ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1537-6858
Current Organisations
Deakin University
,
Aston University
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2011.589483
Abstract: Despite elevated rates of birth defects associated with prenatal antiepileptic drug exposure, pharmacotherapy is typically continued throughout pregnancy because of the risks posed to mother and child by recurrent seizures. Emerging data suggest that prenatal exposure to valproate or polytherapy may also be associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment. However, our understanding of the longer-term sequelae of prenatal antiepileptic drug exposure remains incomplete. Improved understanding of the neurobehavioral consequences of prenatal antiepileptic drug exposure is essential to ensure accurate information is available for women with epilepsy planning a pregnancy, and to achieve optimal outcomes for mothers and children.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 02-2011
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2021
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEUROIMAGE.2021.118471
Abstract: In the human brain, the corpus callosum is the major white-matter commissural tract enabling the transmission of sensory-motor, and higher level cognitive information between homotopic regions of the two cerebral hemispheres. Despite developmental absence (i.e., agenesis) of the corpus callosum (AgCC), functional connectivity is preserved, including interhemispheric connectivity. Subcortical structures have been hypothesised to provide alternative pathways to enable this preservation. To test this hypothesis, we used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) recordings in children with AgCC and typically developing children, and a time-resolved approach to retrieve temporal characteristics of whole-brain functional networks. We observed an increased engagement of the cerebellum and amygdala/hippoc us networks in children with AgCC compared to typically developing children. There was little evidence that laterality of activation networks was affected in AgCC. Our findings support the hypothesis that subcortical structures play an essential role in the functional reconfiguration of the brain in the absence of a corpus callosum.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 02-09-2020
Abstract: Objective: To investigate differences in movement behaviors (physical activity, sleep, screen time) in both parents and children during the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, compared to pre-COVID-19 national data and, estimate associations between these movement behaviors with parent and child mental health. Methods: We used cross-sectional baseline data from the COVID-19 Pandemic Adjustment Study (CPAS N=2,365). Participants were parents of children aged ≤18 years, residing in Australia. We drew on nationally representative pre-COVID data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC N=9,438). In both studies, parents provided the same self-report measures of physical activity, sleep quality, as well as measures of child physical activity and screen time. Parents reported on their own and their child’s mental health. Results: Compared to LSAC, children in CPAS had more sleep problems (17.4% vs 8.9%, p& .001) and more weekend screen time (3.98 hours vs 3.35 hours, p& .001), while more parents had poor sleep quality (56.7% vs 21.0%, p& .001) despite increased weekly physical activity (3.86 days vs 2.85 days, p& .001). Children’s sleep problems were associated with increased depression, anxiety and irritability symptoms, after accounting for physical activity and screen time (all p& .001). Poorer parent sleep quality and lower levels of physical activity were associated with poorer mental health across all indicators (all p≤.001).Conclusion: Government funded mental health programs to implement evidence-based sleep interventions for children and their parents, along with targeted messaging around physical activity should be considered to promote mental health within the family context during lockdown restrictions.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 13-02-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.12.528180
Abstract: Traumatic brain injury can lead to multiple pathologic features, including brain lesions, which are visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These resulting heterogenous lesions can present a difficulty for several standard approaches to neuroimaging, resulting in bias and error in subsequent quantitative measurements. Thus, cases presenting with lesions on MRI may be excluded from analyses, biasing s les across the research field. We outline a potential solution to this issue in the case of Freesurfer, a popular neuroimaging tool for surface-based segmentation of brain tissue from structural MRI. The proposed solution involves two-steps, a) Pre-processing: Enantiomorphic Lesion-Filling and b) Post-processing: Lesion Labelling. We applied this methodology to 14 pediatric TBI cases which presented with lesions on T1w MRI. Following qualitative inspection of these cases after implementation of the approach, 8 out of 14 cases were retained as being of sufficient quality. In brief, we have presented here an adapted pipeline for processing structural MRI (sMRI) of patients who have experienced a TBI using the Freesurfer software package. This approach aims to mitigate potential lesion-induced biases that exist beyond the locality of the pathological tissue, even in the contralesioned hemisphere.
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 30-05-2020
DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.29.20115451
Abstract: The corpus callosum is the largest white matter pathway in the brain connecting the left and the right hemispheres. Developmental absence of the corpus callosum is a model disease for exploring disrupted connectivity and in turn understanding plasticity of the human brain, with atypically developing structure and function resulting in a highly heterogeneous clinical and cognitive profile. A proposed candidate for neuroplastic response in the context of this brain malformation is strengthening of intra-hemispheric pathways. To test this hypothesis, we assessed structural and functional connectivity at the whole-brain and regional level in a uniquely large cohort of children with agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC, n = 20) compared with typically developing controls (TDC, n = 29), and then examined associations with neurobehavioural outcomes using a multivariate data-driven approach. For structural connectivity, children with AgCC showed a significant increase in intrahemispheric connectivity in addition to a significant decrease in inter-hemispheric connectivity compared with TDC. In contrast, for functional connectivity, children with AgCC and TDC showed a similar pattern of intra-hemispheric and inter-hemispheric connectivity. In AgCC, structural strengthening of the intra-hemispheric pathway was uniquely associated with verbal learning and memory, attention and executive measures. We observed structural strengthening of intra-hemispheric pathways in children born without corpus callosum, which seems to allow for functional connectivity comparable to a typically developing brain, and were relevant to explain neurobehavioural outcomes in this population. This neuroplasticity might be relevant to other disorders of axonal guidance, and developmental disorders in which corpus callosum alteration is observed.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 27-09-2004
DOI: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000140707.61952.CA
Abstract: Objective: To describe a protocol for use in young children and adolescents for determining language representation. Methods: We performed 130 fMRI studies in 48 children and 17 adults. Verb generation (VG) and orthographic lexical retrieval (OLR) were used. The localization and lateralization of activation was rated visually. Regional voxel counts measured asymmetry and extent of activation. Results: Activation was predominantly left-lateralized (children 85%, adults 94%), and there was no difference in the localization of activation for either paradigm. Children’s typical sites of activation included mesial (96%), inferior (94%) and middle frontal (92%) gyri, the inferior (85%) and superior (65%) temporal cortex, and the cerebellum (67%). Less frequently activated sites were insular (50%) and posterior parietal (48%) cortices. Quantitative asymmetry index scores and visual inspection of laterality were concordant. Greater quantitative asymmetry for VG than OLR occurred in children. Laterality was not related to age, sex, task proficiency, or handedness. Frontal region voxel counts lower in children than adults and left sided counts correlated with task proficiency. Conclusions: Language fMRI can be performed in young children using resources available to clinical centers. The similarity in frequency of left language lateralization between children and adults suggests that language representation establishes early in development. The reduced amount of frontal region of interest activation in task-specific regions in children may reflect different levels of ability. However, the left-right distribution of activation does not appear to depend on task performance or age. These normative data provide a basis for decisions about language laterality in pediatric patients.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-12-2020
DOI: 10.1007/S10548-019-00751-7
Abstract: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an established eloquent cortex mapping technique that is now an integral part of the pre-operative work-up in candidates for epilepsy surgery. Emerging evidence in adults with epilepsy suggests that material-specific fMRI paradigms can predict postoperative memory outcomes, however these paradigms are not suitable for children. In pediatric age, the use of memory fMRI paradigms designed for adults is complicated by the effect of developmental stages in cognitive maturation, the impairment experienced by some people with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and the normal representation of memory function during development, which may differ from adults. We present a memory fMRI paradigm designed to activate mesial temporal lobe structures that is brief, independent of reading ability, and therefore a novel candidate for use in children. Data from 33 adults and 19 children (all healthy controls) show that the paradigm captures the expected leftward asymmetry of mesial temporal activation in adults. A more symmetrical pattern was observed in children, consistent with the progressive emergence of hemispheric specialisation across childhood. These data have important implications for the interpretation of presurgical memory fMRI in the pediatric setting. They also highlight the need to carefully consider the impact of cognitive development on fMRI tools used in clinical practice.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 20-01-2020
Abstract: The contribution of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) to the pathogenesis of frailty remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the associations between cSVD with progression of frailty in a population-based study of older people. People aged between 60 and 85 years were randomly selected form the electoral roll to participate in the Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait. Participants underwent self-reported questionnaires, objective gait, cognitive and sensorimotor testing over three phases ranging between 2005 and 2012. These data were used to calculate a 41-item frailty index (FI) at three time points. Baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all participants to measure cSVD. Generalized mixed models were used to examine associations between baseline cSVD and progression of frailty, adjusted for confounders of age, sex, level of education, and total intracranial volume. At baseline (n = 388) mean age was 72 years (SD = 7.0), 44% were female, and the median FI score was 0.20 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.12, 0.27). In fully adjusted models higher burden of baseline white matter hyperintensity (WMH) was associated with frailty progression over 4.4 years (β = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.05 p = .004) independent of other SVD markers. Neither baseline infarcts (p = .23), nor microbleeds at baseline (p = .65) were associated with progression of frailty. We provide evidence for an association between baseline WMHs and progression of frailty. Our findings add to a growing body of literature suggesting WMH is a marker for frailty.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2014
DOI: 10.1002/ACN3.74
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-1998
Abstract: Perceptual asymmetries have been explained by structural, attentional bias and attentional advantage models. Structural models focus on asymmetries in the physical access information has to the hemispheres, whereas attentional models focus on asymmetries in the operation of attentional processes. A series of experiments was conducted to assess the contribution of attentional mechanisms to the right visual field (RVF) advantage found for word recognition. Valid, invalid and neutral peripheral cues were presented at a variety of stimulus onset asynchronies to manipulate spatial attention. Results indicated a significant RVF advantage and cueing effect. The effect of the cue was stronger for the left visual field than the RVF. This interaction supports the attentional advantage model which suggests that the left hemisphere requires less attention to process words. The attentional asymmetry is interpreted in terms of the different word processing styles used by the left and right hemispheres. These results have ramifications for the methodology used in ided visual field research and the interpretation of this research.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-07-2012
