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. 2023;21(6):1367-1378.
doi: 10.2174/1570159X21666221014120332.

Neurocognitive Correlates of Cerebellar Volumetric Alterations in Youth with Pediatric Bipolar Spectrum Disorders and Bipolar Offspring

Kirti Saxena  1   2 , Alessio Simonetti  1   3 , Christopher D Verrico  1 , Delfina Janiri  3   4 , Marco Di Nicola  3   5 , Antonello Catinari  3   5 , Sherin Kurian  1   2 , Johanna Saxena  1   2 , Benson Mwangi  6 , Jair C Soares  6
Affiliations

Neurocognitive Correlates of Cerebellar Volumetric Alterations in Youth with Pediatric Bipolar Spectrum Disorders and Bipolar Offspring

Kirti Saxena et al. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2023.

Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence points towards the involvement of the cerebellum in the processing of emotions and pathophysiology of mood disorders. However, cerebellar and related cognitive alterations in youth with pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) and those at high risk to develop the disorder, such as bipolar offspring (BD-OFF) are not clearly defined.

Objective: To investigate cerebellar gray and white matter volumes, cognition, and their relationship in youth with PBD and BD-OFF.

Methods: Thirty youth (7 to 17 years, inclusive) with PBD, 30 BD-OFF and 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Study participants underwent a computer-based cognitive battery assessing affective processing, executive function, attention, psychomotor speed, and learning. Three-tesla MRI scan was performed to assess cerebellar white and gray matter volumes. Cerebellar segmentation was performed with FreeSurfer. Statistical analyses include between-group differences in cognitive domains, cerebellar gray, and white matter volumes. Relationships between cerebellar volumes and cognitive domains were examined.

Results: Youth with PBD showed greater cerebellar gray matter volumes than both BD-OFF and HC, whereas no differences were present between BD-OFF and HC. Both youth with PBD and BD-OFF showed altered processing of negative emotions and a bias towards positive emotions. In youth with PBD and BD-OFF, greater impairment in the processing of emotions correlated with greater cerebellar gray matter volumes.

Conclusion: The present findings corroborate hypotheses on cerebellar involvement in the processing of emotions and the pathophysiology of PBD. The presence of cerebellar dysfunction in BD-OFF is unclear.

Keywords: Pediatric bipolar disorder; cerebellum; cognition; emotion processing; magnetic resonance imaging; offspring.

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Conflict of interest statement

SK, JS, JCS and KS were supported by the John S. Dunn Foundation. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Correlation between left and right cerebellar gray matter volumes and AGN-CE-positive in youth with PBD, BD-OFF, and HC. Abbreviations: PBD, youth with pediatric bipolar disorder; BD-OFF, offspring of subject with bipolar disorder; HC, healthy controls. AGN, affective Go/no-go task; CE, errors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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