Childhood socioeconomic status is associated with psychometric intelligence and microstructural brain development

AbstractChildhood socioeconomic status is robustly associated with various children’s cognitive factors and neural mechanisms. Here we show the association of childhood socioeconomic status with psychometric intelligence and mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy using diffusion tensor imaging at the baseline experiment (N = 285) and longitudinal changes in these metrics after 3.0 ± 0.3 years (N = 223) in a large sample of normal Japanese children (mean age = 11.2 ± 3.1 years). After correcting for confounding factors, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses show that higher childhood socioeconomic status is associated with greater baseline and baseline to follow-up increase of psychometric intelligence and mean diffusivity in areas around the bilateral fusiform gyrus. These results demonstrate that higher socioeconomic status is associated with higher psychometric intelligence measures and altered microstructural properties in the fusiform gyrus which plays a key role in reading and letter recognition and further augmentation of such tendencies during development. Definitive conclusions regarding the causality of these relationships requires intervention and physiological studies. However, the current findings should be considered when developing and revising policies regarding education.

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Arterial Stiffness Is Associated with White Matter Disruption and Cognitive Impairment: A Community-Based Cohort Study

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-201424 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (2) ◽

pp. 567-576

Author(s):

Fei Han ◽

Fei-Fei Zhai ◽

Ming-Li Li ◽

Li-Xin Zhou ◽

Jun Ni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

White Matter ◽

Arterial Stiffness ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Sex Education ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

White Matter Injury ◽

White Matter Integrity ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: Mechanisms through which arterial stiffness impacts cognitive function are crucial for devising better strategies to prevent cognitive decline. Objective: To examine the associations of arterial stiffness with white matter integrity and cognition in community dwellings, and to investigate whether white matter injury was the intermediate of the associations between arterial stiffness and cognition. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis on 952 subjects (aged 55.5±9.1 years) who underwent diffusion tensor imaging and measurement of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Both linear regression and tract-based spatial statistics were used to investigate the association between baPWV and white matter integrity. The association between baPWV and global cognitive function, measured as the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was evaluated. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the influence of white matter integrity on the association of baPWV with MMSE. Results: Increased baPWV was significantly associated with lower mean global fractional anisotropy (β= –0.118, p < 0.001), higher mean diffusivity (β= 0.161, p < 0.001), axial diffusivity (β= 0.160, p < 0.001), and radial diffusivity (β= 0.147, p < 0.001) after adjustment of age, sex, and hypertension, which were measures having a direct effect on arterial stiffness and white matter integrity. After adjustment of age, sex, education, apolipoprotein E ɛ4, cardiovascular risk factors, and brain atrophy, we found an association of increased baPWV with worse performance on MMSE (β= –0.093, p = 0.011). White matter disruption partially mediated the effect of baPWV on MMSE. Conclusion: Arterial stiffness is associated with white matter disruption and cognitive decline. Reduced white matter integrity partially explained the effect of arterial stiffness on cognition.

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Nerve Hypertrophy and Altered Diffusion in Anti-Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Neuropathy Detected by Brachial Plexus Magnetic Resonance Neurography

European Neurology ◽

10.1159/000519128 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Kyosuke Koide ◽

Atsuhiko Sugiyama ◽

Hajime Yokota ◽

Hiroki Mukai ◽

Jiaqi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Brachial Plexus ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Nerve Roots ◽

Magnetic Resonance Neurography ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

3 Dimensional ◽

Myelin Associated Glycoprotein

Introduction: This study assessed the morphological changes and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived parameters of the brachial plexus using magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) in patients with anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (anti-MAG) neuropathy. Methods: Eight patients with anti-MAG neuropathy underwent MRN of the brachial plexus with 3-dimensional (3D) short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and DTI sequences. Two neuroradiologists and a neurologist qualitatively assessed nerve hypertrophy on 3D STIR MRN. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the nerve roots was measured. Quantitative analyses of fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial, radial, and mean diffusivity (AD, RD, and MD) were obtained after postprocessing on DTI and manual segmentation. Results: There was nerve hypertrophy in 37.5% of the patients with anti-MAG neuropathy. All patients with anti-MAG neuropathy with nerve hypertrophy were refractory to rituximab therapy. The CSA of the nerve roots was inversely correlated with FA and positively correlated with MD and RD. FA decreased in the nerve roots and inversely correlated with disease duration. Conclusions: Nerve hypertrophy appears in the proximal portion of peripheral nerves, such as the brachial plexus, in patients with anti-MAG neuropathy. Altered diffusion in the nerve roots might be associated with the loss of myelin integrity due to the demyelination process in anti-MAG neuropathy.