Abstract: New MRI techniques enable visualisation of corticospinal tracts and cortical motor activity. The objective of this case study was to describe the magnetic resonance evidence of corticospinal pathway reorganisation following neonatal stroke. An 11 year old boy with a neonatal right middle cerebral artery territory ischaemic stroke was studied. Functional MRI was undertaken with a whole hand squeezing task, comparing areas of cortical activation between hands. White matter tracts, seeded from the area of peak activation in the cortex, were visualised using a diffusion weighted imaging probabilistic tractography method. Standardised evaluations of unilateral and bilateral motor function were undertaken. Clinically, the child presented with a left hemiparesis. Functional MRI demonstrated that movement of the hemiparetic hand resulted in activation in the ipsi-lesional (right) hemisphere only. Diffusion tractography revealed pathways in the right (lesioned) hemisphere tracked perilesionally to the cortical area identified by functional MRI. Our case demonstrates that neonatal stroke is associated with maintenance of organization of corticospinal pathways sufficient to maintain some degree of hand function in the affected hemisphere. Functional MRI and diffusion weighted imaging tractography may inform our understanding of recovery, organisation and reorganisation and have the potential to monitor responses to intervention following neonatal stroke.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.CORTEX.2019.09.014
Abstract: Developmental absence (agenesis) of the corpus callosum (AgCC) is a congenital brain malformation resulting from disruption of corpus callosum formation, a structure that is crucial for the transfer and integration of information, including attention processes, across the brain. This study aimed to investigate previously proposed candidates for alternative inter-hemispheric pathways in AgCC by examining (1) white matter volume and microstructure of the anterior and posterior commissures in children with AgCC compared to typically developing controls (TDC), and (2) in children with AgCC, examine the associations of white matter volume and microstructure of the anterior and posterior commissures and any remaining corpus callosum with attention processes. Participants were 21 children with AgCC (13 complete, 8 partial) recruited from The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, and 30 TDC aged 8-17 years. T1-and diffusion-weighted MR sequences were used to calculate volume and microstructural parameters. Neuropsychological testing assessed attention processes. We found the anterior commissure was significantly larger in volume in children with AgCC than TDC (p = .027), with reduced mean FA (p = .001) associated with increased mean RD (p < .001). In children with AgCC, we found microstructural properties of the anterior commissure associated with attentional processes, specifically, mean FA of the anterior commissure was associated with better ided attention (p = .03), and the association between alerting attention and mean AD and RD was found to be moderated by age (p = .027, p = .008) and the degree of corpus callosum agenesis (p = .025, p = .016). Furthermore, in partial AgCC, larger posterior commissure volume was associated with better orienting attention (p = .035). In conclusion, we provide evidence that the volume and microstructure of the anterior commissure are altered in children with AgCC, and this neuroplastic response might have an influence on attention processes.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 25-05-2015
Abstract: Gait slowing and cognitive decline are both common in older people. Although cross-sectionally related, the longitudinal associations between specific cognitive functions and gait speed are less well understood. We aimed to determine whether decline in specific cognitive domains are associated with change in gait speed. Participants aged 60-85, randomly selected from the electoral roll, were assessed twice over 3 years. Gait speed was obtained using the GAITRite walkway. Raw scores from a cognitive battery were subjected to principal component analyses deriving summary domains of executive function, processing speed, memory, and visuospatial ability. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the associations between change in each cognitive domain and change in gait speed, adjusting for covariates and stratifying for the presence of baseline cognitive impairment. Mean age at baseline was 71.1 years (SD = 6.7) and 56% (159/284) were men. Mean follow-up was 2.55 (0.47) years. Decline in executive function, but not other cognitive domains (p > .05), was associated with decline in gait speed, cm/s (β = -3.55, 95% CI = -5.49, -1.61 p < .001), both in the presence and absence of baseline cognitive impairment. Stronger associations were seen for those with baseline multiple domain cognitive impairment (β = -6.38, 95% CI = -12.49, -0.27) and nonamnestic single-domain cognitive impairment (β = -7.74, 95% CI = -14.76, -0.72). Decline in nonamnestic function (specifically executive function) was associated with decline in gait speed irrespective of the presence of baseline cognitive impairment. Strategies to improve or maintain executive function may prevent gait slowing.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 19-05-2010
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2001
DOI: 10.1080/713754408
Abstract: Words presented to the right visual field (RVF) are recognised more readily than those presented to the left visual field (LVF). This RVF advantage could reflect: (a) the direct connection between the RVF and left hemisphere, (b) an attentional bias directed towards the RVF, or (c) an attentional advantage, where the left hemisphere is able to recognise words using less attention than the right hemisphere. The attentional bias and advantage models were tested in 20 dextral adults during a ided visual field word-naming task. Spatial attention was manipulated with valid, invalid, or neutral central cues. Error and reaction time measures revealed a RVF advantage for word recognition. If the attentional bias model is correct, the RVF advantage should have been attenuated for valid and invalid cues compared to neutral cues. Instead of this, an interaction emerged whereby the cueing effect was stronger for words in the LVF than the RVF. This interaction has been reported previously in studies using peripheral spatial cues. The interaction suggests that the RVF requires less attention to process words than the LVF. This left hemisphere attentional advantage may reflect asymmetries between the hemispheres in their word processing styles.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-2023
DOI: 10.3389/FPHAR.2023.1094698
Abstract: Background: Exposure in utero to certain medications can disrupt processes of fetal development, including brain development, leading to a continuum of neurodevelopmental difficulties. Recognizing the deficiency of neurodevelopmental investigations within pregnancy pharmacovigilance, an international Neurodevelopmental Expert Working Group was convened to achieve consensus regarding the core neurodevelopmental outcomes, optimization of methodological approaches and barriers to conducting pregnancy pharmacovigilance studies with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods: A modified Delphi study was undertaken based on stakeholder and expert input. Stakeholders (patient, pharmaceutical, academic and regulatory) were invited to define topics, pertaining to neurodevelopmental investigations in medication-exposed pregnancies. Experts were identified for their experience regarding neurodevelopmental outcomes following medicinal, substances of misuse or environmental exposures in utero . Two questionnaire rounds and a virtual discussion meeting were used to explore expert opinion on the topics identified by the stakeholders. Results: Twenty-five experts, from 13 countries and professionally erse backgrounds took part in the development of 11 recommendations. The recommendations focus on the importance of neurodevelopment as a core feature of pregnancy pharmacovigilance, the timing of study initiation and a core set of distinct but interrelated neurodevelopmental skills or diagnoses which require investigation. Studies should start in infancy with an extended period of investigation into adolescence, with more frequent s ling during rapid periods of development. Additionally, recommendations are made regarding optimal approach to neurodevelopmental outcome measurement, comparator groups, exposure factors, a core set of confounding and mediating variables, attrition, reporting of results and the required improvements in funding for potential later emerging effects. Different study designs will be required depending on the specific neurodevelopmental outcome type under investigation and whether the medicine in question is newly approved or already in widespread use. Conclusion: An improved focus on neurodevelopmental outcomes is required within pregnancy pharmacovigilance. These expert recommendations should be met across a complementary set of studies which converge to form a comprehensive set of evidence regarding neurodevelopmental outcomes in pregnancy pharmacovigilance.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 30-09-2020
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to the mental health and wellbeing of families. This study aimed to examine: (1) patterns of parent and child (0–18 years) mental health, parent substance use, couple conflict, parenting practices, and family functioning during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic data and (2) associations between parent, child, and family outcomes during the pandemic and both pre-existing risk factors and COVID-19 stressors. Participants were Australian mothers (81%) and fathers aged 18 years and over who were parents of a child 0–18 years (N=2,365). Parents completed an online self-report survey assessing mental health, substance use, couple conflict, parenting, and family functioning during ‘stage three’ COVID-19 restrictions in April 2020. Data were compared to pre-pandemic data from four Australian population-based cohorts. Compared to pre-pandemic estimates, during the pandemic period parents reported higher rates of parent mental health symptoms (Cohen’s d=0.26-.81, all p& .001), higher parenting irritability (d=0.17-.46, all p& .001), lower family positive expressiveness (d=-0.18, p& .001), and higher alcohol consumption (22% vs 12% drinking four or more days per week, p& .001). In multivariable analyses, pre-existing financial deprivation and COVID-19 stressors were associated with greater severity in parent and child mental health symptoms, parent emotion dysregulation, parenting irritability, couple conflict and family positive/negative expressiveness. Parents and children with pre-existing mental health conditions had elevated difficulties during the pandemic across most domains. Our data suggest wide-ranging, detrimental family impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and support policy actions to assist families with financial supports, leave entitlements, and social housing.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-10-2011
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 14-04-2023
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617723000218
Abstract: The developmental absence (agenesis) of the corpus callosum (AgCC) is a congenital brain malformation associated with risk for a range of neuropsychological difficulties. Inhibitory control outcomes, including interference control and response inhibition, in children with AgCC are unclear. This study examined interference control and response inhibition: 1) in children with AgCC compared with typically developing (TD) children, 2) in children with different anatomical features of AgCC (complete vs. partial, isolated vs. complex), and 3) associations with white matter volume and microstructure of the anterior (AC) and posterior commissures (PC) and any remnant corpus callosum (CC). Participants were 27 children with AgCC and 32 TD children 8–16 years who completed inhibitory control assessments and brain MRI to define AgCC anatomical features and measure white matter volume and microstructure. The AgCC cohort had poorer performance and higher rates of below average performance on inhibitory control measures than TD children. Children with complex AgCC had poorer response inhibition performance than children with isolated AgCC. While not statistically significant, there were select medium to large effect sizes for better inhibitory control associated with greater volume and microstructure of the AC and PC, and with reduced volume and microstructure of the remnant CC in partial AgCC. This study provides evidence of inhibitory control difficulties in children with AgCC. While the s le was small, the study found preliminary evidence that the AC ( f 2 =.18) and PC ( f 2 =.30) may play a compensatory role for inhibitory control outcomes in the absence of the CC.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-02-2011
DOI: 10.1002/HBM.21174
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-10-2013
Abstract: Gait impairments are associated with falls and loss of independence. The study of factors associated with poorer gait may assist in developing methods to preserve mobility in older people. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between a range of cognitive functions and gait and gait variability in a population-based s le of older people. Gait and intra-in idual gait variability measures were obtained using the GAITRite walkway in a s le of older people, aged 60-85 years (N = 422), randomly selected from the Tasmanian electoral roll. Raw scores from a cognitive battery were subjected to principal component analyses deriving four summary domains: executive function/attention, processing speed, memory, and visuospatial ability. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine associations between cognitive domains and gait measures adjusting for age, sex, ambulatory activity, medication use, and mood. The mean age of the s le was 72.0 years (SD = 7.0), with 238 men (56%). Poorer executive function was independently associated with poorer performance in most absolute gait measures and with greater variability in double support phase and step time. Processing speed was associated with absolute gait measures and double support phase variability. Visuospatial ability was only associated with greater double support phase variability, independently of executive function and processing speed. Memory was not independently associated with any gait measure. In community-dwelling older people, executive function/attention and processing speed were associated with many aspects of gait, whereas visuospatial ability may only play a role in double support phase variability.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-05-2013
