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: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive and psychological development during adolescence is different from one another, which is rooted in individual differences in maturational changes in the adolescent brain. This study employed multi-modal MRI data and characterized interindividual variability in functional connectivity (IVFC) and its associations with cognition and psychopathology using the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC) of 755 youth. We employed resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and diffusion weighted images (DWIs) to estimate brain structural and functional networks. We computed the IVFC of individuals and examined its relation with structural and functional organizations. We further employed sparse partial least squares (sparse-PLS) and meta-analysis to examine the developmental associations of the IVFC with cognition and transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology in early, middle, and late adolescence. Our results revealed that the IVFC spatial topography reflects the brain functional integration and structure-function decoupling. Age effects on the IVFC of association networks were mediated by the FC among the triple networks, including frontoparietal, salience, and default mode networks (DMN), while those of primary and cerebellar networks were mediated by the cerebello-cortical FC. The IVFC of the triple and cerebellar networks explained the variance of executive functions and externalizing behaviors in early adolescence and then the variance of emotion and internalizing and psychosis in middle and late adolescence. We further evaluated this finding via meta-analysis on task-based studies on cognition and psychopathology. These findings implicate the emerging importance of the IVFC of the triple and cerebellar networks in cognitive, emotional, and psychopathological development during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Block E4 #04-08, 117583, Singapore
| | - Anqi Qiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 3, Block E4 #04-08, 117583, Singapore; NUS (Suzhou) Research Institute, National University of Singapore, China; The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Data Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, United States.
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5
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Yu X, Dunstan J, Jacobson SW, Molteno CD, Lindinger NM, Turesky TK, Meintjes EM, Jacobson JL, Gaab N. Distinctive neural correlates of phonological and reading impairment in fetal alcohol-exposed adolescents with and without facial dysmorphology. Neuropsychologia 2022; 169:108188. [PMID: 35218791 PMCID: PMC9922095 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2022.108188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been linked to atypical brain and cognitive development, including poor academic performance in reading. This study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging to characterize functional and structural mechanisms mediating reading deficits in 26 adolescents with PAE-related facial dysmorphology (fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)/partial FAS (PFAS)), 29 heavily-exposed (HE) non-syndromal adolescents, in comparison with 19 typically developing controls. The FAS/PFAS and HE groups were balanced in terms of levels of PAE and reading (dis)ability. While neural alterations in the posterior association cortices were evident in both PAE groups, distinctive neural correlates of reading (dis)abilities were observed between adolescents with and without facial dysmorphology. Specifically, compared to the HE and control groups, the syndromal adolescents showed greater activation in the right precentral gyrus during phonological processing and rightward lateralization in an important reading-related tract (inferior longitudinal fasciculus, ILF), suggesting an atypical reliance on the right hemisphere. By contrast, in the HE, better reading skills were positively correlated with neural activation in the left angular gyrus and white matter organization of the left ILF, although the brain function-behavior relation was weaker than among the controls, suggesting less efficient function of the typical reading network. Our findings provide converging evidence at both the neural functional and structural levels for distinctive brain mechanisms underlying atypical reading and phonological processing in PAE adolescents with and without facial dysmorphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Jade Dunstan
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa; Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Nadine M Lindinger
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Ted K Turesky
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA; Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
| | - Nadine Gaab
- Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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6
