Lobe Of Brain Research Articles

Transcranial photobiomodulation for reducing symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and modulating brain electrophysiology in children aged 2–7: an open label study

BackgroundSmall pilot studies have indicated that transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) may help alleviate symptoms of neurological conditions like depression, traumatic brain injury and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).ObjectiveTo examine the effect of tPBM on the behavioral symptoms of ASD and brain electrophysiology in children aged 2–7.MethodsWe conducted an open label, one-arm study with 23 participants, aged 2–7, previously diagnosed with ASD. We delivered non-invasively to all participants pulses of near-infrared light (wavelength 850 nm, pulse 40 Hz) to cortical nodes of Default Mode Network, Broca and Wernicke areas, and occipital lobe of the brain, twice weekly for 10 weeks. The tPBM was delivered using an investigational medical device designed for this purpose. Changes in ASD symptoms were measured using pre- and post-intervention scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS-2, 2nd Edition). We collected electroencephalogram (EEG) data after each treatment session from all children who tolerated wearing the EEG cap to monitor changes in brain activity.ResultsThe intervention resulted in a significant 7-point reduction in average CARS-2 scores (t = 10.23, p < .0001), along with decreased delta power and increased gamma and beta power in EEG readings. The increase in gamma power was statistically significant [t(14) = 2.30, p = 0.047]. Changes in EEG power were significantly correlated with the number of sessions (delta: r(192) = −0.18, p = .013; gamma: r(192) = .19, p = .007; beta: r(192) = .15, p = .04). Improvements in CARS-2 scores were negatively correlated with changes in delta and beta power (delta: r(15) = −.59, p = .020; beta: r(15) = −.54, p = .037). No moderate or severe side effects were reported.ConclusionThis study supports the potential of tPBM as a safe and effective treatment for ASD, and it suggests that EEG measurements may serve as a useful biomarker for future research. Trial Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04660552

A Short Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Assessment Scale for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) suffer from several neuropsychological impairments. These mainly affect the frontal lobe and subcortical brain structures. However, a scale for the assessment of cognitive and neuropsychiatric disability in PSP is still missing. To create and validate a new scale for cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairment in PSP. The Short Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric (ShoCo) scale was developed containing five items (bradyphrenia, apathy, aphasia, dysexecution and disinhibition). Each item can be categorized into 0 = no deficit, 1 = mild deficit, 2 = moderate deficit and 3 = severe deficit. The total score includes 15 points, 0 meaning no deficit and 15 severe deficits. Cross-sectional and longitudinal data from 201 baseline and 71 follow up patients were analyzed. Baseline ShoCo scale results were 5.9 ± 2.9. No significant differences between patients with Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS) and variants (vPSP) could be detected in the PSP-ShoCo scale scores (PSP-RS 6.1 ± 3.0, n = 160, vPSP 5.1 ± 2.6, n = 41, P = 0.057). The scale showed good correlation with established scores (eg, Montreal cognitive assessment r = -0.535, P = 0.001). The ShoCo scale showed significant annualized change within the PSP-RS patients (baseline 6.2 ± 2.9, follow up 6.9 ± 3.1, annualized diff. 1.0 ± 3.1, n = 57, P = 0.022). The ShoCo scale seems a promising and valid tool to measure specific neuropsychological disabilities of PSP patients in clinical routine and research.

Нейропсихологические механизмы социальной агрессии

<p style="text-align: justify;">The following article presents an overview of contemporary foreign studies on the neuropsychological status of individuals who have committed socially aggressive actions. It describes the factors that influence the formation of aggressive behaviour and thoroughly analyzes the main theoretical views on the nature of social aggression. Moreover, the article highlights the main research directions on this issue in modern neuropsychology. The analysis of various neuropsychological aspects of aggression is presented, including the features of cognitive and regulatory processes in perpetrators of violence. The article also describes the neuropsychological methods used to study executive functions and their orientation. Furthermore, it critically analyzes empirical neuropsychological studies of perpetrators of violence, including meta-analytical studies, and also challenges the traditional understanding of the dysfunctionality of regulatory processes in aggressive individuals and patients with frontal lobe brain lesions. The article also highlights the difference between the manifestations of regulatory process disorders in persons with frontal lobe injuries in childhood and adulthood. Finally, it conducts a critical analysis of hypotheses on the biological basis of social aggression. The paper addresses controversial issues regarding the causal relationship between brain pathology and social aggression, as well as the hierarchy of relations between regulatory and cognitive deficits. The article describes possible directions for further promising studies of social aggression in neuropsychology.</p>