DOI: 10.1017/S1461145712000533
Abstract: The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) plays an important role in complex socio-affective behaviours such as affiliation, attachment, stress and anxiety. Previous studies have focused on the amygdala as an important target of OXT's effects. However, the effects of OXT on connectivity of the amygdala with cortical regions such as medial frontal cortex, an important mediator of social cognition and emotion regulation, remain unexplored. In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, 15 volunteers received intranasal OXT or placebo prior to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. OXT significantly increased connectivity between both amygdalae and rostral medial frontal cortex (rmFC), while having only negligible effects on coupling with other brain regions. These results demonstrate that OXT is a robust and highly selective enhancer of amygdala connectivity with rmFC, a region critical to social cognition and emotion regulation, and add to our understanding of the neural mechanisms by which OXT modulates complex social and cognitive behaviours.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 07-03-2018
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617717001357
Abstract: Objectives: Agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC), characterized by developmental absence of the corpus callosum, is one of the most common congenital brain malformations. To date, there are limited data on the neuropsychological consequences of AgCC and factors that modulate different outcomes, especially in children. This study aimed to describe general intellectual, academic, executive, social and behavioral functioning in a cohort of school-aged children presenting for clinical services to a hospital and diagnosed with AgCC. The influences of age, social risk and neurological factors were examined. Methods: Twenty-eight school-aged children (8 to 17 years) diagnosed with AgCC completed tests of general intelligence (IQ) and academic functioning. Executive, social and behavioral functioning in daily life, and social risk, were estimated from parent and teacher rated questionnaires. MRI findings reviewed by a pediatric neurologist confirmed diagnosis and identified brain characteristics. Clinical details including the presence of epilepsy and diagnosed genetic condition were obtained from medical records. Results: In our cohort, ~50% of children experienced general intellectual, academic, executive, social and/or behavioral difficulties and ~20% were functioning at a level comparable to typically developing children. Social risk was important for understanding variability in neuropsychological outcomes. Brain anomalies and complete AgCC were associated with lower mathematics performance and poorer executive functioning. Conclusions : This is the first comprehensive report of general intellectual, academic, executive social and behavioral consequences of AgCC in school-aged children. The findings have important clinical implications, suggesting that support to families and targeted intervention could promote positive neuropsychological functioning in children with AgCC who come to clinical attention. ( JINS , 2018, 24 , 445–455)
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Date: 08-2008
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 07-2015
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 19-11-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.PNPBP.2009.05.019
Abstract: Reductions in the size of the corpus callosum (CC) have been described in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), although the contribution of genetic factors to these changes is unclear. We previously showed a global thinning of the CC in BD patients, and found those with a family history of affective disorders had a larger CC than those without. In this study, we compared callosal size and shape in 180 in iduals: 70 with BD, 45 of their first-degree relatives, and 75 healthy controls. The callosum was extracted from a mid-sagittal slice from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images, and its total area, length and curvature were compared across groups. A non-parametric permutation method was used to examine for alterations in width of the callosum along 39 points. Validating our previous findings, a significant global reduction in callosal thickness was seen in BD patients, with a disproportionate thinning in the anterior body. First-degree relatives did not differ in callosal size or shape from controls. In BD patients, duration of illness and age were associated with thinning in the anterior body BD patients on lithium treatment showed a thicker anterior mid-body than those on other psychotropics. Global and regional thinning of the callosum is seen in BD but not in their first-degree relatives. This suggests that CC abnormalities are linked to disease expression in BD and may not represent a marker of familial predisposition.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-09-2013
DOI: 10.1111/J.1369-1600.2011.00364.X
Abstract: Inhalants, frequently abused during adolescence, are neurotoxic to white matter. We investigated the impact of inhalant misuse on the morphology of the corpus callosum (CC), the largest white matter bundle in the brain, in an adolescent s le of inhalant users [n = 14 mean age = 17.3 standard deviation (SD) = 1.7], cannabis users (n = 11 mean age = 19.7 SD = 1.7) and community controls (n = 9 mean age = 19.5 SD = 2.6). We identified significant morphological differences in the CC among inhalant users compared with community controls. There were no morphological differences between inhalant and cannabis users. Our findings may represent the early stages of neurobiological damage associated with chronic inhalant misuse.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA.2009.08.016
Abstract: The notion that blindness leads to superior non-visual abilities has been postulated for centuries. Compared to sighted in iduals, blind in iduals show different patterns of brain activation when performing auditory tasks. To date, no study has controlled for musical experience, which is known to influence auditory skills. The present study tested 33 blind (11 congenital, 11 early-blind, 11 late-blind) participants and 33 matched sighted controls. We showed that the performance of blind participants was better than that of sighted participants on a range of auditory perception tasks, even when musical experience was controlled for. This advantage was observed only for in iduals who became blind early in life, and was even more pronounced for in iduals who were blind from birth. Years of blindness did not predict task performance. Here, we provide compelling evidence that superior auditory abilities in blind in iduals are not explained by musical experience alone. These results have implications for the development of sensory substitution devices, particularly for late-blind in iduals.
Publisher: American Diabetes Association
Date: 13-11-2013
DOI: 10.2337/DC13-0143
Abstract: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with brain atrophy and cerebrovascular disease. We aimed to define the regional distribution of brain atrophy in T2DM and to examine whether atrophy or cerebrovascular lesions are feasible links between T2DM and cognitive function. This cross-sectional study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and cognitive tests in 350 participants with T2DM and 363 participants without T2DM. With voxel-based morphometry, we studied the regional distribution of atrophy in T2DM. We measured cerebrovascular lesions (infarcts, microbleeds, and white matter hyperintensity [WMH] volume) and atrophy (gray matter, white matter, and hippoc al volumes) while blinded to T2DM status. With use of multivariable regression, we examined for mediation or effect modification of the association between T2DM and cognitive measures by MRI measures. T2DM was associated with more cerebral infarcts and lower total gray, white, and hippoc al volumes (all P & 0.05) but not with microbleeds or WMH. T2DM-related gray matter loss was distributed mainly in medial temporal, anterior cingulate, and medial frontal lobes, and white matter loss was distributed in frontal and temporal regions. T2DM was associated with poorer visuospatial construction, planning, visual memory, and speed (P ≤ 0.05) independent of age, sex, education, and vascular risk factors. The strength of these associations was attenuated by almost one-half when adjusted for hippoc al and total gray volumes but was unchanged by adjustment for cerebrovascular lesions or white matter volume. Cortical atrophy in T2DM resembles patterns seen in preclinical Alzheimer disease. Neurodegeneration rather than cerebrovascular lesions may play a key role in T2DM-related cognitive impairment.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2001
Abstract: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between activation induced by an orthographic lexical retrieval (OLR) task and performance across time on the standard clinical version of OLR, the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). The number of significantly activated pixels in a frontal lobe region of interest (encompassing middle and inferior frontal gyri) were measured for the left and right cerebral hemispheres in 20 volunteers. A relationship between the pixel count and the total number of words retrieved during the COWAT was found for the left but not the right hemisphere. Further examination of the left-sided relationship showed that the number of pixels in the left middle frontal region of interest correlated significantly with the second, but not the first, 30-s COWAT epoch. By contrast, the first epoch, but not the second, correlated significantly with the pixel count within the left inferior frontal region of interest. These relationships suggest differential involvement of dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in specific cognitive processes fundamental to the production of language. Interin idual variation in activation levels may reflect underlying differences in cognitive processing capacity. This study is the first attempt to examine the relationship between fMRI activation and standard verbal fluency performance.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-02-2013
Abstract: There is a poor understanding of the interplay between cognitive and physiological functions in leading to falls. We hypothesized that poorer physiological function would modify the effect of poorer cognitive function on increased risk of falling in older people. A range of cognitive (executive function/attention, memory, processing speed, and visuospatial ability) and physiological functions (vision, proprioception, sway, leg strength, reaction time) were measured using standardized tests in 386 randomly selected adults aged 60-86. Incident falls were recorded over 12 months. Log-multinomial regression was used to model the relationships and test for interactions between cognition and physiological function in explaining the risk of single or multiple falls. Overall, 94 people (24.4%) had a single fall, and 78 (20.2%) had multiple falls. No significant associations were observed between cognitive function and the risk of single falls. The risk of multiple falls was increased with poorer function in Stroop dot time (RR = 1.03, 95% CI [1.01, 1.05], p = .002) and Stroop word time (RR = 1.02 [1.01, 1.03], p = .001) and reduced with better function in Category Fluency (RR = 0.94 [0.91, 0.98], p = .001) and visuospatial function (RR = 0.95 [0.92, 0.98], p < .001). These associations were lified by the presence of greater body sway, less ambulatory physical activity, slower reaction time and gait speed, weaker muscle strength, and poorer visual contrast (p for interactions <.05). Preventing falls due to physiological impairments in community-dwelling older people may need to be tailored based on cognitive impairment, a key factor in their inability to compensate for physical decline.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-07-2019
Publisher: The Endocrine Society
Date: 20-11-2017
Abstract: Brain white matter hyperintensities are seen on routine clinical imaging in 46% of adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The extent and functional relevance of these abnormalities have not been studied with quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis. To examine white matter microstructure, neural volumes, and central nervous system (CNS) metabolites in CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) and to determine whether identified abnormalities are associated with cognition, glucocorticoid, and androgen exposure. A cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital including 19 women (18 to 50 years) with 21OHD and 19 age-matched healthy women. Recruits underwent cognitive assessment and brain imaging, including diffusion weighted imaging of white matter, T1-weighted volumetry, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy for neural metabolites. We evaluated white matter microstructure by using tract-based spatial statistics. We compared cognitive scores, neural volumes, and metabolites between groups and relationships between glucocorticoid exposure, MRI, and neurologic outcomes. Patients with 21OHD had widespread reductions in white matter structural integrity, reduced volumes of right hippoc us, bilateral thalami, cerebellum, and brainstem, and reduced mesial temporal lobe total choline content. Working memory, processing speed, and digit span and matrix reasoning scores were reduced in patients with 21OHD, despite similar education and intelligence to controls. Patients with 21OHD exposed to higher glucocorticoid doses had greater abnormalities in white matter microstructure and cognitive performance. We demonstrate that 21OHD and current glucocorticoid replacement regimens have a profound impact on brain morphology and function. If reversible, these CNS markers are a potential target for treatment.
