| 1. |
- Berginström, Nils, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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Fatigue after traumatic brain injury is linked to altered striato-thalamic-cortical functioning
- 2017
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Ingår i: Brain Injury. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0269-9052 .- 1362-301X. ; 31:6-7, s. 755-755
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mental fatigue is a common symptom in the chronic phase of traumatic brain injury. Despite its high prevalence, no treatmentis available for this disabling symptom, and the mechanisms underlying fatigue are poorly understood. Some studies have suggested that fatigue in traumatic brain injury and other neurological disorders might reflect dysfunction within striato-thalamic-cortical loops. In the present study, we investigated whether functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) can be used to detect chronic fatigue after traumatic brain injury (TBI), with emphasis on the striato-thalamic cortical-loops. We included patients who had suffered traumatic brain injury (n = 57, age range 20–64 years) and experienced mental fatigue > 1 year post injury (mean = 8.79 years, SD = 7.35), and age- and sex-matched healthycontrols (n = 27, age range 25–65 years). All participants completed self-assessment scales of fatigue and other symptoms, underwent an extensive neuropsychological test battery and performed a fatiguing 27-minute attention task (the modified Symbol Digit Modalities Test) during fMRI. Accuracy did not differ between groups, but reaction times were slower in the traumatic brain injury group (p < 0.001). Patients showed a greater increase in fatigue than controls from before to after task completion (p < 0.001). Patients showed less fMRI blood oxygen level–dependent activity in several a priori hypothesized regions (family-wise error corrected,p < 0.05), including the bilateral caudate, thalamus and anterior insula. Using the left caudate as a region of interest and testing for sensitivity and specificity, we identified 91% of patients and 81% of controls. As expected, controls showed decreased activation over time in regions of interest—the bilateral caudate and anterior thalamus (p < 0.002, uncorrected)—whereas patients showed no corresponding activity decrease. These results suggest that chronic fatigue after TBI is linked to altered striato-thalamic-cortical functioning. The high precision of fMRI for the detection of fatigue is of great clinical interest, given the lack of objective measures for the diagnosis of fatigue.
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| 2. |
- Berginström, Nils, et al.
(författare)
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Pharmaco-fMRI in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury : A Randomized Controlled Trial With the Monoaminergic Stabilizer (-)-OSU6162
- 2019
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Ingår i: The journal of head trauma rehabilitation. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 0885-9701 .- 1550-509X. ; 34:3, s. 189-198
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of monoaminergic stabilizer (-)-OSU6162 on brain activity, as measured by blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in patients in the chronic phase of traumatic brain injury suffering from fatigue.SETTING: Neurorehabilitation clinic.PARTICIPANTS: Patients with traumatic brain injury received either placebo (n = 24) or active treatment (n = 28). Healthy controls (n = 27) went through fMRI examination at one point and were used in sensitivity analysis on normalization of BOLD response.DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design.MAIN MEASURES: Effects on BOLD signal changes from before to after treatment during performance of a fatiguing attention task.RESULTS: The fMRI results revealed treatment effects within the right occipitotemporal cortex and the right orbitofrontal cortex. In these regions, the BOLD response was normalized relative to healthy controls at the postintervention fMRI session. No effects were seen in regions in which we previously observed activity differences between patients and healthy controls while performing this fMRI task, such as the striatum.CONCLUSION: (-)-OSU6162 treatment had influences on functional brain activity, although the normalized regional BOLD response was observed in regions that were not a priori hypothesized to be sensitive to this particular treatment, and was not accompanied by any effects on in-scanner test performance or on fatigue.
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| 3. |
- Berginström, Nils, et al.
(författare)
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Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Chronic Fatigue in Patients With Previous Traumatic Brain Injury : changes linked to altered Striato-Thalamic-Cortical Functioning
- 2018
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Ingår i: The journal of head trauma rehabilitation. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 0885-9701 .- 1550-509X. ; 33:4, s. 266-274
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate whether functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to detect fatigue after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Setting: Neurorehabilitation clinic.Participants: Patients with TBI (n = 57) and self-experienced fatigue more than 1 year postinjury, and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 27).Main Measures: Self-assessment scales of fatigue, a neuropsychological test battery, and fMRI scanning during performance of a fatiguing 27-minute attention task.Results: During testing within the fMRI scanner, patients showed a higher increase in self-reported fatigue than controls from before to after completing the task (P < .001).The patients also showed lower activity in several regions, including bilateral caudate, thalamus, and anterior insula (all P < .05). Furthermore, the patients failed to display decreased activation over time in regions of interest: the bilateral caudate and anterior thalamus (all P < .01). Left caudate activity correctly identified 91% of patients and 81% of controls, resulting in a positive predictive value of 91%.Conclusion: The results suggest that chronic fatigue after TBI is associated with altered striato-thalamic-cortical functioning. It would be of interest to study whether fMRI can be used to support the diagnosis of chronic fatigue in future studies.