A new species of the genus Myostenostomum (Platyhelminthes: Catenulida: Stenostomidae) from Lake Bile (Ukraine)

A new species of freshwater catenulids, Myostenostomum styrensis sp. nov., is described from karst-glacial Lake Bile (Rivne Region, Ukraine). The morphology description and illustrations are provided. Myostenostomum styrensis sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: the pharynx is complicated and divided into two parts (the oral part and the esophageal part), the anterior brain lobes are deeply dented, the basal parts of the anterior brain lobes are significantly elongated, the posterior lobes and transverse commissure are fused, forming an arcuate ganglion with folded lateral prolongations, pharyngeal glands with long stalks extend from the upper part of the intestine and open at the anterior margin of the pharynx, light-refracting bodies are absent, there are large well-defined ciliated pits, and a well-defined cauda.

Effect of rifampicin on Toll-like receptor system gene expression in brain structures of rats with prenatal alcohol exposure

Alcohol intake during pregnancy may affect the normal course of fetal development, causing the symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). There is evidence that a number of prenatal pathologic conditions exhibit altered expression of several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In our study, we focused on studying expression of numerous pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes in the forebrain and temporal regions of rat brain during the postnatal development, thus modeling prenatal alcohol exposure effects (PAE). We also evaluated expression of genes associated with regulation of genes controlling expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, the objectives of our study included pharmacological correction of the observed changes by rifampicin (Rif), a potential pharmacological agent which had a neuroprotective effect shown by other studies,. The experimental model of PAE was produced by oral intake of 15% ethanol solution to pregnant female rats throughout pregnancy. The drug injections were performed to the pups from the 1 to the 7 postnatal days. Brain structures were sampled for gene expression analysis on the 8 postnatal day. The results of the study showed distinct changes in Tlr3 and Tlr4 gene expression in anterior and temporal lobes of brain on the 8 day of postnatal development. Expression of Myd88 and Ticam genes showed multidirectional changes among the studied brain structures of PAE rats. The increased mRNA level of proinflammatory genes was noted. Usage of Rif in experiments showed the ability of Rif (50 mg/kg) to correct the observed long-term pathological changes in the expression of the genes under study. It is of interest to study the dose-dependent effect in the future, as well as to investigate the revealed changes at the level of protein analysis. In future studies, it seems important to evaluate TLR signaling system in other brain structures with PAE, as well as at different terms of postnatal development in ontogenesis.

FMRFamide G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in the cuttlefish Sepiella japonica: Identification, characterization and expression profile

FMRFamide is a ubiquitous neuromodulator in the animal kingdom. Once FMRFamide or similar neuropeptides bind to their G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), a series of signal transduction events are triggered, thereby mediating various physiological effects. FMRFamide had been reported to be involved in the regulation of sexual maturation in Sepiella japonica. In this research, the full-length cDNA of FMRFamide G protein-coupled receptor of S. japonica (SjFaGPCR) was cloned. The sequence is 1396 bp long and encodes a protein consisting of 418 amino acid residues, lacking a signal peptide at the N-terminal region. The 3D structure of SjFaGPCR was predicted using Todarodes pacificus rhodopsin as a template, and the result indicated the presence of seven transmembrane regions. Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees indicated that SjFaGPCR is conserved among invertebrates, and shares highly similar sequence characteristics with other cephalopods. In situ hybridization (ISH) results revealed that significant signals of SjFaGPCR were detected in the central medulla and the granular layer cells of the optic lobe, and were also observed in the supraesophageal and subesophageal masses of the brain. Meanwhile, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that a higher expression level of SjFaGPCR mRNA was detected in the brain and optic lobe of female cuttlefish at stage III and stage VI, and also in the brain (stage V) and optic lobe (stages IV and V) of male cuttlefish than that in other tissues. The co-localization results demonstrated that fluorescence signals of SjFMRFamide and SjFaGPCR were overlapped in HEK293 cells, suggesting a possible interaction between the SjFMRFamide and SjFaGPCR. These findings provide molecular support for further exploring the roles of FMRFamide and FaGPCR in the reproductive regulation of S. japonica.