Publisher: American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR)
Date: 19-05-2011
DOI: 10.3174/AJNR.A2490
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 10-02-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FPSYT.2021.774858
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has afforded the opportunity for some to improve lifestyle behaviours, while for others it has presented key challenges. Adverse changes in global lifestyle behaviours, including physical activity, sleep, and screen time can affect proximal mental health and in turn distal cardiovascular outcomes. We investigated differences in physical activity, sleep, and screen time in parents and children during early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia compared to pre-COVID-19 national data and estimated associations between these movement behaviours with parent and child mental health. Cross-sectional baseline data from the COVID-19 Pandemic Adjustment Study (CPAS N = 2,365) were compared to nationally representative pre-pandemic data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC N = 9,438). Participants were parents of children aged ≤ 18 years, residing in Australia. Parents provided self-report measures of mental health, physical activity and sleep quality, and reported on child mental health, physical activity and screen time. Children in CPAS had significantly more sleep problems and more weekend screen time. Their parents had significantly poorer sleep quality, despite increased weekly physical activity. Children's sleep problems were significantly associated with increased mental health problems, after accounting for socioeconomic status, physical activity, and screen time. Poorer parent sleep quality and lower levels of physical activity were significantly associated with poorer mental health. Monitoring this cohort over time will be important to examine whether changes in movement behaviour are enduring or naturally improve with the easing of restrictions and whether these changes have lasting effects on either parent or child mental health, and in turn, future risk for CVD.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 04-2022
Abstract: To examine the effect of frailty on cognitive decline independent of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and brain atrophy, and whether associations between neuropathology and cognition differed depending on frailty status. The Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait was a population-based longitudinal cohort study with data collected at 3 phases from 2005 to 2012. Participants aged 60–85 were randomly selected from the electoral roll. Various data were used to operationalize a 36-item frailty index (FI) at baseline. Brain MRI was undertaken to obtain baseline measures of neuropathology. A neuropsychological battery was used to assess cognition at each time point. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the effect of frailty and MRI measures on cognition over time. The associations between MRI measures and cognition were explored after stratifying the s le by baseline frailty status. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and education. A total of 385 participants were included at baseline. The mean age was 72.5 years (standard deviation [SD] 7.0), 44% were female (n = 171). In fully adjusted linear mixed models, frailty (FI × time β −0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.003, −0.001, p = .03) was associated with decline in global cognition, independent of brain atrophy, and cSVD. The association between cSVD and global cognition was significant only in those with low levels of frailty (p = .03). These findings suggest that frailty is an important factor in early cognitive dysfunction, and measuring frailty may prove useful to help identify future risk of cognitive decline.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-05-2015
DOI: 10.1111/EPI.13007
Abstract: The association between autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and prenatal anticonvulsant exposure is increasingly investigated, but comprehensive, blinded assessment using a validated instrument for autism within a well-characterized prospective cohort has not been conducted. Thus, existing studies may represent an underestimate of the true risk. Herein we present a prospective cohort study in children exposed to anticonvulsants during pregnancy, with all assessments conducted by examiners who were blinded to drug-exposure status. Participants were 105 Australian children aged 6-8 years who were recruited via the Australian Pregnancy Register for Women on Antiepileptic Medication. Maternal epilepsy, pregnancy, and medical history data were obtained prospectively. Autism traits were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Eleven children (10.5%) had elevated CARS scores. Two were exposed to valproate monotherapy (2/26 7.7%), two to carbamazepine monotherapy (2/34 5.9%), and seven to valproate in polytherapy (7/15 46.7%). Linear regression analysis showed that the mean valproate dose during pregnancy was a significant predictor of CARS scores after controlling for polytherapy, mean carbamazepine dose, folic acid use, seizures during pregnancy, tobacco and marijuana use, maternal intelligence quotient (IQ), and socioeconomic status. First trimester folic acid supplementation and marijuana use were also significant predictors of CARS scores. Using direct assessment of children in our prospective study, we found an elevated rate of autism traits across the s le. The most important determinant of association with autistic traits was higher doses of sodium valproate exposure. The use of valproate in women who may become pregnant is now generally avoided however, there are insufficient data regarding the risk of ASD with low-dose valproate. If this risk is no greater than with other antiepileptic drugs (AED)s, it may enable women with genetic generalized epilepsy to retain optimal seizure control as well as minimize harm to their unborn child.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-08-2021
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-07-2017
DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2017.1364775
Abstract: We present a patient with reading inexpertise and right hemianopia following left posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke. We examine the extent of disruption to reading performance and the extent of white matter tract damage relative to a patient with more limited PCA infarction and isolated right hemianopia. We show white matter disconnection of the temporal occipital fusiform cortex in our pure alexia patient. Connectivity-based laterality indices revealed right hemisphere laterality in the alexia patient this was not associated with improved reading function. We speculate that the degree of premorbid laterality may be a critical factor affecting the extent of reading dysfunction in alexia.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-02-2017
DOI: 10.1038/NG.3794
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 30-08-2019
Abstract: Morphometric Similarity Networks (MSNs) estimate structural 'connectivity' as a biologically meaningful set of statistical similarities between cyto-architectural features derived in-vivo from multiple MRI sequences. These networks have shown to be clinically relevant, predicting 40% variance in IQ. However, the sequences required (T1w and T2w 3D anatomical, DWI) to produce these networks typically have long acquisition times, which are less feasible in some populations. Thus, estimating MSNs using features from only a T1w MRI is attractive to both clinical and developmental neuroscience. We aimed to determine whether reduced-feature approaches approximate the original MSN model as a potential tool to investigate brain structure. Using Human Connectome Project data, we extended previous investigations of reduced-feature MSNs by comparing not only T1w-derived networks but additional MSNs generated with fewer MR sequences to their full acquisition counterparts. We produce MSNs which are highly similar at the edge-level, to those generated with multi-modal imaging. We also find that, regardless of the number of features, these networks have limited predictive validity of generalised cognitive ability scores in contrast to previous research. Overall, settings in which multi-modal imaging is not available or clinically/developmentally appropriate, T1w-restricted MSN construction provides a valid estimate of the MSN.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.YEBEH.2014.08.006
Abstract: This study explored the impact of developmental stage on cognitive function in children with recently-diagnosed epilepsy. In keeping with a neurodevelopmental framework, skills in a critical developmental period were expected to be more vulnerable than those stable at the time of seizure onset. We studied children with early-onset (EO) symptomatic focal epilepsy (onset: 3-5 years n=18) and compared their performance with that of the group with late-onset (LO) epilepsy (onset: 6-8 years performance of n=8) on a range of cognitive tasks. Performance of both groups was compared with normative standards. 'Critical' and 'stable' classifications were based on developmental research. Nonparametric analyses revealed that skills in a critical developmental period for the group with EO epilepsy fell below normative standards (Phonological Processing: p=.007, Design Copying: p=.01, Visuomotor Precision:, p=.02) and fell below the performance of the group with LO epilepsy (Design Copying: p=.03, Visuomotor Precision: p=.03). There were no differences between the group with EO epilepsy and the group with LO epilepsy on measures of receptive vocabulary and memory, which were proposed to be in a stable developmental period across both groups. Auditory span, as measured by Word Order, was reduced for both the group with EO epilepsy (p=.02) and the group with LO epilepsy (p=.02) relative to normative standards, but the groups did not differ from each other. These results are consistent with a prolonged period of critical development for this skill. These findings support the notion that skills in a critical phase of development are particularly vulnerable following the onset of symptomatic focal epilepsy in childhood.
Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
Date: 06-2008
DOI: 10.1192/BJP.BP.107.041251
Abstract: The shape of the corpus callosum may differ in schizophrenia, although no study has compared first-episode with established illness. To investigate the size and shape of the corpus callosum in a large s le of people with first-episode and established schizophrenia. Callosal size and shape were determined using highresolution magnetic resonance imaging on 76 patients with first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, 86 patients with established schizophrenia and 55 healthy participants. There were no significant differences in total area across groups. Reductions in callosal width were seen in the region of the anterior genu in first-episode disorder (P .005). Similar reductions were seen in the chronic schizophrenia group in the anterior genu, but also in the posterior genu and isthmus ( P = 0.0005). Reductions in anterior callosal regions connecting frontal cortex are present at the onset of schizophrenia, and in established illness are accompanied by changes in other regions of the callosum connecting cingulate, temporal and parietal cortices.
Publisher: Royal College of Surgeons of England
Date: 05-2014
DOI: 10.1308/003588414X13946184900282
Abstract: The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) is rising dramatically and overall survival remains extremely poor. Iron has been shown to potentiate tumourigenesis in OAC, and iron chelation therapy demonstrates promise in vivo as an adjunct to neoadjuvant and palliative chemotherapy. OAC, however, has traditionally been associated with iron deficiency anaemia. The aim of this study was therefore to formally quantify the iron status of OAC patients in order to guide the design of future clinical trials involving iron chelation therapy. Demographic and cancer specific data were collected prospectively from all patients presenting with OAC and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). Patients had haemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels measured to assess systemic iron status. In addition, the sTfR/log ferritin (sTfR-F) index was calculated. Average haemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, sTfR and sTfR-F index values for all patients presenting with OAC were within normal sex specific reference ranges. No statistical difference in iron status was observed between OAC patients presenting with resectable and advanced OAC. Patients with OAC are relatively iron replete compared with those presenting with GAC. Iron parameters were not significantly altered by standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients presenting with resectable or advanced OAC could be considered as candidates for a clinical trial of iron chelation therapy as an addition to standard neoadjuvant or palliative treatments.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 07-2000
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617700655029
Abstract: We studied a group of 31 temporal lobe epilepsy patients (25 left, 6 right) with unilateral hippoc al sclerosis evident on magnetic resonance imaging. Single slice T2 relaxation times were acquired for the left and right hippoc i. Principal components analysis of preoperative memory data resulted in two factors that reflect a distinction between arbitrary and semantic forms of verbal recall. The former component correlated with left hippoc al T2 relaxation time, while the latter component did not. This study suggests that variation in left hippoc al integrity is more related to the acquisition of arbitrary associates than semantically structured material, and reinforces the possibility that the left temporal lobe is functionally heterogeneous with respect to memory. ( JINS , 2000, 6 , 529–538.)
