Neuroanatomical markers of familial risk in adolescents with conduct disorder and their unaffected relatives

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Graeme Fairchild ◽  
Kate Sully ◽  
Luca Passamonti ◽  
Marlene Staginnus ◽  
Angela Darekar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Disorder ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Familial Risk ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Inferior Temporal Cortex ◽  
Group Differences

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported brain structure abnormalities in conduct disorder (CD), but it is unclear whether these neuroanatomical alterations mediate the effects of familial (genetic and environmental) risk for CD. We investigated brain structure in adolescents with CD and their unaffected relatives (URs) to identify neuroanatomical markers of familial risk for CD. Methods Forty-one adolescents with CD, 24 URs of CD probands, and 38 healthy controls (aged 12–18), underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. We performed surface-based morphometry analyses, testing for group differences in cortical volume, thickness, surface area, and folding. We also assessed the volume of key subcortical structures. Results The CD and UR groups both displayed structural alterations (lower surface area and folding) in left inferior parietal cortex compared with controls. In contrast, CD participants showed lower insula and pars opercularis volume than controls, and lower surface area and folding in these regions than controls and URs. The URs showed greater folding in rostral anterior cingulate and inferior temporal cortex than controls and greater medial orbitofrontal folding than CD participants. The surface area and volume differences were not significant when controlling for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comorbidity. There were no group differences in subcortical volumes. Conclusions These findings suggest that alterations in inferior parietal cortical structure partly mediate the effects of familial risk for CD. These structural changes merit investigation as candidate endophenotypes for CD. Neuroanatomical changes in medial orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex differentiated between URs and the other groups, potentially reflecting neural mechanisms of resilience to CD.

Binding of Dopamine D1 Receptor and Noradrenaline Transporter in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A PET Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 6458-6468
Author(s):  
Manabu Kubota ◽  
Junya Fujino ◽  
Shisei Tei ◽  
Keisuke Takahata ◽  
Kiwamu Matsuoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Anterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
D1 Receptor ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Noradrenaline Transporter

Abstract Although previous studies have suggested the involvement of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) neurotransmissions in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology, few studies have examined these neurotransmissions in individuals with ASD in vivo. Here, we investigated DA D1 receptor (D1R) and noradrenaline transporter (NAT) binding in adults with ASD (n = 18) and neurotypical controls (n = 20) by utilizing two different PET radioligands, [11C]SCH23390 and (S,S)-[18F]FMeNER-D2, respectively. We found no significant group differences in DA D1R (striatum, anterior cingulate cortex, and temporal cortex) or NAT (thalamus and pons) binding. However, in the ASD group, there were significant negative correlations between DA D1R binding (striatum, anterior cingulate cortex and temporal cortex) and the “attention to detail” subscale score of the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Further, there was a significant positive correlation between DA D1R binding (temporal cortex) and emotion perception ability assessed by the neurocognitive battery. Associations of NAT binding with empathic abilities and executive function were found in controls, but were absent in the ASD group. Although a lack of significant group differences in binding might be partly due to the heterogeneity of ASD, our results indicate that central DA and NA function might play certain roles in the clinical characteristics of ASD.

scholarly journals S159. SUBCORTICAL GRAY MATTER VOLUME IS ASSOCIATED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND WITH BOTH ITS FAMILIAL AND CLINICAL RISK

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S96-S97
Author(s):  
Roberta Passiatore ◽  
Linda A Antonucci ◽  
Leonardo Fazio ◽  
Barbara Gelao ◽  
Andrea Falsetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Familial Risk ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Clinical Risk