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Verbal memory and hippocampal volume predict subsequent fornix microstructure in those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease

Brain Imaging and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s11682-019-00183-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 2311-2322 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Junhong Yu ◽

◽

Tatia M. C. Lee

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Hippocampal Atrophy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mci Due To Ad

Abstract While strong cross-sectional evidence supported the use of fornix microstructure as a marker for detecting Alzheimer’s disease (AD), longitudinal data remains inconclusive on the sequential nature of fornix microstructure abnormalities and AD progression. An unequivocal longitudinal relationship between fornix microstructure and markers of AD progression –memory impairment and hippocampal atrophy, must be established to validate fornix microstructure as a marker of AD progression. We included 115 participants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative across the non-demented AD spectrum— defined as those who had at least one AD risk marker at baseline (e.g., mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD diagnosis, amyloid or ApoE4 positivity) and/or ‘cognitively normal individuals who converted to MCI due to AD or AD, with structural and diffusion tensor imaging scans at baseline and two years follow-up. Hippocampal volumes (HV), fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the fornix were extracted. Memory was indexed via composite scores of verbal memory tests. Structural equation models tested the bidirectional cross-lagged effects of fornix microstructure, memory, and HV. Impaired memory and smaller HV at baseline significantly predicted worse fornix microstructure (decreased FA and increased MD) two years later. Baseline fornix microstructure was not associated with subsequent changes in memory and HV. Fornix microstructure is compromised likely at a later stage, where significant decline in memory and hippocampal atrophy have occurred. This limits the utility of fornix microstructure in the early detection of AD. Our findings inform the possible pathophysiology and refined the use of AD neural markers.

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Predictors of blood pressure in a cohort of school-aged children

European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation ◽

10.1097/hjr.0b013e32828621c6 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 624-629 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Masoud Mirzaei ◽

Richard Taylor ◽

Stephen Morrell ◽

Stephen R. Leeder

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Longitudinal Change ◽

Anthropometric Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

School Aged Children ◽

European Society Of Cardiology ◽

Current Weight

Objectives To examine anthropometric measures and birthweight as predictors of blood pressure (BP) in a cohort of children. Design Cross-sectional and longitudinal study comprising baseline anthropometric and BP measurements conducted in 1994 ( n = 1230), with follow-up in 1997 ( n = 628). Setting Seventy-five inner-Sydney primary schools. Participants School children aged 8-9 years at baseline and 11-12 years at follow-up. Main outcome measures Systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP). Study factors Current weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHR), weight gain since birth and birth weight. Potential confounders: age, sex and socioeconomic status (on the basis of the area of residence). Results Current weight was significantly associated with both SBP and DBP in boys and girls at baseline and follow-up. BMI and WC were similar predictors of SBP and DBP in each survey, but longitudinal BMI change has a stronger association with SBP ( r = 0.43, P <0.001) and DBP ( r = 0.26, P < 0.001) than changes in WC (r = 0.18, P < 0.001 for SBP and r = 0.16, P < 0.001 for DBP) and WHR in boys with the similar results for girls. The unadjusted associations between SBP and DBP and birthweight were nonsignificant. After adjustments for age, height and socioeconomic status, however, the association becomes negative and significant in boys (β = −1.47, P = 0.04 for SBP and β = −1.33, P = 0.03 for DBP). Conclusion Longitudinal change in BMI is a better predictor of BP than change in WC or the WHR, although cross-sectional measurements of BMI and WC are very similar predictors of BP. In preventing subsequent adverse effects on BP, attending to body weight during childhood is important. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 14:624-629 © 2007 The European Society of Cardiology

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Quantitative spinal cord MRI in radiologically isolated syndrome

Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation ◽

10.1212/nxi.0000000000000436 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. e436 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Paula Alcaide-Leon ◽

Kateryna Cybulsky ◽

Stephanie Sankar ◽

Courtney Casserly ◽

General Leung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Magnetization Transfer ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Magnetization Transfer Ratio ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sequence Of Events ◽

Radiologically Isolated Syndrome ◽

And Diffusion

ObjectivesTo assess whether quantitative spinal cord MRI (SC-MRI) measures, including atrophy, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetization transfer imaging metrics were different in radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) vs healthy controls (HCs).MethodsTwenty-four participants with RIS and 14 HCs underwent cervical SC-MRI on a 3T magnet. Manually segmented regions of interest circumscribing the spinal cord cross-sectional area (SC-CSA) between C3 and C4 were used to extract SC-CSA, fractional anisotropy, mean, perpendicular, and parallel diffusivity (MD, λ⊥, and λ||) and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). Spinal cord (SC) lesions, SC gray matter (GM), and SC white matter (WM) areas were also manually segmented. Multivariable linear regression was performed to evaluate differences in SC-MRI measures in RIS vs HCs, while controlling for age and sex.ResultsIn this cross-sectional study of participants with RIS, 71% had lesions in the cervical SC. Of quantitative SC-MRI metrics, spinal cord MTR showed a trend toward being lower in RIS vs HCs (p = 0.06), and there was already evidence of brain atrophy (p = 0.05). There were no significant differences in SC-DTI metrics, GM, WM, or CSA between RIS and HCs.ConclusionThe SC demonstrates minimal microstructural changes suggestive of demyelination and inflammation in RIS. These findings are in contrast to established MS and raise the possibility that the SC may play an important role in triggering clinical symptomatology in MS. Prospective follow-up of this cohort will provide additional insights into the role the SC plays in the complex sequence of events related to MS disease initiation and progression.