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 30-11-2020
DOI: 10.3389/FNINS.2020.491478
Abstract: Structural segmentation of T1-weighted (T1w) MRI has shown morphometric differences, both compared to controls and longitudinally, following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). While many patients with TBI present with abnormalities on structural MRI images, most neuroimaging software packages have not been systematically evaluated for accuracy in the presence of these pathology-related MRI abnormalities. The current study aimed to assess whether acute MRI lesions (MRI acquired 7–71 days post-injury) cause error in the estimates of brain volume produced by the semi-automated segmentation tool, Freesurfer. More specifically, to investigate whether this error was global, the presence of lesion-induced error in the contralesional hemisphere, where no abnormal signal was present, was measured. A dataset of 176 simulated lesion cases was generated using actual lesions from 16 pediatric TBI (pTBI) cases recruited from the emergency department and 11 typically-developing controls. Simulated lesion cases were compared to the “ground truth” of the non-lesion control-case T1w images. Using linear mixed-effects models, results showed that hemispheric measures of cortex volume were significantly lower in the contralesional-hemisphere compared to the ground truth. Interestingly, however, cortex volume (and cerebral white matter volume) were not significantly different in the lesioned hemisphere. However, percent volume difference (PVD) between the simulated lesion and ground truth showed that the magnitude of difference of cortex volume in the contralesional-hemisphere (mean PVD = 0.37%) was significantly smaller than that in the lesioned hemisphere (mean PVD = 0.47%), suggesting a small, but systematic lesion-induced error. Lesion characteristics that could explain variance in the PVD for each hemisphere were investigated. Taken together, these results suggest that the lesion-induced error caused by simulated lesions was not focal, but globally distributed. Previous post-processing approaches to adjust for lesions in structural analyses address the focal region where the lesion was located however, our results suggest that focal correction approaches are insufficient for the global error in morphometric measures of the injured brain.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2002
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-09-2018
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFX240
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.MIDW.2012.12.012
Abstract: to provide a critical evaluation of published research on the relationship between obesity and surgical site infection (SSI) in obese women undergoing caesarean section. an integrative literature review was conducted using five databases (CINAHL, PUBMED, Cochrane, and EBSCO host) for 2002-2012. Inclusion criteria were: (1) wound infection as an outcome measure for obstetric/maternal complications (2) obesity assessed as an independent risk factor for wound infection in women undergoing caesarean section (3) research undertaken in the past 10 years and (4) full text articles available in English with abstract. A two point assessment score was used to evaluate the included studies in relation to representativeness of s le accuracy of measures in data collection and appropriateness of analytic techniques (5) Databases where accessed including PubMed and MedLine. an intergrative literature review was conducted using four databases. thirteen research-based papers met the inclusion criteria, and the selected papers used various designs and methods. Five out of 13 studies scored highly in all three quality domains. All 13 studies supported a relationship between obesity and SSI and caesarean section was more common in obese women. obesity is a global priority health concern affecting all ages and as demonstrated in this review, can result in serious postoperative complications for child bearing women undergoing caesarean section such as SSI. Further research is required into wound management practices of the obese women following caesarean section as this is an area currently lacking high quality research. community midwives are well positioned to implement wound assessments in this cohort of women post-discharge, when SSI is often detected.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 1999
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617799511090
Abstract: Left-to-right reorganization of verbal memory following early left hemisphere damage has been reported in patients whose expressive language is governed by the right hemisphere. We present a case in which verbal memory performance was intact, despite severe left mesial temporal damage, and despite aphasia on left internal carotid sodium amytal ablation. The distribution and degree of left mesial temporal damage was assessed visually and quantitatively on MRI. These findings raise the possibility that verbal memory may shift to the language-nondominant hemisphere as a result of early left mesial temporal damage. ( JINS , 1999, 5 , 69–74.)
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-07-2015
DOI: 10.1038/NPP.2014.168
Publisher: IBM
Date: 03-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.PSCYCHRESNS.2010.04.001
Abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated alterations to fronto-limbic circuitry and callosal structure in borderline personality disorder (BPD). We predicted that a first-presentation BPD cohort who demonstrated orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) reductions would show regional reductions in the anterior corpus callosum. Twenty teenage first-presentation BPD patients and twenty matched healthy controls underwent Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 20 teenaged first-presentation BPD patients and 20 matched healthy controls. Corpus callosum size and shape and ventricular volume were estimated using established methods and compared between the two groups. The relationship between illness variables and callosal morphology was also examined. OFC volume was correlated with callosal and ventricular variables. BPD participants and controls did not differ on measures of callosal size or shape, or ventricular size. BPD participants showed an alteration to the pattern of age-related expansions seen in the callosum. BPD participants with a history of trauma did not demonstrate significant neuroanatomical differences from those without. OFC volumes did not correlate with the thickness of the anterior corpus callosum. Gross neuroanatomical changes are not present at the level of the callosum in teenagers with first-presentation BPD. Changes seen in other studies might reflect factors associated with the duration of BPD, such as recurrent comorbidity with axis I disorders, or treatment.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 31-08-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-08-2010
DOI: 10.1038/NPP.2010.123
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 21-12-2021
DOI: 10.1177/00048674211065365
Abstract: To control a second-wave COVID-19 outbreak, the state of Victoria in Australia experienced one of the world’s first long and strict lockdowns over July–October 2020, while the rest of Australia experienced ‘COVID-normal’ with minimal restrictions. We (1) investigate trajectories of parent/child mental health outcomes in Victoria vs non-Victoria and (2) identify baseline demographic, in idual and COVID-19-related factors associated with mental health trajectories. Online community s le of 2004 Australian parents with rapid repeated assessment over 14 time-points over April 2020 to May 2021. Measures assessed parent mental health (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21), child depression symptoms (13-item Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) and child anxiety symptoms (four items from Brief Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale). Mental health trajectories shadowed COVID-19 infection rates. Victorians reported a peak in mental health symptoms at the time of the second-wave lockdown compared to other states. Key baseline predictors, including parent and child loneliness (standardized regression coefficient [β] = 0.09–0.46), parent/child diagnoses (β = 0.07–0.21), couple conflict (β = 0.07–0.18) and COVID-19 stressors, such as worry/concern about COVID-19, illness and loss of job (β = 0.12–0.15), predicted elevated trajectories. Effects of predictors on parent and child mental health trajectories are illustrated in an online interactive app for readers ( lingtax.shinyapps.io/CPAS_trend/ ). Our findings provide evidence of worse trajectories of parent and child mental health symptoms at a time coinciding with a second COVID-19 outbreak involving strict lockdown in Victoria, compared to non-locked states in Australia. We identified several baseline factors that may be useful in detecting high-risk families who are likely to require additional support early on in future lockdowns.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 10-2018
DOI: 10.1037/NEU0000465
Abstract: Prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and in particular valproate (VPA) has been shown to impair intellectual and language development in children, but the impact on memory functioning has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate memory skills in school-age children who were exposed to AEDs prenatally. The s le comprised of 105 children aged 6 to 8 years. Information on AED exposure, maternal epilepsy, pregnancy, and medical history was prospectively obtained. Children completed a neuropsychological assessment including measures of verbal and nonverbal memory. Children exposed to VPA performed lower than expected on list learning, story recall, and figure recall tasks. Those exposed to VPA in a polytherapy regime achieved poorer verbal memory scores compared with other drug exposure groups. VPA dose was negatively correlated with both verbal and nonverbal memory measures. Language ability predicted performance on all verbal memory measures and VPA dose was an additional predictor of retroactive interference on the list learning task. Performance on figure recall was predicted by exposure to VPA in polytherapy. Children exposed to carbamazepine (CBZ) also showed a higher rate of impairment on nonverbal memory measures. Both verbal and nonverbal memory skills are at risk in children exposed prenatally to VPA, particularly in those exposed to higher VPA doses. There may also be a selective vulnerability of the medial temporal lobe to VPA exposure. Our data highlight the possibility that nonverbal memory may also be affected in children exposed to CBZ. These findings have significant implications for the provision of cognitive and educational strategies to children exposed to AEDs in utero. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1159/000216840
Abstract: i Background/Aims: /i Our purpose was to examine whether falls risk is associated with cognitive functions beyond executive function/attention and processing speed. i Methods: /i Cognitive function was measured in a population-based s le (n = 300) of people aged 60–86 years. The physiological profile assessment was used to estimate the falls risk. i Results: /i After adjusting for confounders, visual construction (p 0.01), executive function/attention and memory (both p 0.05) were independently associated with falls risk. The associations for visual construction (p 0.01) and memory (p 0.01) remained after adjusting for executive function/ attention. i Conclusions: /i The neural basis underlying the associations of visuospatial function and memory with falls risk require further study.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-11-2013
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-09-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.JOCN.2009.09.006
Abstract: Turner's Syndrome (TS), or X-monosomy, is a common chromosomal disorder in women, and provides a valuable paradigm to investigate genotypic contributions to social cognition. We review evidence suggesting that some facets of social cognition, particularly emotion recognition and gaze perception, are impaired in women with TS, despite the absence of a global social-processing impairment. Further, these deficits co-exist with neuroanatomical abnormalities of the amygdala and other regions implicated in social processing. A parallel is drawn between the non-verbal profile of sociocognitive dysfunction in TS and autism spectrum disorders, possibly underpinned by genomic imprinting effects. TS provides a unique opportunity to identify genetic, and particularly sex chromosome, influences on social cognition and behaviour.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAD.2008.10.010
