Association Between Reduced Brain Glucose Metabolism and Cortical Thickness in Alcoholics: Evidence of Neurotoxicity

Abstract Background Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with reduced cortical thickness (CT) and lower cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRGlu), but the correlation between these 2 measures has not been investigated. Methods We tested the association between CT and cerebral CMRGlu in 19 participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and 20 healthy controls. Participants underwent 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoroglucose positron emission tomography to map CMRGlu and magnetic resonance imaging to assess CT. Results Although performance accuracy on a broad range of cognitive domains did not differ significantly between AUD and HC, AUD had widespread decreases in CT and CMRGlu. CMRGlu, normalized to cerebellum (rCMRGlu), showed significant correlation with CT across participants. Although there were large group differences in CMRGlu (>17%) and CT (>6%) in medial orbitofrontal and BA 47, the superior parietal cortex showed large reductions in CMRGlu (~17%) and minimal CT differences (~2.2%). Though total lifetime alcohol (TLA) was associated with CT and rCMRGlu, the causal mediation analysis revealed significant direct effects of TLA on rCMRGlu but not on CT, and there were no significant mediation effects of TLA, CT, and rCMRGlu. Conclusions The significant correlation between decrements in CT and CMRGlu across AUD participants is suggestive of alcohol-induced neurotoxicity, whereas the findings that the most metabolically affected regions in AUD had minimal atrophy and vice versa indicates that changes in CT and CMRGlu reflect distinct responses to alcohol across brain regions.

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Neural Evidence Linking Visual Object Enumeration and Attention

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/089892999563238 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 36-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 120

Author(s):

K. Sathian ◽

Tony J. Simon ◽

Scott Peterson ◽

Gargi A. Patel ◽

John M. Hoffman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Attention ◽

Visual Display ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Visual Object ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Single Target ◽

Superior Parietal Cortex ◽

Vertical Bars ◽

And Shifts ◽

The Right

Visual object enumeration is rapid and accurate for four or fewer items but slow and error-prone for over four items. This dichotomy has recently been linked to visual attentional phenomena by findings suggesting that “subitizing” of small sets of objects is preattentive whereas “counting” of over four items demands spatial shifts of attention. We evaluated this link at a neural level, using H215O positron emission tomography to measure changes in regional cerebral blood flow while subjects enumerated the number of target vertical bars that “popped out”of a 16-bar visual display consisting of both horizontal and vertical bars. Relative to a condition with a single target, subitizing (one to four targets) activated foci in the occipital extras-triate cortex, consistent with involvement of early, preattentive visual processes. Relative to subitizing, counting (five to eight targets) activated a widespread network of brain regions, including multiple foci implicated in shifting visual attention— large regions of the superior parietal cortex bilaterally and a focus in the right inferior frontal cortex. These results offer the first direct neural support for mapping the subitizing-counting dichotomy onto separable processes mediating preattentive vision and shifts of visual attention.

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Electroacupuncture Decreases Excessive Alcohol Consumption Involving Reduction of FosB/ΔFosB Levels in Reward-Related Brain Regions

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0040347 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. e40347 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jing Li ◽

Yanan Sun ◽

Jiang-Hong Ye

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Excessive Alcohol Consumption ◽

Excessive Alcohol

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Precuneus Structure Changes in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease & Other Dementias® ◽

10.1177/1533317516678087 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 22-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Robert Haussmann ◽

Annett Werner ◽

Antonia Gruschwitz ◽

Antje Osterrath ◽

Jan Lange ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Structure Changes ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Higher Cognitive Functions

Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Due to their prominent memory impairment, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often focuses on the hippocampal region. However, recent positron-emission tomography data suggest that within a network of frontal and temporal changes, patients with aMCI show metabolic alterations in the precuneus, a key region for higher cognitive functions. Using high-resolution MRI and whole-brain cortical thickness analyses in 28 patients with aMCI and 25 healthy individuals, we wanted to investigate whether structural changes in the precuneus would be associated with cortical thickness reductions in frontal and temporal brain regions in patients with aMCI. In contrast to healthy people, patients with aMCI showed an association of cortical thinning in the precuneus with predominantly left-hemispheric thickness reductions in medial temporal and frontal cortices. Our data highlight structural neuronal network characteristics among patients with aMCI.