Abstract Background Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) show lower volumetric estimates of gray matter (GM) than healthy controls (HC). Similar results have been reported in healthy siblings of patients (SIB). However, it is unclear whether this phenotype is also present in individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR), characterized by sub-threshold symptoms and loss of functioning. We hypothesized that GM volumetric differences are associated with both familial and clinical risk for schizophrenia Methods We processed the T1-weighted MRI scans acquired at 3 Tesla of 544 HC, 63 SIB, 20 CHR and 120 SCZ using CAT12. We used ANCOVA to assess group differences (HC vs. CHR vs. SIB vs. SCZ), with linear and quadratic age, gender and total intracranial volume as nuisance covariates. We assessed the reproducibility of our case/control findings in an independent sample of 127 HC and 36 SCZ. Group differences were tested post hoc through Fisher’s test. Results We found significant group effects in the bilateral thalamus, bilateral hippocampus and anterior cingulate (FWE<0.05). Specifically, SCZ presented the lowest GM volume in these regions compared to the other three groups, with SIB and CHR’s GM estimates intermediate between HC and SCZ (p<0.05). The associations with schizophrenia were replicated in the independent validation sample. Discussion Individuals with familial or clinical risk for schizophrenia have lower GM estimates in the same brain regions. These findings, suggest that these structural features are not only associated with familial risk for schizophrenia but that they are also associated with its sub-threshold symptoms.

scholarly journals The Evolutionary History of Common Genetic Variants Influencing Human Cortical Surface Area

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda K Tilot ◽  
Ekaterina A Khramtsova ◽  
Dan Liang ◽  
Katrina L Grasby ◽  
Neda Jahanshad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Common Genetic Variants

Abstract Structural brain changes along the lineage leading to modern Homo sapiens contributed to our distinctive cognitive and social abilities. However, the evolutionarily relevant molecular variants impacting key aspects of neuroanatomy are largely unknown. Here, we integrate evolutionary annotations of the genome at diverse timescales with common variant associations from large-scale neuroimaging genetic screens. We find that alleles with evidence of recent positive polygenic selection over the past 2000–3000 years are associated with increased surface area (SA) of the entire cortex, as well as specific regions, including those involved in spoken language and visual processing. Therefore, polygenic selective pressures impact the structure of specific cortical areas even over relatively recent timescales. Moreover, common sequence variation within human gained enhancers active in the prenatal cortex is associated with postnatal global SA. We show that such variation modulates the function of a regulatory element of the developmentally relevant transcription factor HEY2 in human neural progenitor cells and is associated with structural changes in the inferior frontal cortex. These results indicate that non-coding genomic regions active during prenatal cortical development are involved in the evolution of human brain structure and identify novel regulatory elements and genes impacting modern human brain structure.

scholarly journals Development of the P300 from childhood to adulthood: a multimodal EEG and MRI study

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knut Overbye ◽  
Rene J. Huster ◽  
Kristine B. Walhovd ◽  
Anders M. Fjell ◽  
Christian K. Tamnes
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Inferior Temporal Cortex ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Brain Responses ◽  
Component Strength ◽  
Mri Study

ABSTRACTMaturation of attentional processes is central to cognitive development. The electrophysiological P300 is associated with rapid allocation of attention, and bridges stimulus and response processing. P300 is among the most studied and robust electrophysiological components, but how different subcomponents of the P300 develop from childhood to adulthood and relate to structural properties of the cerebral cortex is not well understood. We investigated age-related differences in both early visual and P300 components, and how individual differences in these components related to cortical structure in a cross-sectional sample of participants 8-19 years (n=86). Participants completed a three-stimulus visual oddball task while high-density EEG was recorded. Cortical surface area and thickness were estimated from T1-weighthed MRI. Group-level blind source separation of the EEG data identified two P300-like components, a fronto-central P300 and a parietal P300, as well as a component reflecting N1 and P2. Differences in activity across age were found for the parietal P300, N1 and P2, with the parietal P300 showing stronger activity for older participants, while N1 and P2 were stronger for younger participants. Stronger P300 components were positively associated with task performance, independently of age, while negative associations were found for P2 strength. Parietal P300 strength was age-independently associated with larger surface area in a region in left lateral inferior temporal cortex. We suggest that the age differences in component strength reflect development of attentional mechanisms, with increased brain responses to task-relevant stimuli representing an increasing ability to focus on relevant information and to respond accurately and efficiently.