Abstract: The corpus callosum enables the efficient linking of the two cerebral hemispheres. Reductions in the size of the anterior callosum have been described in geriatric depression, although findings in young adults have been much more equivocal. Data was acquired in 26 currently depressed (mean age 32.15 years, 5/26 male) and 28 remitted non-geriatric adults (mean age 36.36 years, 7/28 male), and 32 control subjects (mean age 34.41 years, 11/32 male). The total area, length and curvature of the callosum, and regional thickness along 39 points, from a mid-sagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance image were compared across the groups. Total area, length and curvature did not differ between the groups. The currently-depressed group showed expansions in the thickness of the posterior body and isthmus when compared to controls this was not seen in remitted patients. Similar expansions were seen when comorbidly anxious patients were compared to depressed patients without anxiety. There was no difference between melancholic and non-melancholic patients, and medication status did not affect the results. Currently-depressed patients showed higher rates of co-morbid anxiety and medication usage than remitted patients, although in the depression group as a whole there was no difference between medicated and unmedicated patients. The corpus callosum shows expansions in regions connecting frontal, temporal and parietal regions in currently depressed patients only, suggestive of state-related changes in white matter in major depression that may reflect the effects of state-related factors on white matter structure.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEUROIMAGE.2009.07.067
Abstract: Improving the ability to assess potential stroke deficit may aid the selection of patients most likely to benefit from acute stroke therapies. Methods based only on 'at risk' volumes or initial neurological condition do predict eventual outcome, but not perfectly. Given the close relationship between anatomy and function in the brain, we performed a proof-of-concept study to examine how well stroke outcome correlated with infarct location and extent. A prospective study of 60 patients with ischemic stroke (38 in the training set and 22 in the validation set), using an implementation of partial least squares with penalized logistic regression (PLS-PLR), was performed. The method yielded a model relating location of infarction (on a voxel-by-voxel basis) and neurological deficits. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) method was used to assess the accuracy of the method for predicting outcome. In the validation phase, this model indicated the presence of neglect (AUC 0.89), aphasia (AUC 0.79), right-arm motor deficit (0.94), and right-leg motor deficit (AUC 0.94) but less accurately indicated left-arm motor deficit (0.52) and left-leg motor deficit (0.69). The model indicated no to mild disability (Rankin 2) with AUC 0.78. In this proof-of-concept study, we have demonstrated that stroke outcome correlates well with infarct location raising the possibility of accurate prediction of neurological deficit in the in idual stroke patient using only information on infarct location and multivariate regression methods.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-07-2023
DOI: 10.1111/EPI.17709
Abstract: Despite widespread monotherapy use of lamotrigine or levetiracetam during pregnancy, prospectively collected, blinded child development data are still limited. The NaME (Neurodevelopment of Babies Born to Mothers With Epilepsy) Study prospectively recruited a new cohort of women with epilepsy and their offspring for longitudinal follow‐up. Pregnant women of weeks gestation ( n = 401) were recruited from 21 hospitals in the UK. Data collection occurred during pregnancy (recruitment, trimester 3) and at 12 and 24 months of age. The primary outcome was blinded assessment of infant cognitive, language, and motor development on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (3rd edition) at 24 months of age with supplementary parent reporting on the Vinelands Adaptive Behavior Scales (2nd edition). There were 394 live births, with 277 children (70%) completing the Bayley assessment at 24 months. There was no evidence of an association of prenatal exposure to monotherapy lamotrigine (−.74, SE = 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −6.5 to 5.0, p = .80) or levetiracetam (−1.57, SE = 3.1, 95% CI = −4.6 to 7.7, p = .62) with poorer infant cognition, following adjustment for other maternal and child factors in comparison to nonexposed children. Similar results were observed for language and motor scores. There was no evidence of an association between increasing doses of either lamotrigine or levetiracetam. Nor was there evidence that higher dose folic acid supplementation (≥5 mg/day) or convulsive seizure exposure was associated with child development scores. Continued infant exposure to antiseizure medications through breast milk was not associated with poorer outcomes, but the number of women breastfeeding beyond 3 months was low. These data are reassuring for infant development following in utero exposure to monotherapy lamotrigine or levetiracetam, but child development is dynamic, and future follow‐up is required to rule out later emerging effects.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.YEBEH.2007.12.020
Abstract: The anatomical factors underlying reorganization of language representation are yet to be elucidated, although correlations between asymmetric structures and language lateralization have been identified. Previous research has implicated the corpus callosum in the development of language lateralization. This study examined the relationship between callosal morphology and language asymmetry, using letter fluency functional magnetic resonance imaging, in 13 patients with focal epilepsy and 8 healthy controls. Regional callosal thickness was determined without relying on a priori delineation of callosal segments. We predicted that language asymmetry measured by fMRI activation laterality scores would be correlated with regional callosal thickness in both groups. However, only the degree of language activation asymmetry was significantly correlated with callosal thickness in the isthmus and the midbody of patients, and there was a significant interaction between the groups with respect to callosal thickness and language activation asymmetry. These data suggest that callosal pathways may be important for language reorganization in the context of early cerebral injury.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 26-03-2021
Abstract: Objective: To control a second-wave COVID-19 outbreak, the state of Victoria in Australia experienced one of the world’s first long and strict lockdowns over July-October 2020, while the rest of Australia experienced ‘COVID-normal’ with minimal restrictions. We (1) investigate trajectories of parent/child mental health outcomes and (2) identify baseline demographic, in idual, and COVID-19-related factors associated with mental health trajectories. Method: Online community s le of 1,877 Australian parents with rapid repeated assessment over 10 time-points over April-October, 2020. Measures assessed parent mental health (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21) child depression symptoms (13-item Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire) and child anxiety symptoms (four-items from Brief Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale).Results: Mental health trajectories shadowed COVID-19 infection rates. Victorians reported a large peak in mental health symptoms at the time of the second-wave lockdown compared to other states. Key baseline predictors, including parent and child loneliness (standardized regression coefficient [β]=·09-·39), parent/child diagnoses (β=·11-·22), couple conflict (β=·09-·19), and COVID-19 stressors, such as worry/concern about COVID-19, illness, and loss of job (β=·07-·22), predicted elevated trajectories. Effects of predictors on parent and child mental health trajectories are illustrated in an online interactive app for readers (lingtax.shinyapps.io/CPAS_trend/).Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of worse trajectories of parent and child mental health symptoms associated with strict, sustained, COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria, compared to non-locked states in the rest of Australia. We identified several baseline factors that may be useful in detecting high risk families who are likely to require additional support early on in future lockdowns.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 02-2013
DOI: 10.1017/S0954579412001009
Abstract: Williams syndrome is a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder caused by a hemizygous deletion on chromosome 7q11.23, resulting in atypical brain structure and function, including abnormal morphology of the corpus callosum. An influence of handedness on the size of the corpus callosum has been observed in studies of typical in iduals, but handedness has not been taken into account in studies of callosal morphology in Williams syndrome. We hypothesized that callosal area is smaller and the size of the splenium and isthmus is reduced in in iduals with Williams syndrome compared to healthy controls, and examined age, sex, and handedness effects on corpus callosal area. Structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained on 25 in iduals with Williams syndrome (18 right-handed, 7 left-handed) and 25 matched controls. We found that callosal thickness was significantly reduced in the splenium of Williams syndrome in iduals compared to controls. We also found novel evidence that the callosal area was smaller in left-handed participants with Williams syndrome than their right-handed counterparts, with opposite findings observed in the control group. This novel finding may be associated with LIM-kinase hemizygosity, a characteristic of Williams syndrome. The findings may have significant clinical implications in future explorations of the Williams syndrome cognitive phenotype.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1155/2016/3978428
Abstract: Type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the risk of dementia and neuronal dysfunction may occur years before perceptible cognitive decline. We aimed to study the impact of type 2 diabetes on brain activation during memory encoding in middle-aged people, controlling for age, sex, genes, and early-shared environment. Twenty-two twin pairs discordant for type 2 diabetes mellitus (mean age 60.9 years) without neurological disease were recruited from the Australian Twin Registry (ATR) and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a memory encoding task, cognitive tests, and structural MRI. Type 2 diabetes was associated with significantly reduced activation in left hemisphere temporoparietal regions including angular gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus and significantly increased activation in bilateral posteriorly distributed regions. These findings were present in the absence of within-pair differences in standard cognitive test scores, brain volumes, or vascular lesion load. Differences in activation were more pronounced among monozygotic (MZ) pairs, with MZ in iduals with diabetes also displaying greater frontal activation. These results provide evidence for preclinical memory-related neuronal dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. They support the search for modifiable later-life environmental factors or epigenetic mechanisms linking type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA.2009.10.001
Abstract: Previous studies have shown that in comparison with the sighted, blind in iduals display superior non-visual perceptual abilities and differ in brain organisation. In this study, we investigated the performance of blind and sighted participants on a vibrotactile discrimination task. Thirty-three blind participants were classified into one of three groups (congenital, early, late), depending on the age at which they became blind. Consistent with previous neuroimaging data, in iduals blinded after late childhood (14 years) showed no advantage over sighted participants. Both the congenitally- and early-blind participants were better than the sighted. The congenitally blind participants were even more accurate than the early-blind participants a distinction that has not been drawn previously. Duration of blindness did not predict task performance and the effect of onset age persisted after duration of daily Braille reading was accounted for. We conclude that complete visual deprivation early in life leads to heightened tactile acuity.