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Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: relationships with cortical thickness in fronto-temporal regions, and dissociability from symptom severity

npj Schizophrenia ◽

10.1038/s41537-021-00149-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Erkan Alkan ◽

Geoff Davies ◽

Simon L. Evans

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Visual Learning ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Antipsychotic Treatment ◽

Neural Basis ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Attention Performance

AbstractCognitive impairments are a core and persistent characteristic of schizophrenia with implications for daily functioning. These show only limited response to antipsychotic treatment and their neural basis is not well characterised. Previous studies point to relationships between cortical thickness and cognitive performance in fronto-temporal brain regions in schizophrenia patients (SZH). There is also evidence that these relationships might be independent of symptom severity, suggesting dissociable disease processes. We set out to explore these possibilities in a sample of 70 SZH and 72 age and gender-matched healthy controls (provided by the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)). Cortical thickness within fronto-temporal regions implicated by previous work was considered in relation to performance across various cognitive domains (from the MATRICS Cognitive Battery). Compared to controls, SZH had thinner cortices across most fronto-temporal regions and significantly lower performance on all cognitive domains. Robust relationships with cortical thickness were found: visual learning and attention performance correlated with bilateral superior and middle frontal thickness in SZH only. Correlations between attention performance and right transverse temporal thickness were also specific to SZH. Findings point to the importance of these regions for cognitive performance in SZH, possibly reflecting compensatory processes and/or aberrant connectivity. No links to symptom severity were observed in these regions, suggesting these relationships are dissociable from underlying psychotic symptomology. Findings enhance understanding of the brain structural underpinnings and possible aetiology of cognitive impairment in SZH.

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Global and regional cortical thickness associations with general and domain-specific cognition in first-episode psychosis

10.31234/osf.io/ye3jx ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Katie M. Lavigne ◽

Delphine Raucher-Chéné ◽

M. Mallar Chakravarty ◽

Bratislav Misic ◽

Ridha Joober ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Thickness ◽

Brain Structure ◽

Brain Regions ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Regions Of Interest ◽

First Episode ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Episode Psychosis ◽

Two Samples

Background: Psychosis is often characterized by global and regional brain structure alterations as well as general and domain-specific cognitive deficits. Previous brain structure-cognition findings in psychosis generally involve brain regions of interest or individual cognitive domains that may reflect global/general rather than regional/domain-specific effects. Here, we systematically examined whether global cortical thickness and/or general cognition drive thickness-cognition associations in two first-episode psychosis (FEP) samples to examine generalizability. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging, cognitive, and sociodemographic data were acquired in two samples (sample 1: 114 FEP, 81 control; sample 2: 62 FEP, 53 control). Multivariate global thickness-general cognition associations were examined in patients using partial least squares (PLS) to optimize brain-cognition associations. Then, mean thickness and mean cognition were cumulatively covaried from the thickness data and cognitive data, respectively, to probe associations between (1) regional thickness and general cognition (covarying mean thickness) and (2) regional thickness and domain-specific cognition (covarying mean thickness and mean cognition). Results: A general cognitive impairment was associated with global thinning as well as bidirectional regional alterations (decreased motor, inferior temporal, and increased frontal thickness), which related to symptoms and generalized out-of-sample. Sample- and domain-specific bidirectional alterations were observed for verbal memory, processing speed, visual memory, attention. Conclusions: Examining brain regions-of-interest and/or individual cognitive domains may capture global/general deficits rather than region- or domain-specific associations. Bidirectional thickness alterations point to inefficient cortical reorganization rather than unidimensional decline. Domain-specific associations may represent subgroups of patients with distinct sociodemographic, clinical, and cognitive profiles, who might benefit from more personalized interventions.

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Glucose hypometabolism is highly localized, but lower cortical thickness and brain atrophy are widespread in cognitively normal older adults

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.00067.2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 306 (11) ◽

pp. E1315-E1321 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Scott Nugent ◽

Christian-Alexandre Castellano ◽

Philippe Goffaux ◽

Kevin Whittingstall ◽

Martin Lepage ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Frontal Cortex ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Neuropsychological Testing ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Volume Effect ◽

Cognitive Testing ◽

Cognitively Normal ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Glucose Hypometabolism

