1
|
Pereira MF, Shyti R, Testa G. In and out: Benchmarking in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, and xenografting approaches for an integrative brain disease modeling pipeline. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:767-795. [PMID: 38865969 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cellular models and their neuronal derivatives have afforded unprecedented advances in elucidating pathogenic mechanisms of neuropsychiatric diseases. Notwithstanding their indispensable contribution, animal models remain the benchmark in neurobiological research. In an attempt to harness the best of both worlds, researchers have increasingly relied on human/animal chimeras by xenografting human cells into the animal brain. Despite the unparalleled potential of xenografting approaches in the study of the human brain, literature resources that systematically examine their significance and advantages are surprisingly lacking. We fill this gap by providing a comprehensive account of brain diseases that were thus far subjected to all three modeling approaches (transgenic rodents, in vitro human lineages, human-animal xenografting) and provide a critical appraisal of the impact of xenografting approaches for advancing our understanding of those diseases and brain development. Next, we give our perspective on integrating xenografting modeling pipeline with recent cutting-edge technological advancements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlene F Pereira
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Santa Sofia 9, 20122 Milan, Italy; Neurogenomics Centre, Human Technopole, Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157 Milan, Italy.
| | - Reinald Shyti
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; Neurogenomics Centre, Human Technopole, Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157 Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Via Santa Sofia 9, 20122 Milan, Italy; Neurogenomics Centre, Human Technopole, Viale Rita Levi-Montalcini 1, 20157 Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
DiFilippo A, Jonaitis E, Makuch R, Gambetti B, Fleming V, Ennis G, Barnhart T, Engle J, Bendlin B, Johnson S, Handen B, Krinsky-McHale S, Hartley S, Christian B. Measurement of synaptic density in Down syndrome using PET imaging: a pilot study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4676. [PMID: 38409349 PMCID: PMC10897336 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54669-7] [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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most prevalent genetic cause of intellectual disability, resulting from trisomy 21. Recently, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has been used to image synapses in vivo. The motivation for this pilot study was to investigate whether synaptic density in low functioning adults with DS can be evaluated using the PET radiotracer [11C]UCB-J. Data were acquired from low functioning adults with DS (n = 4) and older neurotypical (NT) adults (n = 37). Motion during the scans required the use of a 10-minute acquisition window for the calculation of synaptic density using SUVR50-60,CS which was determined to be a suitable approximation for specific binding in this analysis using dynamic data from the NT group. Of the regions analyzed a large effect was observed when comparing DS and NT hippocampus and cerebral cortex synaptic density as well as hippocampus and cerebellum volumes. In this pilot study, PET imaging of [11C]UCB-J was successfully completed and synaptic density measured in low functioning DS adults. This work provides the basis for studies where synaptic density may be compared between larger groups of NT adults and adults with DS who have varying degrees of baseline cognitive status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra DiFilippo
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Erin Jonaitis
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Renee Makuch
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Brianna Gambetti
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Victoria Fleming
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Gilda Ennis
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Todd Barnhart
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jonathan Engle
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Barbara Bendlin
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sterling Johnson
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Benjamin Handen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sharon Krinsky-McHale
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, USA
| | - Sigan Hartley
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bradley Christian
- Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center, Madison, WI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hergenreder T, Yang T, Ye B. The role of Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule in Down syndrome. MEDICAL REVIEW (2021) 2024; 4:31-41. [PMID: 38515781 PMCID: PMC10954295 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2023-0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the presence of an extra copy of the entire or a portion of human chromosome 21 (HSA21). This genomic alteration leads to elevated expression of numerous HSA21 genes, resulting in a variety of health issues in individuals with DS. Among the genes located in the DS "critical region" of HSA21, Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) plays an important role in neuronal development. There is a growing body of evidence underscoring DSCAM's involvement in various DS-related disorders. This review aims to provide a concise overview of the established functions of DSCAM, with a particular focus on its implications in DS. We delve into the roles that DSCAM plays in DS-associated diseases. In the concluding section of this review, we explore prospective avenues for future research to further unravel DSCAM's role in DS and opportunities for therapeutic treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ty Hergenreder
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tao Yang
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bing Ye
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abukhaled Y, Hatab K, Awadhalla M, Hamdan H. Understanding the genetic mechanisms and cognitive impairments in Down syndrome: towards a holistic approach. J Neurol 2024; 271:87-104. [PMID: 37561187 PMCID: PMC10769995 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11890-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
The most common genetic cause of intellectual disability is Down syndrome (DS), trisomy 21. It commonly results from three copies of human chromosome 21 (HC21). There are no mutations or deletions involved in DS. Instead, the phenotype is caused by altered transcription of the genes on HC21. These transcriptional variations are responsible for a myriad of symptoms affecting every organ system. A very debilitating aspect of DS is intellectual disability (ID). Although tremendous advances have been made to try and understand the underlying mechanisms of ID, there is a lack of a unified, holistic view to defining the cause and managing the cognitive impairments. In this literature review, we discuss the mechanisms of neuronal over-inhibition, abnormal morphology, and other genetic factors in contributing to the development of ID in DS patients and to gain a holistic understanding of ID in DS patients. We also highlight potential therapeutic approaches to improve the quality of life of DS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yara Abukhaled
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kenana Hatab
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad Awadhalla
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamdan Hamdan
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center (HEIC), Khalifa University, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hawley LE, Stringer M, Deal AJ, Folz A, Goodlett CR, Roper RJ. Sex-specific developmental alterations in DYRK1A expression in the brain of a Down syndrome mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 190:106359. [PMID: 37992782 PMCID: PMC10843801 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106359] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant neurodevelopment in Down syndrome (DS)-caused by triplication of human chromosome 21-is commonly attributed to gene dosage imbalance, linking overexpression of trisomic genes with disrupted developmental processes, with DYRK1A particularly implicated. We hypothesized that regional brain DYRK1A protein overexpression in trisomic mice varies over development in sex-specific patterns that may be distinct from Dyrk1a transcription, and reduction of Dyrk1a copy number from 3 to 2 in otherwise trisomic mice reduces DYRK1A, independent of other trisomic genes. DYRK1A overexpression varied with age, sex, and brain region, with peak overexpression on postnatal day (P) 6 in both sexes. Sex-dependent differences were also evident from P15-P24. Reducing Dyrk1a copy number confirmed that these differences depended on Dyrk1a gene dosage and not other trisomic genes. Trisomic Dyrk1a mRNA and protein expression were not highly correlated. Sex-specific patterns of DYRK1A overexpression during trisomic neurodevelopment may provide mechanistic targets for therapeutic intervention in DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Hawley
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan Street, SL306, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Megan Stringer
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford Street, LD124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Abigail J Deal
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan Street, SL306, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Andrew Folz
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan Street, SL306, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Charles R Goodlett
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 402 N. Blackford Street, LD124, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Randall J Roper
- Department of Biology, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan Street, SL306, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Post EM, Kraemer WJ. Physiological Mechanisms That Impact Exercise Adaptations for Individuals With Down Syndrome. J Strength Cond Res 2023; 37:e646-e655. [PMID: 38015740 DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000004658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Post, EM, and Kraemer, WJ. Physiological mechanisms that impact exercise adaptations for individuals with Down syndrome. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): e646-e655, 2023-Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal disorder diagnosed in the United States since 2014. There is a wide range of intellectual severities, with the average IQ of individuals with DS at approximately 50 and adults without intellectual delay at approximately 70-130. Individuals with DS vary from mild to severe cognitive impairment, depending on the phenotypic penetration on the 21st chromosome, with the average cognitive capacity equivalent to a cognitive functioning of an 8- to 9-year-old child. To have successful health, all aspects of health must be considered (i.e., overall health, fitness, and social). Both aerobic training and resistance training (RT) are favored for a healthy lifestyle. Resistance training specifically can help improve motor function and overall activities of daily living. Although many motivational and environmental barriers for individuals with DS can make exercising difficult, there are many ways to overcome those barriers (both intrinsically and extrinsically). Individuals with DS should strive for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise a week or a combination of both. The individual should also strive for 2 or more days a week of strengthening activities, such as RT, involving all muscle groups. These activities will help improve many aspects of life, leading to a better quality of life. Regular group exercise activity can help increase self-confidence and success socially in life. This review will focus on the underlying biological mechanisms related to DS, their influence on exercise, and the roles exercise plays in mediating positive health, physical fitness, and social lifestyle outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Post
- Department of Health and Sports Science, Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio
| | - William J Kraemer
- Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut; and