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 28-02-2023
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-2583936/V1
Abstract: Brain development is regularly studied using structural MRI. Recently, studies have used a combination of statistical learning and large-scale imaging databases of healthy-children to predict an in idual’s age from structural MRI. This data-driven, ‘brainage’ typically differs from the subjects chronological age, with this difference a potential measure of in idual difference. Few studies have leveraged higher-order or connectomic representations of structural MRI data for this brainage approach. We leveraged morphometric similarity as a network-level approach to structural MRI to generate predictive models of age. We benchmarked these novel brain-age approaches using morphometric similarity against more typical, single feature (i.e. cortical thickness) approaches. We showed that these novel methods did not outperform cortical thickness or cortical volume measures. All models were significantly biased by age, but robust to motion confounds. The main results show that, whilst morphometric similarity mapping may be a novel way to leverage additional information from a T1-weighted structural MRI beyond in idual features, in the context of a brain-age framework, morphometric similarity does not explain more variance than in idual structural features. Morphometric similarity as a network-level approach to structural MRI may be poorly positioned to study in idual differences in brain development in healthy in iduals.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1080/00048670903107534
Abstract: Objective: Callosal structural and functional alterations have been demonstrated in a range of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including bipolar disorder, but no study has examined regional callosal thickness in this phenotype. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine callosal size and shape in a well-defined group of bipolar affective disorder patients and controls. Methods: The participants included 24 patients with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder and 24 matched healthy controls. The corpus callosum was extracted from mid-callosal images from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans on all participants, and callosal area, length, bending angle and regional callosal thickness measures were computed from these images. Results: The callosum was thinner in the bipolar group overall, with a disproportionately reduced thickness in the splenium. Psychotic and non-psychotic patients did not differ, although patients without a family history of mood disorders had a thinner callosum. Conclusion: Callosal reductions are present in established bipolar disorder, and affect posterior regions more than anterior regions. This may reflect a primary disturbance to myelination, or a secondary effect of grey matter changes.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-02-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.CORTEX.2012.03.013
Abstract: Differences in brain structures between blind and sighted in iduals have not been widely investigated. Furthermore, existing studies have included in iduals who were blinded by retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that is associated with premature birth. Recent pediatric research has reported structural differences in in iduals who were born prematurely, suggesting that some of the structural abnormalities previously observed in blind in iduals may be related to prematurity rather than being specific to blindness. In the present study, we used voxel-based morphometry to investigate gray and white matter differences between 24 blind and 16 sighted in iduals. Of the blind in iduals, six were born prematurely and 18 at term. Compared to those born at term, blind in iduals born preterm showed differences in gray, but not white, matter volumes in various brain regions. When the preterm in iduals were excluded from analysis, there were significant differences between blind and sighted in iduals. Full-term blind in iduals showed regional gray matter decreases in the cuneus, lingual gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, precuneus, inferior and superior parietal lobules, and the thalamus, and gray matter increases in the globus pallidus. They also showed regional white matter decreases in the cuneus, lingual gyrus, and the posterior cingulate. These differences were observed in blind in iduals irrespective of blindness onset age, providing evidence for structural alterations in the mature brain. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the potential impact of premature birth on neurodevelopmental outcomes in studies of blind in iduals.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 22-07-2011
DOI: 10.1093/BRAIN/AWR103
Abstract: Plasticity is an intrinsic property of the central nervous system, reflecting its capacity to respond in a dynamic manner to the environment and experience via modification of neural circuitry. In the context of healthy development, plasticity is considered beneficial, facilitating adaptive change in response to environmental stimuli and enrichment, with research documenting establishment of new neural connections and modification to the mapping between neural activity and behaviour. Less is known about the impact of this plasticity in the context of the young, injured brain. This review seeks to explore plasticity processes in the context of early brain insult, taking into account historical perspectives and building on recent advances in knowledge regarding ongoing development and recovery following early brain insult, with a major emphasis on neurobehavioural domains. We were particularly interested to explore the way in which plasticity processes respond to early brain insult, the implications for functional recovery and how this literature contributes to the debate between localization of brain function and neural network models. To this end we have provided an overview of normal brain development, followed by a description of the biological mechanisms associated with the most common childhood brain insults, in order to explore an evidence base for considering the competing theoretical perspectives of early plasticity and early vulnerability. We then detail these theories and the way in which they contribute to our understanding of the consequences of early brain insult. Finally, we examine evidence that considers key factors (e.g. insult severity, age at insult, environment) that may act, either independently or synergistically, to influence recovery processes and ultimate outcome. We conclude that neither plasticity nor vulnerability theories are able to explain the range of functional outcomes from early brain insult. Rather, they represent extremes along a 'recovery continuum'. Where a child's outcome falls along this continuum depends on injury factors (severity, nature, age) and environmental influences (family, sociodemographic factors, interventions).
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-09-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCHRES.2008.04.042
Abstract: Reductions in the size of the anterior callosum have been described for both first-episode schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis and established schizophrenia, but have not been examined in in iduals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR). We compared 100 UHR in iduals (27 of whom later developed psychosis) with 38 age-matched control subjects on measures of size and shape of the corpus callosum to determine if changes previously demonstrated in first-episode and established schizophrenia are present in the pre-psychotic phase. Each in idual's callosum was extracted from the mid-sagittal slice from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images, and total area, length and curvature of the callosum was compared using one-way ANOVA, and 39 regional thicknesses via a non-parametric permutation method to account for non-independence of adjacent measures. Total area, length and curvature did not differ between the groups. Compared to both the UHR-NP group and controls, the UHR-P group showed significant regional reductions in the region of the anterior genu of the callosum. The UHR-NP group did not differ from controls. Positive and negative symptoms did not affect regional thickness in either of the patient groups. Cox regression showed that mean anterior genu thickness was highly predictive of a transition to psychosis. Reductions in the thickness of the anterior callosum differentiate between high-risk in iduals who transition to psychosis and those who do not, and is highly predictive of transition. These changes may reflect primary pathology of orbitofrontal and medial frontal cortex, or deficits in anterior interhemispheric myelination.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.YEBEH.2010.01.168
Abstract: Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) is a nonlesional condition associated with mutation of the gene coding for the alpha4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). The nAChR modulates aspects of memory and attention. We examined the neuropsychological phenotype of ADNFLE, with a particular emphasis on understanding the impact on frontal lobe functions. We used standard clinical tests as well as focused measures of frontal lobe function in a well-defined group of patients with ADNFLE. Their performance was compared with that of a group of age-, sex-, and education-matched control participants. Patients with ADNFLE showed impairments on tasks requiring cognitive flexibility against a background of well-preserved intellectual abilities. In accord with existing research, verbal memory impairments were identified in the patient group the level of impairment on these tasks correlated with disease-related factors. In our study of ADNFLE associated with one mutation, cognitive flexibility appears to be the core cognitive deficit.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 21-02-2011
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 10-01-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-07-2022
DOI: 10.1002/DEV.22306
Abstract: Temperament in early childhood is a good predictor of later personality, behavior, and risk of psychopathology. Variation in temperament can be explained by environmental and biological factors. One biological mechanism of interest is the gut microbiome (GM), which has been associated with mental and physical health. This review synthesized existing literature evaluating the relationship between GM composition and ersity, and temperament in early life. Web of Science, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Scopus were searched, and data were extracted according to PRISMA guidelines. In total, 1562 studies were identified, of which six remained following application of exclusion/inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that there is an association between higher alpha ersity and temperament: greater Surgency/Extraversion and High‐Intensity Pleasure in males, and lower Effortful Control in females. Unique community structures (beta ersity) were found for Surgency/Extraversion in males and Fear in females. An emerging pattern of positive temperament traits being associated with GM communities biased toward short‐chain fatty acid production from a metabolism based on dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates was observed and is worthy of further investigation. To gain deeper understanding of the relationship, future research should investigate further the functional aspects of the microbiome and the influence of diet.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-11-2019
DOI: 10.1186/S12969-019-0377-7
Abstract: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the most common chronic rheumatic disease of childhood, is characterised by synovitis. Clinical assessments of synovitis are imperfect, relying on composite and indirect measures of disease activity including clinician-reported measures, patient-reported measures and blood markers. Contrast-enhanced MRI is a more sensitive synovitis assessment technique but clinical utility is currently limited by availability and inter-observer variation. Improved quantitative MRI techniques may enable future development of more stringent MRI-defined remission criteria. The objective of this study was to determine the utility and feasibility of quantitative MRI measurement of synovial volume and vascularity in JIA before and twelve weeks after intra-articular glucocorticoid injection (IAGI) of the knee and to assess the acceptability of MRI to participating families. Children and young people with JIA and a new episode of knee synovitis requiring IAGI were recruited from the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. Quantitative contrast-enhanced MRI was performed prior to and twelve weeks after IAGI, in addition to standard clinical assessment tools, including the three-variable clinical juvenile arthritis disease activity score (cJADAS) and active joint count. Eleven young people (5 male, median age 13 years, range 7–16) with JIA knee flare were recruited and 10 completed follow-up assessment. Following IAGI, the median (interquartile range) cJADAS improved from 8.5 (2.7) to 1.6 (3.9), whilst the median synovial volume improved from 38.5cm 3 (82.1cm 3 ) to 0.0cm 3 (0.2cm 3 ). Six patients presented with frank synovitis outside normal limits on routine MRI reporting. A further three had baseline MRI reports within normal limits but the quantitative measurements identified measurable synovial uptake. Post-IAGI quantitative measurements highlighted significant improvements in 9 patients. IAGI led to a marked reduction in synovial volume, with quantitative MRI identifying more patients with an improved synovial volume than routine qualitative clinical reporting. Improvements in cJADAS scores were more variable with the patient arent global assessment component contributing most to the scores. Further work is indicated, exploring the utility of quantitative MRI in the assessment of less accessible joints and comparing the impact of different treatment modalities.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 30-06-2014
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 07-07-2014
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 02-08-2017
Abstract: Frailty is a prevalent geriatric condition associated with poor health outcomes. The pathogenesis of frailty is incompletely understood. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and frailty. People aged between 60 and 85 years were randomly selected from the electoral roll into the Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait. Participants completed standardized questionnaires regarding medical history and underwent objective sensorimotor, gait, and cognitive testing. These data were used to calculate a frailty index score. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed on all participants to measure SVD. Automated quantification was used to measure white matter hyperintensities (WMH), with manual consensus for subcortical infarction (SI) and cerebral microbleeds (CMB). Multivariable linear regression was used to determine the association between SVD and frailty. The mean age of the s le (n = 388) was 72.0 years (SD 7.0), 44% (172/388) were female and the median Frailty Index was 0.20 (interquartile range 0.12, 0.27). WMH, SI, and CMB in unadjusted models were positively associated with higher frailty scores (p < .05). In final models including all brain variables, higher burden of WMH (β = 2.16 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75, 3.57 p = .003), but not SI (β = 2.96 95% CI -0.44, 6.35 p = .09) or CMB (β = -0.46 95% CI -4.88, 3.96 p = .84), was independently associated with a higher frailty score. We provide cross-sectional evidence for a positive association between larger burden of WMH and frailty. Longitudinal design is required to determine the temporality of this relationship.
Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.AJOG.2013.10.009
Abstract: Perinatal mental illness has a significant implication on maternal health, birth outcomes, and the offspring's development. Prevalence estimates of perinatal psychiatric illnesses range widely, with substantial heterogeneity in different population studies, with a lower prevalence rate in high- rather than low- or middle-income countries. Because of the potential negative impact on maternal and child outcomes and the potential lability of these disorders, the perinatal period is a critical time to identify psychiatric illnesses. Thus, obstetricians and midwives play a crucial role in assessing women's mental health needs and to refer identified women promptly for multidisciplinary specialist assessment. However, there is still limited evidence on best practice assessment and management policies during pregnancy and postpartum. This review focuses on the prevalence of common perinatal mental disorders and antenatal screening policies to identify women at risk. The effect of these conditions and their management on pregnancy, fetal outcomes, and child development are discussed.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.PSCYCHRESNS.2008.09.007
Abstract: Reductions in the size of the anterior callosum have been described for both first-episode and established schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder, but never in in iduals with psychotic bipolar disorder. We recruited 110 first-episode psychosis subjects (74 schizophrenia spectrum and 36 affective psychosis) and 36 age- and gender-matched controls. The callosum was extracted from a mid-sagittal slice from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images, and total area, length and curvature of the callosum were compared. The schizophrenia-spectrum group showed reductions in thickness of the genu across schizophreniform and schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, and the schizoaffective disorder group also showed an increase in thickness in the splenium and isthmus. None of these changes were seen in the affective disorder group, although a non-significant increase in the region of the isthmus and splenium was seen, particularly in the depressed group. Psychotic affective disorders do not show the anterior callosal reductions that are seen in the schizophrenia-spectrum group at first episode. The schizoaffective patients show additional posterior callosal expansions that may be a marker of an affective diathesis. This suggests that schizoaffective disorder may represent two interacting illness processes or be mid-way along a continuum of these two broad categories of illness at first psychosis.
Publisher: MIT Press
Date: 03-2020
DOI: 10.1162/NETN_A_00123
Abstract: Morphometric similarity networks (MSNs) estimate organization of the cortex as a biologically meaningful set of similarities between anatomical features at the macro- and microstructural level, derived from multiple structural MRI (sMRI) sequences. These networks are clinically relevant, predicting 40% variance in IQ. However, the sequences required (T1w, T2w, DWI) to produce these networks are longer acquisitions, less feasible in some populations. Thus, estimating MSNs using features from T1w sMRI is attractive to clinical and developmental neuroscience. We studied whether reduced-feature approaches approximate the original MSN model as a potential tool to investigate brain structure. In a large, homogenous dataset of healthy young adults (from the Human Connectome Project, HCP), we extended previous investigations of reduced-feature MSNs by comparing not only T1w-derived networks, but also additional MSNs generated with fewer MR sequences, to their full acquisition counterparts. We produce MSNs that are highly similar at the edge level to those generated with multimodal imaging however, the nodal topology of the networks differed. These networks had limited predictive validity of generalized cognitive ability. Overall, when multimodal imaging is not available or appropriate, T1w-restricted MSN construction is feasible, provides an appropriate estimate of the MSN, and could be a useful approach to examine outcomes in future studies.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-03-2014
DOI: 10.1038/NPP.2014.53
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-03-2019
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 27-04-2020
Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to the mental health and wellbeing of Australian families. Employment and economic uncertainty, chronic stress, anxiety, and social isolation are likely to have negative impacts on parent mental health, couple and family relationships, as well as child health and development. Objective: This study aims to: (1) provide timely information on the mental health impacts of the emerging COVID-19 crisis in a close to representative s le of Australian parents and children (0-18 years) (2) identify adults and families most at risk of poor mental health outcomes and, (3) identify factors to target through clinical and public health intervention to reduce risk. Specifically, this study will investigate the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased risk for parents’ mental health, lower wellbeing, loneliness, and alcohol use parent-parent and parent-child relationships (both verbal and physical) and child and adolescent mental health problems. Methods: The study aims to recruit a close to representative s le of at least 2,000 adults aged 18 years and over living in Australia who are parents of a child 0-4 years (early childhood, N=400) 5-12 years (primary school N=800) and 13-18 years (secondary school, N=800). The design will be a longitudinal cohort study using an online recruitment methodology. Participants will be invited to complete an online baseline self-report survey (20 minutes) followed by a series of shorter online surveys (10 minutes) scheduled every two weeks for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., estimated to be 14 surveys over 6 months). Results: The study will employ post stratification weights to address differences between the final s le and the national population in geographic communities across Australia. Associations will be analyzed using multilevel modeling with time-variant and time-invariant predictors of change in trajectory over the testing period. Conclusions: This study will provide timely information on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on parents and children in Australia identify communities, parents, families, and children most at risk of poor outcomes and, identify potential factors to address in clinical and public health interventions to reduce risk.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 05-01-2012
Abstract: Objective: To determine whether the standard method of localisation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is accurate and reliable, and to develop an empirically based method for operational localisation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with reference to the motor hand area. Method: We compared stereotaxic localisation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with the commonly used operational definition of 6 cm anterior to the site of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle in healthy participants ( n = 18). We also report the average translational distance from the site of the abductor pollicis brevis to the stereotaxically defined dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Results: The stereotaxic method was less variable than the operational method of localisation and more frequently targeted the middle frontal gyrus. The average translational distance from the site of the abductor pollicis brevis to the stereotaxically targeted dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was x = −5 mm, y = 53 mm and z = −31 mm. Conclusions: Operational localisation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with reference to the motor hand area is more variable than stereotaxic localisation. If future studies choose to use an operational definition of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, we suggest it should be 5 mm lateral, 53 mm anterior and 31 mm inferior to the site of the abductor pollicis brevis.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 10-10-2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-09-2010
DOI: 10.1007/S12021-010-9080-Z
Abstract: We present DFBIdb: a suite of tools for efficient management of neuroimaging project data. Specifically, DFBIdb was designed to allow users to quickly perform routine management tasks of sorting, archiving, exploring, exporting and organising raw data. DFBIdb was implemented as a collection of Python scripts that maintain a project-based, centralised database that is based on the XCEDE 2 data model. Project data is imported from a filesystem hierarchy of raw files, which is an often-used convention of imaging devices, using a single script that catalogues meta-data into a modified XCEDE 2 data model. During the import process data are reversibly anonymised, archived and compressed. The import script was designed to support multiple file formats and features an extensible framework that can be adapted to novel file formats. An ACL-based security model, with accompanying graphical management tools, was implemented to provide a straightforward method to restrict access to raw and meta-data. Graphical user interfaces are provided for data exploration. DFBIdb includes facilities to export, convert and organise customisable subsets of project data according to user-specified criteria. The command-line interface was implemented to allow users to incorporate database commands into more complex scripts that may be utilised to automate data management tasks. By using DFBIdb, neuroimaging laboratories will be able to perform routine data management tasks in an efficient manner.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 17-12-2020
Abstract: To examine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Parents of 213 Australian children (5–17 years) with ADHD completed a survey in May 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions were in place (i.e., requiring citizens to stay at home except for essential reasons). Compared to pre-pandemic, children had less exercise (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.4 95% CI 0.3–0.6), less outdoor time (OR = 0.4 95% 0.3–0.6), and less enjoyment in activities (OR = 6.5 95% CI 4.0–10.4), while television (OR = 4.0 95% CI 2.5–6.5), social media (OR = 2.4 95% CI 1.3–4.5), gaming (OR = 2.0 95% CI 1.3–3.0), sad/depressed mood (OR = 1.8 95% CI 1.2–2.8), and loneliness (OR = 3.6 95% CI 2.3–5.5) were increased. Child stress about COVID-19 restrictions was associated with poorer functioning across most domains. Most parents (64%) reported positive changes for their child including more family time. COVID-19 restrictions were associated with both negative and positive impacts among children with ADHD.
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 07-08-1999
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.NTT.2018.11.003
Abstract: An increased risk of impaired intelligence (IQ) has been documented in valproate-exposed children, but investigations have not previously focused on those with a clinical diagnosis of Fetal Valproate Syndrome (FVS). This cross sectional observational study recruited in iduals with a diagnosis of FVS and completed standardized assessments of intellectual abilities making comparisons to a normative comparison group. Both mean difference (MD) and prevalence of scores below the lower average range were analyzed. The mean full-scale IQ in 31 in iduals with FVS (mean age 14.97 range 6-27 years) was 19 points lower (19.55, 95% CI -24.94 to 14.15), and IQ scores <70 were present in 26%. The mean differences for verbal comprehension (21.07, 95% CI -25.84 to -16.29), working memory (19.77, 95% CI -25.00 to -14.55) and processing speed (16.87, 95% CI -22.24 to -11.50) performances were poorer than expected with the mean differences over one standard deviation from the comparison group. Sixty one percent of cases demonstrated disproportionately lower verbal comprehension ability. There were no significant group differences for IQ in high vs. moderate dose valproate or mono vs. polytherapy. There were no differences in IQ between those with and those without a major congenital malformation. The requirement for educational intervention was high at 74%. Intellectual difficulties are a central feature of FVS and are more severe in their presentation in in iduals with a diagnosis of valproate embryopathy. In iduals with FVS who present with the characteristic facial presentation should be considered at high risk of cognitive difficulties regardless of the dose of valproate exposure or the presence of a major congenital malformation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.EJPN.2019.12.010
Abstract: Recognition of paediatric autoimmune/immune-mediated encephalitis and epileptic encephalopathy (e.g. NMDAR-Ab encephalitis) has rapidly increased over the last ten years. While we are succeeding in the diagnosis and identification and even early treatment of these encephalitidies, with studies describing >80% are making a "good" recovery, we are now recognising that a "good" medical outcome does not cover the cognitive, social and behavioural sequelae that can occur, particularly in paediatric patients. Basic measures of medical outcome, for ex le the modified Rankin Scale (MRS) or the Paediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC), offer the advantage of being quick to use, but do not reveal the more complex difficulties that can impact the future of affected children. This article reviews the current literature on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children affected with autoimmune and immune-mediated encephalitis/epileptic encephalopathy and provides guidance on post-onset surveillance aimed at identifying those most likely to experience ongoing long-term difficulties.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2001
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Start Date: 2014
End Date: 2018
Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2005
End Date: 2007
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity