scholarly journals 547 - BDNF and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
Alena Sidenkova
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Accelerated Aging ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Mild Dementia ◽  
Pronounced Decrease ◽  
Men 2 ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Relevance:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology that develops mainly in elderly and senile people.Disruption of BDNF transport or suppression of its production appears to be typical for people of old age. Objective: To investigate the influence of Alzheimer’s disease on the secretion of brain factors and correlate with neuropsychological profiles.Material and methods of research:12 men (2) and women (10) with Alzheimer’s disease were examined. The average age of the subjects was 76.25 + 4.89. Methods: MMSE, ADAS-COG, laboratory - BDNF was performed using the G7611 BDNF Emax (R) ImmunoAssaySystem 5 x 96 wells, BDNF Emax® Immunological test.Results:2 patients have mild dementia, 8 patients have moderate dementia, 2 patients have severe dementia. The average age of patients with mild dementia was 72.0 + 1.0. The average MMSE score is 16.7 + 3.4. Correlation analysis showed a close relationship between a pronounced decrease in memory in memory tests (ADAS-COG) and a pronounced decrease in blood BDNF content (r = 0.676). A close statistically significant relationship was found between a low result of the recognition test and a low blood BDNF content (r = 0.598).Conclusion:we assume that blood BDNF is a marker of pathologically accelerated aging of the central nervous system, since low test results for mnestic function are an indicator of severe degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

scholarly journals Spatial working memory in Alzheimer's disease: A study using the Corsi block-tapping test

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Cristina Guariglia
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Mild Dementia ◽  
Moderate Dementia

Abstract The Corsi block-tapping test was developed as a non-verbal task to measure spatial memory. In this test, cubes are tapped by the examiner in novel sequences of increasing length after which participants are required to reproduce each sequence immediately. Objectives: To evaluate spatial working memory in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Methods: 30 elderly control subjects (21 women, 9 men) and 30 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (15 women and 15 men), with 8 or more years of schooling, were evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), digit span and Corsi block-tapping test. Proportions were compared using Chi-Square, and continuous variables with the Mann-Whitney tests. Results: AD patients were older than controls (p=0.014), but there were no differences regarding gender or educational level between these groups. The performance on the Corsi block-tapping test differed between AD and control individuals (p=0.010), and between patients with moderate dementia and controls (p=0.032), but not between control individuals and patients with mild dementia (p=0.090). Conclusions: In the present study, AD patients with moderate dementia showed impairment in spatial working memory while those with mild dementia did not. This finding may be due to the relatively small sample size, but it is also possible that spatial memory may be normal in the initial (limbic) phase of AD.

scholarly journals Topographical disorientation in Alzheimer's disease

2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 967-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Cristina Guariglia ◽  
Ricardo Nitrini
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Three Dimension ◽  
Route Description ◽  
Mild Dementia ◽  
Topographical Orientation ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Topographical Disorientation

Topographical disorientation (TD) has not been as extensively studied as other frequent manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: To verify the occurrence of TD and to identify the neuropsychological dysfunctions associated with TD in AD. METHOD: Thirty patients with probable AD, their caregivers and 30 subjects without dementia (controls) were interviewed with a questionnaire and evaluated with tests related to topographical orientation. RESULTS: AD patients, even those with mild dementia, differ from controls in the questionnaire on topographical orientation and in most neuropsychological tests except for tests of spatial working memory, point localization, three dimension and nonsense figure copy. When the performances in the neuropsychological tests of patients with mild or moderate dementia were compared, only landmark recognition and route description were more impaired in moderate dementia. CONCLUSION: TD occurs even in mild dementia of AD, a finding apparently not explained by the impairments of more elementary spatial functions.

scholarly journals Early Olfactory Involvement in Alzheimer’s Disease

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Christen-Zaech ◽  
R. Kraftsik ◽  
O. Pillevuit ◽  
M. Kiraly ◽  
R. Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Olfactory Bulb ◽  
Neurofibrillary Tangles ◽  
Olfactory System ◽  
Senile Plaques ◽  
Degenerative Changes ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Immunohistochemical Techniques

Background:In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) the olfactory system, including the olfactory bulb, a limbic paleocortex is severely damaged. The occurrence of early olfactory deficits and the presence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in olfactory bulb were reported previously by a few authors. The goal of the present study was to analyze the occurrence of AD-type degenerative changes in the peripheral part of the olfactory system and to answer the question whether the frequency and severity of changes in the olfactory bulb and tract are associated with those of the cerebral cortex in AD.Material and Methods:In 110 autopsy cases several cortical areas and the olfactory bulb and tract were analyzed using histo- and immunohistochemical techniques. Based on a semiquantitative analysis of cortical senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and curly fibers, the 110 cases were divided into four groups: 19 cases with severe (definite AD), 14 cases with moderate, 58 cases with discrete and 19 control cases without AD-type cortical changes.Results:The number of cases with olfactory involvement was very high, more than 84% in the three groups with cortical AD-type lesions. Degenerative olfactory changes were present in all 19 definite AD cases, and in two of the 19 controls. The statistical analysis showed a significant association between the peripheral olfactory and cortical degenerative changes with respect to their frequency and severity (P<0.001). Neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads appear in the olfactory system as early as in entorhinal cortex.Conclusion:The results indicate a close relationship between the olfactory and cortical degenerative changes and indicate that the involvement of the olfactory bulb and tract is one of the earliest events in the degenerative process of the central nervous system in AD.