Blood-brain barrier water permeability across the adult lifespan: A multi-echo ASL study.

An emerging biomarker of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is the time of exchange (Tex) of water from the blood to tissue, as measured by multi-echo arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI. This new non-invasive sequence, already tested in mice, has recently been adapted to humans and optimized for clinical scanning time. In this study, we studied the normal variability of Tex over age and sex, which needs to be established as a reference for studying changes in neurological disease. We evaluated Tex, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) in 209 healthy adults between 26 and 87 years, over age and sex, using general linear models in gray matter, white matter, and regionally in cerebral lobes. After QC, 194 participants were included in the main analysis, and the results demonstrated that both gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) BBB permeability was higher with higher age (Tex lower by 0.47 ms per year in GM [p < 0.05], and by 0.49 ms in WM, for females; no significant for males), with the largest Tex difference in the frontal lobes (0.64 ms decrease per year, p = 0.011, population average). CBF was lower with higher age in the GM (-0.71 mL/min/100g per year, p < 0.001, for females; -0.31 mL/min/100g per year, p < 0.05, for males). When correcting Tex models for CBF and ATT, effect of age on Tex disappears in the GM, but not in the WM (β=-0.28, p = 0.08). The CBF findings of this study are in line with previous studies, demonstrating the validity of the new sequence. The BBB water permeability variation over age and sex described in this study provides a reference for future BBB research.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Insights Into Late‐Life Depression: Advances in Brain Metabolic Profiling

Background: Late‐life depression (LLD) is a primary depression with onset age greater than 60 years old. The typical clinical manifestations of patients include low mood and impaired cognitive function, which may be related to their neurobiochemical changes. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) methods have quantified changes in levels of neurotransmitters and other neurometabolites in patients with LLD, clarifying their neurobiochemical characteristics.Objective: This systematic review examined the existing evidence regarding MRS in LLD, emphasizing the connection between brain metabolites and clinical symptoms, including depression and cognitive deficits.Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and gray literature to identify studies relevant to this systematic review. The included studies summarized the alterations in metabolites within the brain regions associated with LLD and explored the correlation between these metabolites and clinical symptoms, aiming to elucidate the neurobiochemical features of LLD.Results: In patients with LLD, the N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) level was significantly reduced in the frontal cortex and was positively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, lower NAA/creatine (Cr) levels in the hippocampus were positively linked to reduced cognitive functions. The NAA level was also reduced, while myo‐Inositol (mI) and the glutathione (GSH) to Cr ratio were increased in the cingulate cortex. Specifically, a higher GSH/Cr ratio in the anterior cingulate cortex correlated positively with depressive symptom severity. Conversely, the GSH/Cr ratio in the left lingual gyrus negatively correlated with language acquisition proficiency. Similarly, depressive symptom improvement was inversely related to a decrease in the glutamate (Glu)/total Cr (tCr) ratio in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) after antidepressant treatment. In contrast, the mI level showed a significant rise in the left temporal lobe and basal ganglia, and a negative correlation was observed between the mI/tCr ratio in the basal ganglia and overall cognitive performance. The choline to Cr ratio was also elevated in both the whole brain and the basal ganglia. Additionally, the levels of potential of hydrogen and potential of magnesium (pMg) were increased in gray matter. Conversely, white matter showed reduced nucleoside triphosphates, beta‐nucleoside triphosphates (β‐NTP), and pMg. Moreover, β‐NTP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) were significantly associated with executive function in white matter.Conclusion: LLD is associated with neurobiochemical alterations in the frontal lobe, cingulate gyrus, and other areas of the brain, which are strongly linked to depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment. In contrast, the neurobiochemical changes observed in the hippocampus and parietal lobe are distinctive features in cognitive disorders, indicating that the underlying mechanisms of cognitive impairment in these two conditions differ.

Is Unilateral Extended Pterional Craniotomy Adequate Instead of Bicoronal (Bifrontal) Craniotomy in Large or Giant Olfactory Groove Meningiomas?