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Progressive brain changes in schizophrenia: a 1-year follow-up study of diffusion tensor imaging

Acta Neuropsychiatrica ◽

10.1111/j.1601-5215.2009.00422.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 301-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Miho Ota ◽

Satoko Obu ◽

Noriko Sato ◽

Katsuyoshi Mizukami ◽

Takashi Asada

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Volume Data ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Schizophrenic Patients ◽

Brain Changes ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Objective:Recent cross-sectional studies suggest that brain changes in schizophrenia are progressive during the course of the disorder. However, it remains unknown whether this is a global process or whether some brain areas are affected to a greater degree. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal brain changes in patients with chronic older schizophrenia by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods:Three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted and diffusion tensor (DT) MRI were performed twice on each of 16 chronic older schizophrenia patients (mean age = 58.1 ± 6.7 years ) with an interval of 1 year between imaging sessions. To clarify the longitudinal morphological and white matter changes, volume data and normalised diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics were compared between the first and follow-up studies using a paired t-test.Results:Focal cortical volume loss was observed in the left prefrontal lobe and anterior cingulate on volumetric study. In addition, DTI metrics changed significantly at the bilateral posterior superior temporal lobes, left insula, genu of the corpus callosum and anterior cingulate.Conclusion:There are ongoing changes in the brains of schizophrenic patients during the course of the illness. Discrepancies between volume data and DTI metrics may indicate that the pattern of progressive brain changes varies according to brain region.

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Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging of the optic nerves in pediatric hydrocephalus

Neurosurgical FOCUS ◽

10.3171/2019.9.focus19619 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. E16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katie Shpanskaya ◽

Jennifer L. Quon ◽

Robert M. Lober ◽

Sid Nair ◽

Eli Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Optic Nerve ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Optic Nerves ◽

Pediatric Hydrocephalus ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Neurosurgical Intervention

OBJECTIVEWhile conventional imaging can readily identify ventricular enlargement in hydrocephalus, structural changes that underlie microscopic tissue injury might be more difficult to capture. MRI-based diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) uses properties of water motion to uncover changes in the tissue microenvironment. The authors hypothesized that DTI can identify alterations in optic nerve microstructure in children with hydrocephalus.METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed 21 children (< 18 years old) who underwent DTI before and after neurosurgical intervention for acute obstructive hydrocephalus from posterior fossa tumors. Their optic nerve quantitative DTI metrics of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were compared to those of 21 age-matched healthy controls.RESULTSPatients with hydrocephalus had increased MD and decreased FA in bilateral optic nerves, compared to controls (p < 0.001). Normalization of bilateral optic nerve MD and FA on short-term follow-up (median 1 day) after neurosurgical intervention was observed, as was near-complete recovery of MD on long-term follow-up (median 1.8 years).CONCLUSIONSDTI was used to demonstrate reversible alterations of optic nerve microstructure in children presenting acutely with obstructive hydrocephalus. Alterations in optic nerve MD and FA returned to near-normal levels on short- and long-term follow-up, suggesting that surgical intervention can restore optic nerve tissue microstructure. This technique is a safe, noninvasive imaging tool that quantifies alterations of neural tissue, with a potential role for evaluation of pediatric hydrocephalus.

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18F-AV1451 PET imaging and white matter changes in progressive supranuclear palsy

10.1101/19000596 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Nicolas Nicastro ◽

