Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5795, USA.
Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5795, USA.
J Psychiatr Res. 2018 Dec;107:138-144. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.10.014. Epub 2018 Oct 25.
Abnormal brain development and cognitive dysfunction have been reported both in children and in adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS). However, few studies have examined neuroanatomical abnormalities in FXS during adolescence. In this study we focus on adolescent subjects with FXS (N = 54) as compared to age- and sex-matched subjects with idiopathic intellectual disability (Comparison Group) (N = 32), to examine neuroanatomical differences during this developmental period. Brain structure was assessed with voxel-based morphometry and independent groups t-test in SPM8 software. Results showed that the FXS group, relative to the comparison group, had significantly larger gray matter volume (GMV) in only one region: the bilateral caudate nucleus, but have smaller GMV in several regions including bilateral medial frontal, pregenual cingulate, gyrus rectus, insula, and superior temporal gyrus. Group differences also were noted in white matter regions. Within the FXS group, lower FMRP levels were associated with less GMV in several regions including cerebellum and gyrus rectus, and less white matter volume (WMV) in pregenual cingulate, middle frontal gyrus, and other regions. Lower full scale IQ within the FXS group was associated with larger right caudate nucleus GMV. In conclusion, adolescents and young adults with FXS demonstrate neuroanatomical abnormalities consistent with those previously reported in children and adults with FXS. These brain variations likely result from reduced FMRP during early neurodevelopment and mediate downstream deleterious effects on cognitive function.
脆性 X 综合征(FXS)患者既有儿童期也有成年期的脑发育异常和认知功能障碍的报道。然而,很少有研究检查过 FXS 青少年时期的神经解剖异常。在这项研究中,我们重点关注 FXS 的青少年受试者(N=54),并与年龄和性别匹配的特发性智力障碍受试者(对照组)(N=32)进行比较,以检查这一发育阶段的神经解剖差异。使用 SPM8 软件的基于体素的形态测量法和独立样本 t 检验来评估大脑结构。结果显示,与对照组相比,FXS 组仅在两个尾状核区域的灰质体积(GMV)显著增大,但在多个区域(包括双侧额内侧回、扣带回前回、直回、岛叶和颞上回)的 GMV 减小。在白质区域也观察到了组间差异。在 FXS 组内,较低的 FMRP 水平与几个区域(包括小脑和直回)的 GMV 减少,以及扣带回前回、额中回和其他区域的白质体积(WMV)减少有关。在 FXS 组内,全量表智商较低与右侧尾状核 GMV 增大有关。总之,FXS 的青少年和年轻成年人表现出与以前报道的 FXS 儿童和成人一致的神经解剖异常。这些脑变化可能是由于早期神经发育过程中 FMRP 减少,并对认知功能产生下游的有害影响所致。