- Exercise Medicine Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Serrano ME, Kim E, Siow B, Ma D, Rojo L, Simmons C, Hayward D, Gibbins D, Singh N, Strydom A, Fisher EM, Tybulewicz VL, Cash D. Investigating brain alterations in the Dp1Tyb mouse model of Down syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 188:106336. [PMID: 38317803 PMCID: PMC7615598 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106336] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common birth defects and the most prevalent genetic form of intellectual disability. DS arises from trisomy of chromosome 21, but its molecular and pathological consequences are not fully understood. In this study, we compared Dp1Tyb mice, a DS model, against their wild-type (WT) littermates of both sexes to investigate the impact of DS-related genetic abnormalities on the brain phenotype. We performed in vivo whole brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hippocampal 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) on the animals at 3 months of age. Subsequently, ex vivo MRI scans and histological analyses were conducted post-mortem. Our findings unveiled the following neuroanatomical and biochemical alterations in the Dp1Tyb brains: a smaller surface area and a rounder shape compared to WT brains, with DS males also presenting smaller global brain volume compared with the counterpart WT. Regional volumetric analysis revealed significant changes in 26 out of 72 examined brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus. These alterations were consistently observed in both in vivo and ex vivo imaging data. Additionally, high-resolution ex vivo imaging enabled us to investigate cerebellar layers and hippocampal sub-regions, revealing selective areas of decrease and remodelling in these structures. An analysis of hippocampal metabolites revealed an elevation in glutamine and the glutamine/glutamate ratio in the Dp1Tyb mice compared to controls, suggesting a possible imbalance in the excitation/inhibition ratio. This was accompanied by the decreased levels of taurine. Histological analysis revealed fewer neurons in the hippocampal CA3 and DG layers, along with an increase in astrocytes and microglia. These findings recapitulate multiple neuroanatomical and biochemical features associated with DS, enriching our understanding of the potential connection between chromosome 21 trisomy and the resultant phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elisa Serrano
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugene Kim
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bernard Siow
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Da Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine Section of Gerontology and Geriatric Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Loreto Rojo
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camilla Simmons
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Nisha Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Andre Strydom
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth M.C. Fisher
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | | | - Diana Cash
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Arthun J, Aldaz S, Hayes P, Roberts JS, Olson LE. Volume of the thalamus and hypothalamus in the Ts1Rhr and Ms1Rhr mouse models relevant to Down syndrome. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000981. [PMID: 38021171 PMCID: PMC10644112 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
A variety of mouse models for Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) have been created to test hypotheses about the correlation of phenotypes to gene content and copy number. Ts1Rhr mice are trisomic for a region on mouse chromosome 16 that is homologous to 5.3 Mb of human chromosome 21. Ms1Rhr mice are monosomic for this region. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has revealed characteristic volumetric changes in the brains of humans with Down syndrome such as reductions in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and brain stem, and increases in the ventricles and thalamus. We used MRI with region of interest analysis to measure the volume of the thalamus and hypothalamus in Ts1Rhr, Ms1Rhr, and euploid control mice (n = 10-11 per group). Ts1Rhr mice had a 6.6% reduction and Ms1Rhr mice had an 8.2% reduction in the volume of the thalamus. Ts1Rhr and Ms1Rhr hypothalamic volumes were equivalent to controls. Conflicting data in mouse models show a lack of clarity on causative roles of regions homologous to human chromosome 21 in phenotypes related to the thalamus and hypothalamus in Down syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pete Hayes
- Biology, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hamadelseed O, Skutella T. Correlating MRI-based brain volumetry and cognitive assessment in people with Down syndrome. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3186. [PMID: 37496380 PMCID: PMC10570489 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. Children and adults with DS show deficits in language performance and explicit memory. Here, we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on children and adults with DS to characterize changes in the volume of specific brain structures involved in memory and language and their relationship to features of cognitive-behavioral phenotypes. METHODS Thirteen children and adults with the DS phenotype and 12 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (age range 4-25) underwent an assessment by MRI and a psychological evaluation for language and cognitive abilities. RESULTS The cognitive profile of people with DS showed deficits in different cognition and language domains correlating with reduced volumes of specific regional and subregional brain structures, confirming previous related studies. Interestingly, in our study, people with DS also showed more significant parahippocampal gyrus volumes, in agreement with the results found in earlier reports. CONCLUSIONS The memory functions and language skills affected in studied individuals with DS correlate significantly with the reduced volume of specific brain regions, allowing us to understand DS's cognitive-behavioral phenotype. Our results provide an essential basis for early intervention and the design of rehabilitation management protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osama Hamadelseed
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell BiologyUniversity of HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell BiologyUniversity of HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Conceição ASGG, Sant Ana LFG, Mattar GP, de Fátima R Silva M, Ramos AR, Oliveira AM, Carvalho CL, Gonçalves OR, Varotto BLR, Martinez LD, Leduc V, Fonseca LM, Forlenza OV. Balance and Gait: Associations With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Individuals With Down Syndrome. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2023; 37:349-356. [PMID: 37788381 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atypical aging in Down syndrome (DS) is associated with neuropathological characteristics consistent with Alzheimer disease. Gait abnormalities have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of dementia for the general population. The aim of this study was to determine whether gait disorders are associated with worse cognitive performance and dementia in adults with DS. METHODS We evaluated 66 individuals with DS (≥20 y of age), divided into 3 groups: stable cognition, prodromal dementia, and dementia (presumed Alzheimer disease). Each individual was evaluated with the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), Timed Up and Go test, and Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's Syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS), in addition to a comprehensive clinical protocol to ascertain the occurrence of medical or psychiatric comorbidities. RESULTS The score on the POMA-Gait subscale score and body mass index were found to be independent predictors of prodromal dementia and dementia ( P <0.001 for both). With the exception of perception, all cognitive domains correlated with the POMA-Total score ( P <0.05). CONCLUSION A lower POMA-Gait score increases the chance of prodromal dementia and dementia in adults with DS. Unlike other research, in this study higher body mass index was also found to increase the chance of prodromal dementia and dementia. In those individuals, applying the POMA could facilitate the early diagnosis of dementia, help identify fall risks, and promote the adoption of geriatric interventions focused on improving functional mobility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lívea F G Sant Ana
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | - Guilherme P Mattar
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | - Maria de Fátima R Silva
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
- Old Age Research Group, Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | - Andressa R Ramos
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | | | - Claudia L Carvalho
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | | | - Bruna L R Varotto
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | - Luana D Martinez
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | - Vinícius Leduc
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| | - Luciana M Fonseca
- Dental Team, Instituto de Psiquiatria do, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo HCFMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Community and Behavioral Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - Orestes V Forlenza
- Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
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
|
12
|
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
|
13
|
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
|
14
|
Barraza-Núñez N, Pérez-Núñez R, Gaete-Ramírez B, Barrios-Garrido A, Arriagada C, Poksay K, John V, Barnier JV, Cárdenas AM, Caviedes P. Pharmacological Inhibition of p-21 Activated Kinase (PAK) Restores Impaired Neurite Outgrowth and Remodeling in a Cellular Model of Down Syndrome. Neurotox Res 2023; 41:256-269. [PMID: 36867391 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-023-00638-3] [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: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by the trisomy of chromosome 21 and by cognitive deficits that have been related to neuronal morphological alterations in humans, as well as in animal models. The gene encoding for amyloid precursor protein (APP) is present in autosome 21, and its overexpression in DS has been linked to neuronal dysfunction, cognitive deficit, and Alzheimer's disease-like dementia. In particular, the neuronal ability to extend processes and branching is affected. Current evidence suggests that APP could also regulate neurite growth through its role in the actin cytoskeleton, in part by influencing p21-activated kinase (PAK) activity. The latter effect is carried out by an increased abundance of the caspase cleavage-released carboxy-terminal C31 fragment. In this work, using a neuronal cell line named CTb, which derived from the cerebral cortex of a trisomy 16 mouse, an animal model of human DS, we observed an overexpression of APP, elevated caspase activity, augmented cleavage of the C-terminal fragment of APP, and increased PAK1 phosphorylation. Morphometric analyses showed that inhibition of PAK1 activity with FRAX486 increased the average length of the neurites, the number of crossings per Sholl ring, the formation of new processes, and stimulated the loss of processes. Considering our results, we propose that PAK hyperphosphorylation impairs neurite outgrowth and remodeling in the cellular model of DS, and therefore we suggest that PAK1 may be a potential pharmacological target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Barraza-Núñez
- Program of Molecular & Clinical Pharmacology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ramón Pérez-Núñez
- Program of Molecular & Clinical Pharmacology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Belén Gaete-Ramírez
- Program of Molecular & Clinical Pharmacology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Barrios-Garrido
- Program of Molecular & Clinical Pharmacology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Arriagada
- Department of Anatomy & Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Varghese John
- Department of Neurology, Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Vianney Barnier
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, UMR 9197, CNRS-Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Pablo Caviedes
- Program of Molecular & Clinical Pharmacology, ICBM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Center for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB), Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology & Materials, Faculty of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Fernández-Blanco Á, Zamora-Moratalla A, Sabariego-Navarro M, Dierssen M. Defective engram allocation contributes to impaired fear memory performance in Down syndrome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523460. [PMID: 36711850 PMCID: PMC9882045 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic form of intellectual disability (ID). The cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to ID in DS are not completely understood. Recent evidence indicates that a given memory is encoded by sparsely distributed neurons, highly activated during learning, the engram cells. Intriguingly, mechanisms that are of paramount importance for engram formation are impaired in DS. Here we explored engram formation in a DS mouse model, the Ts65Dn and we found a reduced number of engram cells in the dentate gyrus (DG), suggesting reduced neuronal allocation to engrams. We also show that trisomic engram cells present reduced number of mature spines than WT engram cells and their excitability is not enhanced during memory recall. In fact, activation of engram cells using a chemogenetic approach does not recover memory deficits in Ts65Dn. Altogether, our findings suggest that perturbations in engram neurons may play a significant role in memory alterations in DS.
