Long-term association of pregnancy and maternal brain structure: the Rotterdam Study

ABSTRACTThe peripartum period is the highest risk interval for the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric illness in women’s lives. Notably, pregnancy and childbirth have been associated with short-term structural and functional changes in the maternal human brain. Yet the long-term effects of parity on maternal brain structure remain unknown. Therefore, we utilized a large population-based cohort to examine the association between parity and brain structure. In total, 2,835 women (mean age 65.2 years; all free from dementia, stroke, and cortical brain infarcts) from the Rotterdam Study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T) between 2005 and 2015. Associations of parity with global and lobar brain tissue volumes, white matter microstructure, and markers of vascular brain disease were examined using regression models. We found that parity was associated with a larger global gray matter volume (β= 0.14, 95% CI = 0.09-0.19), a finding that persisted following adjustment for sociodemographic factors. A non-significant dose-dependent relationship was observed between a higher number of childbirths and larger gray matter volume. The gray matter volume association with parity was globally proportional across lobes. No associations were found regarding white matter volume or integrity, nor with markers of cerebral small vessel disease. The current findings indicate that pregnancy and childbirth are associated with robust long-term changes in brain structure involving larger global gray matter volume that persists for decades. Taken together, these data provide novel insight into the impact of motherhood on the human brain.

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Long-term association of pregnancy and maternal brain structure: the Rotterdam Study

European Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1007/s10654-021-00818-5 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Jurate Aleknaviciute ◽

Tavia E. Evans ◽

Elif Aribas ◽

Merel W. de Vries ◽

Eric A. P. Steegers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Brain Structure ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Brain Morphology ◽

Rotterdam Study ◽

Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Maternal Brain

AbstractThe peripartum period is the highest risk interval for the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric illness in women’s lives. Notably, pregnancy and childbirth have been associated with short-term structural and functional changes in the maternal human brain. Yet the long-term effects of pregnancy on maternal brain structure remain unknown. We investigated a large population-based cohort to examine the association between parity and brain structure. In total, 2,835 women (mean age 65.2 years; all free from dementia, stroke, and cortical brain infarcts) from the Rotterdam Study underwent magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T) between 2005 and 2015. Associations of parity with global and lobar brain tissue volumes, white matter microstructure, and markers of vascular brain disease were examined using regression models. We found that parity was associated with a larger global gray matter volume (β = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.09–0.19), a finding that persisted following adjustment for sociodemographic factors. A non-significant dose-dependent relationship was observed between a higher number of childbirths and larger gray matter volume. The gray matter volume association with parity was globally proportional across lobes. No associations were found regarding white matter volume or integrity, nor with markers of cerebral small vessel disease. The current findings suggest that pregnancy and childbirth are associated with robust long-term changes in brain structure involving a larger global gray matter volume that persists for decades. Future studies are warranted to further investigate the mechanism and physiological relevance of these differences in brain morphology.

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Asymmetry Map of Human Brain in Young Adults

10.1101/2020.12.03.409805 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Maryam Malekzadeh ◽

Alireza Kashani

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

White Matter ◽

Human Brain ◽

Surface Area ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Cortical Surface ◽

Cortical Surface Area ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Cortical Regions

AbstractAlthough, asymmetry is a central organizational aspect of human brain, it has not been clearly described yet. Here, we have studied structural brain asymmetry in 1113 young adults using data obtained from Human Connectome Project. A significant rightward asymmetry in mean global cerebral cortical thickness, surface area and gray matter volume as well as volumes of cerebral white matter, cerebellar cortex and white matter, hippocampus, putamen, caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens and amygdala was observed. Thalamus showed a leftward asymmetry. Regionally, most cerebral cortical regions show a significant rightward asymmetry in thickness. However, cortical surface area and gray matter volume are more evenly distributed between two hemispheres with almost half of the regions showing a leftward asymmetry. In addition, a strong correlation between cortical surface area and gray matter volume as well as their asymmetry indices was noted which results in concordant asymmetry patterns between cortical surface area and gray matter volume in most cortical regions.

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Cross-sectional volumes and trajectories of the human brain, gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid in 9,473 typically aging adults

10.1101/2020.01.12.903658 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Andrei Irimia

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

White Matter ◽

Human Brain ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Aging Adults ◽

Brain Volumetrics

AbstractAccurate knowledge of adult human brain volume (BV) is critical for studies of aging- and disease-related brain alterations, and for monitoring the trajectories of neural and cognitive functions in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury. This scoping meta-analysis aggregates normative reference values for BV and three related volumetrics—gray matter volume (GMV), white matter volume (WMV) and cerebrospinal fluid volume (CSFV)—from typically-aging adults studied cross-sectionally using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Drawing from an aggregate sample of 9,473 adults, this study provides (A) regression coefficients β describing the age-dependent trajectories of volumetric measures by sex within the range from 20 to 70 years based on both linear and quadratic models, and (B) average values for BV, GMV, WMV and CSFV at the representative ages of 20 (young age), 45 (middle age) and 70 (old age). The results provided synthesize ∼20 years of brain volumetrics research and allow one to estimate BV at any age between 20 and 70. Importantly, however, such estimates should be used and interpreted with caution because they depend on MRI hardware specifications (e.g. scanner manufacturer, magnetic field strength), data acquisition parameters (e.g. spatial resolution, weighting), and brain segmentation algorithms. Guidelines are proposed to facilitate future meta- and mega-analyses of brain volumetrics.Disclosure statementThe author declares that he has no actual or potential conflicts of interest.