Several studies have suggested that glucose hypometabolism may be present in specific brain regions in cognitively normal older adults and could contribute to the risk of subsequent cognitive decline. However, certain methodological shortcomings, including a lack of partial volume effect (PVE) correction or insufficient cognitive testing, confound the interpretation of most studies on this topic. We combined [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to quantify cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRg) as well as cortical volume and thickness in 43 anatomically defined brain regions from a group of cognitively normal younger (25 ± 3 yr old; n = 25) and older adults (71 ± 9 yr old; n = 31). After correcting for PVE, we observed 11–17% lower CMRg in three specific brain regions of the older group: the superior frontal cortex, the caudal middle frontal cortex, and the caudate ( P ≤ 0.01 false discovery rate-corrected). In the older group, cortical volumes and cortical thickness were 13–33 and 7–18% lower, respectively, in multiple brain regions ( P ≤ 0.01 FDR correction). There were no differences in CMRg between individuals who were or were not prescribed antihypertensive medication. There were no significant correlations between CMRg and cognitive performance or metabolic parameters measured in fasting plasma. We conclude that highly localized glucose hypometabolism and widespread cortical thinning and atrophy can be present in older adults who are cognitively normal, as assessed using age-normed neuropsychological testing measures.

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Do not forget alcohol damage – Cognitive impairments related to alcohol

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1740 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s868-s868

Author(s):

M. Lázaro ◽

L. Carvalhão Gil ◽

A. Ponte ◽

T. Mota

Keyword(s):

Literature Search ◽

Cognitive Impairments ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Clinical Impact ◽

Excessive Alcohol Consumption ◽

Excessive Alcohol ◽

Competing Interest ◽

The Impact ◽

The Brain

IntroductionChronic excessive alcohol consumption may lead to structural and functional damage of the brain. Alcohol-related cognitive impairments are well-established and confirmed by neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies. However, the influence of each neuropathological mechanisms is still under discussion. This topic is increasingly becoming focus of attention in psychiatry.ObjectivesReview the neuropathology, clinical features, neuropsychology and management of alcohol-related cognitive impairments.AimsEvaluate clinical impact, management and prognosis of alcohol-related cognitive impairments.MethodsA literature search was performed on PubMed and Medscape database.ResultsAccording to our literature research, there is a debate concerning the relative contributions of the direct toxic effect of alcohol and the impact of thiamine deficiency on the alcohol-related cognitive impairments. Research about this issue is challenging, considering the multiple patterns of alcohol abuse, the personal and lifestyle factors, and the vulnerability of specific brain regions. The cognitive decline is linked to neuroanatomical alterations and primarily affects executive functions, episodic memory, and visuospatial capacities. These deficits may range from mild to severe but usually remain undiagnosed, unless they are specifically investigated. Maintenance of lasting abstinence is associated with cognitive recovery, but some impairments may persist and interfere with the prognosis.ConclusionRecognizing and screening for alcohol-related cognitive impairments is crucial to offer significant benefits to patients by optimising management strategies.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Longitudinal Mapping of Gyral and Sulcal Patterns of Cortical Thickness and Brain Volume Regain during Early Alcohol Abstinence

European Addiction Research ◽

10.1159/000438456 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 80-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Guo-Ying Wang ◽

Traute Demirakca ◽

Julia van Eijk ◽

Ulrich Frischknecht ◽

Matthias Ruf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Thickness ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Longitudinal Change ◽

Partial Recovery ◽

Excessive Alcohol Consumption ◽

Brain Volume Loss ◽

Alcohol Abstinence ◽

Volume Recovery ◽

Excessive Alcohol ◽

Subcortical Volume

We explored brain volume recovery in terms of cortical thickness (CTh; gyral, sulcal pattern) and surface area (SA), as well as subcortical volume recovery in the first 2 weeks of abstinence in 49 alcohol-dependent patients (ADPs). A widespread reduction of CTh in ADPs at day 1 of abstinence compared to healthy controls, with more pronounced differences in sulci relative to gyri was found. After 2 weeks of abstinence, partial recovery to varying degrees of CTh loss in ADPs was observed for several regions. The longitudinal CTh changes were greater in sulci than in gyri of affected regions. No longitudinal change in SAs and subcortical volumes was found. Alterations of CTh contribute to brain volume loss in alcoholism and recovery during early abstinence. Sulci seem to be more vulnerable to excessive alcohol consumption and to drive abstinence-induced volume recovery. During the initial 2 weeks of abstinence no subcortical volume regain was observed. Either the time span was too short or the lower subcortical volume could represent a predisposing trait marker.

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