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| 4. |
- Domellöf, Magdalena E, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Cognitive function in the early phase of Parkinson's disease, a five-year follow-up
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 132:2, s. 79-88
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as a predictor for Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) has been discussed from a clinical perspective. Recently, a Movement Disorder Society (MDS) commissioned Task Force published guidelines for PD-MCI. However, long-term follow-ups of the PD-MCI guidelines for the prediction of PDD have been sparse.METHOD: In a community-based cohort of PD, the MDS guidelines for PD-MCI and consensus criteria for PDD were applied on 147 subjects. The predictive ability of PD-MCI for PDD was investigated. Additionally, baseline comparisons were conducted between MCI that converted to PDD and those who did not, and evolvement of motor function was investigated.RESULTS: One fourth of the population developed PDD. MCI and age at baseline predicted later occurrence of PDD, and baseline results of tests measuring episodic memory, visuospatial function, semantic fluency, and mental flexibility differed between MCI converters and non-converters. Postural instability/gait (PIGD) phenotype and education did not predict later occurrence of PDD, but increased postural/gait disturbances were shown across time in those developing dementia.CONCLUSION: The new PD-MCI guidelines are useful to detect patients at risk for developing PDD. The PIGD phenotype at diagnosis was not a predictor of PDD within 5 years, but the study supports a temporal association between postural/gait disturbances and PDD. Older patients with PD-MCI at baseline with decline in episodic memory, semantic fluency, and mental flexibility need to be carefully monitored regarding cognition and likely also for fall risk.
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| 5. |
- Ekman, Urban, et al.
(författare)
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Increase of frontal neuronal activity in chronic neglect after training in virtual reality
- 2018
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 138:4, s. 284-292
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: A third of patients with stroke acquire spatial neglect associated with poor rehabilitation outcome. New effective rehabilitation interventions are needed. Scanning training combined with multisensory stimulation to enhance the rehabilitation effect is suggested. In accordance, we have designed a virtual-reality based scanning training that combines visual, audio and sensori-motor stimulation called RehAtt((R)). Effects were shown in behavioural tests and activity of daily living. Here, we use fMRI to evaluate the change in brain activity during Posners Cuing Task (attention task) after RehAtt((R)) intervention, in patients with chronic neglect.Methods: Twelve patients (mean age=72.7years, SD=6.1) with chronic neglect (persistent symptoms >6months) performed the interventions 3 times/wk during 5weeks, in total 15hours. Training effects on brain activity were evaluated using fMRI task-evoked responses during the Posners cuing task before and after the intervention.Results: Patients improved their performance in the Posner fMRI task. In addition, patients increased their task-evoked brain activity after the VR interventions in an extended network including pre-frontal and temporal cortex during attentional cueing, but showed no training effects during target presentations.Conclusions: The current pilot study demonstrates that a novel multisensory VR intervention has the potential to benefit patients with chronic neglect in respect of behaviour and brain changes. Specifically, the fMRI results show that strategic processes (top-down control during attentional cuing) were enhanced by the intervention. The findings increase knowledge of the plasticity processes underlying positive rehabilitation effects from RehAtt((R)) in chronic neglect.
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| 6. |
- Franzén, Erika, et al.
(författare)
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The EXPANd trial : effects of exercise and exploring neuroplastic changes in people with Parkinson's disease
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2377. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) affects many physiological systems essential for balance control. Recent studies suggest that intensive and cognitively demanding physical exercise programs are capable of inducing plastic brain changes in PD. We have developed a highly challenging balance training (the HiBalance) program that emphasizes critical aspects of balance control through progressively introducing more challenging exercises which incorporates dual-tasking. Earlier studies have shown it to be effective in improving balance, gait and dual-tasking. The study design has thereafter been adjusted to link intervention-induced behavioral changes to brain morphology and function. Specifically, in this randomized controlled trial, we will determine the effects of the HiBalance program on balance, gait and cognition and relate this to task-evoked functional MRI (fMRI), as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in participants with mild-moderate PD.Methods: One hundred participants with idiopathic PD, Hoehn & Yahr stage 2 or 3, >= 60 years of age, >= 21 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be recruited in successive waves and randomized into either the HiBalance program or to an active control group (the HiCommunication program, targeting speech and communication). Both interventions will be performed in small groups, twice a week with 1 h sessions for 10 weeks. In addition, a 1 h, once a week, home exercise program will also be performed. A double-blinded design will be used. At the pre- and post-assessments, participants will be assessed on balance (main outcome), gait, cognitive functions, physical activity, voice/speech function, BDNF in serum and fMRI (3 T Philips) during performance of motor-cognitive tasks.Discussion: Since there is currently no cure for PD, findings of neuroplastic brain changes in response to exercise would revolutionize the way we treat PD, and, in turn, provide new hope to patients for a life with better health, greater independence and improved quality of life.