Collapse
|
16
|
Klein JA, Haydar TF. Neurodevelopment in Down syndrome: Concordance in humans and models. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:941855. [PMID: 35910249 PMCID: PMC9334873 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.941855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Great strides have been made over the past 30 years in understanding the neurodevelopmental changes underlying the intellectual disability (ID) in Down syndrome (DS). Detailed studies of human tissue coupled with findings from rodent and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) model systems have uncovered the changes in neurogenesis, synaptic connectivity, and myelination that drive the anatomical and physiological changes resulting in the disability. However, there remain significant conflicting data between human studies and the models. To fully understand the development of ID in DS, these inconsistencies need to be reconciled. Here, we review the well documented neurodevelopmental phenotypes found in individuals with DS and examine the degree to which widely used models recapitulate these phenotypes. Resolving these areas of discord will further research on the molecular underpinnings and identify potential treatments to improve the independence and quality of life of people with DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny A. Klein
- Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tarik F. Haydar
- Children’s National Hospital, Center for Neuroscience Research, Washington, DC, United States
- Departments of Pediatrics, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Queder N, Phelan MJ, Taylor L, Tustison N, Doran E, Hom C, Nguyen D, Lai F, Pulsifer M, Price J, Kreisl WC, Rosas HD, Krinsky‐McHale S, Brickman AM, Yassa MA, Schupf N, Silverman W, Lott IT, Head E, Mapstone M, Keator DB, Ances BM, Andrews HF, Bell K, Birn RM, Brickman AM, Bulova P, Cheema A, Chen K, Christian BT, Clare I, Clark L, Cohen AD, Constantino JN, Doran EW, Fagan A, Feingold E, Foroud TM, Handen BL, Hartley SL, Head E, Henson R, Hom C, Honig L, Ikonomovic MD, Johnson SC, Jordan C, Kamboh MI, Keator D, Klunk WE, Kofler JK, Kreisl WC, Krinsky‐McHale SJ, Lai F, Lao P, Laymon C, Lee JH, Lott IT, Lupson V, Mapstone M, Mathis CA, Minhas DS, Nadkarni N, O'Bryant S, Pang D, Petersen M, Price JC, Pulsifer M, Reiman E, Rizvi B, Rosas HD, Schupf N, Silverman WP, Tudorascu DL, Tumuluru R, Tycko B, Varadarajan B, White DA, Yassa MA, Zaman S, Zhang F. Joint-label fusion brain atlases for dementia research in Down syndrome. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 14:e12324. [PMID: 35634535 PMCID: PMC9131930 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests a link between Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome (DS) and the overproduction of amyloid plaques. Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) we can assess the in-vivo regional amyloid load using several available ligands. To measure amyloid distributions in specific brain regions, a brain atlas is used. A popular method of creating a brain atlas is to segment a participant's structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. Acquiring an MRI is often challenging in intellectually-imparied populations because of contraindications or data exclusion due to significant motion artifacts or incomplete sequences related to general discomfort. When an MRI cannot be acquired, it is typically replaced with a standardized brain atlas derived from neurotypical populations (i.e. healthy individuals without DS) which may be inappropriate for use in DS. In this project, we create a series of disease and diagnosis-specific (cognitively stable (CS-DS), mild cognitive impairment (MCI-DS), and dementia (DEM-DS)) probabilistic group atlases of participants with DS and evaluate their accuracy of quantifying regional amyloid load compared to the individually-based MRI segmentations. Further, we compare the diagnostic-specific atlases with a probabilistic atlas constructed from similar-aged cognitively-stable neurotypical participants. We hypothesized that regional PET signals will best match the individually-based MRI segmentations by using DS group atlases that aligns with a participant's disorder and disease status (e.g. DS and MCI-DS). Our results vary by brain region but generally show that using a disorder-specific atlas in DS better matches the individually-based MRI segmentations than using an atlas constructed from cognitively-stable neurotypical participants. We found no additional benefit of using diagnose-specific atlases matching disease status. All atlases are made publicly available for the research community. Highlight Down syndrome (DS) joint-label-fusion atlases provide accurate positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid measurements.A disorder-specific DS atlas is better than a neurotypical atlas for PET quantification.It is not necessary to use a disease-state-specific atlas for quantification in aged DS.Dorsal striatum results vary, possibly due to this region and dementia progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nazek Queder
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and MemoryUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael J. Phelan
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological DisordersUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lisa Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nicholas Tustison
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Eric Doran
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of CaliforniaIrvine Medical CenterOrangeCaliforniaUSA
| | - Christy Hom
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dana Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Florence Lai
- Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Margaret Pulsifer
- Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Julie Price
- Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Herminia D. Rosas
- Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard UniversityBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sharon Krinsky‐McHale
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental DisabilitiesNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Adam M. Brickman
- Department of NeurologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainDepartment of NeurologyVagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Michael A. Yassa
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and MemoryUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA,Department of NeurologyUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Nicole Schupf
- Department of NeurologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA,Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging BrainDepartment of NeurologyVagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Wayne Silverman
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of CaliforniaIrvine Medical CenterOrangeCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ira T. Lott
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of CaliforniaIrvine Medical CenterOrangeCaliforniaUSA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Mark Mapstone
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - David B. Keator
- Department of Psychiatry and Human BehaviorUniversity of California IrvineIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Hamadelseed O, Elkhidir IH, Skutella T. Psychosocial Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease in Patients with Down Syndrome and Their Association with Brain Changes: A Narrative Review. Neurol Ther 2022; 11:931-953. [PMID: 35596914 PMCID: PMC9338203 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-022-00361-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Several recent epidemiological studies attempted to identify risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Age, family history, genetic factors (APOE genotype, trisomy 21), physical activity, and a low level of schooling are significant risk factors. In this review, we summarize the known psychosocial risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with Down syndrome and their association with neuroanatomical changes in the brains of people with Down syndrome. We completed a comprehensive review of the literature on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science about psychosocial risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, for Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome and their association with neuroanatomical changes in the brains of people with Down syndrome. Alzheimer’s disease causes early pathological changes in individuals with Down syndrome, especially in the hippocampus and corpus callosum. People with Down syndrome living with dementia showed reduced volumes of brain areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease as the hippocampus and corpus callosum in association with cognitive decline. These changes occur with increasing age, and the presence or absence of psychosocial risk factors impacts the degree of cognitive function. Correlating Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers in Down syndrome and cognitive function scores while considering the effect of psychosocial risk factors helps us identify the mechanisms leading to Alzheimer’s disease at an early age. Also, this approach enables us to create more sensitive and relevant clinical, memory, and reasoning assessments for people with Down syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osama Hamadelseed
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ibrahim H Elkhidir
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr St., Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Pietschnig J, Gerdesmann D, Zeiler M, Voracek M. Of differing methods, disputed estimates and discordant interpretations: the meta-analytical multiverse of brain volume and IQ associations. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211621. [PMID: 35573038 PMCID: PMC9096623 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Brain size and IQ are positively correlated. However, multiple meta-analyses have led to considerable differences in summary effect estimations, thus failing to provide a plausible effect estimate. Here we aim at resolving this issue by providing the largest meta-analysis and systematic review so far of the brain volume and IQ association (86 studies; 454 effect sizes from k = 194 independent samples; N = 26 000+) in three cognitive ability domains (full-scale, verbal, performance IQ). By means of competing meta-analytical approaches as well as combinatorial and specification curve analyses, we show that most reasonable estimates for the brain size and IQ link yield r-values in the mid-0.20s, with the most extreme specifications yielding rs of 0.10 and 0.37. Summary effects appeared to be somewhat inflated due to selective reporting, and cross-temporally decreasing effect sizes indicated a confounding decline effect, with three quarters of the summary effect estimations according to any reasonable specification not exceeding r = 0.26, thus contrasting effect sizes were observed in some prior related, but individual, meta-analytical specifications. Brain size and IQ associations yielded r = 0.24, with the strongest effects observed for more g-loaded tests and in healthy samples that generalize across participant sex and age bands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Pietschnig
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Gerdesmann
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria
- Department of Physics Education, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology, University of Education Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Zeiler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Voracek
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
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
|
21
|