To evaluate the radiological characteristics, clinical features,and surgical outcomes of bicoronal incision and bifrontal craniotomy for olfactory groove meningiomas (OGMs). This was a retrospective review of 16 patients (nine male and seven female) with large and giant OGMs operated through unilateral extended pterional craniotomy between 2010 and 2022. The radiological characteristics, clinical features,and surgical outcomes were examined. All patients underwent surgical resection via a unilateral extended pterional approach.The mean age of patients was 62.1 years. The most common presenting symptoms were altered consciousness, seizures, headache,and anosmia. Ten (62.5%) and 6 (37.5%) patients had large (4-6 cm) and giant ( > 6 cm) OGMs, respectively. The mean tumor diameter was 6.3 cm (range:4-9). Simpson Grade2 resection was achieved in all 16 patients. Unilateral extended pterional craniotomy offers a safe and effective alternative to the bilateral coronal approach for large and giant OGMs, minimizing risks of frontal lobe retraction, brain edema, and venous infarction. This approach allows for total resection with very low morbidity and mortality rates, making it a viable surgical approach for these complex tumors.

Statistical learning of artificial orthographic regularity arises from coordinated activity across distinct brain regions.

The human brain possesses the ability to automatically extract statistical regularities from environmental inputs, including visual-graphic symbols and printed units. However, the specific brain regions underlying the statistical learning of these visual-graphic symbols or artificial orthography remain unclear. This study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with an artificial orthography learning paradigm to measure brain activities associated with the statistical learning of radical positional regularities embedded in pseudocharacters containing high (100%), moderate (80%), and low (60%) levels of consistency, along with a series of random abstract figures. Thirty adults passively viewed a continuous stream of these pseudocharacters. fMRI data revealed that the left occipital area and the visual word form area (VWFA) exhibited greater responses at the low consistency level than at the high and moderate levels, suggesting implicit statistical learning of positional regularities. Functional connectivity analysis further revealed significant correlations between the occipital lobe, the VWFA, and other brain regions, such as the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), the superior occipital gyrus (SOG), and the cerebellum. Moreover, neural activity showed a tendency to correlate with behavioural recognition performance. These findings demonstrate that the incidental acquisition of statistical regularities in artificial orthography arises from the coordinated activation of multiple distinct neural circuits.

Neurophysiological Exploration of Creativity in Engineering

Creativity plays a crucial role in engineering education by promoting innovative thinking allowing students to go beyond conventional approaches. A profound understanding of creativity requires examining its corresponding brain behavior. Despite prior research, the neural correlates of creativity are still largely unexplored. We explored brain dynamics associated with creativity through electroencephalography (EEG). We employed a reliable dataset from loosely controlled figural creativity experiments and introduced innovative frequency-based features – the alpha power over the other EEG sub-bands. Results, consistent with previous studies, showed: 1) The average and standard deviation of our proposed features are higher in idea generation, 2) The temporal and parietal lobes contain more significant features than the other brain lobes, 3) Gamma and beta bands effectively represent brain activity in creativity. Our novel method offers a new perspective bridging existing gaps and presenting an overview of brain dynamics in creativity, serving as a foundation for future research.

Improved empirical wavelet transform combined with particle swarm optimization-support vector machine for EEG-based depression recognition

Depression not only inflicts physical harm on patients and diminishes their quality of life, but also imposes a significant burden on families and society. Current diagnostic methods are predominantly employed post-onset, leading to a lack of early intervention opportunities for patients. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop techniques for detecting early signs of depression to enable timely intervention and potentially improve recovery rates. In this paper, we propose an improved method for the early objective diagnosis of depression utilizing an empirical wavelet transform (EWT) technique enhanced by a particle swarm optimization-support vector machine (PSO-SVM) algorithm. Our approach specifically focuses on the Fpz channel in the prefrontal lobe of the brain, which most accurately reflects the electrical anomalies associated with depression among 128 channels of resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG). The EWT is refined based on the Morlet wavelet, which allows for the precise decomposition of EEG rhythms. From these decompositions, we effectively extract six depression-related EEG features: frequency band power, frequency band power ratio, Shannon entropy, permutation entropy, LZ complexity, and variance. Afterward, these distinguishing characteristics are harnessed to detect depression through the optimized PSO-SVM algorithm. Our approach exhibited a accuracy rate of 81.25% on the MODMA publicly accessible dataset, thereby validating its proficiency in assisting in the diagnosis of depression via the analysis of the EEG Alpha band.

