scholarly journals Premature white matter microstructure in female children with a history of concussion

Author(s):  
Eman Nishat ◽  
Sonja Stojanovski ◽  
Shannon E Scratch ◽  
Stephanie H Ameis ◽  
Anne L Wheeler

AbstractAs maturation of the brain continues throughout development, there is a risk of interference from concussions which are common in childhood. A concussion can cause widespread disruption to axons and inflammation in the brain and may influence emerging cognitive abilities. Females are more likely to experience persistent problems after a concussion, yet the sex-specific impact of concussions on brain microstructure in childhood is not well understood.In children from a large population sample, this study (1) investigated differences in white matter and cortical microstructure between children with and without a history of concussion, and (2) examined relationships between altered brain microstructure and cognitive performance.Neurite density measures from diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging were examined in 9-to 10-year-old children in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study with (n = 336) and without (n = 7368) a history of concussion. (1) Multivariate regression models were used to investigate the relationships between concussion history, sex, and age in the deep white matter, superficial white matter, subcortical structures, and cortex. (2) Principal component analysis was performed on neurite density, and components were examined in relation to performance on the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Task and the Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Task to investigate the relationship between altered neurite density and cognitive performance.Neurite density in all tissue types demonstrated robust positive relationships with age reflecting maturation of brain microstructure. (1) Comparisons between children with and without a history of concussion revealed higher neurite density in deep and superficial white matter in females with concussion. No group differences were observed in subcortical or cortical neurite density. (2) Higher neurite density in superficial white matter beneath the frontal and temporal cortices was associated with lower scores on the processing speed test in females with concussion, and higher scores on the processing speed test in males with concussion.These findings suggest that concussion in childhood leads to premature white matter maturation in females and that this may be associated with slower processing speed. These sex-specific effects on the developing brain may contribute to the enhanced vulnerability to persistent symptoms after concussion in females.

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 735-739
Author(s):  
Dejan Kostic ◽  
Biljana Brkic-Georgievski ◽  
Aleksandar Jovanovski ◽  
Smiljana Kostic ◽  
Drazen Ivetic ◽  
...  

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterized by the following symptoms: seizures, impaired consciousness and/or vision, vomiting, nausea, and focal neurological signs. Diagnostic imaging includes examination by magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT), where brain edema is visualized bi-laterally and symmetrically, predominantly posteriorly, parietally, and occipitally. Case report. We presented a 73-year-old patient with the years-long medical history of hipertension and renal insufficiency, who developed PRES with the symptomatology of the rear cranium. CT and MR verified changes in the white matter involving all lobes on both sides of the brain. After a two-week treatment (antihypertensive, hypolipemic and rehydration therapy) clinical improvement with no complications occurred, with complete resolution of changes in the white matter observed on CT and MR. Conclusion. PRES is a reversible syndrome in which the symptoms withdraw after several days to several weeks if early diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment started without delay.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 807-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory K. Wilkerson ◽  
Monali M. Bera ◽  
Timothy N. Holt ◽  
Robert J. Callan ◽  
Karamjeet Pandher

Two juvenile, intact, female mixed-breed goats from a common sire were presented for periodic neurologic deficits, seizures, and a generalized loss of body condition that occurred over a 4–6-week period. On physical examination, both goats were thin, obtunded, blind, and ataxic. Laboratory diagnostics revealed increased serum bile acids (95 μmol/l; reference interval: 0–50 μmol/l) in one of the goats. Both goats exhibited progressive physical and mental deterioration, and were eventually euthanized. Upon necropsy, no significant macroscopic lesions were noted. Microscopic examination, however, demonstrated hepatocellular atrophy and anomalies in the hepatic microvasculature, including duplication of hepatic arteries, small-to-indistinct portal veins, and oval cell hyperplasia. In addition, spongiform change was microscopically identified throughout the parenchyma of the brain, most notably within the white matter and along the junction of gray and white matter. The diagnosis of congenital portal vein hypoperfusion (suggestive of a portosystemic shunt) with resultant hepatic encephalopathy was proposed in each case based on the characteristic microscopic lesions in conjunction with the signalment and history of the goats. The observation that the affected kids were sired by the same buck suggests a hereditary basis for the condition in these animals as well.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3553-3553
Author(s):  
Soyoung Choi ◽  
Sharon H O'Neil ◽  
Anand A Joshi ◽  
Xin Miao ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
...  