Paired helical filaments (PHF) in rats: An experimental animal model for Alzheimer's disease

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 842-843
Author(s):  
V.J.A. Montpetit ◽  
S. Dancea ◽  
S.W. French ◽  
D.F. Clapin
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Paired Helical Filaments ◽  
Ethanol Intoxication ◽  
Drg Neurons ◽  
Critical Difference ◽  
Suitable Animal Model ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Chronic Ethanol Intoxication

A continuing problem in Alzheimer research is the lack of a suitable animal model for the disease. The absence of neurofibrillary tangles of paired helical filaments is the most critical difference in the processes by which the central nervous system ages in most species other than man. However, restricting consideration to single phenomena, one may identify animal models for specific aspects of Alzheimer's disease. Abnormal fibers resembling PHF have been observed in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons of rats in a study of chronic ethanol intoxication and spontaneously in aged rats. We present in this report evidence that PHF-like filaments occur in ethanol-treated rats of young age. In control animals lesions similar in some respects to our observations of cytoskeletal pathology in pyridoxine induced neurotoxicity were observed.Male Wistar BR rats (Charles River Labs) weighing 350 to 400 g, were implanted with a single gastrostomy cannula and infused with a liquid diet containing 30% of total calories as fat plus ethanol or isocaloric dextrose.

Alzheimer’s Disease Targeted Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 628-646
Author(s):  
Gülcem Altinoglu ◽  
Terin Adali
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Sustained Drug Release ◽  
Physiochemical Properties ◽  
Conventional Drug ◽  
Health Care Burden ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Effective Drugs

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and is part of a massive and growing health care burden that is destroying the cognitive function of more than 50 million individuals worldwide. Today, therapeutic options are limited to approaches with mild symptomatic benefits. The failure in developing effective drugs is attributed to, but not limited to the highly heterogeneous nature of AD with multiple underlying hypotheses and multifactorial pathology. In addition, targeted drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS), for the diagnosis and therapy of neurological diseases like AD, is restricted by the challenges posed by blood-brain interfaces surrounding the CNS, limiting the bioavailability of therapeutics. Research done over the last decade has focused on developing new strategies to overcome these limitations and successfully deliver drugs to the CNS. Nanoparticles, that are capable of encapsulating drugs with sustained drug release profiles and adjustable physiochemical properties, can cross the protective barriers surrounding the CNS. Thus, nanotechnology offers new hope for AD treatment as a strong alternative to conventional drug delivery mechanisms. In this review, the potential application of nanoparticle based approaches in Alzheimer’s disease and their implications in therapy is discussed.

Neuropeptides in Alzheimer’s Disease: An Update

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 544-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Petrella ◽  
Maria Grazia Di Certo ◽  
Christian Barbato ◽  
Francesca Gabanella ◽  
Massimo Ralli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Brain Distribution ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Small Proteins ◽  
Current Review ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Available Information

Neuropeptides are small proteins broadly expressed throughout the central nervous system, which act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neuroregulators. Growing evidence has demonstrated the involvement of many neuropeptides in both neurophysiological functions and neuropathological conditions, among which is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The role exerted by neuropeptides in AD is endorsed by the evidence that they are mainly neuroprotective and widely distributed in brain areas responsible for learning and memory processes. Confirming this point, it has been demonstrated that numerous neuropeptide-containing neurons are pathologically altered in brain areas of both AD patients and AD animal models. Furthermore, the levels of various neuropeptides have been found altered in both Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) and blood of AD patients, getting insights into their potential role in the pathophysiology of AD and offering the possibility to identify novel additional biomarkers for this pathology. We summarized the available information about brain distribution, neuroprotective and cognitive functions of some neuropeptides involved in AD. The main focus of the current review was directed towards the description of clinical data reporting alterations in neuropeptides content in both AD patients and AD pre-clinical animal models. In particular, we explored the involvement in the AD of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH), Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART), Cholecystokinin (CCK), bradykinin and chromogranin/secretogranin family, discussing their potential role as a biomarker or therapeutic target, leaving the dissertation of other neuropeptides to previous reviews.

scholarly journals Some Candidate Drugs for Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Barbara Miziak ◽  
Barbara Błaszczyk ◽  
Stanisław J. Czuczwar
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Brain Ischemia ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Antidepressant Drugs ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Novel Treatments ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Approved Drugs