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Mahnke AH, Sideridis GD, Salem NA, Tseng AM, Carter RC, Dodge NC, Rathod AB, Molteno CD, Meintjes EM, Jacobson SW, Miranda RC, Jacobson JL. Infant circulating MicroRNAs as biomarkers of effect in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1429. [PMID: 33446819 PMCID: PMC7809131 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80734-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can result in cognitive and behavioral disabilities and growth deficits. Because alcohol-related neurobehavioral deficits may occur in the absence of overt dysmorphic features or growth deficits, there is a need to identify biomarkers of PAE that can predict neurobehavioral impairment. In this study, we assessed infant plasma extracellular, circulating miRNAs (exmiRNAs) obtained from a heavily exposed Cape Town cohort to determine whether these can be used to predict PAE-related growth restriction and cognitive impairment. PAE, controlling for smoking as a covariate, altered 27% of expressed exmiRNAs with clinically-relevant effect sizes (Cohen's d ≥ 0.4). Moreover, at 2 weeks, PAE increased correlated expression of exmiRNAs across chromosomes, suggesting potential co-regulation. In confirmatory factor analysis, the variance in expression for PAE-altered exmiRNAs at 2 weeks and 6.5 months was best described by three-factor models. Pathway analysis found that factors at 2 weeks were associated with (F1) cell maturation, cell cycle inhibition, and somatic growth, (F2) cell survival, apoptosis, cardiac development, and metabolism, and (F3) cell proliferation, skeletal development, hematopoiesis, and inflammation, and at 6.5 months with (F1) neurodevelopment, neural crest/mesoderm-derivative development and growth, (F2) immune system and inflammation, and (F3) somatic growth and cardiovascular development. Factors F3 at 2 weeks and F2 at 6.5 months partially mediated PAE-induced growth deficits, and factor F3 at 2 weeks partially mediated effects of PAE on infant recognition memory at 6.5 months. These findings indicate that infant exmiRNAs can help identify infants who will exhibit PAE-related deficits in growth and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda H Mahnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA.
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA.
| | - Georgios D Sideridis
- Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nihal A Salem
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Alexander M Tseng
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - R Colin Carter
- Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Neil C Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Aniruddha B Rathod
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- Departments of Human Biology and of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Departments of Human Biology and of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rajesh C Miranda
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
- Women's Health in Neuroscience Program, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, 77807, USA
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Departments of Human Biology and of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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7
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Lundin NB, Kim DJ, Tullar RL, Moussa-Tooks AB, Kent JS, Newman SD, Purcell JR, Bolbecker AR, O’Donnell BF, Hetrick WP. Cerebellar Activation Deficits in Schizophrenia During an Eyeblink Conditioning Task. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2021; 2:sgab040. [PMID: 34541537 PMCID: PMC8443466 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgab040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The cognitive dysmetria theory of psychotic disorders posits that cerebellar circuit abnormalities give rise to difficulties coordinating motor and cognitive functions. However, brain activation during cerebellar-mediated tasks is understudied in schizophrenia. Accordingly, this study examined whether individuals with schizophrenia have diminished neural activation compared to controls in key regions of the delay eyeblink conditioning (dEBC) cerebellar circuit (eg, lobule VI) and cerebellar regions associated with cognition (eg, Crus I). Participants with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (n = 31) and healthy controls (n = 43) underwent dEBC during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Images were normalized using the Spatially Unbiased Infratentorial Template (SUIT) of the cerebellum and brainstem. Activation contrasts of interest were "early" and "late" stages of paired tone and air puff trials minus unpaired trials. Preliminary whole brain analyses were conducted, followed by cerebellar-specific SUIT and region of interest (ROI) analyses of lobule VI and Crus I. Correlation analyses were conducted between cerebellar activation, neuropsychological test scores, and psychotic symptom scores. In controls, the largest clusters of cerebellar activation peaked in lobule VI during early dEBC and Crus I during late dEBC. The schizophrenia group showed robust cortical activation to unpaired trials but no significant conditioning-related cerebellar activation. Crus I ROI activation during late dEBC was greater in the control than schizophrenia group. Greater Crus I activation correlated with higher working memory scores in the full sample and lower positive psychotic symptom severity in schizophrenia. Findings indicate functional cerebellar abnormalities in schizophrenia which relate to psychotic symptoms, lending direct support to the cognitive dysmetria framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy B Lundin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Dae-Jin Kim