Fonseca LM, Mattar GP, Haddad GG, Burduli E, McPherson SM, Guilhoto LMDFF, Yassuda MS, Busatto GF, Bottino CMDC, Hoexter MQ, Chaytor NS. Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome and Its Impact on Caregiver Distress. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:137-154. [PMID: 33749644 PMCID: PMC9789481 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are non-cognitive manifestations common to dementia and other medical conditions, with important consequences for the patient, caregivers, and society. Studies investigating NPS in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and dementia are scarce. OBJECTIVE Characterize NPS and caregiver distress among adults with DS using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). METHODS We evaluated 92 individuals with DS (≥30 years of age), divided by clinical diagnosis: stable cognition, prodromal dementia, and AD. Diagnosis was determined by a psychiatrist using the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's Syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS). NPS and caregiver distress were evaluated by an independent psychiatrist using the NPI, and participants underwent a neuropsychological assessment with Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG-DS). RESULTS Symptom severity differed between-groups for delusion, agitation, apathy, aberrant motor behavior, nighttime behavior disturbance, and total NPI scores, with NPS total score being found to be a predictor of AD in comparison to stable cognition (OR for one-point increase in the NPI = 1.342, p = 0.012). Agitation, apathy, nighttime behavior disturbances, and total NPI were associated with CAMCOG-DS, and 62% of caregivers of individuals with AD reported severe distress related to NPS. Caregiver distress was most impacted by symptoms of apathy followed by nighttime behavior, appetite/eating abnormalities, anxiety, irritability, disinhibition, and depression (R2 = 0.627, F(15,76) = 8.510, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION NPS are frequent and severe in individuals with DS and AD, contributing to caregiver distress. NPS in DS must be considered of critical relevance demanding management and treatment. Further studies are warranted to understand the biological underpinnings of such symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Mascarenhas Fonseca
- Department of Medical Education and Clinical Science, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA,Programa Terceira Idade PROTER, Old Age Research Group, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil,Corresponding author to: Luciana Mascarenhas Fonseca, Department of Medical Education and Clinical Science, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, 665 N Riverpoint Blvd, Office 453, Spokane, WA 99202, USA. Tel.: +1 509 368 6948; E-mail:
| | - Guilherme Prado Mattar
- Programa Terceira Idade PROTER, Old Age Research Group, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Glenda Guerra Haddad
- Programa Terceira Idade PROTER, Old Age Research Group, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Sterling M. McPherson
- Department of Medical Education and Clinical Science, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Geraldo Filho Busatto
- Programa Terceira Idade PROTER, Old Age Research Group, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil,Laboratorio de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria (LIM21, Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cassio Machado de Campos Bottino
- Programa Terceira Idade PROTER, Old Age Research Group, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Queiroz Hoexter
- Projeto Transtornos do Espectro Obsessivo-Compulsivo PROTOC, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Program, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Naomi Sage Chaytor
- Department of Medical Education and Clinical Science, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
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
|
23
|
Tarui T, Im K, Madan N, Madankumar R, Skotko BG, Schwartz A, Sharr C, Ralston SJ, Kitano R, Akiyama S, Yun HJ, Grant E, Bianchi DW. Quantitative MRI Analyses of Regional Brain Growth in Living Fetuses with Down Syndrome. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:382-390. [PMID: 31264685 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common liveborn autosomal chromosomal anomaly and is a major cause of developmental disability. Atypical brain development and the resulting intellectual disability originate during the fetal period. Perinatal interventions to correct such aberrant development are on the horizon in preclinical studies. However, we lack tools to sensitively measure aberrant structural brain development in living human fetuses with DS. In this study, we aimed to develop safe and precise neuroimaging measures to monitor fetal brain development in DS. We measured growth patterns of regional brain structures in 10 fetal brains with DS (29.1 ± 4.2, weeks of gestation, mean ± SD, range 21.7~35.1) and 12 control fetuses (25.2 ± 5.0, range 18.6~33.3) using regional volumetric analysis of fetal brain MRI. All cases with DS had confirmed karyotypes. We performed non-linear regression models to compare fitted regional growth curves between DS and controls. We found decreased growth trajectories of the cortical plate (P = 0.033), the subcortical parenchyma (P = 0.010), and the cerebellar hemispheres (P < 0.0001) in DS compared to controls. This study provides proof of principle that regional volumetric analysis of fetal brain MRI facilitates successful evaluation of brain development in living fetuses with DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomo Tarui
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Fetal Neonatal Neurology Program, Pediatric Neurology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kiho Im
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Neel Madan
- Radiology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rajeevi Madankumar
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
| | - Brian G Skotko
- Down Syndrome Program, Genetics, Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Allie Schwartz
- Down Syndrome Program, Genetics, Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christianne Sharr
- Down Syndrome Program, Genetics, Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steven J Ralston
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rie Kitano
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Fetal Neonatal Neurology Program, Pediatric Neurology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shizuko Akiyama
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Fetal Neonatal Neurology Program, Pediatric Neurology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hyuk Jin Yun
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diana W Bianchi
- Prenatal Genomics and Fetal Therapy Section, Medical Gen etics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Banta Lavenex P, Lavenex P. A Critical Review of Spatial Abilities in Down and Williams Syndromes: Not All Space Is Created Equal. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:669320. [PMID: 34122185 PMCID: PMC8193736 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.669320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS, Trisomy 21) and Williams syndrome (WS) are two neurodevelopmental disorders of genetic origin that are accompanied by mild to moderate intellectual disability but exhibit distinct cognitive profiles. In this review we discuss our recent work characterizing the real-world spatial learning and memory abilities of adult individuals with DS and WS. We used several different paradigms in which participants locomote freely and have access to coherent input from all sensory modalities to investigate their fundamental egocentric (body-centered or viewpoint-dependent) and allocentric (world-centered or viewpoint-independent) spatial abilities. We found unequivocal evidence that most individuals with DS exhibit low-resolution egocentric and allocentric spatial learning and memory abilities similar to typically developing (TD) children in the same mental age range. In contrast, most individuals with DS exhibit impaired high-resolution allocentric spatial learning and facilitated response learning as compared to TD children. In comparison, whereas most individuals with WS also exhibit facilitated response learning, their low-resolution allocentric spatial learning and memory abilities are severely impaired as compared to both TD children and individuals with DS. Together with work from other laboratories using real-world or virtual reality paradigms, these findings indicate that in order to navigate in their environment most individuals with DS may use either egocentric route learning that does not integrate individual landmarks, or a low-resolution allocentric spatial representation that encodes the relationships between different locations (i.e., cognitive mapping). In contrast, since most individuals with WS are unable to build or use a low-resolution allocentric or configural representation of the environment they may use visually and verbally encoded landmarks as beacons to learn routes. Finally, we discuss the main neural structures implicated in these different spatial processes and explain how the relative preservation or impairment of specific brain functions may engender the unique cognitive profiles observed in individuals with these neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Banta Lavenex
- Faculty of Psychology, UniDistance Suisse, Brig, Switzerland.,Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Lavenex
- Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Fernández-Blanco Á, Dierssen M. Rethinking Intellectual Disability from Neuro- to Astro-Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9039. [PMID: 33261169 PMCID: PMC7730506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders arise from genetic and/or from environmental factors and are characterized by different degrees of intellectual disability. The mechanisms that govern important processes sustaining learning and memory, which are severely affected in intellectual disability, have classically been thought to be exclusively under neuronal control. However, this vision has recently evolved into a more integrative conception in which astroglia, rather than just acting as metabolic supply and structural anchoring for neurons, interact at distinct levels modulating neuronal communication and possibly also cognitive processes. Recently, genetic tools have made it possible to specifically manipulate astrocyte activity unraveling novel functions that involve astrocytes in memory function in the healthy brain. However, astrocyte manipulation has also underscored potential mechanisms by which dysfunctional astrocytes could contribute to memory deficits in several neurodevelopmental disorders revealing new pathogenic mechanisms in intellectual disability. Here, we review the current knowledge about astrocyte dysfunction that might contribute to learning and memory impairment in neurodevelopmental disorders, with special focus on Fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Fernández-Blanco
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Fonseca LM, Padilla C, Jones E, Neale N, Haddad GG, Mattar GP, Barros E, Clare ICH, Busatto GF, Bottino CMC, Hoexter MQ, Holland AJ, Zaman S. Amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms of dementia: An international study of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down's syndrome. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2020; 35:650-661. [PMID: 32100307 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The presence of age-related neuropathology characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in people with Down syndrome (DS) is well-established. However, the early symptoms of dementia may be atypical and appear related to dysfunction of prefrontal circuitry. OBJECTIVE To characterize the initial informant reported age-related neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in people with DS, and their relationship to AD and frontal lobe function. METHODS Non-amnestic informant reported symptoms (disinhibition, apathy, and executive dysfunction) and amnestic symptoms from the CAMDEX-DS informant interview were analyzed in a cross-sectional cohort of 162 participants with DS over 30 years of age, divided into three groups: stable cognition, prodromal dementia, and AD. To investigate age-related symptoms prior to evidence of prodromal dementia we stratified the stable cognition group by age. RESULTS Amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms were present before evidence of informant-reported cognitive decline. In those who received the diagnosis of AD, symptoms tended to be more marked. Memory impairments were more marked in the prodromal dementia than the stable cognition group (OR = 35.07; P < .001), as was executive dysfunction (OR = 7.16; P < .001). Disinhibition was greater in the AD than in the prodromal dementia group (OR = 3.54; P = .04). Apathy was more pronounced in the AD than in the stable cognition group (OR = 34.18; P < .001). CONCLUSION Premorbid amnestic and non-amnestic symptoms as reported by informants increase with the progression to AD. For the formal diagnosis of AD in DS this progression of symptoms needs to be taken into account. An understanding of the unique clinical presentation of DS in AD should inform treatment options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana M Fonseca