Alzheimer’s disease (AD; progressive neurodegenerative disorder) is associated with cognitive and functional impairment with accompanying neuropsychiatric symptoms. The available pharmacological treatment is of a symptomatic nature and, as such, it does not modify the cause of AD. The currently used drugs to enhance cognition include an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist (memantine) and cholinesterase inhibitors. The PUBMED, Medical Subject Heading and Clinical Trials databases were used for searching relevant data. Novel treatments are focused on already approved drugs for other conditions and also searching for innovative drugs encompassing investigational compounds. Among the approved drugs, we investigated, are intranasal insulin (and other antidiabetic drugs: liraglitude, pioglitazone and metformin), bexarotene (an anti-cancer drug and a retinoid X receptor agonist) or antidepressant drugs (citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, mirtazapine). The latter, especially when combined with antipsychotics (for instance quetiapine or risperidone), were shown to reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD patients. The former enhanced cognition. Procognitive effects may be also expected with dietary antioxidative and anti-inflammatory supplements—curcumin, myricetin, and resveratrol. Considering a close relationship between brain ischemia and AD, they may also reduce post-brain ischemia neurodegeneration. An investigational compound, CN-105 (a lipoprotein E agonist), has a very good profile in AD preclinical studies, and its clinical trial for postoperative dementia is starting soon.

scholarly journals Loss of microglial SIRPα promotes synaptic pruning in preclinical models of neurodegeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Ding ◽  
Jin Wang ◽  
Miaoxin Huang ◽  
Zhangpeng Chen ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Classical Complement Pathway ◽  
Synaptic Remodeling ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
System Activation ◽  
Knock Out Mice ◽  
Synaptic Pruning

AbstractMicroglia play a key role in regulating synaptic remodeling in the central nervous system. Activation of classical complement pathway promotes microglia-mediated synaptic pruning during development and disease. CD47 protects synapses from excessive pruning during development, implicating microglial SIRPα, a CD47 receptor, in synaptic remodeling. However, the role of microglial SIRPα in synaptic pruning in disease remains unclear. Here, using conditional knock-out mice, we show that microglia-specific deletion of SIRPα results in decreased synaptic density. In human tissue, we observe that microglial SIRPα expression declines alongside the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. To investigate the role of SIRPα in neurodegeneration, we modulate the expression of microglial SIRPα in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Loss of microglial SIRPα results in increased synaptic loss mediated by microglia engulfment and enhanced cognitive impairment. Together, these results suggest that microglial SIRPα regulates synaptic pruning in neurodegeneration.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Stimulation on People with Mild to Moderate Dementia due to Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5290
Author(s):  
Jorge Oliveira ◽  
Pedro Gamito ◽  
Teresa Souto ◽  
Rita Conde ◽  
Maria Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

The use of ecologically oriented approaches with virtual reality (VR) depicting instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) is a promising approach for interventions on acquired brain injuries. However, the results of such an approach on dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are still lacking. This research reports on a pilot randomized controlled trial that aimed to explore the effect of a cognitive stimulation reproducing several IADL in VR on people with mild-to-moderate dementia caused by AD. Patients were recruited from residential care homes of Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Amadora (SCMA), which is a relevant nonprofit social and healthcare provider in Portugal. This intervention lasted two months, with a total of 10 sessions (two sessions/week). A neuropsychological assessment was carried out at the baseline and follow-up using established neuropsychological instruments for assessing memory, attention, and executive functions. The sample consisted of 17 patients of both genders randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The preliminary results suggested an improvement in overall cognitive function in the experimental group, with an effect size corresponding to a large effect in global cognition, which suggests that this approach is effective for neurocognitive stimulation in older adults with dementia, contributing to maintaining cognitive function in AD.

scholarly journals Brain-Derived Exosomal Proteins as Effective Biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 980
Author(s):  
Ka-Young Kim ◽  
Ki-Young Shin ◽  
Keun-A. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Blood Biomarkers ◽  
Cell Lineages ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
New Biomarkers ◽  
T Tau

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disease, affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, which warrants the search for reliable new biomarkers for early diagnosis of AD. Brain-derived exosomal (BDE) proteins, which are extracellular nanovesicles released by all cell lineages of the central nervous system, have been focused as biomarkers for diagnosis, screening, prognosis prediction, and monitoring in AD. This review focused on the possibility of BDE proteins as AD biomarkers. The articles published prior to 26 January 2021 were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library to identify all relevant studies that reported exosome biomarkers in blood samples of patients with AD. From 342 articles, 20 studies were selected for analysis. We conducted a meta-analysis of six BDE proteins and found that levels of amyloid-β42 (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.534, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.595–2.474), total-tau (SMD = 1.224, 95% CI: 0.534–1.915), tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (SMD = 4.038, 95% CI: 2.312-5.764), and tau phosphorylated at serine 396 (SMD = 2.511, 95% CI: 0.795–4.227) were significantly different in patients with AD compared to those in control. Whereas, those of p-tyrosine-insulin receptor substrate-1 and heat shock protein 70 did not show significant differences. This review suggested that Aβ42, t-tau, p-T181-tau, and p-S396-tau could be effective in diagnosing AD as blood biomarkers, despite the limitation in the meta-analysis based on the availability of data. Therefore, certain BDE proteins could be used as effective biomarkers for AD.

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