Background: It has been proposed that a hyperactivity of the endocannabinoids system could be involved in the cognitive deficits involved in Down Syndrome (DS). Hyperactivation of the type-1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptor by exogenous cannabinoids, such as the active principle of cannabis tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), induces several modifications of the electroencephalogram (EEG). The goal of this study is to compare those CB1-dependent EEG parameters in subjects with DS and age-matched typically developing subjects (TD, control group). These investigations can increase our knowledge of the involvement of the CB1 receptor in DS cognitive deficits and potentially identify biomarkers of target engagement of new therapies of this condition. Hypothesis: It was recently showed in pre-clinical DS models that the endocannabinoid system is hyperactivated in the brain and that human adult subjects with DS showed higher plasma concentrations of the main endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, 2-AEA) as compared with those found in typically developing subjects. Alterations of neural oscillations induced by the consumption of THC preparations are well established and it is hypothesized that they would be similar to those found in subjects with DS. Objectives: To assess different neural markers using electroencephalography (EEG) in typically developing subjects and in subjects with DS in resting state and while conducting selected cognitive tasks. Methods: Non-interventional, cross-sectional, monocenter study in male and female adult subjects with DS and typically developing subjects (total n=48).
Age range
18 Years – 35 Years
Sex
ALL
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Differences in gamma intertrial coherence and power between DS and TD group
Timeframe: During EEG
Differences in power of neural oscillations between DS and TD group
Timeframe: During resting state eyes-closed EEG
Differences in amplitude and latency of various EEG waves between DS and TD group
Timeframe: During EEG while performing a three-stimulus auditory oddball task
Differences in EEG complexity between DS and TD group
Timeframe: During EEG
Differences in EEG brain connectivity, interhemispheric and frontoparietal connectivity, characteristic path and clustering coefficient between DS and TD group
Timeframe: During resting state eyes-closed and eyes-open EEG
Differences in cross-frequency coupling between DS and TD group
Timeframe: During resting state EEG, and while performing the auditory and the cognitive tasks
Differences in Higuchi fractal dimension, small-world, characteristic path, and clustering coefficient between DS and TD group
Timeframe: During resting state eyes-closed and eyes-open EEG
Differences in plasma concentrations of endocannabinoids between DS and TD group
Timeframe: At baseline
Differences in plasma concentrations of the neurosteroid pregnenolone between DS and TD group
Timeframe: At baseline