Puzzle Pieces: Neural Structure and Function in Prader-Willi Syndrome.
Katherine E Manning1, Anthony J Holland2,3,4
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK. kem60@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 26, 2017
Summary
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) involves brain abnormalities affecting reward and cognitive networks. Further research is needed to understand the neural basis of PWS and its associated behavioral challenges.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by genomic imprinting.
- Key features include hyperphagia, intellectual disability, behavioral issues, and psychiatric conditions.
- Existing research primarily focuses on cognitive and behavioral aspects, with less understanding of neural physiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing literature on neural structure and function in PWS.
- To identify research gaps and consolidate findings on the neurobiology of PWS.
- To explore the involvement of various brain structures and networks in the disorder.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a systematic literature review of in vivo and post-mortem studies on PWS neural structure and function.
- Utilized comprehensive search terms to capture all relevant published articles.
- Analyzed findings related to both anatomical and functional brain abnormalities.
Main Results:
- Confirmed a general paucity of research, with many studies being case reports or focusing narrowly on eating behaviors.
- Identified systematic investigations implicating both subcortical and higher-order brain structures in PWS.
- Evidence suggests abnormalities in neural networks involved in reward processing, motivation, affect, and cognition.
Conclusions:
- Prader-Willi syndrome appears to involve aberrant activity across distributed neural networks.
- Both anatomical and functional brain abnormalities are indicated in PWS.
- Further systematic research and replication are warranted to fully characterize the neural basis of PWS.
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