GENESIS OF ARTICULATORY PRAXIS FROM BIRTH TO THREE YEARS

Articulatory praxis is a motor act consciously regulated by the subject based on the existing need and united by a single goal. It is not an innate ability and develops over time. Early age is included in the preparatory and pre-school stages of speech activity formation. The development of oral motor skills and the formation of articulato-ry praxis at this age can be divided into several periods. Each period has a number of changes. Screaming, cooing, babbling, modular babbling, imitation of adult words, first words and phrases appear. Eating behavior changes, the child moves from liquid food to denser and thicker textures, begins to chew. From a physiological point of view, the larynx changes, the muscles of the peripheral speech apparatus, facial muscles, neck muscles are strengthened, teeth appear. As the child grows, the organization of the brain changes, the ability to perform more differentiated movements appears, the work of the auditory, visual, kinesthetic analyzers develops, the tertiary fields of the fron-tal lobes of the brain are formed, this makes it possible to single out a word, sound in speech and exercise control when trying to pronounce them, adjust the articulatory structure to achieve the desired sound.

Cognitive and cortical network alterations in pediatric temporal lobe space-occupying lesions: an fMRI study

BackgroundTemporal lobe mass lesions are the most common intracranial space-occupying lesions in children, among various brain lobes. The temporal lobe is critically involved in higher cognitive functions, and surgical interventions often risk causing damage to these functions. If necessary interventions and prehabilitation can be conducted preoperatively, it might be possible to achieve a larger extent of lesion resection with minimal cognitive impairment. However, research in this area has been relatively limited in the past. Our study aims to fill this gap.MethodsWe enrolled 15 children with temporal lobe mass lesions and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy children as controls. All participants underwent cognitive assessments and functional MRI scans. The cognitive testing data and functional MRI data were then analyzed and compared between the two groups.ResultsOur findings suggest that children with temporal lobe mass lesions primarily exhibit impairments in working memory and sustained attention. Multiple brain network indices were altered in the affected children, with the most prominent change being hyperactivation of the default mode network (DMN). This hyperactivation was correlated with cognitive impairments, indicating that the overactivation of the DMN might represent an inefficient compensatory mechanism within the brain’s networks.ConclusionCompared to healthy children, those with temporal lobe mass lesions experience deficits in working memory and sustained attention, and the hyperactivation of the DMN may be the underlying network mechanism driving these cognitive impairments. Our research offers a unique and clinically valuable reference for future studies on preoperative interventions and prehabilitation in this population.

68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT Demonstrated More Lesions of Leptomeningeal Metastases Compared With 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT in a Pediatric Neuroblastoma Patient.

A 5-year-old girl with high-risk neuroblastoma after therapy was evaluated by 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT. Contrast-enhancement brain MRI demonstrated 2 metastatic lesions in the right parietal lobe of brain. One lesion showed abnormal MIBG accumulation associated with high density in the right central posterior gyrus, whereas the other lesion did not show MIBG uptake. In contrast, increased 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake was seen in both lesions. Neuroblastoma cells were found by cytological examination of the cerebrospinal fluid.

The Underestimated Role of Iron in Frontotemporal Dementia: A Narrative Review.

The term frontotemporal dementia (FTD) comprises a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain with language impairment and changes in cognitive, behavioral and executive functions, and in some cases motor manifestations. A high proportion of FTD cases are due to genetic mutations and inherited in an autosomal-dominant manner with variable penetrance depending on the implicated gene. Iron is a crucial microelement that is involved in several cellular essential functions in the whole body and plays additional specialized roles in the central nervous system (CNS) mainly through its redox-cycling properties. Such a feature may be harmful under aerobic conditions, since it may lead to the generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals. Dysfunctions of iron homeostasis in the CNS are indeed involved in several neurodegenerative disorders, although it is still challenging to determine whether the dyshomeostasis of this essential but harmful metal is a direct cause of neurodegeneration, a contributor factor or simply a consequence of other neurodegenerative mechanisms. Unlike many other neurodegenerative disorders, evidence of the dysfunction in brain iron homeostasis in FTD is still scarce; nonetheless, the recent literature intriguingly suggests its possible involvement. The present review aims to summarize what is currently known about the contribution of iron dyshomeostasis in FTD based on clinical, imaging, histological, biochemical and molecular studies, further suggesting new perspectives and offering new insights for future investigations on this underexplored field of research.