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Rachel L Tullar
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Alexandra B Moussa-Tooks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jerillyn S Kent
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sharlene D Newman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Alabama Life Research Institute, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - John R Purcell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Amanda R Bolbecker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Brian F O’Donnell
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - William P Hetrick
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Waddell J, Hill E, Tang S, Jiang L, Xu S, Mooney SM. Choline Plus Working Memory Training Improves Prenatal Alcohol-Induced Deficits in Cognitive Flexibility and Functional Connectivity in Adulthood in Rats. Nutrients 2020; 12:E3513. [PMID: 33202683 PMCID: PMC7696837 DOI: 10.3390/nu12113513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading known cause of intellectual disability, and may manifest as deficits in cognitive function, including working memory. Working memory capacity and accuracy increases during adolescence when neurons in the prefrontal cortex undergo refinement. Rats exposed to low doses of ethanol prenatally show deficits in working memory during adolescence, and in cognitive flexibility in young adulthood. The cholinergic system plays a crucial role in learning and memory processes. Here we report that the combination of choline and training on a working memory task during adolescence significantly improved cognitive flexibility (performance on an attentional set shifting task) in young adulthood: 92% of all females and 81% of control males formed an attentional set, but only 36% of ethanol-exposed males did. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that functional connectivity among brain regions was different between the sexes, and was altered by prenatal ethanol exposure and by choline + training. Connectivity, particularly between prefrontal cortex and striatum, was also different in males that formed a set compared with those that did not. Together, these findings indicate that prenatal exposure to low doses of ethanol has persistent effects on brain functional connectivity and behavior, that these effects are sex-dependent, and that an adolescent intervention could mitigate some of the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaylyn Waddell
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.H.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Elizabeth Hill
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.H.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Shiyu Tang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (S.T.); (L.J.); (S.X.)
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (S.T.); (L.J.); (S.X.)
| | - Su Xu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (S.T.); (L.J.); (S.X.)
| | - Sandra M. Mooney
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.H.); (S.M.M.)
- Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
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9
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Cerebellar structural connectivity and contributions to cognition in frontotemporal dementias. Cortex 2020; 129:57-67. [PMID: 32428762 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative brain disorders, primarily affecting the frontal and/or temporal lobes. Three main subtypes are recognised, each with distinct clinical and cognitive profiles: behavioural-variant FTD (bvFTD), semantic dementia (SD), and progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA). Subtype-specific cerebellar grey matter atrophy has been associated with cognitive dysfunction in FTD; however, the extent and severity of structural abnormalities in the cerebro-cerebellar circuits in these disorders has not been investigated. This study aimed to identify patterns of cerebellar white matter changes and their relations to cognitive deficits in the main FTD subtypes. Results revealed bilateral cerebellar white matter changes in all FTD subtypes compared with controls, with greater cerebellar white matter changes in bvFTD than SD and PNFA. Both afferent and efferent cerebellar pathways were associated with cognition. The profiles of the involvement of cerebellar pathways in cognition varied across FTD syndromes. In bvFTD, the output pathway of the cerebellum was only associated with measures of episodic memory. The input pathway was associated with measures of attention, working memory, visuospatial, episodic memory, executive function, and emotion. In SD, both the output and input pathways were associated with measures of working memory, language, and emotion. Finally, in PNFA, both the output and input pathway of the cerebellum were associated with attention, language, and executive function. Additionally, the input pathway was associated with working memory, visuospatial, and emotion. This study is the first to identify patterns of cerebellar white matter changes across FTD syndromes, which in turn relate to cognitive deficits. These findings extend our understanding of the cerebro-cerebellar networks and provide new insight into the role of cerebellar white matter in cognition.