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| 7. |
- Wallert, John, et al.
(författare)
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Differentiating Patients at the Memory Clinic With Simple Reaction Time Variables : A Predictive Modeling Approach Using Support Vector Machines and Bayesian Optimization
- 2018
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1663-4365. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia differ in important ways yet share a future of increased prevalence. Separating these conditions from each other, and from Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI), is important for clinical prognoses and treatment, socio-legal interventions, and family adjustments. With costly clinical investigations and an aging population comes a need for more cost-efficient differential diagnostics.Methods: Using supervised machine learning, we investigated nine variables extracted from simple reaction time (SRT) data with respect to their single and conjoined ability to discriminate both MCI/dementia, and SCI/MCI/dementia, compared to—and together with—established psychometric tests. One-hundred-twenty elderly patients (age range = 65–95 years) were recruited when referred to full neuropsychological assessment at a specialized memory clinic in urban Sweden. A freely available SRT task served as index test and was administered and scored objectively by a computer before diagnosis of SCI (n = 17), MCI (n = 53), or dementia (n = 50). As reference standard, diagnosis was decided through the multidisciplinary memory clinic investigation. Bonferroni-Holm corrected P-values for constructed models against the null model are provided.Results: Algorithmic feature selection for the two final multivariable models was performed through recursive feature elimination with 3 × 10-fold cross-validation resampling. For both models, this procedure selected seven predictors of which five were SRT variables. When used as input for a soft-margin, radial-basis support vector machine model tuned via Bayesian optimization, the leave-one-out cross-validated accuracy of the final model for MCI/dementia classification was good (Accuracy = 0.806 [0.716, INS [0].877], P < 0.001) and the final model for SCI/MCI/dementia classification held some merit (Accuracy = 0.650 [0.558, 0.735], P < 0.001). These two models are implemented in a freely available application for research and educatory use.Conclusions: Simple reaction time variables hold some potential in conjunction with established psychometric tests for differentiating MCI/dementia, and SCI/MCI/dementia in these difficult-to-differentiate memory clinic patients. While external validation is needed, their implementation within diagnostic support systems is promising.
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| 8. |
- Wallert, John, et al.
(författare)
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The worst performance rule with elderly in abnormal cognitive decline
- 2017
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Ingår i: Intelligence. - : Elsevier. - 0160-2896 .- 1873-7935. ; 64, s. 9-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Compared to best performances, worst performances on multi-trial psychometric tests often show stronger correlations with other g-loaded cognitive tests, which is known as the Worst Performance Rule (WPR). While worst performances may be more sensitive or specific to cognitive decline, clinical psychometric research and neuropsychological practice tends to neglect the WPR. Here, we examined the WPR-paradigm relative to abnormal cognitive decline. Specifically, we studied the WPR with binned simple reaction time task responses when rank-correlated with five different estimates of psychometric g within a memory clinic sample (n = 103) of elderly diagnosed with either Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) (n = 53) or dementia (n = 50). Three of the g-estimates were composite scores constructed from 2, 6, and 28 established test scores. Results showed a consistent WPR-pattern in the whole sample for each of the five estimates (block design rs = − 0.201 to − 0.120; digit span rs = − 0.284 to − 0.112; g2 rs = − 0.311 to − 0.162; g6 rs = − 0.314 to − 0.107; g28 rs = − 0.269 to − 0.121). Our findings contradict classical test theory, and highlight the underused potential of the WPR when assessing cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients.
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| 9. |
- Wåhlin, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Rehabilitation in chronic spatial neglect strengthens resting-state connectivity
- 2019
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 139:3, s. 254-259
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Rehabilitation of patients with chronic visuospatial neglect is underexplored, and little is known about neural mechanisms that can be exploited to promote recovery. In this study, we present data on resting-state functional connectivity within the dorsal attention network (DAN) in chronic neglect patients as they underwent training in a virtual reality (VR) environment that improved left-side awareness.Methods: The study included 13 patients with visuospatial neglect persisting more than six months after a right-sided stroke. The patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Scans were collected at baseline and after five weeks of intense training. We specifically examined resting-state functional connectivity within the DAN. In addition, using spatial concordance correlation, we compared changes in the spatial topology of the DAN with that of other networks.Results: We found a longitudinal increase in interhemispheric functional connectivity between the right frontal eye field and the left intraparietal sulcus following training (before: 0.33 +/- 0.17 [mean +/- SD]; after: 0.45 +/- 0.13; P = 0.004). The spatial concordance analyses indicated that training influenced the DAN connectivity more than any of the other networks.Conclusion: Intense VR training that improved left-sided awareness in chronic stroke patients also increased sporadic interhemispheric functional connectivity within the DAN. Specifically, a region responsible for saccadic eye movement to the left became more integrated with the left posterior parietal cortex. These results highlight a mechanism that should be exploited in the training of patients with chronic visuospatial neglect.
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