Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control study
BackgroundCognitive impairment (CI) is a condition in which an individual experiences noticeable impairment in thinking abilities. Long-term exposure to aluminum (Al) can cause CI. This study aimed to determine the relationship between CI and MRI-related changes in postroom workers exposed to Al.Met...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1500924/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841556743691173888 |
|---|---|
| author | Huaxing Meng Bo Liu Xiaoting Lu Yan Tan Shanshan Wang Baolong Pan Hui Zhang Qiao Niu |
| author_facet | Huaxing Meng Bo Liu Xiaoting Lu Yan Tan Shanshan Wang Baolong Pan Hui Zhang Qiao Niu |
| author_sort | Huaxing Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundCognitive impairment (CI) is a condition in which an individual experiences noticeable impairment in thinking abilities. Long-term exposure to aluminum (Al) can cause CI. This study aimed to determine the relationship between CI and MRI-related changes in postroom workers exposed to Al.MethodsThirty patients with CI and 25 healthy controls were recruited. Plasma aluminum levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and an auditory-verbal learning test (AVLT). All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans. 3D T1-weighted anatomical images and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired, and voxel-based morphometry and ROI-based FC were used for analysis. A mediation analysis was also conducted.ResultsPlasma aluminum levels were significantly higher in the CI group than in the normal control group. The gray matter (GM) volume in the left caudate and bilateral hippocampus was lower in the CI group and was positively correlated with cognitive scale scores. There was no significant difference in functional connectivity (FC) between the left caudate and the whole brain between the two groups. Significant alterations in hippocampal FC were observed in certain brain areas, mainly in the left cerebellar vermis, left middle frontal gyrus (BA9), and right superior frontal gyrus relative to the supplementary motor area (BA6). The FC coefficients were also associated with cognitive scale scores. Furthermore, plasma Al concentration was negatively correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, bilateral hippocampal GM volume, and FC coefficient between the left hippocampus and left cerebellar vermis. Mediation analysis showed GM alteration of left caudate and bilateral hippocampus and FC alteration of left hippocampus to left cerebellar vermis could explained 19.80–32.07% of the effect of MoCA scores change related to Al exposure, besides the GM alteration of right hippocampus acted as indirect mediator (68.75%) of the association between Al and AVLT delayed recall scores.ConclusionOur data indicates that alterations in the structure and function of special brain domain, especially the hippocampus, are associated with Al-induced CI. These brain regions can partly explain the effect of Al on cognitive impairment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bbd3ad0e0f3c4f38b4dfa36eaaa44fe4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bbd3ad0e0f3c4f38b4dfa36eaaa44fe42025-01-07T06:40:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-01-011510.3389/fneur.2024.15009241500924Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control studyHuaxing Meng0Bo Liu1Xiaoting Lu2Yan Tan3Shanshan Wang4Baolong Pan5Hui Zhang6Qiao Niu7Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCollege of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCollege of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaScience and Education Department, Sixth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCollege of Medical Imaging, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaBackgroundCognitive impairment (CI) is a condition in which an individual experiences noticeable impairment in thinking abilities. Long-term exposure to aluminum (Al) can cause CI. This study aimed to determine the relationship between CI and MRI-related changes in postroom workers exposed to Al.MethodsThirty patients with CI and 25 healthy controls were recruited. Plasma aluminum levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and an auditory-verbal learning test (AVLT). All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans. 3D T1-weighted anatomical images and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired, and voxel-based morphometry and ROI-based FC were used for analysis. A mediation analysis was also conducted.ResultsPlasma aluminum levels were significantly higher in the CI group than in the normal control group. The gray matter (GM) volume in the left caudate and bilateral hippocampus was lower in the CI group and was positively correlated with cognitive scale scores. There was no significant difference in functional connectivity (FC) between the left caudate and the whole brain between the two groups. Significant alterations in hippocampal FC were observed in certain brain areas, mainly in the left cerebellar vermis, left middle frontal gyrus (BA9), and right superior frontal gyrus relative to the supplementary motor area (BA6). The FC coefficients were also associated with cognitive scale scores. Furthermore, plasma Al concentration was negatively correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, bilateral hippocampal GM volume, and FC coefficient between the left hippocampus and left cerebellar vermis. Mediation analysis showed GM alteration of left caudate and bilateral hippocampus and FC alteration of left hippocampus to left cerebellar vermis could explained 19.80–32.07% of the effect of MoCA scores change related to Al exposure, besides the GM alteration of right hippocampus acted as indirect mediator (68.75%) of the association between Al and AVLT delayed recall scores.ConclusionOur data indicates that alterations in the structure and function of special brain domain, especially the hippocampus, are associated with Al-induced CI. These brain regions can partly explain the effect of Al on cognitive impairment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1500924/fullmild cognitive impairmentplasma aluminumgray matter volumefunctional connectivityaluminum |
| spellingShingle | Huaxing Meng Bo Liu Xiaoting Lu Yan Tan Shanshan Wang Baolong Pan Hui Zhang Qiao Niu Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control study Frontiers in Neurology mild cognitive impairment plasma aluminum gray matter volume functional connectivity aluminum |
| title | Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control study |
| title_full | Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control study |
| title_fullStr | Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control study |
| title_short | Alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure: a case-control study |
| title_sort | alterations of gray matter volume and functional connectivity in patients with cognitive impairment induced by occupational aluminum exposure a case control study |
| topic | mild cognitive impairment plasma aluminum gray matter volume functional connectivity aluminum |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1500924/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huaxingmeng alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy AT boliu alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy AT xiaotinglu alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy AT yantan alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy AT shanshanwang alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy AT baolongpan alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy AT huizhang alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy AT qiaoniu alterationsofgraymattervolumeandfunctionalconnectivityinpatientswithcognitiveimpairmentinducedbyoccupationalaluminumexposureacasecontrolstudy |