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Sullivan EV, Moore EM, Lane B, Pohl KM, Riley EP, Pfefferbaum A. Graded Cerebellar Lobular Volume Deficits in Adolescents and Young Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:4729-4746. [PMID: 32133485 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The extensive prenatal developmental growth period of the cerebellum renders it vulnerable to unhealthy environmental agents, especially alcohol. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is marked by neurodysmorphology including cerebral and cerebellar volume deficits, but the cerebellar lobular deficit profile has not been delineated. Legacy MRI data of 115 affected and 59 unaffected adolescents and young adults were analyzed for lobular gray matter volume and revealed graded deficits supporting a spectrum of severity. Graded deficits were salient in intracranial volume (ICV), where the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) group was smaller than the fetal alcohol effects (FAE) group, which was smaller than the controls. Adjusting for ICV, volume deficits were present in VIIB and VIIIA of the FAE group and were more widespread in FAS and included lobules I, II, IV, V, VI, Crus II, VIIB, and VIIIA. Graded deficits (FAS < FAE) were consistently present in lobules VI; neither group showed volume deficits in Crus I or IX. Neuroradiological readings blind to diagnosis identified 20 anomalies, 8 involving the cerebellum, 5 of which were in the FAS group. We speculate that the regional cerebellar FASD-related volume deficits may contribute to diagnostically characteristic functional impairment involving emotional control, visuomotor coordination, and postural stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith V Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Eileen M Moore
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Barton Lane
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kilian M Pohl
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Edward P Riley
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Adolf Pfefferbaum
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Health Sciences, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
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11
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Cheng DT, Rice LC, McCaul ME, Rilee JJ, Faulkner ML, Sheu YS, Mathena JR, Desmond JE. Neural Substrates Underlying Eyeblink Classical Conditioning in Adults With Alcohol Use Disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:620-631. [PMID: 31984510 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive alcohol consumption produces changes in the brain that often lead to cognitive impairments. One fundamental form of learning, eyeblink classical conditioning (EBC), has been widely used to study the neurobiology of learning and memory. Participants with alcohol use disorders (AUD) have consistently shown a behavioral deficit in EBC. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study is the first to examine brain function during conditioning in abstinent AUD participants and healthy participants. METHODS AUD participants met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence, had at least a 10-year history of heavy drinking, and were abstinent from alcohol for at least 30 days. During fMRI, participants received auditory tones that predicted the occurrence of corneal airpuffs. Anticipatory eyeblink responses to these tones were monitored during the experiment to assess learning-related changes. RESULTS Behavioral results indicate that AUD participants showed significant conditioning deficits and that their history of lifetime drinks corresponded to these deficits. Despite this learning impairment, AUD participants showed hyperactivation in several key cerebellar structures (including lobule VI) during conditioning. For all participants, history of lifetime drinks corresponded with their lobule VI activity. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with abnormal cerebellar hyperactivation and conditioning impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic T Cheng
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Psychology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Laura C Rice
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mary E McCaul
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jessica J Rilee
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Monica L Faulkner
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yi-Shin Sheu
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joanna R Mathena
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - John E Desmond
- From the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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12
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Chen Y, Kumfor F, Landin-Romero R, Irish M, Piguet O. The Cerebellum in Frontotemporal Dementia: a Meta-Analysis of Neuroimaging Studies. Neuropsychol Rev 2019; 29:450-464. [PMID: 31428914 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-019-09414-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder primarily affecting the frontal and/or temporal lobes. Three main subtypes have been recognized: behavioural-variant FTD (bvFTD), semantic dementia (SD), and progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA), each of which has a distinct clinical and cognitive profile. Although the role of the cerebellum in cognition is increasingly accepted, knowledge of cerebellar changes across neuroimaging modalities and their contribution to behavioural and cognitive changes in FTD syndromes is currently scant. We conducted an anatomical/activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis in 53 neuroimaging studies (structural MRI: 42; positron emission tomography: 6; functional MRI: 4; single-photon emission computed tomography: 1) to identify the patterns of cerebellar changes and their relations to profiles of behavioural and cognitive deficits in FTD syndromes. Overall, widespread bilateral cerebellar changes were found in FTD and notably the patterns were subtype specific. In bvFTD, ALE peaks were identified in the bilateral Crus, left lobule VI, right lobules VIIb and VIIIb. In SD, focal cerebellar changes were located in the left Crus I and lobule VI. A separate ALE meta-analysis on PNFA studies was not performed due to the limited number of studies available. In addition, the ALE analysis indicated that bilateral Crus I and Crus II were associated with behavioural disruption and cognitive dysfunction. This ALE meta-analysis provides the quantification of the location and extent of cerebellar changes across the main FTD syndromes, which in turn provides evidence of cerebellar contributions to behavioural and cognitive changes in FTD. These results bring new insights into the mechanisms mediating FTD symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Fiona Kumfor