- Programa Terceira Idade (PROTER, Old Age Research Group), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Medical Education and Clinical Science, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Natalie Neale
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Glenda G Haddad
- Programa Terceira Idade (PROTER, Old Age Research Group), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme P Mattar
- Programa Terceira Idade (PROTER, Old Age Research Group), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eriton Barros
- Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabel C H Clare
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.,NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England, Cambridge, UK
| | - Geraldo F Busatto
- Programa Terceira Idade (PROTER, Old Age Research Group), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratorio de Neuroimagem em Psiquiatria (LIM21, Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cassio M C Bottino
- Programa Terceira Idade (PROTER, Old Age Research Group), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Q Hoexter
- Projeto Transtornos do Espectro Obsessivo-Compulsivo (PROTOC, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Program), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Shahid Zaman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lee NR, Nayak A, Irfanoglu MO, Sadeghi N, Stoodley CJ, Adeyemi E, Clasen LS, Pierpaoli C. Hypoplasia of cerebellar afferent networks in Down syndrome revealed by DTI-driven tensor based morphometry. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5447. [PMID: 32214129 PMCID: PMC7096514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61799-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations of brain anatomy in children and young adults with Down syndrome (DS) are limited, with no diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies covering that age range. We used DTI-driven tensor based morphometry (DTBM), a novel technique that extracts morphometric information from diffusion data, to investigate brain anatomy in 15 participants with DS and 15 age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) controls, ages 6-24 years (mean age ~17 years). DTBM revealed marked hypoplasia of cerebellar afferent systems in DS, including fronto-pontine (middle cerebellar peduncle) and olivo-cerebellar (inferior cerebellar peduncle) connections. Prominent gray matter hypoplasia was observed in medial frontal regions, the inferior olives, and the cerebellum. Very few abnormalities were detected by classical diffusion MRI metrics, such as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity. Our results highlight the potential importance of cerebro-cerebellar networks in the clinical manifestations of DS and suggest a role for DTBM in the investigation of other brain disorders involving white matter hypoplasia or atrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Raitano Lee
- Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Amritha Nayak
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Quantitative Medical Imaging Section, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - M Okan Irfanoglu
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Quantitative Medical Imaging Section, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Neda Sadeghi
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Quantitative Medical Imaging Section, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | | | - Liv S Clasen
- National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Developmental Neurogenomics Unit, Human Genetics Branch, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Carlo Pierpaoli
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Quantitative Medical Imaging Section, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Laan L, Klar J, Sobol M, Hoeber J, Shahsavani M, Kele M, Fatima A, Zakaria M, Annerén G, Falk A, Schuster J, Dahl N. DNA methylation changes in Down syndrome derived neural iPSCs uncover co-dysregulation of ZNF and HOX3 families of transcription factors. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:9. [PMID: 31915063 PMCID: PMC6950999 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0803-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by neurodevelopmental abnormalities caused by partial or complete trisomy of human chromosome 21 (T21). Analysis of Down syndrome brain specimens has shown global epigenetic and transcriptional changes but their interplay during early neurogenesis remains largely unknown. We differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) established from two DS patients with complete T21 and matched euploid donors into two distinct neural stages corresponding to early- and mid-gestational ages. Results Using the Illumina Infinium 450K array, we assessed the DNA methylation pattern of known CpG regions and promoters across the genome in trisomic neural iPSC derivatives, and we identified a total of 500 stably and differentially methylated CpGs that were annotated to CpG islands of 151 genes. The genes were enriched within the DNA binding category, uncovering 37 factors of importance for transcriptional regulation and chromatin structure. In particular, we observed regional epigenetic changes of the transcription factor genes ZNF69, ZNF700 and ZNF763 as well as the HOXA3, HOXB3 and HOXD3 genes. A similar clustering of differential methylation was found in the CpG islands of the HIST1 genes suggesting effects on chromatin remodeling. Conclusions The study shows that early established differential methylation in neural iPSC derivatives with T21 are associated with a set of genes relevant for DS brain development, providing a novel framework for further studies on epigenetic changes and transcriptional dysregulation during T21 neurogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loora Laan
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joakim Klar
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Sobol
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Hoeber
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Malin Kele
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ambrin Fatima
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Muhammad Zakaria
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Göran Annerén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Falk
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens Schuster
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Niklas Dahl
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Martínez Cué C, Dierssen M. Plasticity as a therapeutic target for improving cognition and behavior in Down syndrome. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 251:269-302. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
30
|
Shiohama T, Levman J, Baumer N, Takahashi E. Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Brain Morphology Study in Infants and Toddlers With Down Syndrome: The Effect of Comorbidities. Pediatr Neurol 2019; 100:67-73. [PMID: 31036426 PMCID: PMC6755072 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Down syndrome (DS) is the most prevalent chromosomal disorder characterized by intellectual disability, multiple organ anomalies, generalized muscular hypotonia, and characteristic physical features. The presence of DS-associated medical comorbidities has contributed to brain morphologic changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate brain morphologic characteristics during infant and toddler ages in patients with DS using structural brain magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS Structural brain T1-weighted magnetic resonance images from participants with DS with complete chromosome 21 trisomy (n = 20; 1.6 ± 0.6 [mean ± standard deviation] years old) were analyzed using FreeSurfer. The measurements were compared with those of 60 gender- and age-matched neurotypical controls by Cohen's d statistic and unpaired t test with false discovery rate correction for multiple comparisons and analyzed using a univariate general linear model with the following DS-associated medical comorbidities: congenital cardiac disease, infantile spasms, and hypothyroidism. RESULTS We identified 27 candidate measurements with large effect sizes (absolute d > 0.8) and statistically significant differences (P < 6.9 × 10-3). Among them were decreased volumes in bilateral cerebellar gray matter and right cerebellar white matter and brainstem and cortical abnormalities in the right superior temporal, right rostral anterior cingulate, and left rostral middle frontal gyrus, independent of comorbid effects. Only bilateral cerebellar gray matter volumes and brainstem volume showed differences between DS and healthy groups during infancy. CONCLUSION These results suggest that cerebellar gray matter and brainstem may represent the primary regions affected by the presence of an additional copy of chromosome 21.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tadashi Shiohama
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Jacob Levman
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University, 2323 Notre Dame Ave, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Nicole Baumer
- Down Syndrome Program, Developmental Medicine Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Emi Takahashi
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Chiotto AMA, Migliorero M, Pallavicini G, Bianchi FT, Gai M, Di Cunto F, Berto GE. Neuronal Cell-Intrinsic Defects in Mouse Models of Down Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1081. [PMID: 31649502 PMCID: PMC6795679 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder associated with intellectual disability (ID). Excitatory neurons of DS patients and mouse models show decreased size of dendritic field and reduction of spine density. Whether these defects are caused by cell autonomous alterations or by abnormal multicellular circuitry is still unknown. In this work, we explored this issue by culturing cortical neurons obtained from two mouse models of DS: the widely used Ts65Dn and the less characterized Ts2Cje. We observed that, in the in vitro conditions, axon specification and elongation, as well as dendritogenesis, take place without evident abnormalities, indicating that the initial phases of neuronal differentiation do not suffer from the presence of an imbalanced genetic dosage. Conversely, our analysis highlighted differences between trisomic and euploid neurons in terms of reduction of spine density, in accordance with in vivo data obtained by other groups, proposing the presence of a cell-intrinsic malfunction. This work suggests that the characteristic morphological defects of DS neurons are likely to be caused by the possible combination of cell-intrinsic defects together with cell-extrinsic cues. Additionally, our data support the possibility of using the more sustainable line Ts2Cje as a standard model for the study of DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Maria Adelaide Chiotto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Martina Migliorero
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Pallavicini
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Marta Gai