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Topographic patterns of white matter hyperintensities are associated with multimodal neuroimaging biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer s Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13195-020-00759-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Malo Gaubert ◽

Catharina Lange ◽

Antoine Garnier-Crussard ◽

Theresa Köbe ◽

Salma Bougacha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

White Matter ◽

Glucose Metabolism ◽

Corpus Callosum ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Fdg Pet ◽

White Matter Hyperintensities ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume

Abstract Background White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are frequently found in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Commonly considered as a marker of cerebrovascular disease, regional WMH may be related to pathological hallmarks of AD, including beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to examine the regional distribution of WMH associated with Aβ burden, glucose hypometabolism, and gray matter volume reduction. Methods In a total of 155 participants (IMAP+ cohort) across the cognitive continuum from normal cognition to AD dementia, FLAIR MRI, AV45-PET, FDG-PET, and T1 MRI were acquired. WMH were automatically segmented from FLAIR images. Mean levels of neocortical Aβ deposition (AV45-PET), temporo-parietal glucose metabolism (FDG-PET), and medial-temporal gray matter volume (GMV) were extracted from processed images using established AD meta-signature templates. Associations between AD brain biomarkers and WMH, as assessed in region-of-interest and voxel-wise, were examined, adjusting for age, sex, education, and systolic blood pressure. Results There were no significant associations between global Aβ burden and region-specific WMH. Voxel-wise WMH in the splenium of the corpus callosum correlated with greater Aβ deposition at a more liberal threshold. Region- and voxel-based WMH in the posterior corpus callosum, along with parietal, occipital, and frontal areas, were associated with lower temporo-parietal glucose metabolism. Similarly, lower medial-temporal GMV correlated with WMH in the posterior corpus callosum in addition to parietal, occipital, and fontal areas. Conclusions This study demonstrates that local white matter damage is correlated with multimodal brain biomarkers of AD. Our results highlight modality-specific topographic patterns of WMH, which converged in the posterior white matter. Overall, these cross-sectional findings corroborate associations of regional WMH with AD-typical Aß deposition and neurodegeneration.

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CHARACTERIZATION OF COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE, GRAY MATTER VOLUME AND WHITE MATTER MICROSTRUCTURE IN COGNITIVELY UNIMPAIRED ADULTS WITH INSOMNIA SYMPTOMS

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.4549 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. P207-P209

Author(s):

Oriol Grau-Rivera ◽

Grégory Operto ◽

Carles Falcon ◽

Raffaele Cacciaglia ◽

Gonzalo Sánchez-Benavides ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Matter Volume ◽

White Matter Microstructure ◽

Insomnia Symptoms

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Association of Age at Onset With Gray Matter Volume and White Matter Microstructural Abnormalities in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000012869 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012869

Author(s):

Raffaello Bonacchi ◽

Alessandro Meani ◽

Elisabetta Pagani ◽

Olga Marchesi ◽

Andrea Falini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

White Matter ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Linear Models ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Age At Onset ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Compensatory Mechanisms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Matter Volume

Objective:To investigate whether age at onset influences brain gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities in adult multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, given its influence on clinical phenotype and disease course.Method:In this hypothesis-driven cross-sectional study, we enrolled 67 pediatric-onset MS (POMS) patients and 143 sex- and disease duration (DD)-matched randomly-selected adult-onset MS (AOMS) patients, together with 208 healthy controls. All subjects underwent neurological evaluation and 3T MRI acquisition. MRI variables were standardized based on healthy controls, to remove effects of age and sex. Associations with DD in POMS and AOMS patients were studied with linear models. Time to reach clinical and MRI milestones was assessed with product-limit approach.Results:At DD=1 year, GMV and WM fractional anisotropy (FA) were abnormal in AOMS but not in POMS patients. Significant interaction of age at onset (POMS vs AOMS) into the association with DD was found for GMV and WM FA. The crossing point of regression lines in POMS and AOMS patients was at 20 years of DD for GMV and 14 for WM FA. For POMS and AOMS patients, median DD was 29 and 19 years to reach Expanded Disability Status Scale=3 (p<0.001), 31 and 26 years to reach abnormal Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task-3 (p=0.01), 24 and 18 years to reach abnormal GMV (p=0.04), and 19 and 17 years to reach abnormal WM FA (p=0.36).Conclusions:Younger patients are initially resilient to MS-related damage. Then, compensatory mechanisms start failing with loss of WM integrity, followed by GM atrophy and finally disability.