scholarly journals Irritability Is Associated With Decreased Cortical Surface Area and Anxiety With Decreased Gyrification During Brain Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Piguet ◽  
Angeline Mihailov ◽  
Antoine Grigis ◽  
Charles Laidi ◽  
Edouard Duchesnay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Cortical Surface ◽  
Mood And Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Gyrification Index

Background: Brain development is of utmost importance for the emergence of psychiatric disorders, as the most severe of them arise before 25 years old. However, little is known regarding how early transdiagnostic symptoms, in a dimensional framework, are associated with cortical development. Anxiety and irritability are central vulnerability traits for subsequent mood and anxiety disorders. In this study, we investigate how these dimensions are related to structural changes in the brain to understand how they may increase the transition risk to full-blown disorders.Methods: We used the opportunity of an open access developmental cohort, the Healthy Brain Network, to investigate associations between cortical surface markers and irritability and anxiety scores as measured by parents and self-reports.Results: We found that in 658 young people (with a mean age of 11.6) the parental report of irritability is associated with decreased surface area in the bilateral rostral prefrontal cortex and the precuneus. Furthermore, parental reports of anxiety were associated with decreased local gyrification index in the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex.Conclusions: These results are consistent with current models of emotion regulation network maturation, showing decreased surface area or gyrification index in regions associated with impaired affective control in mood and anxiety disorders. Our results highlight how dimensional traits may increase vulnerability for these disorders.

scholarly journals Abnormalities of cortical structures in adolescent-onset conduct disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (16) ◽  
pp. 3467-3479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Jiang ◽  
X. Guo ◽  
J. Zhang ◽  
J. Gao ◽  
X. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Disorder ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Posterior Cingulate Cortex ◽  
Inferior Temporal Cortex ◽  
Brain Images ◽  
Cortical Thinning ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Antisocial Process Screening Device ◽  
Structural Abnormalities ◽  
Paralimbic System

Background.Converging evidence has revealed both functional and structural abnormalities in adolescents with early-onset conduct disorder (EO-CD). The neurological abnormalities underlying EO-CD may be different from that of adolescent-onset conduct disorder (AO-CD) patients. However, the cortical structure in AO-CD patients remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cortical alterations in AO-CD patients.Method.We investigated T1-weighted brain images from AO-CD patients and age-, gender- and intelligence quotient-matched controls. Cortical structures including thickness, folding and surface area were measured using the surface-based morphometric method. Furthermore, we assessed impulsivity and antisocial symptoms using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD).Results.Compared with the controls, we found significant cortical thinning in the paralimbic system in AO-CD patients. For the first time, we observed cortical thinning in the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in AO-CD patients which has not been reported in EO-CD patients. Prominent folding abnormalities were found in the paralimbic structures and frontal cortex while diminished surface areas were shown in the precentral and inferior temporal cortex. Furthermore, cortical thickness of the paralimbic structures was found to be negatively correlated with impulsivity and antisocial behaviors measured by the BIS and APSD, respectively.Conclusions.The present study indicates that AO-CD is characterized by cortical structural abnormalities in the paralimbic system, and, in particular, we highlight the potential role of deficient structures including the precuneus and PCC in the etiology of AO-CD.

scholarly journals Neuroanatomical voxel-based profile of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Maggioni ◽  
M. Bellani ◽  
A. C. Altamura ◽  
P. Brambilla
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
The Brain

Although schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) share elements of pathology (Ellison-Wright and Bullmore, 2009), the neural mechanisms underlying these disorders are still under investigation. Up until now, many neuroimaging studies investigated the brain structural differences of SCZ and BD compared with healthy controls (HC), trying to identify the possible neuroanatomical markers for the two disorders. However, just a few studies focused on the brain structural changes between the two diagnoses. The present review summarises the findings of the voxel-based grey matter (GM) comparisons between SCZ and BD, with the objective to highlight the possible consistent anatomical differences between the two disorders. While the comparisons between patients and HC highlighted overlapping areas of GM reduction in insula and anterior cingulate cortex, the SCZ–BD comparisons suggest the presence of more generalised GM deficits in SCZ compared with BD. Indeed, in a number of studies, SCZ patients showed lower GM volumes than BD patients in fronto-temporal cortex, thalamus, hippocampus and amygdala. Conversely, only a couple of studies reported GM deficits in BD compared with SCZ, both at the level of cerebellum. In summary, the two disorders exhibit both common and specific neuroanatomical characteristics, whose knowledge is mandatory to develop innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies.