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Di Cunto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gaia Elena Berto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Armstrong D, Said RR. Outcomes of High-Dose Steroid Therapy for Infantile Spasms in Children With Trisomy 21. J Child Neurol 2019; 34:646-652. [PMID: 31113280 DOI: 10.1177/0883073819850650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with trisomy 21 and infantile spasms in our university-based pediatric epilepsy center between 2002 and 2016 in order to describe the clinical characteristics of children with these diagnoses as well as to evaluate their response to first-line treatments. METHODS Patients with infantile spasms were identified via the neurophysiology database. Charts were reviewed with attention to infantile spasms diagnosis, presence of trisomy 21, age of reported clinical onset, treatment lag, treatments used, response to treatment, imaging findings, electroencephalography (EEG) data, and developmental outcomes. RESULTS Of the 310 patients with infantile spasms, 24 also had trisomy 21. Three patients did not meet inclusion criteria. Ten of the 21 patients received nonstandard therapies first line; 2 of the 10 (20%) achieved spasm control, and 4 of the 8 who failed therapy (50%) progressed to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Eleven of the 21 patients received standard therapies as first-line treatments (10 with prednisolone according to the protocol in the United Kingdom Infantile Spasms Study [UKISS] and 1 with adrenocorticotrophic hormone [ACTH]). Nine of the 10 patients (90%) who received prednisolone achieved spasm resolution, 6 (60%) of these without relapse. The final patient (10%) failed prednisolone as well as ACTH. One patient received ACTH first line with success. CONCLUSION This is the only series to follow children with trisomy 21 and infantile spasms in which a significant proportion received UKISS-protocol prednisolone. It adds to current knowledge about safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of prednisolone in this group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dallas Armstrong
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Children's Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rana R Said
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Children's Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zhang T, Hou C, Zhang S, Liu S, Li Z, Gao J. Lgl1 deficiency disrupts hippocampal development and impairs cognitive performance in mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 18:e12605. [PMID: 31415124 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cellular polarity is crucial for brain development and morphogenesis. Lethal giant larvae 1 (Lgl1) plays a crucial role in the establishment of cell polarity from Drosophila to mammalian cells. Previous studies have found the importance of Lgl1 in the development of cerebellar, olfactory bulb, and cerebral cortex. However, the role of Lgl1 in hippocampal development during the embryonic stage and function in adult mice is still unknown. In our study, we created Lgl1-deficient hippocampus mice by using Emx1-Cre mice. Histological analysis showed that the Emx1-Lgl1-/- mice exhibited reduced size of the hippocampus with severe malformations of hippocampal cytoarchitecture. These defects mainly originated from the disrupted hippocampal neuroepithelium, including increased cell proliferation, abnormal interkinetic nuclear migration, reduced differentiation, increased apoptosis, gradual disruption of adherens junctions, and abnormal neuronal migration. The radial glial scaffold was disorganized in the Lgl1-deficient hippocampus. Thus, Lgl1 plays a distinct role in hippocampal neurogenesis. In addition, the Emx1-Lgl1-/- mice displayed impaired behavioral performance in the Morris water maze and fear conditioning test.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- School of Life Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Experimental Teratology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Congzhe Hou
- Department of Reproductive medicine, Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Sen Zhang
- School of Life Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Experimental Teratology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shuoyang Liu
- School of Life Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Experimental Teratology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhenzu Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Shandong Polytechnic, Jinan, China
| | - Jiangang Gao
- School of Life Science and Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Experimental Teratology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Sobol M, Klar J, Laan L, Shahsavani M, Schuster J, Annerén G, Konzer A, Mi J, Bergquist J, Nordlund J, Hoeber J, Huss M, Falk A, Dahl N. Transcriptome and Proteome Profiling of Neural Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Individuals with Down Syndrome Disclose Dynamic Dysregulations of Key Pathways and Cellular Functions. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:7113-7127. [PMID: 30989628 PMCID: PMC6728280 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1585-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 (T21) is a leading genetic cause of intellectual disability. To gain insights into dynamics of molecular perturbations during neurogenesis in DS, we established a model using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) with transcriptome profiles comparable to that of normal fetal brain development. When applied on iPSCs with T21, transcriptome and proteome signatures at two stages of differentiation revealed strong temporal dynamics of dysregulated genes, proteins and pathways belonging to 11 major functional clusters. DNA replication, synaptic maturation and neuroactive clusters were disturbed at the early differentiation time point accompanied by a skewed transition from the neural progenitor cell stage and reduced cellular growth. With differentiation, growth factor and extracellular matrix, oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis emerged as major perturbed clusters. Furthermore, we identified a marked dysregulation of a set of genes encoded by chromosome 21 including an early upregulation of the hub gene APP, supporting its role for disturbed neurogenesis, and the transcription factors OLIG1, OLIG2 and RUNX1, consistent with deficient myelination and neuronal differentiation. Taken together, our findings highlight novel sequential and differentiation-dependent dynamics of disturbed functions, pathways and elements in T21 neurogenesis, providing further insights into developmental abnormalities of the DS brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sobol
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joakim Klar
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Loora Laan
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mansoureh Shahsavani
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet Solna, SE-171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jens Schuster
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Göran Annerén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anne Konzer
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Analytical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 599, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jia Mi
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Analytical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 599, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Bergquist
- Department of Chemistry - BMC, Analytical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Box 599, SE-751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessica Nordlund
- Department of Medical Sciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 1432, SE-751 44, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Hoeber
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mikael Huss
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Box 1031, SE-171 21, Solna, Sweden
| | - Anna Falk
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet Solna, SE-171 65, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas Dahl
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, SE-751 08, Uppsala, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Fonseca LM, Mattar GP, Haddad GG, Gonçalves AS, Miguel ADQC, Guilhoto LM, Zaman S, Holland AJ, Bottino CMDC, Hoexter MQ. Frontal-subcortical behaviors during Alzheimer's disease in individuals with Down syndrome. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 78:186-194. [PMID: 30947114 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence that frontal-subcortical circuits play an important role in the initial presentation of dementia in Down syndrome (DS), including changes in behavior, a decline in working memory and executive dysfunction. We evaluated 92 individuals with DS (≥30 years of age), divided into 3 groups by diagnosis-stable cognition, prodromal dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Each individual was evaluated with an executive protocol developed for people with intellectual disabilities and was rated for behaviors related to frontal lobe dysfunction (disinhibition, executive dysfunction, and apathy) by an informant using the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale. Informant-reported behaviors related to frontal lobe dysfunction were found to correlate negatively with executive function performance. Disinhibition and executive dysfunction were associated with the clinical stage of dementia. The odds of having Alzheimer's disease increased in parallel with increases in the domain and total Frontal Systems Behavior Scale scores (p ≤ 0.5). Disinhibition, executive dysfunction and apathy should be taken into consideration during the clinical evaluation of adults with DS, and future studies should consider the intersection of neuropathology, brain connectivity, and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Mascarenhas Fonseca
- Old Age Research Group, PROTER, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil; Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Guilherme Prado Mattar
- Old Age Research Group, PROTER, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Glenda Guerra Haddad
- Old Age Research Group, PROTER, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Souza Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, LIM27, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Laura Maria Guilhoto
- Association of Parents and Friends of Individuals with Intellectual Disability of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Shahid Zaman
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anthony J Holland
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Cassio Machado de Campos Bottino
- Old Age Research Group, PROTER, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Queiroz Hoexter
- Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Program, PROTOC, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Brain Development Measured With MRI in Children With Down Syndrome Correlates With Blood Biochemical Biomarkers. Pediatr Neurol 2019; 92:43-47. [PMID: 30612744 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Down syndrome (DS) is a neurodegenerative disease with unknown mechanisms. β-Amyloid peptide (Aβ) and tau protein (Tau) are known to play a role, while vitamin A (VA) has an effect on normal neurological function. In a case-control study, we quantitatively evaluated whole brain and hippocampal volumes of DS children and analyzed the correlation of hippocampal volumes with blood levels of Aβ, Tau and VA. METHODS All subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. The whole brain and hippocampal volumes were quantitatively analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and stereology respectively. The blood levels of Aβ, Tau, and VA were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. RESULTS Thirty DS children and twenty healthy controls were recruited. Whole brain and hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in individuals with DS than in healthy controls. In both groups, whole brain and hippocampal volumes increased in accordance with age. The results of correlation analysis suggested that Aβ42/Aβ40 and VA are associated with hippocampal volume in DS patients. CONCLUSION DS children exhibited neurodevelopmental defects, even at an early age. Aβ42/Aβ40 and VA may affect hippocampal volume in DS patients.