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ramon Landin-Romero
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Muireann Irish
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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13
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Development and validation of a quantitative choline food frequency questionnaire for use with drinking and non-drinking pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa. Nutr J 2018; 17:108. [PMID: 30466439 PMCID: PMC6251124 DOI: 10.1186/s12937-018-0411-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although animal and human studies have demonstrated interactions between dietary choline and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, dietary choline deficiency in pregnancy is common in the US and worldwide. We sought to develop and validate a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) to estimate usual daily choline intake in pregnant mothers. Methods A panel of nutrition experts developed a Choline-QFFQ food item list, including sources with high choline content and the most commonly consumed choline-containing foods in the target population. A data base for choline content of each item was compiled. For reliability and validity testing in a prospective longitudinal cohort, 123 heavy drinking Cape Coloured pregnant women and 83 abstaining/light-drinking controls were recruited at their first antenatal clinic visit. At 3 prenatal study visits, each gravida was interviewed about alcohol, smoking, and drug use, and administered a 24-hour recall interview and the Choline-QFFQ. Results Across all visits and assessments, > 78% of heavy drinkers and controls reported choline intake below the Dietary Reference Intakes adequate intake level (450 mg/day). Women reported a decrease in choline intake over time on the QFFQ. Reliability of the QFFQ across visits was good-to-acceptable for 2 of 4 group-level tests and 4 of 5 individual-level tests for both drinkers and controls. When compared with 24-hr recall data, validity of the QFFQ was good-to-acceptable for 3 of 4 individual-level tests and 3 of 5 group-level tests. For controls, validity was good-to-acceptable for all 4 individual-level tests and all 5 group-level tests. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first quantitative choline food frequency screening questionnaire to be developed and validated for use with both heavy and non-drinking pregnant women and the first to be used in the Cape Coloured community in South Africa. Given the high prevalence of inadequate choline intake and the growing evidence that maternal choline supplementation can mitigate some of the adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, this tool may be useful for both research and future clinical outreach programs.
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14
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Chen Y, Kumfor F, Landin‐Romero R, Irish M, Hodges JR, Piguet O. Cerebellar atrophy and its contribution to cognition in frontotemporal dementias. Ann Neurol 2018; 84:98-109. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.25271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- School of Psychology University of Sydney
- Brain and Mind Centre University of Sydney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders
| | - Fiona Kumfor
- School of Psychology University of Sydney
- Brain and Mind Centre University of Sydney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders
| | - Ramon Landin‐Romero
- School of Psychology University of Sydney
- Brain and Mind Centre University of Sydney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders
| | - Muireann Irish
- School of Psychology University of Sydney
- Brain and Mind Centre University of Sydney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders
| | - John R. Hodges
- Brain and Mind Centre University of Sydney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology University of Sydney
- Brain and Mind Centre University of Sydney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders
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15
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Jacobson SW, Carter RC, Molteno CD, Stanton ME, Herbert J, Lindinger NM, Lewis CE, Dodge NC, Hoyme HE, Zeisel SH, Meintjes EM, Duggan CP, Jacobson JL. Efficacy of Maternal Choline Supplementation During Pregnancy in Mitigating Adverse Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Growth and Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1327-1341. [PMID: 29750367 PMCID: PMC6028282 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We recently demonstrated the acceptability and feasibility of a randomized, double-blind choline supplementation intervention for heavy drinking women during pregnancy. In this study, we report our results relating to the efficacy of this intervention in mitigating adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on infant growth and cognitive function. METHODS Sixty-nine Cape Coloured (mixed ancestry) heavy drinkers in Cape Town, South Africa, recruited in mid-pregnancy, were randomly assigned to receive a daily oral dose of either 2 g of choline or placebo from time of enrollment until delivery. Each dose consisted of an individually wrapped packet of powder that, when mixed with water, produced a sweet tasting grape-flavored drink. The primary outcome, eyeblink conditioning (EBC), was assessed at 6.5 months. Somatic growth was measured at birth, 6.5, and 12 months, recognition memory and processing speed on the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence, at 6.5 and 12 months. RESULTS Infants born to choline-treated mothers were more likely to meet criterion for conditioning on EBC than the placebo group. Moreover, within the choline arm, degree of maternal adherence to the supplementation protocol strongly predicted EBC performance. Both groups were small at birth, but choline-treated infants showed considerable catch-up growth in weight and head circumference at 6.5 and 12 months. At 12 months, the infants in the choline treatment arm had higher novelty preference scores, indicating better visual recognition memory. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study is the first to provide evidence that a high dose of choline administered early in pregnancy can mitigate adverse effects of heavy PAE on EBC, postnatal growth, and cognition in human infants. These findings are consistent with studies of alcohol-exposed animals that have demonstrated beneficial effects of choline supplementation on classical conditioning, learning, and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra W. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - R. Colin Carter
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York, and Institute for Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher D. Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mark E. Stanton
- Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Jane Herbert
- Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nadine M. Lindinger
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Catherine E. Lewis
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Neil C. Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - H. Eugene Hoyme
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Steven. H. Zeisel
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Ernesta M. Meintjes
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christopher P. Duggan
- Center for Nutrition, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph L. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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16
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Carter RC, Chen J, Li Q, Deyssenroth M, Dodge NC, Wainwright HC, Molteno CD, Meintjes EM, Jacobson JL, Jacobson SW. Alcohol-Related Alterations in Placental Imprinted Gene Expression in Humans Mediate Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Postnatal Growth. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1431-1443. [PMID: 29870072 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence in animal models has implicated alcohol-induced alterations in epigenetic programming as an important mechanism in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Imprinted genes, a subset of epigenetically regulated genes that are sensitive to the prenatal environment, are chiefly involved in growth and neurobehavior. We tested the hypothesis that alterations in placental imprinted gene expression mediate fetal alcohol growth restriction. METHODS Placental expression of 109 genes previously shown to be imprinted and expressed in the placenta was assessed using the NanoString™ nCounter Analysis System in flash-frozen samples from 34 heavy drinkers and 31 control women in Cape Town, South Africa, from whom prospective pregnancy alcohol consumption data had been obtained. Length/height, weight, and head circumference were measured at 6.5 and 12 months and at an FASD diagnostic clinic (at ages 1.1 to 4.6 years) that we organized. Imprinted gene expression between exposed and control placentas was compared using the limma R package. The relation of alcohol exposure to World Health Organization length-for-age z-scores was examined before and after inclusion of expression for each alcohol-related imprinted gene, using hierarchical mixed regression models with repeated measures. RESULTS Heavy drinkers averaged 8 standard drinks on 2 to 3 days/wk (vs. 0 for controls). Prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with smaller length/height and weight during the postnatal period. Heavy exposure was related to alterations in expression of 11 of 93 expressed imprinted genes, including increased expression of 5 genes found to be negatively associated with growth and decreased expression of 3 genes positively associated with growth. Alcohol-related alterations in expression of 5 genes statistically mediated the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on length. CONCLUSIONS These findings identify alcohol-related alterations in placental imprinted gene expression as potential biomarkers of adverse effect in FASD and suggest that these alterations may play a mechanistic role in fetal alcohol growth restriction. Future studies are needed to determine whether alterations in imprinted gene expression also mediate FASD neurobehavioral deficits and whether such alterations are amenable to intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Colin Carter
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Institute for Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Maya Deyssenroth
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Neil C Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Helen C Wainwright
- National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christopher D Molteno
- National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- the Departments of Human Biology and of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ernesta M Meintjes
- National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- the Departments of Human Biology and of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
- National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- the Departments of Human Biology and of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
- National Health Laboratory Service, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- the Departments of Human Biology and of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences, Cape Town, South Africa
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