Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders最新文献

Background: High heritability (80-90%) of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sex-biased incidence (3-4 times more boys than girls) suggest the roles of genetic predisposition and sex in the etiopathogenesis of the disorder. As ASD is commonly diagnosed in early childhood, most of the research is focused on children, yet animal research predominantly uses adult-aged animals. The effect of aging on the core and secondary ASD symptomatology is understudied, both in patients and animal models of ASD.

Methods: To investigate the effect of aging on sociability, repetitive behavior, exploration, locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and object-avoidance behavior, behavioral phenotyping was conducted in Shank3B^-/- (n = 67) and C57BL/6J wild-type (WT, n = 68) mice of both sexes (female n = 70, male n = 65) in adolescence (1-2 months of age, n = 42), adulthood (3-6 months of age, n = 40), and old age (12-18 months of age, n = 53).

Results: Social deficits were observed only in old Shank3B^-/- males. Anxiety-like behavior peaked in adulthood with Shank3B^-/- mice roughly 20% more anxious than controls. Repetitive grooming and object-induced avoidance behavior were twice more prevalent in Shank3B^-/- mice consistently across the lifespan. Hypoactivity (20% less distance moved) and reduced exploration (30% less rearing behavior) were recorded in Shank3B^-/- mice and were more prevalent in female animals (30% less rearing behavior). Data were analyzed using the Three-way ANOVA (genotype, sex, age), followed by a posthoc Bonferroni correction to compare respective subgroups.

Conclusions: Present study shows that aging affects ASD-like phenotype in the Shank3B-mutant mouse model, even though the effect size seems to be small. The mechanisms underlying these partially sex-specific effects should be the subject of further research with potential translational implications.

Background: The impact of genetic intellectual disability (GID) on daily life is significant. To better understand the impact of GID, it is essential to measure relevant patient reported outcomes (PROs). The aim of this study is to provide an overview of PROs used for individuals with GID, laying the groundwork for a future generic core PRO set for GID.

Methods: To identify PROs used for individuals with GID, results of two literature reviews were integrated; (1) PROs extracted from a scoping review on outcomes in clinical trials, and (2) PROs identified from a scoping review on core outcome sets (COSs) for specific GIDs through a search in MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO, Embase, and the COMET database. Descriptive analyses were performed.

Results: In the first scoping review, 66 different PROs were identified. In the second scoping review, 22 different PROs were identified. After integrating PROs, 18 unique PROs remained, which were classified into a conceptual framework. Most frequently reported PROs were quality of life, perceived health, cognitive functioning, anxiety/stress, and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: This study provides an overview of PROs used for individuals with GID. These results will assist in developing a generic core PRO set for GID, to harmonize PROs used in care and research.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Males are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than females, and sex-dependent alterations in behavior and communication have been reported both in clinical and animal research. Animal models are useful for understanding ASD-related manifestations and their associated neurobiological mechanisms. However, even though ASD is diagnosed during childhood, relatively few animal studies have focused on neonatal development.

Methods: Here, we performed a detailed analysis of neonatal developmental milestones and maternal separation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in two genetic animal models of ASD, neurofibromatosis type 1 (Nf1^±) and tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (Tsc2^±).

Results: Nf1^± and Tsc2^± mice display strikingly distinct developmental profiles regarding motor, strength, and coordination skills. Nf1^± mouse pups mostly show genotype-related differences, whereas Tsc2^± mouse pups mainly present sexual dimorphisms. Furthermore, we found several differences regarding the number of USVs, frequency modulation, and temporal and spectral profile. Importantly, Nf1^± animals tend to present sex- and genotype-dependent differences earlier than the Tsc2^± mouse pups, suggesting distinct developmental curves between these two animal models.

Conclusions: This study provides a nuanced understanding of how these two ASD models differ in their developmental trajectories. It underscores the importance of studying sex differences and early-life developmental markers, as these could offer crucial insights into ASD's progression and neurobiology. The distinct profiles of these models may help guide more targeted therapeutic strategies in the future.

