Individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) have increased hunger and food seeking behaviour, as well as learning (cognitive) challenges. In addition, some patients with PW been shown to have low cortisol production, particularly in stressful situations. However, research examining how hormonal, cognitive, and psychological factors are interrelated PWS is limited. To address this gap in knowledge, the goal of this project is to understand how changes in brain regions involved in controlling food intake and cognitive processes are related to changes in hormones regulating appetite, the stress hormone cortisol, and performance on neuropsychological tests.
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is characterized by hyperphagia, although the degree of food seeking can vary between individuals. This behaviour may be moderated by hormonal, neurocognitive, and psychological factors; however, data assessing these factors in an integrated fashion is scarce. The proposed research will address and identify relationships between three major challenges in PWS: 1) dysregulated feeding behaviour, 2) cognitive performance, and 3) chronic stress. The investigators will measure brain response to food cues, during a cognitive task, and at rest using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in adolescents with PWS and BMI-matched controls. This is an innovative design as previous studies in this population used only functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine food cue reactivity, which does not directly measure neuronal activity and lacks temporal-sensitivity. In contrast, MEG directly records neural firing and combines high spatial resolution with exquisite temporal resolution, allowing us to measure functional connectivity between brain regions. Importantly, MEG is also patient-friendly with fewer contraindications than MRI. To assess cognitive function, the investigators will utilize gold-standard neuropsychological measures, as well as emotional and social behavioural functioning. Lastly, the investigators will assess hair cortisol, which is a reflection of long term, month-by-month cortical exposure. This new area of research will explore neurobiological and cognitive mechanisms controlling feeding behaviour in PWS.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
48
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGThe Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGNeuronal activity during the food cue reactivity task
To compare neuronal activity between PWS and controls during the food cue task
Time frame: 2 years
Relationships between appetite hormone response and neuronal activity during the food cue task
To compare how appetite hormones correlate with neuronal activity in PWS compared to controls
Time frame: 2 years
Relationships between cortisol and neuronal activity during the food cue reactivity task
To compare how stress correlates with neuronal activity in PWS compared to controls
Time frame: 2 years
Neuronal activity during the emotional processing task
To compare neuronal activity between PWS and controls during the emotional processing task
Time frame: 2 years
Neuronal activity during resting state
To compare neuronal activity between PWS and controls during resting state
Time frame: 2 years
Neuronal activity during the response inhibition task
To compare neuronal activity between PWS and controls during the response inhibition task
Time frame: 2 years
Relationships between neuropsychological function and neuronal activity during the emotional processing task
To compare how neuropsychological function correlate with neuronal activity in PWS compared to controls
Time frame: 2 years
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Relationships between cortisol and neuronal activity during the emotional processing task
To compare how stress correlates with neuronal activity in PWS compared to controls
Time frame: 2 years