Introduction: We used MR imaging techniques to investigate the neurological consequences of chronic anemia in human patients with sickle cell disease, non-sickle anemic syndromes (called anemic-controls) and non-anemic controls. We previously demonstrated that hemoglobin level is an independent predictor of white matter volume (WMV) in brain as well as cognitive performance. Importantly, WMV was independent of genotype (sickle vs non-sickle), treatment type, HgB S%, fetal HgB level, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and presence of silent strokes. We also demonstrated that low hemoglobin is associated with abnormal brain functional connectivity and iron levels in select brain regions. In the present study, we examine the effects of anemia on brain integrity using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) calculated from diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). ADC measures the magnitude of the motion of water in tissue and can be used to imply tissue damage, making it highly sensitive to neuropathology as altered tissue integrity and loss of cellular structures can change the diffusivity of water. We then explore the associations between ADC, local brain volume, functional connectivity, iron and cognitive performance. Methods: MRI data, CBC and neuropsychological testing results were obtained from 26 sickle cell disease (age = 20.9 ± 11.3, F:M = 13:13, HgB = 9.7 ± 2.1), 20 anemic-control (age = 25.9 ± 11.3, F:M = 10:10, HgB = 10.9 ± 0.5) and 25 control subjects (age = 23.1 ± 8.4, F:M = 16:9, HgB = 13.2 ± 1.2). (Recruited with informed consent or assent; IRB: CHLA CCI#11-00083). DWI (TE = 86ms; TR = 6700ms; resolution=2.5mm3; 30 directions; bvalue=1000m/s2; reverse-gradient b=0) were acquired on a 3T Philips Achieva (v.3.2.1) using an 8-channel head coil. Images were corrected for motion and distortion then voxel-wise calculations of ADC were computed then transferred to a common atlas space. (brainsuite.org, v18). 3D T1 weighted, quantitative susceptibility mapping, and functional MRI (fMRI) images were collected using our previously published protocols. After regressing out age and sex, we determined the effect of hemoglobin level at each voxel of the brain on ADC then corrected for multiple comparison (BH FDR α=0.1). Significant regions were retained, (p<0.05), and a mean ADC was computed for each subject from those regions. Pearson's correlations were used to determine the effects of hemoglobin level on the following measures: (1) mean ADC, (2) WMV, (3) Connectivity Dissimilarity Index (CDI), a measure quantifying the dissimilarity of functional connectivity pattern between each subject and a reference fMRI atlas (4) Iron measured in the substantia nigra of the brain's basal ganglia through R2* and susceptibility images and (5) Matrix Reasoning, a nonverbal measure of novel problems (fluid reasoning). Results: Hemoglobin level significantly correlated with ADC throughout the brain, but most strongly in deep white matter and subcortex, followed by the occipital lobe and cerebellum (Figure 1). The scatterplot between mean ADC and hemoglobin showed no discernable differentiation between anemia subtypes (Figure 2). Mean ADC and our previously developed markers of disease correlated well with each other showing that the severity of anemia correlates with higher ADC, lower white matter volume (WMV), abnormal functional connectivity (CDI), higher brain iron and lower Matrix Reasoning scores (males only; Table 1). Conclusion: Increased ADC, correlating with anemia severity, was observed in subcortical structures of an anemic population at risk for white matter shrinkage and cognitive dysfunction. ADC (but not WMV) correlated with brain iron which is known to accumulate in the presence of cerebral hypoxia. ADC and WMV changes were comparable in males and females but only males showed lower fluid reasoning. This data shows that anemia and brain iron are associated with brain tissue disruption and function. Disclosures Coates: vifor: Consultancy, Honoraria; celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: steering committee of clinical study; agios pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; apo pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Wood:BiomedInformatics: Consultancy; Imago Biosciences: Consultancy; National Institutes of Health: Research Funding; Apopharma: Consultancy; WorldcareClinical: Consultancy; Philips Healthcare: Research Funding; BluebirdBio: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie Yin Ka Lam ◽  
Brian Yiu ◽  
Encarnita Ampil ◽  
Christopher Li-Hsian Chen ◽  
Yustiani Dikot ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Age-related white matter lesion (WML) is considered a manifestation of sporadic cerebral small vessel disease and an important pathological substrate for dementia. Asia is notable for its large population with a looming dementia epidemic. Yet, the burden of WML and its associated risk factors across different Asian societies are unknown. Methods Subjects from 9 Asian cities (Bangkok, Bandung, Beijing, Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Manila, Seoul, and Singapore) were recruited (n = 5,701) and classified into i) stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), ii) Alzheimer’s disease (AD)/mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or iii) control groups. Data on vascular risk factors and cognitive performance were collected. The severity of WML was visually rated on MRI or CT. ResultsThe prevalence of moderate-to-severe WML was the highest in subjects with stroke/TIA (43.3 %). Bandang Indonesia showed the highest prevalence of WML, adjusted for age, sex, education and disease groups. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia were significant risk factors for WML, and WML was negatively associated with MMSE in all groups. ConclusionsWML is highly prevalent in Asia and is associated with increasing age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and worse cognitive performance. Concerted efforts to prevent WML will alleviate the huge dementia burden in the rapidly aging Asian societies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Coppola ◽  
Antonio Di Renzo ◽  
Emanuele Tinelli ◽  
Barbara Petolicchio ◽  
Cherubino Di Lorenzo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: We investigated intracerebral fiber bundles using a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) datato investigate microstructural integrity in patients with episodic (MO) and chronic migraine (CM).Methods: We performed DTI in 19 patients with MO within interictal periods, 18 patients with CM without any history of drug abuse, and 18 healthy controls (HCs) using a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. We calculated diffusion metrics, including fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusion (AD), radial diffusion (RD), and mean diffusion (MD).Results: TBSS revealed no significant differences in the FA, MD, RD, and AD maps between the MO and HC groups. In comparison to the HC group, theCM group exhibited widespread increased RD (bilateral superior [SCR] and posterior corona radiata [PCR], bilateral genu of the corpus callosum [CC], bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule [IC], bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus [LF]) and MD values (tracts of the right SCR and PCR, right superior LF, and right splenium of the CC). In comparison to theMO group, theCM group showed decreased FA (bilateral SCR and PCR, bilateral body of CC, right superior LF, right forceps minor) and increased MD values (bilateral SCR and right PCR, right body of CC, right superior LF, right splenium of CC, and right posterior limb of IC). Conclusion: Our results suggest that chronic migraine can be associated withthe widespread disruption of normal white matter integrity in the brain.