Collapse
|
37
|
Rohith BN, Shyamala BV. Developmental Deformity Due to
scalloped
Non‐Function in
Drosophila
Brain Leads to Cognitive Impairment. Dev Neurobiol 2019; 79:236-251. [DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
38
|
Perry JC, Pakkenberg B, Vann SD. Striking reduction in neurons and glial cells in anterior thalamic nuclei of older patients with Down syndrome. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 75:54-61. [PMID: 30550978 PMCID: PMC6357872 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The anterior thalamic nuclei are important for spatial and episodic memory, however, surprisingly little is known about the status of these nuclei in neurological conditions that present with memory impairments, such as Down syndrome. We quantified neurons and glial cells in the anterior thalamic nuclei of four older patients with Down syndrome. There was a striking reduction in the volume of the anterior thalamic nuclei and this appeared to reflect the loss of approximately 70% of neurons. The number of glial cells was also reduced but to a lesser degree than neurons. The anterior thalamic nuclei appear to be particularly sensitive to effects of aging in Down syndrome and the pathology in this region likely contributes to the memory impairments observed. These findings reaffirm the importance of examining the status of the anterior thalamic nuclei in conditions where memory impairments have been principally assigned to pathology in the medial temporal lobe. Volume of anterior thalamus is markedly reduced in older patients with Down syndrome. Number of neurons in anterior thalamus are substantially reduced. Number of glial cells in anterior thalamus are substantially reduced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James C Perry
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Bente Pakkenberg
- Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Bostelmann M, Costanzo F, Martorana L, Menghini D, Vicari S, Lavenex PB, Lavenex P. Low-Resolution Place and Response Learning Capacities in Down Syndrome. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2049. [PMID: 30416470 PMCID: PMC6212566 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability, results from the partial or complete triplication of chromosome 21. Individuals with DS are impaired at using a high-resolution, allocentric spatial representation to learn and remember discrete locations in a controlled environment. Here, we assessed the capacity of individuals with DS to perform low-resolution spatial learning, depending on two competing memory systems: (1) the place learning system, which depends on the hippocampus and creates flexible relational representations of the environment; and (2) the response learning system, which depends on the striatum and creates fixed stimulus-response representations of behavioral actions. Individuals with DS exhibited a preservation of the low-resolution spatial learning capacities subserved by these two systems. In place learning, although the average performance of individuals with DS was lower than that of typically developing (TD) mental age (MA)-matched children and TD young adults, the number of individuals with DS performing above chance level did not differ from TD children. In response learning, the average performance of individuals with DS was lower than that of TD adults, but it did not differ from that of TD children. Moreover, the number of individuals with DS performing above chance level did not differ from TD adults, and was higher than that of TD children. In sum, whereas low-resolution place learning appears relatively preserved in individuals with DS, response learning appears facilitated. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the neural pathways supporting low-resolution place learning and response learning are relatively preserved in DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Bostelmann
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Floriana Costanzo
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorelay Martorana
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Pamela Banta Lavenex
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Lavenex
- Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Development, Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Aziz NM, Guedj F, Pennings JLA, Olmos-Serrano JL, Siegel A, Haydar TF, Bianchi DW. Lifespan analysis of brain development, gene expression and behavioral phenotypes in the Ts1Cje, Ts65Dn and Dp(16)1/Yey mouse models of Down syndrome. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:dmm031013. [PMID: 29716957 PMCID: PMC6031353 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.031013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) results from triplication of human chromosome 21. Neuropathological hallmarks of DS include atypical central nervous system development that manifests prenatally and extends throughout life. As a result, individuals with DS exhibit cognitive and motor deficits, and have delays in achieving developmental milestones. To determine whether different mouse models of DS recapitulate the human prenatal and postnatal phenotypes, here, we directly compared brain histogenesis, gene expression and behavior over the lifespan of three cytogenetically distinct mouse models of DS: Ts1Cje, Ts65Dn and Dp(16)1/Yey. Histological data indicated that Ts65Dn mice were the most consistently affected with respect to somatic growth, neurogenesis and brain morphogenesis. Embryonic and adult gene expression results showed that Ts1Cje and Ts65Dn brains had considerably more differentially expressed (DEX) genes compared with Dp(16)1/Yey mice, despite the larger number of triplicated genes in the latter model. In addition, DEX genes showed little overlap in identity and chromosomal distribution in the three models, leading to dissimilarities in affected functional pathways. Perinatal and adult behavioral testing also highlighted differences among the models in their abilities to achieve various developmental milestones and perform hippocampal- and motor-based tasks. Interestingly, Dp(16)1/Yey mice showed no abnormalities in prenatal brain phenotypes, yet they manifested behavioral deficits starting at postnatal day 15 that continued through adulthood. In contrast, Ts1Cje mice showed mildly abnormal embryonic brain phenotypes, but only select behavioral deficits as neonates and adults. Altogether, our data showed widespread and unexpected fundamental differences in behavioral, gene expression and brain development phenotypes between these three mouse models. Our findings illustrate unique limitations of each model when studying aspects of brain development and function in DS. This work helps to inform model selection in future studies investigating how observed neurodevelopmental abnormalities arise, how they contribute to cognitive impairment, and when testing therapeutic molecules to ameliorate the intellectual disability associated with DS.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadine M Aziz
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Faycal Guedj
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- Center for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jose Luis Olmos-Serrano
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Ashley Siegel
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tarik F Haydar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Diana W Bianchi
- National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Bala U, Leong MPY, Lim CL, Shahar HK, Othman F, Lai MI, Law ZK, Ramli K, Htwe O, Ling KH, Cheah PS. Defects in nerve conduction velocity and different muscle fibre-type specificity contribute to muscle weakness in Ts1Cje Down syndrome mouse model. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197711. [PMID: 29795634 PMCID: PMC5967806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by presence of extra copy of human chromosome 21. It is characterised by several clinical phenotypes. Motor dysfunction due to hypotonia is commonly seen in individuals with DS and its etiology is yet unknown. Ts1Cje, which has a partial trisomy (Mmu16) homologous to Hsa21, is well reported to exhibit various typical neuropathological features seen in individuals with DS. This study investigated the role of skeletal muscles and peripheral nerve defects in contributing to muscle weakness in Ts1Cje mice. RESULTS Assessment of the motor performance showed that, the forelimb grip strength was significantly (P<0.0001) greater in the WT mice compared to Ts1Cje mice regardless of gender. The average survival time of the WT mice during the hanging wire test was significantly (P<0.0001) greater compared to the Ts1Cje mice. Also, the WT mice performed significantly (P<0.05) better than the Ts1Cje mice in the latency to maintain a coordinated motor movement against the rotating rod. Adult Ts1Cje mice exhibited significantly (P<0.001) lower nerve conduction velocity compared with their aged matched WT mice. Further analysis showed a significantly (P<0.001) higher population of type I fibres in WT compared to Ts1Cje mice. Also, there was significantly (P<0.01) higher population of COX deficient fibres in Ts1Cje mice. Expression of Myf5 was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in triceps of Ts1Cje mice while MyoD expression was significantly (P<0.05) increased in quadriceps of Ts1Cje mice. CONCLUSION Ts1Cje mice exhibited weaker muscle strength. The lower population of the type I fibres and higher population of COX deficient fibres in Ts1Cje mice may contribute to the muscle weakness seen in this mouse model for DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Usman Bala
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (GRMRC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences, Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria
| | - Melody Pui-Yee Leong
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (GRMRC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chai Ling Lim
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (GRMRC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hayati Kadir Shahar
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Fauziah Othman
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (GRMRC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mei-I Lai
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (GRMRC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zhe-Kang Law
- Department of Medicine, UKM Medical Centre, Jalan Yaakob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
| | - Khairunnisa Ramli
- Tissue Engineering Centre, UKM Medical Centre, Jalan Yaakob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
| | - Ohnmar Htwe
- Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, UKM Medical Centre, Jalan Yaakob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
| | - King-Hwa Ling
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (GRMRC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pike-See Cheah
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (GRMRC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Fenoll R, Pujol J, Esteba-Castillo S, de Sola S, Ribas-Vidal N, García-Alba J, Sánchez-Benavides G, Martínez-Vilavella G, Deus J, Dierssen M, Novell-Alsina R, de la Torre R. Anomalous White Matter Structure and the Effect of Age in Down Syndrome Patients. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 57:61-70. [PMID: 28222523 DOI: 10.3233/jad-161112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural tissue alterations in Down syndrome are fully expressed at relatively late developmental stages. In addition, there is an early presence of neurodegenerative changes in the late life stages. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were both to characterize white matter abnormalities in the brain of adult Down syndrome patients using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and to investigate whether degenerative alterations in white matter structure are detectable before dementia is clinically evident. METHODS Forty-five adult non-demented Down syndrome patients showing a wide age range (18-52 years) and a matched 45-subject control group were assessed. DTI fractional anisotropy (FA) brain maps were generated and selected cognitive tests were administered. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, non-demented Down syndrome patients showed lower DTI FA in white matter involving the major pathways, but with more severe alterations in the frontal-subcortical circuits. White matter FA decreased with age at a similar rate in both DS and control groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results contribute to characterizing the expression of white matter structural alterations in adult Down syndrome. However, an accelerated aging effect was not demonstrated, which may suggest that the FA measurements used are not sufficiently sensitive or, alternatively, age-related white matter neurodegeneration is not obvious prior to overt clinical dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Fenoll
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesus Pujol
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM G21, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susanna Esteba-Castillo
- Specialized Department in Mental Health and Intellectual Disability, Institut d'Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Susana de Sola
- Integrative Pharmacology and Neuroscience Systems Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Cellular & Systems Neurobiology, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Ribas-Vidal
- Specialized Department in Mental Health and Intellectual Disability, Institut d'Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Javier García-Alba
- Specialized Department in Mental Health and Intellectual Disability, Institut d'Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Sánchez-Benavides
- Integrative Pharmacology and Neuroscience Systems Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gerard Martínez-Vilavella
- Integrative Pharmacology and Neuroscience Systems Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Deus
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Cellular & Systems Neurobiology, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramón Novell-Alsina
- Cellular & Systems Neurobiology, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Integrative Pharmacology and Neuroscience Systems Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Madrid, Spain.,Department de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Godfrey M, Lee NR. Memory profiles in Down syndrome across development: a review of memory abilities through the lifespan. J Neurodev Disord 2018; 10:5. [PMID: 29378508 PMCID: PMC5789527 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-017-9220-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is associated with a variety of cognitive impairments, notably memory impairments. Due to the high prevalence rates of early-onset dementia associated with DS, it is imperative to understand the comprehensive development of memory impairments beginning in childhood and into adulthood, as this may help researchers identify precursors of dementia at earlier stages of development and pinpoint targets for memory intervention. The current paper provides a systematic, developmentally focused review of the nature of memory difficulties in DS across the lifespan. Specifically, this review summarizes what is known about long-term, short-term, and working memory abilities (distinguishing between verbal and nonverbal modalities) in DS, compared to both mental age-matched typically developing peers and individuals with other forms of intellectual disability (ID) at three developmental stages (i.e., preschool, adolescence, and adulthood). Additionally, this review examines the degree of impairment reported relative to typically developing mental age-matched peers in the existing literature by examining effect size data across memory domains as a function of age. With few exceptions, memory abilities were impaired across the lifespan compared to mental age-matched typically developing peers. Relative to other groups with ID, research findings are mixed. Our review of the literature identified a scarcity of memory studies in early childhood, particularly for STM and WM. In adulthood, research was limited in the LTM and WM domains and very little research has compared memory abilities in older adults with DS to those with typical development. Looking to the future, longitudinal studies could provide a better understanding of the developmental trajectory of memory abilities in DS, and the possible associations between memory abilities and real-world functioning. This research could ultimately inform interventions to improve independence and overall quality of life for those with DS and their families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Godfrey
- Department of Psychology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Stratton 119, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Nancy Raitano Lee
- Department of Psychology, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Stratton 119, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Stagni F, Giacomini A, Emili M, Guidi S, Bartesaghi R. Neurogenesis impairment: An early developmental defect in Down syndrome. Free Radic Biol Med 2018; 114:15-32. [PMID: 28756311 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by brain hypotrophy and intellectual disability starting from early life stages. Accumulating evidence shows that the phenotypic features of the DS brain can be traced back to the fetal period since the DS brain exhibits proliferation potency reduction starting from the critical time window of fetal neurogenesis. This defect is worsened by the fact that neural progenitor cells exhibit reduced acquisition of a neuronal phenotype and an increase in the acquisition of an astrocytic phenotype. Consequently, the DS brain has fewer neurons in comparison with the typical brain. Although apoptotic cell death may be increased in DS, this does not seem to be the major cause of brain hypocellularity. Evidence obtained in brains of individuals with DS, DS-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and DS mouse models has provided some insight into the mechanisms underlying the developmental defects due to the trisomic condition. Although many triplicated genes may be involved, in the light of the studies reviewed here, DYRK1A, APP, RCAN1 and OLIG1/2 appear to be particularly important determinants of many neurodevelopmental alterations that characterize DS because their triplication affects both the proliferation and fate of neural precursor cells as well as apoptotic cell death. Based on the evidence reviewed here, pathways downstream to these genes may represent strategic targets, for the design of possible interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenza Stagni
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Giacomini
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Emili
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sandra Guidi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Renata Bartesaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Vacano GN, Gibson DS, Turjoman AA, Gawryluk JW, Geiger JD, Duncan M, Patterson D. Proteomic analysis of six- and twelve-month hippocampus and cerebellum in a murine Down syndrome model. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 63:96-109. [PMID: 29245059 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the brain proteome of the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. We profiled the cerebellum and hippocampus proteomes of 6- and 12-month-old trisomic and disomic mice by difference gel electrophoresis. We quantified levels of 2082 protein spots and identified 272 (170 unique UniProt accessions) by mass spectrometry. Four identified proteins are encoded by genes trisomic in the Ts65Dn mouse. Three of these (CRYZL11, EZR, and SOD1) were elevated with p-value <0.05, and 2 proteins encoded by disomic genes (MAPRE3 and PHB) were reduced. Intergel comparisons based on age (6 vs. 12 months) and brain region (cerebellum vs. hippocampus) revealed numerous differences. Specifically, 132 identified proteins were different between age groups, and 141 identified proteins were different between the 2 brain regions. Our results suggest that compensatory mechanisms exist, which ameliorate the effect of trisomy in the Ts65Dn mice. Differences observed during aging may play a role in the accelerated deterioration of learning and memory seen in Ts65Dn mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guido N Vacano
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - David S Gibson
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Abdullah Arif Turjoman
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jeremy W Gawryluk
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Jonathan D Geiger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Mark Duncan
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David Patterson
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Neuroanatomical alterations and synaptic plasticity impairment in the perirhinal cortex of the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 106:89-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
47
|
Fonseca LM, Yokomizo JE, Bottino CM, Fuentes D. Frontal Lobe Degeneration in Adults with Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease: A Review. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2017; 41:123-36. [PMID: 26891227 DOI: 10.1159/000442941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a proven link between Down syndrome and the early development of the neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Changes in the personality and behavior of adults with Down syndrome might indicate the early stages of dementia or of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The objective of this study was to investigate the executive functions and changes in behavior associated with frontal lobe degeneration in individuals with Down syndrome who develop AD. We conducted a systematic review selecting studies employing cognitive assessments. SUMMARY We identified few studies using objective measurements to determine whether cognitive aspects associated with the frontal lobe correlate with dementia in this population. We observed a tendency toward such correlations. KEY MESSAGES There is a need for further studies in which objective measures of cognitive and behavioral factors are evaluated together with data related to brain function and morphology.
Collapse
|
48
|
A small pons as a characteristic finding in Down syndrome: A quantitative MRI study. Brain Dev 2017; 39:298-305. [PMID: 27865668 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal aberration, but the characteristics of the brainstem component in this condition during childhood (from newborn to preteen stages) have not been clarified. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the morphological features of the brainstem in DS on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS MRIs for 32 children with DS (16 boys and girls each; age range, 0-11years) without major brain insults, and 32 age-matched controls (16 boys and girls each) were retrospectively analyzed. Height, width, and area of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata were measured on sagittal T1-weighted images; these were compared in children with DS and age-matched controls. The ratios of the brainstem to the size of the posterior fossa (BS/PF index) were calculated; these were also compared in the children with DS and the control group. RESULTS The width and area of the midbrain; height, width, area of the pons; and area of the medulla oblongata were significantly smaller in children with DS than in control children (P<0.05); the area of the pons, particularly for the ventral part, showed the largest differences in the mean relative differences. The BS/PF indices of the height, width, and area of the pons were significantly smaller in children with DS than in the control group (P<0.01). However, the BS/PF indices for the midbrain and the medulla oblongata did not differ between these two groups. CONCLUSIONS Children with DS may have small brainstems, particularly in the pons; this may be a characteristic morphological feature of the brainstem on MRI in childhood including neonates.
Collapse
|
49
|
Contestabile A, Magara S, Cancedda L. The GABAergic Hypothesis for Cognitive Disabilities in Down Syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:54. [PMID: 28326014 PMCID: PMC5339239 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21. DS affects multiple organs, but it invariably results in altered brain development and diverse degrees of intellectual disability. A large body of evidence has shown that synaptic deficits and memory impairment are largely determined by altered GABAergic signaling in trisomic mouse models of DS. These alterations arise during brain development while extending into adulthood, and include genesis of GABAergic neurons, variation of the inhibitory drive and modifications in the control of neural-network excitability. Accordingly, different pharmacological interventions targeting GABAergic signaling have proven promising preclinical approaches to rescue cognitive impairment in DS mouse models. In this review, we will discuss recent data regarding the complex scenario of GABAergic dysfunctions in the trisomic brain of DS mice and patients, and we will evaluate the state of current clinical research targeting GABAergic signaling in individuals with DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Contestabile
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) Genova, Italy
| | - Salvatore Magara
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)Genova, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon InstituteGenova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Annus T, Wilson LR, Acosta-Cabronero J, Cardenas-Blanco A, Hong YT, Fryer TD, Coles JP, Menon DK, Zaman SH, Holland AJ, Nestor PJ. The Down syndrome brain in the presence and absence of fibrillar β-amyloidosis. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 53:11-19. [PMID: 28192686 PMCID: PMC5391869 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 01/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
People with Down syndrome (DS) have a neurodevelopmentally distinct brain and invariably developed amyloid neuropathology by age 50. This cross-sectional study aimed to provide a detailed account of DS brain morphology and the changes occuring with amyloid neuropathology. Forty-six adults with DS underwent structural and amyloid imaging—the latter using Pittsburgh compound B (PIB) to stratify the cohort into PIB-positive (n = 19) and PIB-negative (n = 27). Age-matched controls (n = 30) underwent structural imaging. Group differences in deep gray matter volumetry and cortical thickness were studied. PIB-negative people with DS have neurodevelopmentally atypical brain, characterized by disproportionately thicker frontal and occipitoparietal cortex and thinner motor cortex and temporal pole with larger putamina and smaller hippocampi than controls. In the presence of amyloid neuropathology, the DS brains demonstrated a strikingly similar pattern of posterior dominant cortical thinning and subcortical atrophy in the hippocampus, thalamus, and striatum, to that observed in non-DS Alzheimer's disease. Care must be taken to avoid underestimating amyloid-associated morphologic changes in DS due to disproportionate size of some subcortical structures and thickness of the cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiina Annus
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Liam R Wilson
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julio Acosta-Cabronero
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Young T Hong
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tim D Fryer
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan P Coles
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David K Menon
- Division of Anaesthesia, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shahid H Zaman
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, UK; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Fulbourn, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anthony J Holland
- Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, UK; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Elizabeth House, Fulbourn Hospital, Fulbourn, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter J Nestor
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|