Barbara Adriani

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Neuroimaging studies have revealed structural and functional neural changes in individuals with ASD compared to healthy subjects. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate brain network structural connectivity in ASD using Morphometric Similarity Network (MSN) analysis. Methods: Data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) were analyzed, comprising 597 individuals with ASD and 644 healthy controls. Structural connectivity was assessed using cortical morphometric features. Global and regional network indices, including the density index, node degree, node strength, and clustering coefficients, were evaluated. Results: Among the global network indices, when using a threshold value of 0.4, ASD patients compared to HCs showed a lower density (p = 0.041) and higher negative clustering (p = 0.0051) coefficients. For regional network indices, ASD patients showed a lower bilateral superior frontal cortices degree (left hemisphere: p = 0.014; right hemisphere: p = 0.0038) and strength (left: p = 0.017; right: p = 0.018). Additionally, they showed higher negative clustering coefficients in the bilateral superior frontal cortices (left, p = 0.0088; right, p = 0.0056) and bilateral pars orbitalis (left, p = 0.016; right, p = 0.0006), as well as lower positive clustering in the bilateral frontal pole (left, p = 0.03; right, p = 0.044). Conclusions: These findings highlight significant alterations in both global and regional brain network organization in ASD, which may contribute to the disorder’s cognitive and behavioral manifestations. Future studies are needed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these structural connectivity changes, to inform the development of more targeted and individualized therapeutic interventions for individuals with ASD.

Gender-diverse populations are at a higher risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and social stigma, with a significant impact on both mental and overall health. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, included 14 studies published between 2016 and 2024. Observational studies were extracted from MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and APA PsycArticles to explore the prevalence of ACEs and their effects on mental and physical health in gender-diverse individuals. Studies were assessed for quality using the AXIS tool. The studies included revealed elevated rates of ACEs, particularly in the form of abuse. ACEs were strongly associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, and suicidality. Discrimination further amplified these effects, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities, leading to a higher engagement in risky behaviors and poorer physical health outcomes. Protective factors identified included secure attachment, access to gender-affirming care, and strong social support. The findings emphasize the urgent need for trauma-informed and culturally sensitive interventions that address both the immediate and long-term effects of ACEs in gender-diverse populations. Future studies should prioritize longitudinal designs and tailored interventions to meet the healthcare needs of these communities and develop mental health prevention strategies.

The comorbidity between late-life depression and neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) in the elderly is a subject of increasing interest within the scientific and medical community. We conducted a narrative review of clinical studies focused on depression and NCDs, primarily covering articles published over the past 25 years. Compared with younger adults, depression in the elderly is often characterized by difficulties in expressing sadness, more pronounced somatic, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms, as well as a heightened risk of suicide and cognitive impairment. Depressive symptoms in the elderly may mimic NCDs, act as prodromal signs of future NCDs, or represent a clinical dimension of dementia. NCDs and late-life depression share specific clinical similarities, particularly at illness onset, emphasizing the importance of early differential diagnosis to guide the development of precise, integrated, and tailored interventions.

Late-life depression (LLD) is a relatively common and debilitating mental disorder, also associated with cognitive dysfunctions and an increased risk of mortality. Considering the growing elderly population worldwide, LLD is increasingly emerging as a significant public health issue, also due to the rise in direct and indirect costs borne by healthcare systems. Understanding the neuroanatomical and neurofunctional correlates of LLD is crucial for developing more targeted and effective interventions, both from a preventive and therapeutic standpoint. This ALE meta-analysis aims to evaluate the involvement of specific neurofunctional changes in the neurophysiopathology of LLD by analysing functional neuroimaging studies conducted on patients with LLD compared to healthy subjects (HCs). We included 19 studies conducted on 844 subjects, divided into 439 patients with LLD and 405 HCs. Patients with LLD, compared to HCs, showed significant hypoactivation of the right superior and medial frontal gyri (Brodmann areas (Bas) 8, 9), left cingulate cortex (BA 24), left putamen, and left caudate body. The same patients exhibited significant hyperactivation of the left superior temporal gyrus (BA 42), left inferior frontal gyrus (BA 45), right anterior cingulate cortex (BA 24), right cerebellar culmen, and left cerebellar declive. In summary, we found significant changes in activation patterns and brain functioning in areas encompassed in the cortico–limbic–striatal network in LLD. Furthermore, our results suggest a potential role for areas within the cortico–striatal–cerebellar network in the neurophysiopathology of LLD.

Objectives: To help to tackle gender-based violence against women in the aftermath of COVID-19 or other potential crisis situations, as recommended by the European Institute for Gender Equality, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between calls to the National Anti-violence Number (NAN) and the socio-sanitary pandemic factors during 2021, a period in which the scenario changed due to containment measures that gradually allowed women to emerge from the condition of isolation. In addition, the present work aims to identify significant changes in the number of calls to NAN during the progression of the pandemic in 2021. Methods: Using Italian Civil Protection Department data on the socio-sanitary pandemic factors (defined by daily number of cases, swabs, deaths, hospitalizations, dismissions, intensive care unit hospitalizations, people isolated at home, and quarantine after 15 and 30 days) and NAN data. Correlation analyses, a joinpoint regression analysis, and Granger causality tests were performed. Results: The number of calls correlated with the daily number of cases, swabs, deaths, hospitalizations, dismissions, intensive care unit hospitalizations, and quarantine after 15 and 30 days. The identified joinpoints showed significant changes in the number of daily anti-violence calls during the year. Furthermore, we found evidence of a significant causality between daily hospitalizations, daily home quarantined, daily dismissed patients, and calls to NAN. Conclusions: The results underline the influence of containment measures on the increased access to NAN, suggesting the need for a greater implementation of social and psychological support services in other potential crisis situations.