Background: Triple X syndrome (TXS, 47,XXX) is a sex chromosome aneuploidy affecting females. The condition is associated with cognitive, emotional, and social challenges. While prior research has primarily focused on children, the social and psychological profile of adult women with TXS remains understudied. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of these aspects in adult women with TXS compared to matched controls.

Methods: A cohort of 44 women with TXS (mean age 30.5 years) was compared to 50 age- and education-matched controls (mean age 29.7 years). Standardized assessments measured verbal IQ, psychological distress, chronic stress, emotion regulation, coping mechanisms, social anxiety, empathy, autistic traits, and personality traits. Group comparisons were conducted using ANOVAs and MANOVAs, with additional χ² tests for categorical variables.

Results: Depression and trait anxiety did not significantly differ between groups, though both groups exhibited notably high scores. However, a greater number of individuals in the TXS group reported elevated social anxiety and autistic traits, and reduced empathy. Moreover, there were indications of increased self-reported social tensions, personal distress, and somatization within the TXS group. No significant differences were found in personality traits, verbal IQ, chronic stress levels, and emotion regulation. Additionally, TXS participants tended to rely less on the maladaptive coping strategy of alcohol and cigarette consumption.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore autistic traits, social anxiety, and reduced empathy as significant challenges for adult women with TXS. While cognitive and emotional characteristics were largely comparable to those of age- and education-matched controls, the heightened social difficulties suggest a potential benefit of targeted interventions, such as social skills training, to support affected individuals. Longitudinal studies are essential to understand the long-term progression of these challenges and to develop effective therapeutic strategies.

Background: fcMRI correlates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and familial liability were studied in 24-month-olds at high (older affected sibling) and low familial likelihood for ASD.

Methods: fcMRI comparisons of high-familial-likelihood (HL) ASD-positive (HLP, N = 23) and ASD-negative (HLN, N = 91), and low-likelihood ASD-negative (LLN, N = 27) 24-month-olds from the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) Network were conducted, employing object oriented data analysis (OODA), support vector machine (SVM) classification, and network-level fcMRI enrichment analyses.

Results: OODA (alpha = 0.0167, 3 comparisons) revealed differences in HLP and LLN fcMRI matrices (p = 0.012), but none for HLP versus HLN (p = 0.047) nor HLN versus LLN (p = 0.225). SVM distinguished HLP from HLN (accuracy = 99%, PPV = 96%, NPV = 100%), based on connectivity involving many networks. SVM accurately classified (non-training) LLN subjects with 100% accuracy. Enrichment analyses identified a cross-group fcMRI difference in the posterior cingulate default mode network 1 (pcDMN1)- temporal default mode network (tDMN) pair (p = 0.0070). Functional connectivity for implicated connections in these networks was consistently lower in HLP and HLN than in LLN (p = 0.0461 and 0.0004). HLP did not differ from HLN (p = 0.2254). Secondary testing showed HL children with low ASD behaviors still differed from LLN (p = 0.0036).

Conclusions: 24-month-old high-familial-likelihood infants show reduced intra-DMN connectivity, a potential neural finding related to familial liability, while widely distributed functional connections correlate with ASD diagnosis.

Selenium, an essential micronutrient integrated into selenoproteins as selenocysteine, is fundamental to human health. These selenoproteins are vital for several physiological functions, including maintaining redox balance, safeguarding DNA, and metabolizing thyroid hormones, and are produced via complex pathways involving Sec-tRNA^[Ser]Sec, the SECIS element, and specific proteins such as eEFSec. This study investigates a 4-year-old girl with global developmental delay and cerebellar atrophy, revealing compound heterozygous variants in the EEFSEC gene (p.V488Dfs*113 and p.R443P) through extensive genetic analysis and whole exome sequencing. Both functional prediction tools and structural analysis underscored the detrimental impact of the p.R443P variant. Notably, the patient's plasma exhibited elevated levels of oxidized fatty acid metabolites compared to those in healthy controls, suggesting an impairment in antioxidant mechanisms. This case link a human disease directly to variants in the EEFSEC gene, emphasizing its vital role in cerebellar atrophy and the broader implications for genetic disorders related to defects in selenoprotein synthesis. The results highlight the significance of genetic screening for EEFSEC variants in similar cases, potentially broadening the spectrum of known genetic subtypes associated with selenoprotein translation abnormalities.