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A Correlational Study between Microstructural White Matter Properties and Macrostructural Gray Matter Volume Across Normal Ageing: Conjoint DTI and VBM Analysis

Magnetic Resonance Insights ◽

10.1177/1178623x18799926 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 1178623X1879992 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Vikas Pareek ◽

VP Subramanyam Rallabandi ◽

Prasun K Roy

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Life Span ◽

Fractional Anisotropy ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Radial Diffusivity ◽

Axial Diffusivity ◽

Matter Volume

We investigate the relationship between Gray matter’s volume vis-a-vis White matter’s integrity indices, such Axial diffusivity, Radial diffusivity, Mean diffusivity, and Fractional anisotropy, in individuals undergoing healthy aging. We investigated MRI scans of 177 adults across 20 to 85 years. We used Voxel-based morphometry, and FDT-FSL analysis for estimation of Gray matter volume and White matter’s diffusion indices respectively. Across the life span, we observed an inter-relationship between the Gray matter and White matter, namely that both Axial diffusivity and Mean Diffusivity show strong correlation with Gray matter volume, along the aging process. Furthermore, across all ages the Fractional anisotropy and Mean diffusivity are found to be significantly reduced in females when compared to males, but there are no significant gender differences in Axial Diffusivity and Radial diffusivity. We conclude that for both genders across all ages, the Gray matter’s Volume is strongly correlated with White matter’s Axial Diffusivity and Mean Diffusivity, while being weakly correlated with Fractional Anisotropy. Our study clarifies the multi-scale relationship in brain tissue, by elucidating how the White matter’s micro-structural parameters influences the Gray matter’s macro-structural characteristics, during healthy aging across the life-span.

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Associations of cigarette smoking with gray and white matter in the UK Biobank

10.31234/osf.io/wyvnm ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua Gray ◽

Matthew Thompson ◽

Chelsie Benca-Bachman ◽

Max Michael Owens ◽

Mikela Murphy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Brain Structure ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Medial Lemniscus ◽

Uk Biobank ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Uk

Chronic cigarette smoking is associated with increased risk for myriad health consequences including cognitive decline and dementia, but research on the link between smoking and brain structure is nascent. We assessed the relationship of cigarette smoking (ever smoked, cigarettes per day, and duration) with gray and white matter using the UK Biobank cohort (gray matter N = 19,615; white matter N = 17,760), adjusting for numerous demographic and health confounders. Ever smoked and duration were associated with smaller total gray matter volume. Ever smoked was associated with reduced volume of the right VIIIa cerebellum, as well as elevated white matter hyperintensity volumes. Smoking duration was associated with reduced total white matter volume. With regard to specific tracts, ever smoked was associated with reduced fractional anisotropy in the left cingulate gyrus part of the cingulum, left posterior thalamic radiation, and bilateral superior thalamic radiation and increased mean diffusivity in the middle cerebellar peduncle, right medial lemniscus, bilateral posterior thalamic radiation, and bilateral superior thalamic radiation. Overall, we found significant associations of cigarette exposure with global measures of gray and white matter. Furthermore, we found select associations of ever smoked, but not cigarettes per day or duration, with specific gray and white matter regions. These findings inform our understanding of the connections between smoking and variation in brain structure and clarify potential mechanisms of risk for common neurological sequelae.

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Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging reveals alterations of sensorimotor circuits in restless legs syndrome

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsz171 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ambra Stefani ◽

Thomas Mitterling ◽

Anna Heidbreder ◽

Ruth Steiger ◽

Christian Kremser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Disease Duration ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Iron Storage ◽

Matter Volume ◽

The Right

Abstract Study Objectives Integrated information on brain microstructural integrity and iron storage and its impact on the morphometric profile is not available in restless legs syndrome (RLS). We applied multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion tensor imaging, the transverse relaxation rate (R2*), a marker for iron storage, as well as gray and white matter volume measures to characterize RLS-related MRI signal distribution patterns and to analyze their associations with clinical parameters. Methods Eighty-seven patients with RLS (mean age 51, range 20–72 years; disease duration, mean 13 years, range 1–46 years, of those untreated n = 30) and 87 healthy control subjects, individually matched for age and gender, were investigated with multimodal 3T MRI. Results Volume of the white matter compartment adjacent to the post- and precentral cortex and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the frontopontine tract were both significantly reduced in RLS compared to healthy controls, and these alterations were associated with disease duration (r = 0.25, p = 0.025 and r = 0.23, p = 0.037, respectively). Corresponding gray matter volume increases of the right primary motor cortex in RLS (p < 0.001) were negatively correlated with the right FA signal of the frontopontine tract (r = −0.22; p < 0.05). Iron content evaluated with R2* was reduced in the putamen as well as in temporal and occipital compartments of the RLS cohort compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions Multimodal MRI identified progressing white matter decline of key somatosensory circuits that may underlie the perception of sensory leg discomfort. Increases of gray matter volume of the premotor cortex are likely to be a consequence of functional neuronal reorganization.

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