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Choline and Working Memory Training Improve Cognitive Deficits Caused by Prenatal Exposure to Ethanol.

ABSTRACT: Prenatal ethanol exposure is associated with deficits in executive function such as working memory, reversal learning and attentional set shifting in humans and animals. These behaviors are dependent on normal structure and function in cholinergic brain regions. Supplementation with choline can improve many behaviors in rodent models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and also improves working memory function in normal rats. We tested the hypothesis that supplementation with choline in the postnatal period will improve working memory during adolescence in normal and ethanol-exposed animals, and that working memory engagement during adolescence will transfer to other cognitive domains and have lasting effects on executive function in adulthood. Male and female offspring of rats fed an ethanol-containing liquid diet (ET; 3% v/v) or control dams given a non-ethanol liquid diet (CT) were injected with choline (Cho; 100 mg/kg) or saline (Sal) once per day from postnatal day (P) 16-P30. Animals were trained/tested on a working memory test in adolescence and then underwent attentional set shifting and reversal learning in young adulthood. In adolescence, ET rats required more training to reach criterion than CT-Sal. Choline improved working memory performance for both CT and ET animals. In young adulthood, ET animals also performed poorly on the set shifting and reversal tasks. Deficits were more robust in ET male rats than female ET rats, but Cho improved performance in both sexes. ET male rats given a combination of Cho and working memory training in adolescence required significantly fewer trials to achieve criterion than any other ET group, suggesting that early interventions can cause a persistent improvement.

SUBMITTER: Waddell J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5691697 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Choline and Working Memory Training Improve Cognitive Deficits Caused by Prenatal Exposure to Ethanol.

Waddell Jaylyn J Mooney Sandra M SM

Nutrients 20170929 10

Prenatal ethanol exposure is associated with deficits in executive function such as working memory, reversal learning and attentional set shifting in humans and animals. These behaviors are dependent on normal structure and function in cholinergic brain regions. Supplementation with choline can improve many behaviors in rodent models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and also improves working memory function in normal rats. We tested the hypothesis that supplementation with choline in the post ...[more]

PMID: 28961168

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Project description:BackgroundWorking memory deficit is one of the most critical complex cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective adjuvant therapy, but not still unsatisfactory. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), which has recently been used in clinical practice, may have faster and stronger effects comparing the traditional model (10-Hz high-frequency rTMS). A large number of studies have showed that rTMS, especially iTBS, can enhance the neural plasticity of the brain, and cognitive training can improve the cognitive function of schizophrenia. Is there any facilitation effect of iTBS add on cognitive training (such as working memory training, WMT) on cognitive function enhancement in schizophrenia is still unknown.Methods/designThe proposed study is designed of a double-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial that will include 200 schizophrenia patients between 18 and 45 years of age. The patients will be randomized to four groups, i.e., the study group (iTBS+WMT), WMS control group (iTBS+ Simple Response Training (SRT)), iTBS control group (sham iTBS+WMT), and placebo control (sham iTBS+SRT). The patients will receive 3 min 20 s of real or sham stimulation, followed by a short 1-2-min rest and 40 min of WMT training or SRT immediately. Neuropsychological and clinical symptom assessments, with functional and structural MRI, will be performed on baseline, post-treatment, and 3- and 6-month follow-up periods. The primary outcome is cognitive function measured by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). The secondary outcomes are changes in neuroplasticity, as measured by MRI and other behavioral assessments.DiscussionThe aim of our study is to explore the facilitation effects of iTBS added on WMT in improving cognitive function of schizophrenia. That means, patients with schizophrenia will benefit more in cognitive function improvement from the combination training mode of "preheating (iTBS stimulation changes the neural activity of working memory-related brain regions) and ironning (working memory training)." And the long-term effects of this combined training model will be assessed at a 6-month follow-up period. In case of a significant improvement of working memory with a prolonged effect, the iTBS combined with WMT protocol could be considered as a first-line clinical protocol in schizophrenia treatment. More broadly, the potential for increased universality and efficiency of rTMS with the iTBS model to enhance the neural plasticity of the brain should have a more positive effect on cognitive function in schizophrenia.Trial registrationchictr.org.cn ChiCTR1900023405 . Registered on 25 May 2019.

Dataset Information

Choline and Working Memory Training Improve Cognitive Deficits Caused by Prenatal Exposure to Ethanol.

Publications

Choline and Working Memory Training Improve Cognitive Deficits Caused by Prenatal Exposure to Ethanol.

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