Chapters authored
Social Cognition Impairments in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Comparison with Imaging Studies, Disease Duration and Grade of Disability
Cognitive impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS) are heterogeneous and their rate varies between 43% and 70%. A less studied aspect of cognition is social cognition, which is not a uniform theoretical construct. It includes emotion perception, prosody, empathy, theory of mind (ToM) and assessment of mood. In addition to progressive physical disability, social cognitive impairments are a reason for job loss in 24–80% of patients with MS, increased divorce rate, dissolution of partnerships and social communication difficulties.
Part of the book: Trending Topics in Multiple Sclerosis
Influence of Gut Microbiota on Behavior and Its Disturbances
Hippocrates statement that “All disease begins in the gut” continues to be up to date more than 2000 years later. Growing number of scientific reports focus on the important role of intestinal microorganisms for modulation of many systems and human behavior. As a key component of the gut brain, gut microbiota influences the development and maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, affects the development and function of the immune system, regulates the blood-brain barrier, modulates the synthesis and recognition of neurotransmitters, regulates neurogenesis, formation of myelination and supports the development and function of the brain. Disruption of gut-brain axis function is associated with alterations in the stress response and might contribute to neuropsychiatric diseases as depression, autistic spectrum disorders, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease and other mental conditions. Studies in animal models are crucial for guiding research on brain-gut-microbiome axis in humans, as the impact of microbiota on specific brain regions and aspects of animal behavior will help in the selection of tasks for cognitive assessment. Exploring the interaction of gut microbes and human brain will not only allow us to better understand the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders, but will also provide us new opportunities for the design of novel immuno- or microbe-based therapies.
Part of the book: Behavioral Neuroscience
Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis
Clinical, biological, and radiological evidence are currently needed to diagnose MS, but lack of preclinical biomarkers hinders the earliest possible diagnosis and treatment. Conventional biomarkers target immunity, blood-brain barrier disruption, demyelination, and neuronal and axonal damage, as well as mitochondrial activity. An increase of specific brain metabolites with 30–40% is registered before detection of MRI lesions in MS. Potential lipid biomarkers are fatty acids, phospholipids, and oxysterols. The role of proteoforms in the pathogenesis of MS was confirmed. Serum neurofilament light chains (sNfL) are currently being studied as a readily available biomarker for prognosis and response to treatment in MS. The sNfL levels reflect ongoing neuroaxonal damage caused by inflammation, and the sNfL levels predict disease activity over the next few years. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning is reliable as a biomarker of disability worsening. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and CRP are also MS biomarkers. The development of rationally targeted therapeutic agents that allow preventive treatment to stop the disease is also delayed without definite biomarkers.
Part of the book: Multiple Sclerosis