Genetic predisposition to AD and inflammation determine vulnerable brain regions to air pollution

AbstractBackgroundThe detrimental effects of air pollution on health are well‐documented, yet its impact on brain structure in the early asymptomatic stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains under‐explored. This study investigated the relationship between air pollution and brain imaging features, focusing on the moderating role of genetic factors associated with AD and inflammation.MethodsA total of 1,153 individuals from the ALFA cohort, many within the Alzheimer’s continuum, with available genotyping, air pollution estimation and magnetic resonance imaging were included (62.6% women, average age 55,6 years). Land use regression models were used to estimate individual levels of air pollution, including nitrogen oxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), at the participants’ residential addresses. Functional genetic scores, including plasma pQTLs for inflammatory markers (PRS‐CCL2, PRS‐IL6, PRS‐CCL19), CSF pQTLs for AD pathology (PRS‐Aβ42, PRS‐ptau), genetic predisposition to clinical AD (PRS‐AD), and APOE‐ε4 carriership, were assessed. General linear models, corrected for age at MRI visit, sex and years of education, were computed to assess the main effects of air pollution on brain volumes. Modifiable genetic effects in gene‐environment interaction models were investigated.ResultsIndividuals at higher genetic predisposition to AD and APOE‐ε4 carriers exhibited increased vulnerability to air pollution, particularly in temporal and frontal regions [Figure 1A]. Individuals with high genetic predisposition for inflammatory markers showed distinct patterns of vulnerability, particularly affecting regions within the parietal and limbic lobes, with notable impact on hippocampal volumes and the subfields within the hippocampal formation [Figure 1B]. Finally, as pollution levels increased, reduction in transverse temporal volumes was observed in individuals at high risk of AD and altered CCL2 protein plasma levels [Figure 2]. Multiple comparison corrections were performed within brain lobes by regions.ConclusionsOur results suggested a differential impact of air pollution on brain structure, modulated by genetic predisposition to AD and inflammation. This underscores the importance of considering genetic information when assessing the neurological impact of environmental exposures. These findings pave the way for more personalized approaches in public health interventions, and highlight the need for targeted strategies to mitigate the impact of environmental factors on neurological health.

Possibilities of Transcatheter Intracerebral Laser Photobiomodulation Therapy in Patients with Dementia in the Treatment of Various Microcirculatory Cerebral Lesions

AbstractBackgroundMost cerebrovascular lesions are aggravated by dementia. This study examines the possibility of reducing dementia by stimulating cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis using Transcatheter Intracerebral Laser Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), distal cerebral atherosclerosis, Binswanger’s disease (BD), and vascular parkinsonism (VP).MethodsThe study included 404 patients with dementia, aged 29‐81 (mean age 78).Examination: assessment of CDR, TDR, MMSE, cerebral MRI, MRA, CT, MSCTA, scintigraphy (SG), rheoencephalography (REG), cerebral multi‐gated angiography (MUGA).48 (11.88%) patients suffered from AD. According to dementia severity, patients were divided into: preclinical stage (TDR‐0) ‐ 4, mild stage (TDR‐1) ‐ 16, moderately severe stage (TDR‐2) ‐ 21, severe stage (TDR‐3) ‐ 7 patients.356 (88.12%) patients suffered from diseases such as distal cerebral atherosclerosis ‐ 302 (84.83%), BD ‐ 17 (4.78%), VP ‐ 37 (10.39%) people. According to dementia severity, patients were divided into: unnoticed dementia ‐ 21, dementia at level (CDR‐1) ‐ 312, (CDR‐2) ‐ 23 people.All patients underwent Transcatheter Intracerebral Laser Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT).ResultsAll 48 (100%) AD patients showed improvement in cerebral microcirculation and 10‐20% increase in cerebral temporal lobes volume, which indicates the development of cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis as well as tissue regeneration. The process was accompanied by dementia level decrease and cognitive functions restoration. Consequently, patients were transferred to a milder TDR group. Depending on the initial dementia severity, the resulting positive effect is observed for 2‐12 years.All patients with distal cerebral atherosclerosis 302 (100%), BD 17 (100%) and VP 27 (100%) after Transcatheter Intracerebral Laser Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) showed improved cerebral microcirculation, decreased cerebral involutional changes, which indicates the development of angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and tissue regeneration. This led to a long‐term (over 10 years) decrease in dementia level and cognitive functions restoration.ConclusionsDespite the differences in AD etiology, distal cerebral atherosclerosis, BD and VP, Transcatheter Intracerebral Laser Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) is an effective method for stimulating angiogenesis and neurogenesis. It leads to improved cerebral blood supply and restoration of tissue structures, dementia decrease, and mental and cognitive functions improvement. The resulting effect lasts for a long time.

