Pub Date : 2025-05-23DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101199
Anja C. Feneberg , Susanne Fischer , Nadine Skoluda
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a crucial biomarker in psychoneuroendocrinological research, offering unique insights into long-term hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity. Season has repeatedly shown associations with HCC. However, as of yet, no systematic attempt at quantifying season’s influence on HCC has been undertaken. We conducted a systematic search of the bibliographic databases PubMed and PsycINFO. Twenty-nine between- and within-person studies fulfilled all eligibility criteria (N = 10,520 participants in total). Overall, 22 studies (76%) reported significant differences in HCC across seasons. Most between-person studies reported lower HCC in winter/spring than in summer/autumn (10/15). This pattern was supported by 2/14 within-person studies, whereas others reported lower HCC in summer than in autumn (6/14). The remaining studies reported other patterns or no seasonal variations in HCC. In conclusion, there is accumulating evidence for seasonal variations in HCC, highlighting the need to consider the seasons in future research on HCC and health. Mechanisms related to meteorological, ecological, sociocultural, and lifestyle factors may underlie seasonal rhythmicity in cortisol secretion and accumulation in hair.
{"title":"Seasonal variation in hair cortisol concentration: A systematic review","authors":"Anja C. Feneberg , Susanne Fischer , Nadine Skoluda","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a crucial biomarker in psychoneuroendocrinological research, offering unique insights into long-term hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity. Season has repeatedly shown associations with HCC. However, as of yet, no systematic attempt at quantifying season’s influence on HCC has been undertaken. We conducted a systematic search of the bibliographic databases PubMed and PsycINFO. Twenty-nine between- and within-person studies fulfilled all eligibility criteria (N = 10,520 participants in total). Overall, 22 studies (76%) reported significant differences in HCC across seasons. Most between-person<!--> <!-->studies reported lower HCC in winter/spring than in summer/autumn (10/15). This pattern was supported by 2/14 within-person studies, whereas others reported lower HCC in summer than in autumn (6/14). The remaining studies reported other patterns or no seasonal variations in HCC. In conclusion, there is accumulating evidence for seasonal variations in HCC, highlighting the need to consider the seasons in future research on HCC and health. Mechanisms related to meteorological, ecological, sociocultural, and lifestyle factors may underlie seasonal rhythmicity in cortisol secretion and accumulation in hair.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Article 101199"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-12DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101198
Simranjit Kaur, Chauncey J. Darden, Goodness M. Adegbola, Junie P. Warrington
The incidence of dementia, and specifically, Alzheimer’s disease, is higher in women than men, even in middle age, making it possible to rule out lifespan differences between men and women as a contributing factor. Thus, it is plausible that pregnancy experience, which is unique to women, may play a contributing role. In this review, we discuss the different hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, clinical, epidemiological, and preclinical studies that link a history of HDP with dementia. We also present potential mechanisms linking HDP, Alzheimer’s, and vascular dementia. Several key symptoms that are shared among the disorders are presented as potential underlying mechanisms that link the adverse pregnancy disorder with the long-term postpartum neurological changes. Further, we present limitations of the existing literature, gaps, and opportunities for further research.
{"title":"History of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia","authors":"Simranjit Kaur, Chauncey J. Darden, Goodness M. Adegbola, Junie P. Warrington","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The incidence of dementia, and specifically, Alzheimer’s disease, is higher in women than men, even in middle age, making it possible to rule out lifespan differences between men and women as a contributing factor. Thus, it is plausible that pregnancy experience, which is unique to women, may play a contributing role. In this review, we discuss the different hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, clinical, epidemiological, and preclinical studies that link a history of HDP with dementia. We also present potential mechanisms linking HDP, Alzheimer’s, and vascular dementia. Several key symptoms that are shared among the disorders are presented as potential underlying mechanisms that link the adverse pregnancy disorder with the long-term postpartum neurological changes. Further, we present limitations of the existing literature, gaps, and opportunities for further research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"78 ","pages":"Article 101198"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143942936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-01DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101190
Benavides Ignacio , Janina Baeza , Bastián Ruiz , Juan Pablo Romero , Paulina Yañez , Camila Ramírez , Teresa Caprile , Carlos Farkas , Antonia Recabal-Beyer
The amygdala, a critical part of the limbic system, is essential for processing social stimuli and regulating stress responses. Among its various neuronal nuclei, the medial amygdala (MeA) remains one of the least studied in humans. The MeA plays a key role in receiving inputs from the olfactory system through pheromones, as well as from crucial areas such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and reward system. This allows the MeA to integrate external stimuli with the organism’s internal state, finetuning social interactions, endocrine responses, and innate behaviors. Recent advances in neuroscience have highlighted the sex differences of the MeA and how they influence behavior and environmental perception. Understanding these sexspecific variations in brain structures, like the MeA in rodents, is vital for applying this knowledge to humans and could help bridge gaps in our understanding and treatment of mental health disorders, which often differ between sexes in both prevalence and presentation.