The most common genetic cause of intellectual and developmental disability is trisomy of human chromosome 21 (trisomy 21) or Down syndrome. Relative to the general population, individuals with Down syndrome heterogeneously experience atypical morphogenesis, a distinct neurocognitive profile, and a unique spectrum of diverse medical conditions that impact every major organ system. How trisomy 21 results in the highly variable manifestations of Down syndrome remains largely unknown and an active area of heavy investigation with therapeutic implications. For example, common inflammatory and metabolic signatures have begun to emerge across various co-occurring conditions in Down syndrome with assorted impacts on diverse yet intertwined organ systems that could directly or indirectly impact brain health. Here, we review current progress, resources, knowledge gaps, and bottlenecks for precision medicine approaches to promote brain health across the lifespan among individuals with Down syndrome within the larger context of research efforts geared towards our other distinct yet intertwined organ systems. Within this framework, we advocate for interdisciplinary pursuit of systems-level biomarkers to facilitate holistic intervention strategies that precisely benefit individuals with trisomy 21 each experiencing Down syndrome in their own unique way. To this end, we quantitatively assess clinical studies that are actively recruiting participants with Down syndrome and provide historical context through summary figures sourced to user-friendly tables that have been curated from federal websites to empower efficient exploration of research opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations.

Background: Altered white matter (WM) is consistently reported in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). However, the knowledge about WM microstructural integrity in early-treated adults with classical PKU and its relationship with cognition and metabolic parameters is inconclusive. This study aims to explore the cerebral WM microstructural alterations in adult patients with early-treated classical PKU and their association with blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels and neuropsychological performance using whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with early-treated classical PKU (mean age = 30.86, SD = 7.74) and 31 healthy controls (mean age = 32.45, SD = 9.40) underwent neuropsychological assessment and MRI. Phe dry blood spot (DBS-Phe) samples, along with venous Phe levels, were collected from the PKU sample to calculate the index of dietary control (IDC). Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) of the mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA), were carried out with FSL v6.0.4 to assess between-group differences and to explore associations with both cognitive and clinical data.

Results: Patients exhibited a widespread white matter tract involvement, with lower MD and higher FA values compared to controls. The most affected tracts were the inferior longitudinal fasciculus and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus for MD, and the anterior corona radiata, uncinate fasciculus and forceps minor for FA. MD negatively correlated with IDC and venous Phe levels, whereas FA negatively correlated with full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) (p-value ≤0.05 FWE-corrected).

Conclusions: Microstructural WM alterations were present in adults with early-treated classical PKU, and these abnormalities were related to global intelligence and metabolic control markers. Although our results suggest the importance of proper disease management, further studies are needed to determine its long-term relevance.

ANKRD17 has recently been implicated in intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Using trio whole-exome sequencing (Trio-WES) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), we identified two unrelated cases with novel de novo heterozygous ANKRD17 variants. Case 1 describes a fetus with multiple congenital anomalies, where genetic analysis revealed a microdeletion at 4q13.3 truncating the ANKRD17 gene. Case 2 involves a 12-year-old male presenting with mild ID and progressive social impairments, associated with a NM_032217.5: c.1252 C > T (p.Arg418*) variation in ANKRD17. Our study highlighted in mouse models an association between Ankrd17 haploinsufficiency and deficits in social behavior, spatial learning and memory, as well as elevated anxiety. Furthermore, our studies suggest dysregulation of synaptic proteins and mitochondrial function, along with impaired neural circuits following Ankrd17 knockdown. These results expand the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of ANKRD17-related disorders, underscore the critical role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of ANKRD17-related ID and ASD.