Author(s):  
Nicola L. de Souza ◽  
Jennifer F. Buckman ◽  
Emily L. Dennis ◽  
J. Scott Parrott ◽  
Carmen Velez ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 2119-2124 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Eilaghi ◽  
A. Kassner ◽  
I. Sitartchouk ◽  
P.L. Francis ◽  
R. Jakubovic ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 330-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin S. McKenna ◽  
Rebecca J. Theilmann ◽  
Ashley N. Sutherland ◽  
Lisa T. Eyler

AbstractEvidence for abnormal brain function as measured with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and cognitive dysfunction have been observed in inter-episode bipolar disorder (BD) patients. We aimed to create a joint statistical model of white matter integrity and functional response measures in explaining differences in working memory and processing speed among BD patients. Medicated inter-episode BD (n=26; age=45.2±10.1 years) and healthy comparison (HC; n=36; age=46.3±11.5 years) participants completed 51-direction DTI and fMRI while performing a working memory task. Participants also completed a processing speed test. Tract-based spatial statistics identified common white matter tracts where fractional anisotropy was calculated from atlas-defined regions of interest. Brain responses within regions of interest activation clusters were also calculated. Least angle regression was used to fuse fMRI and DTI data to select the best joint neuroimaging predictors of cognitive performance for each group. While there was overlap between groups in which regions were most related to cognitive performance, some relationships differed between groups. For working memory accuracy, BD-specific predictors included bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from fMRI, splenium of the corpus callosum, left uncinate fasciculus, and bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculi from DTI. For processing speed, the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum and right superior longitudinal fasciculus from DTI were significant predictors of cognitive performance selectively for BD patients. BD patients demonstrated unique brain-cognition relationships compared to HC. These findings are a first step in discovering how interactions of structural and functional brain abnormalities contribute to cognitive impairments in BD. (JINS, 2015, 21, 330–341)


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Bonnechère ◽  
Malgorzata Klass ◽  
Christelle Langley ◽  
Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian

AbstractManaging age-related decrease of cognitive function is an important public health challenge, especially in the context of the global aging of the population. Over the last years several Cognitive Mobile Games (CMG) have been developed to train and challenge the brain. However, currently the level of evidence supporting the benefits of using CMG in real-life use is limited in older adults, especially at a late age. In this study we analyzed game scores and the processing speed obtained over the course of 100 sessions in 12,000 subjects aged 60 to over 80 years. Users who trained with the games improved regardless of age in terms of scores and processing speed throughout the 100 sessions, suggesting that old and very old adults can improve their cognitive performance using CMG in real-life use.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 196-201
Author(s):  
Dinesh Naidu Ganesan ◽  
Thibault Coste ◽  
Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian

Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a rare hereditary vasculopathy that primarily affects the brain, caused mostly by missense mutations of the <i>NOTCH3</i> gene which is located on chromosome 19. Clinically, it manifests as transient ischemic attacks and strokes in individuals under the age of 60 years without vascular risk factors. We report a 46-year-old male with a 9 and 3-month history of progressive unilateral lower limb weakness and dysarthria, respectively. He had a history of diabetes mellitus but no hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or smoking history. Both parents had a stroke at the age of 65 years. Neurological examination was significant for moderate dysarthria and reduced right upper limb dexterity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed extensive white matter disease, lacunar infarcts, and a few microhemorrhages. Electron microscopy of his skin biopsy showed electron-dense deposits of extracellular osmiophilic granular material adjacent to smooth muscle cells. <i>NOTCH3</i> gene analysis revealed a heterozygous typical mutation in exon 6. He was commenced on aspirin and atorvastatin. Over time, he became more dysarthric and demented. MRI revealed the progression of the white matter disease and a new right subcortical infarct. His aspirin was switched to clopidogrel, and donepezil was added. CADASIL should be considered among younger stroke patients with vascular risk factors, especially in the presence of widespread white matter disease. Genetic counselling may be needed after the diagnosis is made.


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