{"title":"The medial amygdala’s neural circuitry: Insights into social processing and sex differences","authors":"Benavides Ignacio , Janina Baeza , Bastián Ruiz , Juan Pablo Romero , Paulina Yañez , Camila Ramírez , Teresa Caprile , Carlos Farkas , Antonia Recabal-Beyer","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101190","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101190","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The amygdala, a critical part of the limbic system, is essential for processing social stimuli and regulating stress responses. Among its various neuronal nuclei, the medial amygdala (MeA) remains one of the least studied in humans. The MeA plays a key role in receiving inputs from the olfactory system through pheromones, as well as from crucial areas such as the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and reward system. This allows the MeA to integrate external stimuli with the organism’s internal state, finetuning social interactions, endocrine responses, and innate behaviors. Recent advances in neuroscience have highlighted the sex differences of the MeA and how they influence behavior and environmental perception. Understanding these sexspecific variations in brain structures, like the MeA in rodents, is vital for applying this knowledge to humans and could help bridge gaps in our understanding and treatment of mental health disorders, which often differ between sexes in both prevalence and presentation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101190"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-04-01DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101189
F.G.Q. Barros-Aragão , E. Januszkiewicz , T. Hunter , N. de M. Lyra e Silva , F.G. De Felice
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects women, with postmenopausal hormonal changes contributing to elevated risk. Physical exercise is a promising, non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate cognitive decline and AD progression. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and irisin are key molecular mediators of exercise-induced brain health and protection against AD pathology by promoting synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and reducing amyloidosis, tau pathology, and neuroinflammation in sex-specific mechanisms. This review explores sex and gender influences on exercise outcomes and their interaction with FNDC5/irisin and BDNF signaling pathways in the context of AD prevention. We highlight emerging evidence on the interplay between exercise, sex, and neuroprotective pathways, emphasizing the need for sex-sensitive research designs to advance precision approaches for AD prevention.
{"title":"Physical activity in Alzheimer’s disease prevention: Sex differences and the roles of BDNF and irisin","authors":"F.G.Q. Barros-Aragão , E. Januszkiewicz , T. Hunter , N. de M. Lyra e Silva , F.G. De Felice","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affects women, with postmenopausal hormonal changes contributing to elevated risk. Physical exercise is a promising, non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate cognitive decline and AD progression. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and irisin are key molecular mediators of exercise-induced brain health and protection against AD pathology by promoting synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and reducing amyloidosis, tau pathology, and neuroinflammation in sex-specific mechanisms. This review explores sex and gender influences on exercise outcomes and their interaction with FNDC5/irisin and BDNF signaling pathways in the context of AD prevention. We highlight emerging evidence on the interplay between exercise, sex, and neuroprotective pathways, emphasizing the need for sex-sensitive research designs to advance precision approaches for AD prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101189"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143833680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-03-20DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101188
Juan Pablo Del Río , Alexandros Tsompanidis , Pablo A. Gaspar , Alejandro Maturana-Hurtado , Gonzalo M. Rojas-Costa , Alexies Dagnino-Subiabre , Arabia Olea , Manuel Maliqueo , Bárbara Echiburú , Amanda Ladrón de Guevara , Juan F. Montiel , Simon Baron-Cohen , Nicolás Crisosto
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine-metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age. Hyperandrogenism has been proposed as its main pathophysiological feature. PCOS is associated with co-occurring conditions, including psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. Exposure to hyperandrogenism during prenatal life and adolescence may explain this association. PCOS women exhibit hyperandrogenism during pregnancy, and up to 70% of their daughters will present a similar phenotype from puberty onwards. The ’dual hit hypothesis’ proposes that stressors during prenatal life and adolescence can synergistically lead to co-occurring conditions in adulthood. PCOS has been recently proposed as an independent likelihood factor for the development of neuropsychiatric conditions. However, the specific mechanisms require further research to develop effective interventions. This review discusses how hyperandrogenism can affect neurodevelopment during two key periods of brain development, which may explain the long-term impact of PCOS on mental health.
