scholarly journals Childhood conduct problems are associated with reduced white matter fibre density and morphology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. Burley ◽  
Sila Genc ◽  
Timothy J. Silk
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Fibre Density ◽  
Time Points ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Childhood Conduct Problems ◽  
Childhood Conduct ◽  
Time Point

AbstractChildhood conduct problems are an important public health issue as these children are at-risk of adverse outcomes. Studies using diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) have found that conduct problems in adults are characterised by abnormal white-matter microstructure within a range of white matter pathways underpinning socio-emotional processing, while evidence within children and adolescents has been less conclusive based on non-specific diffusion tensor imaging metrics. Fixel-based analysis (FBA) provides measures of fibre density and morphology that are more sensitive to developmental changes in white matter microstructure. The current study used FBA to investigate whether childhood conduct problems were related both cross-sectionally and longitudinally to microstructural alterations within the fornix, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and the uncinate fasciculus (UF). dMRI data was obtained for 130 children across two time-points in a community sample with high levels of externalising difficulties (age: time-point 1 = 9.47 – 11.86 years, time-point 2 = 10.67 −13.45 years). Conduct problems were indexed at each time-point using the Conduct Problems subscale of the parent-informant Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Conduct problems were related to lower fibre density in the fornix at both time-points, and in the ILF at time-point 2. We also observed lower fibre cross-section in the UF at time-point 1. The change in conduct problems did not predict longitudinal changes in white-matter microstructure across time-points. The current study suggests that childhood conduct problems are related to reduced fibre-specific microstructure within white matter fibre pathways implicated in socio-emotional functioning.

scholarly journals The long‐term cost of childhood conduct problems: Finnish Nationwide 1981 Birth Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Rissanen ◽  
Virpi Kuvaja‐Köllner ◽  
Henrik Elonheimo ◽  
Lauri Sillanmäki ◽  
André Sourander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Childhood Conduct Problems ◽  
Childhood Conduct

Engagement of families in treatment for childhood conduct problems

2003 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria E. Miller ◽  
Ronald J. Prinz
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Childhood Conduct Problems ◽  
Childhood Conduct

scholarly journals Callous-unemotional traits drive reduced white-matter integrity in youths with conduct problems

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (14) ◽  
pp. 3033-3046 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Breeden ◽  
E. M. Cardinale ◽  
L. M. Lozier ◽  
J. W. VanMeter ◽  
A. A. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Externalizing Behavior ◽  
Externalizing Behaviors ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Stria Terminalis ◽  
Uncinate Fasciculus ◽  
Cu Traits ◽  
Callous Unemotional

Background.Callous-unemotional (CU) traits represent a significant risk factor for severe and persistent conduct problems in children and adolescents. Extensive neuroimaging research links CU traits to structural and functional abnormalities in the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In addition, adults with psychopathy (a disorder for which CU traits are a developmental precursor) exhibit reduced integrity in uncinate fasciculus, a white-matter (WM) tract that connects prefrontal and temporal regions. However, research in adolescents has not yet yielded similarly consistent findings.Method.We simultaneously modeled CU traits and externalizing behaviors as continuous traits, while controlling for age and IQ, in order to identify the unique relationship of each variable with WM microstructural integrity, assessed using diffusion tensor imaging. We used tract-based spatial statistics to evaluate fractional anisotropy, an index of WM integrity, in uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis in 47 youths aged 10–17 years, of whom 26 exhibited conduct problems and varying levels of CU traits.Results.Whereas both CU traits and externalizing behaviors were negatively correlated with WM integrity in bilateral uncinate fasciculus and stria terminalis/fornix, simultaneously modeling both variables revealed that these effects were driven by CU traits; the severity of externalizing behavior was not related to WM integrity after controlling for CU traits.Conclusions.These results indicate that WM abnormalities similar to those observed in adult populations with psychopathy may emerge in late childhood or early adolescence, and may be critical to understanding the social and affective deficits observed in this population.

School dropout: The role of childhood conduct problems and depressive symptoms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne A. Lau ◽  
Caroline E. Temcheff ◽  
Martine Poirier ◽  
Vincent Bégin ◽  
Melissa Commisso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
School Dropout ◽  
Childhood Conduct Problems ◽  
Childhood Conduct

scholarly journals White Matter Changes on Diffusion Tensor Imaging in the FINGER Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-86
Author(s):  
Ruth Stephen ◽  
Alina Solomon ◽  
Tiia Ngandu ◽  
Esko Levälahti ◽  
Juha O. Rinne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Multidomain Intervention