The direct effect of type 2 diabetes on neurodegenerative processes in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors

AbstractBackgroundDiabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease. Abnormal insulin signalling can lead to impaired phosphorylation of protein kinase B and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, resulting in hyperphosphorylation of tau and activation of inflammatory pathways. However, people living with diabetes commonly exhibit comorbid cardiovascular risk, which are also linked with cognitive decline. Here we sought to establish the influence of diabetes on global brain atrophy in the absence of comorbid cardiovascular disease.MethodParticipants diagnosed with diabetes and a matched sample of non‐diabetic control participants were enrolled from the UK biobank database. To reduce the influence of confounding risk factors, diabetic and control participants with additional cardiovascular risk were excluded. Participants diagnosed with cardiovascular/heart problems including high blood pressure, cardiac arrest, stroke, and angina were excluded. Non‐diabetic controls were matched based on age, sex and APOE genotype to enhance statistical precision. Voxel‐based morphometry was performed on T1‐weighted structural magnetic resonance images to evaluate the macrostructural changes associated with diabetes across the cortex. A voxel‐wise t‐test was performed between diabetic and non‐diabetic controls implemented on FSL.ResultA total of 503 diabetic participants and a matched sample of 503 control participants met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled on the study. Even in the absence of comorbid cardiovascular disease, participants with diabetes exhibited widespread reductions in grey matter volume in comparison to non‐diabetic participants. Volumetric reductions were demonstrated in 97% of grey matter (volume = 191605 mm³), indicating neurodegeneration in all major brain lobes. Reductions of brain volume in diabetic participants remained following family‐wise error correction.ConclusionIn the absence of other comorbid cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus induces widespread neurodegeneration in cortical regions. Impairment to insulin signalling and the initiation of the inflammation response may initiate neurodegenerative processes resulting in the loss of brain cells. The widespread nature of atrophy indicates the potential risk for future cognitive impairment. Targeting molecular mechanisms involved in diabetes, including insulin resistance and inflammation, are important to prevent the development of neurodegenerative conditions. This exemplifies the potential for antidiabetic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Heterogeneity in the formation of primary and secondary visual fields during human prenatal development

The human neocortex has a huge surface area with unique cytoarchitectonics, most of which is concealed in sulci. Some cytoarchitectonic fields are associated with macroscopic landmarks. In particular, the primary visual field 17 is associated with the calcarine sulcus. During the prenatal development of the human brain, neocortical gyri and sulci undergo changes and modifications after primary formation. To explore the morphogenetic processes in visual fields during the formation of the primary (provisional) and secondary (permanent) sulci, the occipital lobe of the human fetal brain was studied using immunohistochemical methods. The distribution of various glial and neuronal markers (S-100, β-III-tubulin, NeuN, reelin) in the calcarine sulcus and parietooccipital sulcus was compared. The heterogeneity in the formation of primary and secondary visual fields was demonstrated. The study revealed that the development of the primary visual field 17, linked with the calcarine sulcus, preceded the development of a shared anlage of fields 18 and 19 linked with the parietooccipital sulcus. The functional differentiation of the primary visual field begins during the period of thalamic afferent ingrowth. This process coincides with the temporal smoothing of the calcarine sulcus, indicating a simultaneous progression of functional specialization and structural modifications. At the late fetal period, cortical plate of gyri and sulci banks showed higher NeuN-labeling than inside the sulcus in the same cytoarchitectonic field.