{"title":"Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Likelihood of cooccurring neuropsychiatric conditions and the dual hit hypothesis","authors":"Juan Pablo Del Río , Alexandros Tsompanidis , Pablo A. Gaspar , Alejandro Maturana-Hurtado , Gonzalo M. Rojas-Costa , Alexies Dagnino-Subiabre , Arabia Olea , Manuel Maliqueo , Bárbara Echiburú , Amanda Ladrón de Guevara , Juan F. Montiel , Simon Baron-Cohen , Nicolás Crisosto","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine-metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age. Hyperandrogenism has been proposed as its main pathophysiological feature. PCOS is associated with co-occurring conditions, including psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. Exposure to hyperandrogenism during prenatal life and adolescence may explain this association. PCOS women exhibit hyperandrogenism during pregnancy, and up to 70% of their daughters will present a similar phenotype from puberty onwards. The ’dual hit hypothesis’ proposes that stressors during prenatal life and adolescence can synergistically lead to co-occurring conditions in adulthood. PCOS has been recently proposed as an independent likelihood factor for the development of neuropsychiatric conditions. However, the specific mechanisms require further research to develop effective interventions. This review discusses how hyperandrogenism can affect neurodevelopment during two key periods of brain development, which may explain the long-term impact of PCOS on mental health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101188"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-20DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101186
Lydia Kogler , Rui Wang , Teresa Luther , Alex Hofer , Beatrice Frajo-Apor , Birgit Derntl
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are characterized by alterations in cortisol levels across various parameters, including stress reactivity, hair cortisol, and baseline levels, which may be influenced by antipsychotic treatment. To provide a comprehensive overview of cortisol dysregulation in SSD, we conducted meta-analyses assessing (1) the effects of antipsychotic treatment in SSD patients, and additionally comparing cortisol in SSD patients versus healthy controls (HC) (2) following stress induction (metabolic, physiological, psychological stressors), (3) in hair and (4) baseline levels. Systematic literature searches in PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO (November 2024) identified 121 studies (9049 SSD patients) for inclusion. Meta-analytic results revealed that antipsychotic treatment significantly reduced cortisol levels in SSD (k = 16, g = -0.480, 95 % CI [-0.818, −0.142], p = 0.005). Additionally, compared to HC, SSD was associated with reduced cortisol suppression following dexamethasone exposure (k = 9, g = 0.299, 95 % CI [0.091, 0.507], p = 0.005) and with elevated baseline cortisol levels in the morning (k = 71, g = 0.38, 95 % CI [0.210, 0.546], p < 0.001) and evening (k = 11, g = 0.368, 95 % CI [0.076, 0.661], p = 0.014). However, there were no significant group differences in afternoon baseline cortisol, hair cortisol or cortisol reactivity to stress (p > 0.05). These findings offer a detailed understanding of cortisol alterations in SSD and improve our understanding of HPA axis dysregulation in SSD.