scholarly journals Reduced Suprathreshold Auditory Nerve Responses are Associated with Thinner Temporal Cortex and Slower Processing Speed in Presbycusis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul H. Delano ◽  
Chama Belkhiria ◽  
Rodrigo C. Vergara ◽  
Melissa Martínez ◽  
Alexis Leiva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Auditory Nerve ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Temporal Cortex ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Inferior Temporal Cortex ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Trail Making

AbstractEpidemiological evidence shows an association between hearing loss and dementia in elderly people. However, the mechanisms that connect hearing impairments and cognitive decline are still unknown. Here we propose that a suprathreshold auditory-nerve impairment is associated with cognitive decline and brain atrophy. Methods: audiological, neuropsychological, and brain structural 3-Tesla MRI data were obtained from elders with different levels of hearing loss recruited in the ANDES cohort. The amplitude of waves I (auditory nerve) and V (midbrain) from auditory brainstem responses were measured at 80 dB nHL. We also calculated the ratio between wave V and I as a proxy of a suprathreshold brainstem function. Results: we included a total of 101 subjects (age: 73.5 ± 5.2 years (mean ± SD), mean education: 9.5 ± 4.2 years, and mean audiogram thresholds (0.5-4 kHz): 25.5 ± 12.0 dB HL). We obtained reliable suprathreshold waves V in all subjects (n=101), while replicable waves I were obtained in 92 subjects (91.1%). Partial Spearman correlations (corrected by age, gender, education and hearing thresholds) showed that reduced suprathreshold wave I responses were associated with thinner bilateral medial and inferior temporal cortex and, with slower processing speed as evidenced by the Trail-Making Test-A and digit symbol tests. Non-significant correlations were obtained between wave I amplitudes and other cognitive domains. Conclusions: These results evidence that reduced suprathreshold auditory nerve responses in presbycusis are associated with slower processing speed and brain structural changes in the temporal cortex.

scholarly journals Antioxidative Defense Genes and Brain Structure in Youth Bipolar Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zou ◽  
Kody G Kennedy ◽  
Anahit Grigorian ◽  
Lisa Fiksenbaum ◽  
Natalie Freeman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Interaction Effects ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Allele Carrier ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Genotype Group

Abstract Background Oxidative stress is implicated in the neuropathology of bipolar disorder (BD). We investigated the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the antioxidative genes superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) with structural neuroimaging phenotypes in youth BD. Methods SOD2 rs4880 and GPX3 rs3792797 SNP genotypes, along with structural magnetic resonance imaging, were obtained from 147 youth (BD=75; healthy controls (HC)=72). Images were processed using FreeSurfer, yielding surface area, volume, and thickness values for regions of interest (ROI; prefrontal cortex (PFC), caudal anterior cingulate cortex (cACC), hippocampus) and for vertex-wise whole brain analysis. Analyses controlled for age, sex, race, and intracranial volume for volume area, and thickness analyses. Result ROI analyses revealed diagnosis-by-SOD2 rs4880 interaction effects for cACC volume and surface area, and PFC volume; in each case, there was lower volume/area in the BD GG genotype group vs. the HC GG genotype group. There was a significant BD diagnosis x GPX3 rs3793797 interaction effect for PFC surface area, where area was lower in the BD A-allele carrier group vs. the other genotype groups. Vertex-wise analyses revealed significant interaction effects in frontal, temporal, and parietal regions, related to smaller brain structure in the BD SOD2 rs4880 GG group and BD GPX3 rs3793797 A-allele carrier group. Conclusion We found preliminary evidence that SOD2 rs4880 and GPX3 rs3792797 are differentially associated with brain structure in youth with BD, in regions that are relevant to BD. Further studies incorporating additional neuroimaging phenotypes and blood levels of oxidative stress markers are warranted.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document