Background: Early pathological changes in white matter microstructure can be studied using the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). It is not only important to study these subtle pathological changes leading to cognitive decline, but also to ascertain how an intervention would impact the white matter microstructure and cognition in persons at-risk of dementia. Objectives: To study the impact of a multidomain lifestyle intervention on white matter and cognitive changes during the 2-year Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), a randomized controlled trial in at-risk older individuals (age 60–77 years) from the general population. Methods: This exploratory study consisted of a subsample of 60 FINGER participants. Participants were randomized to either a multidomain intervention (diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk management, n = 34) or control group (general health advice, n = 26). All underwent baseline and 2-year brain DTI. Changes in fractional anisotropy (FA), diffusivity along domain (F1) and non-domain (F2) diffusion orientations, mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AxD), radial diffusivity (RD), and their correlations with cognitive changes during the 2-year multidomain intervention were analyzed. Results: FA decreased, and cognition improved more in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), with no significant intergroup differences for changes in F1, F2, MD, AxD, or RD. The cognitive changes were significantly positively related to FA change, and negatively related to RD change in the control group, but not in the intervention group. Conclusion: The 2-year multidomain FINGER intervention may modulate white matter microstructural alterations.

Regional brain volumes, microstructure and neurodevelopment in moderate–late preterm children

2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
pp. 593-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E Kelly ◽  
Deanne K Thompson ◽  
Alicia J Spittle ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Marc L Seal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Developmental Outcomes ◽  
Late Preterm ◽  
Brain Volumes ◽  
Regional Brain ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Cortical Grey Matter

ObjectiveTo explore whether regional brain volume and white matter microstructure at term-equivalent age (TEA) are associated with development at 2 years of age in children born moderate–late preterm (MLPT).Study designA cohort of MLPT infants had brain MRI at approximately TEA (38–44 weeks’ postmenstrual age) and had a developmental assessment (Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment) at 2 years’ corrected age. Relationships between cortical grey matter and white matter volumes and 2-year developmental outcomes were explored using voxel-based morphometry. Relationships between diffusion tensor measures of white matter microstructure (fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial (AD), radial (RD) and mean (MD) diffusivities) and 2-year developmental outcomes were explored using tract-based spatial statistics.Results189 MLPT children had data from at least one MRI modality (volumetric or diffusion) and data for at least one developmental domain. Larger cortical grey and white matter volumes in many brain regions, and higher FA and lower AD, RD and MD in several major white matter regions, were associated with better cognitive and language scores. There was little evidence that cortical grey matter and white matter volumes and white matter microstructure were associated with motor and behavioural outcomes.ConclusionsRegional cortical grey matter and white matter volumes and white matter microstructure are associated with cognitive and language development at 2 years of age in MLPT children. Thus, early alterations to brain volumes and microstructure may contribute to some of the developmental deficits described in MLPT children.

scholarly journals Dysmature superficial white matter microstructure in developmental focal epilepsy

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M Ostrowski ◽  
Daniel Y Song ◽  
Emily L Thorn ◽  
Erin E Ross ◽  
Sally M Stoyell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Epilepsy Syndrome ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Deep White Matter ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Benign Epilepsy

Abstract Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes is a common childhood epilepsy syndrome that predominantly affects boys, characterized by self-limited focal seizures arising from the perirolandic cortex and fine motor abnormalities. Concurrent with the age-specific presentation of this syndrome, the brain undergoes a developmentally choreographed sequence of white matter microstructural changes, including maturation of association u-fibres abutting the cortex. These short fibres mediate local cortico-cortical communication and provide an age-sensitive structural substrate that could support a focal disease process. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the microstructural properties of superficial white matter in regions corresponding to u-fibres underlying the perirolandic seizure onset zone in children with this epilepsy syndrome compared with healthy controls. To verify the spatial specificity of these features, we characterized global superficial and deep white matter properties. We further evaluated the characteristics of the perirolandic white matter in relation to performance on a fine motor task, gender and abnormalities observed on EEG. Children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 14) underwent multimodal testing with high-resolution MRI including diffusion tensor imaging sequences, sleep EEG recordings and fine motor assessment. We compared white matter microstructural characteristics (axial, radial and mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy) between groups in each region. We found distinct abnormalities corresponding to the perirolandic u-fibre region, with increased axial, radial and mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy values in children with epilepsy (P = 0.039, P = 0.035, P = 0.042 and P = 0.017, respectively). Increased fractional anisotropy in this region, consistent with decreased integrity of crossing sensorimotor u-fibres, correlated with inferior fine motor performance (P = 0.029). There were gender-specific differences in white matter microstructure in the perirolandic region; males and females with epilepsy and healthy males had higher diffusion and fractional anisotropy values than healthy females (P ≤ 0.035 for all measures), suggesting that typical patterns of white matter development disproportionately predispose boys to this developmental epilepsy syndrome. Perirolandic white matter microstructure showed no relationship to epilepsy duration, duration seizure free, or epileptiform burden. There were no group differences in diffusivity or fractional anisotropy in superficial white matter outside of the perirolandic region. Children with epilepsy had increased radial diffusivity (P = 0.022) and decreased fractional anisotropy (P = 0.027) in deep white matter, consistent with a global delay in white matter maturation. These data provide evidence that atypical maturation of white matter microstructure is a basic feature in benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and may contribute to the epilepsy, male predisposition and clinical comorbidities observed in this disorder.

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