精神分裂症谱系障碍（SSD）的特征是皮质醇水平在各种参数上的改变，包括应激反应性、毛发皮质醇和基线水平，这可能受到抗精神病治疗的影响。为了全面概述SSD患者的皮质醇失调，我们进行了荟萃分析，评估(1)SSD患者抗精神病治疗的效果，并比较SSD患者与健康对照（HC）(2)应激诱导（代谢、生理、心理应激源）后的皮质醇水平，(3)头发和(4)基线水平。在PubMed， Web of Science和PsycINFO（2024年11月）进行系统文献检索，确定了121项研究（9049名SSD患者）纳入。荟萃分析结果显示，抗精神病药物治疗显著降低了SSD患者的皮质醇水平（k = 16, g = -0.480, 95% CI [-0.818, - 0.142], p = 0.005）。此外，与HC相比，SSD与地塞米松暴露后皮质醇抑制降低相关（k = 9, g = 0.299, 95% CI [0.091, 0.507], p = 0.005），与早晨基线皮质醇水平升高相关(k = 71, g = 0.38, 95% CI [0.210, 0.546], p <；0.001)和晚上(k = 11, g = 0.368, 95% CI [0.076, 0.661], p = 0.014)。然而，在下午基线皮质醇、毛发皮质醇和皮质醇对压力的反应性方面，组间无显著差异(p >；0.05)。这些发现提供了SSD中皮质醇变化的详细理解，并提高了我们对SSD中HPA轴失调的理解。
{"title":"Cortisol in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A comprehensive meta-analysis","authors":"Lydia Kogler , Rui Wang , Teresa Luther , Alex Hofer , Beatrice Frajo-Apor , Birgit Derntl","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are characterized by alterations in cortisol levels across various parameters, including stress reactivity, hair cortisol, and baseline levels, which may be influenced by antipsychotic treatment. To provide a comprehensive overview of cortisol dysregulation in SSD, we conducted meta-analyses assessing (1) the effects of antipsychotic treatment in SSD patients, and additionally comparing cortisol in SSD patients versus healthy controls (HC) (2) following stress induction (metabolic, physiological, psychological stressors), (3) in hair and (4) baseline levels. Systematic literature searches in PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO (November 2024) identified 121 studies (9049 SSD patients) for inclusion. Meta-analytic results revealed that antipsychotic treatment significantly reduced cortisol levels in SSD (<em>k</em> = 16, g = -0.480, 95 % CI [-0.818, −0.142], <em>p</em> = 0.005). Additionally, compared to HC, SSD was associated with reduced cortisol suppression following dexamethasone exposure (<em>k</em> = 9, <em>g</em> = 0.299, 95 % CI [0.091, 0.507], <em>p</em> = 0.005) and with elevated baseline cortisol levels in the morning (<em>k</em> = 71, <em>g</em> = 0.38, 95 % CI [0.210, 0.546], <em>p</em> < 0.001) and evening (<em>k</em> = 11, g = 0.368, 95 % CI [0.076, 0.661], <em>p</em> = 0.014). However, there were no significant group differences in afternoon baseline cortisol, hair cortisol or cortisol reactivity to stress (p > 0.05). These findings offer a detailed understanding of cortisol alterations in SSD and improve our understanding of HPA axis dysregulation in SSD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101186"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143471437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-18DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101185
Catherine M.E. Barrett , Zohreh Zeidy , Alison Farrell , Lindsay S. Cahill , Katie P. Wadden
Introduction
The perinatal period is characterized by extreme shifts in hormones, neurochemistry, and life experiences that drive significant changes in the brain, known as maternal plasticity. Due to rising maternal health conditions, such as postpartum depression, there is a critical need to investigate factors, such as engagement in physical activity and exercise, that may mitigate susceptibility to maladaptive maternal plasticity. This scoping review aims to analyze exercise interventions and maternal brain outcomes during reproduction.
Methods
A systematic search was completed in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SportDiscuss. The key concepts of the search were (i) brain plasticity, (ii) maternal reproductive period including pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum, and (iii) exercise interventions. Due to the limited amount of evidence available on this topic, the review findings were discussed using a combined scoping and narrative review approach.
Results
The search produced 2,167 unique articles after removing 2588 duplicates. Covidence software was used for the screening procedure. Following title and abstract screening, 2160 articles were deemed irrelevant and removed. Seven articles moved forward to full-text screening. One article was excluded during full-text screening for wrong outcomes, leaving six papers for extraction. Extraction revealed that four out of six studies were conducted in the rodent alone, one was conducted in humans alone and one was conducted in both a human and a rodent model.
Discussion
The methodological inconsistencies in the limited number of studies within this field highlight the need for standardization, which motivated the development of the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template for animal research. Moreover, the present review highlights future directions and knowledge gaps, emphasizing the critical need for high-quality research to address the many unanswered questions regarding the impact of exercise on the maternal brain.
