scholarly journals Corticosteroids and Regional Variations in Thickness of the Human Cerebral Cortex across the Lifespan

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Parker ◽  
Didac Vidal-Pineiro ◽  
Leon French ◽  
Jean Shin ◽  
Hieab H H Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Brain Atlas ◽  
Variable Degree ◽  
Human Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Age Related Changes

Abstract Exposures to life stressors accumulate across the lifespan, with possible impact on brain health. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms mediating age-related changes in brain structure. We use a lifespan sample of participants (n = 21 251; 4–97 years) to investigate the relationship between the thickness of cerebral cortex and the expression of the glucocorticoid- and the mineralocorticoid-receptor genes (NR3C1 and NR3C2, respectively), obtained from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. In all participants, cortical thickness correlated negatively with the expression of both NR3C1 and NR3C2 across 34 cortical regions. The magnitude of this correlation varied across the lifespan. From childhood through early adulthood, the profile similarity (between NR3C1/NR3C2 expression and thickness) increased with age. Conversely, both profile similarities decreased with age in late life. These variations do not reflect age-related changes in NR3C1 and NR3C2 expression, as observed in 5 databases of gene expression in the human cerebral cortex (502 donors). Based on the co-expression of NR3C1 (and NR3C2) with genes specific to neural cell types, we determine the potential involvement of microglia, astrocytes, and CA1 pyramidal cells in mediating the relationship between corticosteroid exposure and cortical thickness. Therefore, corticosteroids may influence brain structure to a variable degree throughout life.

scholarly journals Maturation of the Human Cerebral Cortex During Adolescence: Myelin or Dendritic Arbor?

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 3351-3362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Patel ◽  
J Shin ◽  
P A Gowland ◽  
Z Pausova ◽  
T Paus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Ependymal Cells ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Magnetization Transfer Ratio ◽  
Dendritic Arbor ◽  
Human Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Regional Variations ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Previous in vivo studies revealed robust age-related variations in structural properties of the human cerebral cortex during adolescence. Neurobiology underlying these maturational phenomena is largely unknown. Here we employ a virtual-histology approach to gain insights into processes associated with inter-regional variations in cortical microstructure and its maturation, as indexed by magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). Inter-regional variations in MTR correlate with inter-regional variations in expression of genes specific to pyramidal cells (CA1) and ependymal cells; enrichment analyses indicate involvement of these genes in dendritic growth. On the other hand, inter-regional variations in the change of MTR during adolescence correlate with inter-regional profiles of oligodendrocyte-specific gene expression. Complemented by a quantitative hypothetical model of the contribution of surfaces associated with dendritic arbor (1631 m2) and myelin (48 m2), these findings suggest that MTR signals are driven mainly by macromolecules associated with dendritic arbor while maturational changes in the MTR signal are associated with myelination.

Age-Related Changes in the Synaptic Density of Amyloid-β Protein Precursor and Secretases in the Human Cerebral Cortex

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 1209-1214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Pliássova ◽  
Paula M. Canas ◽  
Ana Carolina Xavier ◽  
Beatriz S. da Silva ◽  
Rodrigo A. Cunha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Amyloid Β Protein ◽  
Human Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Synaptic Density ◽  
Protein Precursor ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Β Protein ◽  
Age Related Changes

scholarly journals Age related changes in the primary somatosensory area of the cerebral cortex

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 87-92
Author(s):  
Santos George Joseph ◽  
Anne George
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Stellate Cells ◽  
Somatosensory Area ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Age Related Changes

Background: Age-related changes in structural and functional part of brain have been the motivation of previous and ongoing neuroscientific research. The focus of most studies done, were on different motor areas of the of the cerebral cortex. Very few studies were done on primary somatosensory areas of the brain. Aims and Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the age-related changes in primary somatosensory area of the cerebral cortex of the human brain. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 50 autopsied brain specimens. The specimens removed were of both sexes belonging to various age groups ranging from 9 months to 75 years. The specimens were collected from the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College Kottayam. During the autopsy the meninges were carefully stripped off. The sulci and gyri were then examined carefully. Results: The depth of the upper area of the central sulcus is more than the middle and lower areas, both in the right and left halves of the cerebral cortex. The laminae of the primary somatosensory area have shown that as age advances there is a progressive increase in thickness except in the case of lamina IV. From the ages of 61 years onwards, laminar degeneration takes place. The thickest lamina was lamina V. The thinnest laminawas lamina IV. The stellate cells that dominate in lamina II and IV show a difference in their arrangement. In foetal life, the pyramidal cells were almost indistinguishable from the stellate cells. The pyramidal cells were seen mostly in lamina III and V. Conclusion: The study results suggest the possibility that in the more advanced stages of aging, the structural integrity of lamina IV is more consistent than other layers present in primary somatosensory area of the cerebral cortex. Further study is needed to examine the impact of ageing on somatosensory area.

scholarly journals Aging of the Cerebral Cortex

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tak Pan Wong
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Neuronal Plasticity ◽  
Additional Data ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Neuronal Function ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Neuronal Functions ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Age Related Changes

Significant structural trimming of neuronal structures in the cerebral cortex has long been considered as a primary cause of various age-related cortical dysfunctions. While recent findings provided additional data to support this notion, current understanding of cortical neuronal functions in aging also revealed the relationship of neuronal plasticity and imbalances between different neurotransmitter systems with the formation of age-related cortical dysfunctions. Manipulating these age-related alterations in neuronal function may be a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of cortical dysfunctions in aging. This review will focus our current understanding of age-related changes in neuronal structures and functions in the cerebral cortex. Implication of these age-related alterations will be discussed.

scholarly journals Auditory word recognition across the lifespan

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 119-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrike K. Blumenfeld ◽  
Scott R. Schroeder ◽  
Susan C. Bobb ◽  
Max R. Freeman ◽  
Viorica Marian
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Word Identification ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Auditory Word ◽  
Auditory Word Recognition ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Age Related Changes

Abstract Recent research suggests that bilingual experience reconfigures linguistic and nonlinguistic cognitive processes. We examined the relationship between linguistic competition resolution and nonlinguistic cognitive control in younger and older adults who were either bilingual or monolingual. Participants heard words in English and identified the referent among four pictures while eye-movements were recorded. Target pictures (e.g., cab) appeared with a phonological competitor picture (e.g., cat) and two filler pictures. After each eye-tracking trial, priming probes assessed residual activation and inhibition of target and competitor words. When accounting for processing speed, results revealed that age-related changes in activation and inhibition are smaller in bilinguals than in monolinguals. Moreover, younger and older bilinguals, but not monolinguals, recruited similar inhibition mechanisms during word identification and during a nonlinguistic Stroop task. Results suggest that, during lexical access, bilinguals show more consistent competition resolution and recruitment of cognitive control across the lifespan than monolinguals.

scholarly journals Sleep Duration and Age-Related Changes in Brain Structure and Cognitive Performance

SLEEP ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 821-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
June C Lo ◽  
Kep Kee Loh ◽  
Hui Zheng ◽  
Sam K.Y. Sim ◽  
Michael W.L. Chee
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Changes
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