Patricia Vazquez Rodriguez ◽

Maura Malpetti ◽

William Richard Bevan-Jones ◽

P. Simon Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy ◽

Pet Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

White Matter Integrity ◽

Tau Pathology ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

White Matter Changes

ABSTRACTIntroductionProgressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is characterized by deposition of straight filament tau aggregates in the grey matter of deep nuclei and cerebellum. White matter changes are increasingly documented as a feature of degenerative parkinsonism. We therefore examined the relationship between tau pathology (assessed via 18F-AV1451 positron emission tomography) and white matter integrity (using diffusion tensor imaging, DTI) in PSP.MethodsTwenty-three people with clinically probable PSP-Richardson’s syndrome (age 68.8 ± 5.8 years, 39% female) and 23 controls underwent structural 3T brain MRI including DTI. Twenty-one patients also underwent 18F-AV145 PET imaging. DTI group comparisons were performed using Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Mean Diffusivity (MD) and Radial Diffusivity (RD). Voxel-wise white matter integrity was correlated with 18F-AV1451 binding in typical subcortical PSP regions of interest (i.e. putamen, pallidum, thalamus and midbrain). DTI and 18F-AV1451 imaging measures were correlated with clinical impairment.ResultsWidespread DTI changes in PSP subjects relative to controls (family-wise error FWE p<0.01) were observed. In PSP, higher 18F-AV1451 binding correlated with reduced white matter integrity in the bilateral internal capsule, corona radiata, and superior longitudinal fasciculus (FWE p<0.05). Association between cognitive impairment (ACER score) and white matter deficits were found in the genu of corpus callosum and cingulum (p<0.005).ConclusionThis cross-sectional study demonstrates an association between in vivo proxy measures of tau pathology and white matter degeneration in PSP. Longitudinal studies and more specific PET probes for non-Alzheimer tauopathies are warranted to assess the complex interplay between microstructural changes and protein deposition in PSP.

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Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of family income-to-needs ratio with cortical and subcortical brain volume in adolescent boys and girls

10.1101/2020.01.24.918847 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lucy S. King ◽

Emily L. Dennis ◽

Kathryn L. Humphreys ◽

Paul M. Thompson ◽

Ian H. Gotlib

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Family Income ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Important Variable ◽

White Matter Volume ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Biological Sex ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Childhood Socioeconomic Status

AbstractDeviations in neurodevelopment may underlie the association between lower childhood socioeconomic status and difficulties in cognitive and socioemotional domains. Most previous investigations of the association between childhood socioeconomic status and brain morphology have used cross-sectional designs with samples that span wide age ranges, occluding effects specific to adolescence. Sex differences in the association between childhood socioeconomic status and neurodevelopment may emerge or intensify during adolescence. We used tensor-based morphometry, a whole brain approach, to examine sex differences in the cross-sectional association between normative variation in family income-to-needs ratio (INR) and cortical and subcortical gray and white matter volume during early adolescence (ages 9-13 years, N=147), as well as in the longitudinal association between in INR and change in volume from early to later adolescence (ages 11-16 years, N=109). Biological sex interacted with INR to explain variation in volume in several areas cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Effects were primarily in cortical gray matter areas, including regions of the association cortex and sensorimotor processing areas. Effect sizes tended to be larger in boys than in girls. Biological sex may be an important variable to consider in analyses of the effects of family income on structural neurodevelopment during adolescence.HighlightsSex-specific associations of SES with neurodevelopment may emerge in adolescence.We used a whole-brain approach to examine gray and white matter volume.Sex interacted with SES to explain variation in volume across adolescence.Sex is an important variable to consider in analyses of SES and brain volume.

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White matter fiber microstructure is associated with prior hospitalizations rather than acute symptomatology in major depressive disorder

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291720002950 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Susanne Meinert ◽

Elisabeth J. Leehr ◽

Dominik Grotegerd ◽

Jonathan Repple ◽

Katharina Förster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Disease State ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Course Of Illness ◽

The Right

Abstract Background Eighty percent of all patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) relapse at least once in their lifetime. Thus, understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of the course of MDD is of utmost importance. A detrimental course of illness in MDD was most consistently associated with superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) fiber integrity. As similar associations were, however, found between SLF fiber integrity and acute symptomatology, this study attempts to disentangle associations attributed to current depression from long-term course of illness. Methods A total of 531 patients suffering from acute (N = 250) or remitted (N = 281) MDD from the FOR2107-cohort were analyzed in this cross-sectional study using tract-based spatial statistics for diffusion tensor imaging. First, the effects of disease state (acute v. remitted), current symptom severity (BDI-score) and course of illness (number of hospitalizations) on fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity were analyzed separately. Second, disease state and BDI-scores were analyzed in conjunction with the number of hospitalizations to disentangle their effects. Results Disease state (pFWE < 0.042) and number of hospitalizations (pFWE< 0.032) were associated with decreased FA and increased MD and RD in the bilateral SLF. A trend was found for the BDI-score (pFWE > 0.067). When analyzed simultaneously only the effect of course of illness remained significant (pFWE < 0.040) mapping to the right SLF. Conclusions Decreased FA and increased MD and RD values in the SLF are associated with more hospitalizations when controlling for current psychopathology. SLF fiber integrity could reflect cumulative illness burden at a neurobiological level and should be targeted in future longitudinal analyses.

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