{"title":"Maternal brain plasticity, physiology and exercise science: A scoping narrative review","authors":"Catherine M.E. Barrett , Zohreh Zeidy , Alison Farrell , Lindsay S. Cahill , Katie P. Wadden","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101185","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101185","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The perinatal period is characterized by extreme shifts in hormones, neurochemistry, and life experiences that drive significant changes in the brain, known as maternal plasticity. Due to rising maternal health conditions, such as postpartum depression, there is a critical need to investigate factors, such as engagement in physical activity and exercise, that may mitigate susceptibility to maladaptive maternal plasticity. This scoping review aims to analyze exercise interventions and maternal brain outcomes during reproduction.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic search was completed in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SportDiscuss. The key concepts of the search were (i) brain plasticity, (ii) maternal reproductive period including pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum, and (iii) exercise interventions. Due to the limited amount of evidence available on this topic, the review findings were discussed using a combined scoping and narrative review approach.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The search produced 2,167 unique articles after removing 2588 duplicates. Covidence software was used for the screening procedure. Following title and abstract screening, 2160 articles were deemed irrelevant and removed. Seven articles moved forward to full-text screening. One article was excluded during full-text screening for wrong outcomes, leaving six papers for extraction. Extraction revealed that four out of six studies were conducted in the rodent alone, one was conducted in humans alone and one was conducted in both a human and a rodent model.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The methodological inconsistencies in the limited number of studies within this field highlight the need for standardization, which motivated the development of the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template for animal research. Moreover, the present review highlights future directions and knowledge gaps, emphasizing the critical need for high-quality research to address the many unanswered questions regarding the impact of exercise on the maternal brain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101185"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143444487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101187
Nicolette Stogios , Sally Wu , Margaret Hahn , Zahra Emami , Janani Navagnanavel , Vittal Korann , Akash PrasannaKumar , Gary Remington , Ariel Graff-Guerrero , Sri Mahavir Agarwal
Emerging evidence demonstrates that insulin has a modulating effect on metabolic and cognitive function in the brain, highlighting the potential role of aberrant brain insulin signaling in the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric illnesses. Neuroimaging paradigms using intranasal insulin (INI) as a pharmacological challenge have allowed us to study the effects of insulin in the human brain. In this scoping review, we conducted a systematic database search to identify relevant research studies that employed an INI-based neuroimaging assay of brain insulin signaling. Thirty-six studies met inclusion criteria for this review. INI was found to significantly modulate activity and cerebral blood flow in brain regions related to homeostatic/hedonic control of food intake, as well as cognition. This review highlights the putative role of insulin signaling in the brain and the potential therapeutic value of INI in patients with mental health, addiction, and co-morbid metabolic disorders.
{"title":"Exploring the effects of an insulin challenge on neuroimaging outcomes: A scoping review","authors":"Nicolette Stogios , Sally Wu , Margaret Hahn , Zahra Emami , Janani Navagnanavel , Vittal Korann , Akash PrasannaKumar , Gary Remington , Ariel Graff-Guerrero , Sri Mahavir Agarwal","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging evidence demonstrates that insulin has a modulating effect on metabolic and cognitive function in the brain, highlighting the potential role of aberrant brain insulin signaling in the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric illnesses. Neuroimaging paradigms using intranasal insulin (INI) as a pharmacological challenge have allowed us to study the effects of insulin in the human brain. In this scoping review, we conducted a systematic database search to identify relevant research studies that employed an INI-based neuroimaging assay of brain insulin signaling. Thirty-six studies met inclusion criteria for this review. INI was found to significantly modulate activity and cerebral blood flow in brain regions related to homeostatic/hedonic control of food intake, as well as cognition. This review highlights the putative role of insulin signaling in the brain and the potential therapeutic value of INI in patients with mental health, addiction, and co-morbid metabolic disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101187"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143444488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101184
Sheina Emrani , Erin E. Sundermann
The two-times higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in females versus males is well-known; however, there are also sex/gender differences in clinical presentation and diagnostic accuracy that are less examined but equally important to understand in terms of improving early detection, intervention and disease tracking in each sex/gender. This review explores how these disparities in clinical presentation manifest across the AD continuum, with a focus on the earlier stages of preclinical AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We summarize evidence indicating that female’s verbal memory advantage may mask early cognitive decline, leading to delayed MCI diagnosis and limiting opportunities for early intervention. Conversely, females demonstrate steeper cognitive decline at later disease stages compared to males. These patterns align with the cognitive reserve theory, suggesting female’s verbal memory strength may act as a domain-specific resilience factor. Lastly, this review emphasizes the need for sex-sensitive diagnostic tools to improve early detection accuracy and equity in clinical practice.
{"title":"Sex/gender differences in the clinical trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease: Insights into diagnosis and cognitive reserve","authors":"Sheina Emrani , Erin E. Sundermann","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The two-times higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in females versus males is well-known; however, there are also sex/gender differences in clinical presentation and diagnostic accuracy that are less examined but equally important to understand in terms of improving early detection, intervention and disease tracking in each sex/gender. This review explores how these disparities in clinical presentation manifest across the AD continuum, with a focus on the earlier stages of preclinical AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We summarize evidence indicating that female’s verbal memory advantage may mask early cognitive decline, leading to delayed MCI diagnosis and limiting opportunities for early intervention. Conversely, females demonstrate steeper cognitive decline at later disease stages compared to males. These patterns align with the cognitive reserve theory, suggesting female’s verbal memory strength may act as a domain-specific resilience factor. Lastly, this review emphasizes the need for sex-sensitive diagnostic tools to improve early detection accuracy and equity in clinical practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101184"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143394817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101175
Johnathan M. Borland
There is a lack of understanding of the neural mechanisms regulating the rewarding effects of social interactions. A significant contributor to this lack of clarity is the diversity of social behaviors and animal models utilized to investigate mechanisms. Other sources of the lack of clarity are the diversity of brain regions that can regulate social reward and the diversity of signaling pathways that regulate reward. To provide some clarity into the mechanisms of social reward, this review focused on the brain region most implicated in reward for multiple stimuli, the nucleus accumbens, and surveyed (systematically reviewed) studies that investigated the relationship between social interaction and five signaling systems implicated in the regulation of reward and social behavior: oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin, opioids and endocannabinoids. Moreover, all of these studies were organized by the type of social behavior studied: affiliative interactions, play behavior, aggression, social defeat, sex behavior, pair-bonding, parental behavior and social isolation. From this survey and organization, this review concludes that oxytocin, endocannabinoids and mu-opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens positively regulate the rewarding social behaviors, and kappa-opioid receptors negatively regulate the rewarding social behaviors. The opposite profile is observed for these signaling systems for the aversive social behaviors. More studies are needed to investigate the directional role of the serotonin system in the nucleus accumbens in the regulation of many types of social behaviors, and vasopressin likely does not act in the nucleus accumbens in the regulation of the valence of social behaviors. Many of these different signaling systems are also interdependent of one another in the regulation of different types of social behaviors. Finally, the interaction of these signaling systems with dopamine in the nucleus accumbens is briefly discussed.
{"title":"A review of the effects of different types of social behaviors on the recruitment of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters in the nucleus accumbens","authors":"Johnathan M. Borland","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101175","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2025.101175","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a lack of understanding of the neural mechanisms regulating the rewarding effects of social interactions. A significant contributor to this lack of clarity is the diversity of social behaviors and animal models utilized to investigate mechanisms. Other sources of the lack of clarity are the diversity of brain regions that can regulate social reward and the diversity of signaling pathways that regulate reward. To provide some clarity into the mechanisms of social reward, this review focused on the brain region most implicated in reward for multiple stimuli, the nucleus accumbens, and surveyed (systematically reviewed) studies that investigated the relationship between social interaction and five signaling systems implicated in the regulation of reward and social behavior: oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin, opioids and endocannabinoids. Moreover, all of these studies were organized by the type of social behavior studied: affiliative interactions, play behavior, aggression, social defeat, sex behavior, pair-bonding, parental behavior and social isolation. From this survey and organization, this review concludes that oxytocin, endocannabinoids and mu-opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens positively regulate the rewarding social behaviors, and kappa-opioid receptors negatively regulate the rewarding social behaviors. The opposite profile is observed for these signaling systems for the aversive social behaviors. More studies are needed to investigate the directional role of the serotonin system in the nucleus accumbens in the regulation of many types of social behaviors, and vasopressin likely does not act in the nucleus accumbens in the regulation of the valence of social behaviors. Many of these different signaling systems are also interdependent of one another in the regulation of different types of social behaviors. Finally, the interaction of these signaling systems with dopamine in the nucleus accumbens is briefly discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 101175"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143074382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号