scholarly journals A rapid and sensitive fluorescence method for detecting urine formaldehyde in patients with Alzheimer’s disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Ai ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Tingting Li ◽  
Chang Zhao ◽  
Yonghe Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Reference Method ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Fluorescence Detector ◽  
Limits Of Detection ◽  
Severe Degree ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Examination

Background Morning urine formaldehyde concentrations could predict the severe degree of dementia in patients with post-stroke dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the routinely available technique of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for detecting urine formaldehyde requires expensive and sophisticated equipment. Methods We established a fluorescence spectrophotometric method by using a formaldehyde-specific fluorescent probe-NaFA (λex/em = 430/543 nm). As a standard reference method, the same batch of urine samples was analysed by HPLC with a fluorescence detector (λex/em = 346/422 nm). Then we compared the limits of detection and the limits of quantization detected by these two methods and addressed the relationship between urine formaldehyde and human cognitive ability. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating and Activities of Daily Living scale were used to evaluate cognition function in 30 Alzheimer’s disease patients and 52 healthy age-matched controls. Results Limits of detection and limits of quantization (1.27 and 2.48 μM) of the NaFA probe method were more accurate than Fluo-HPLC (1.52 and 2.91 μM). There was no difference in the detected formaldehyde values within day and day-to-day. Notably, only 3/82 urine formaldehyde concentrations detected by NaFA probe were below zero, while 12/82 of the values analysed by Fluo-HPLC were abnormal. More importantly, there were negatively correlated between urine formaldehyde concentrations detected by NaFA probe and MMSE scores, but positively correlated with Clinical Dementia Rating scores in Alzheimer’s disease patients. Conclusions This detecting urine formaldehyde method by NaFA probe was more rapid, sensitive and accurate than Fluo-HPLC.

scholarly journals Apathy in Alzheimer's disease: Contribution to a clinical view on progression of dementia

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florindo Stella ◽  
Larissa Pires de Andrade ◽  
Thays Martins Vital ◽  
Flávia Gomes de Melo Coelho ◽  
Carla Manuela Crispim Nascimento ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Global Deterioration Scale ◽  
Severe Dementia ◽  
Coefficient Corrélation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Examination

Abstract In addition to cognitive impairment, apathy is increasingly recognized as an important neuropsychiatric syndrome in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aims: To identify the relationship between dementia severity and apathy levels, and to discuss the association of this condition with other psychopathological manifestations in AD patients. Methods: This study involved 15 AD patients (mean age: 77 years; schooling: 4.9 years), with mild, moderate and severe dementia, living in Rio Claro SP, Brazil. Procedures included evaluation of cognitive status by the Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, and Global Deterioration Scale. Apathy syndrome was assessed by the Apathy Evaluation Scale and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-apathy domain). Other psychopathological manifestations such as depression were also considered. Results: Patients with more severe dementia presented higher levels of apathy, reinforcing the hypothesis that apathy severity aggravates as the disease progresses. Using the Spearman coefficient correlation an association was identified between the MMSE and Apathy Evaluation Scale (r=0.63; p=0.01), and also between the MMSE and NPI-apathy domain (r=0.81; p=0.01). Associations were also found between the Global Deterioration Scale and Apathy Evaluation Scale (r=0.58; p=0.02), and between the Global Deterioration Scale and NPI-apathy domain (r=0.81; p=0.01). Conclusions: Apathy is a distinct syndrome among patients with AD and increases with global deterioration.

scholarly journals Educational bias in the assessment of severe dementia: Brazilian cutoffs for severe Mini-Mental State Examination

2014 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Roberto Wajman ◽  
Fabricio Ferreira de Oliveira ◽  
Rodrigo Rizek Schultz ◽  
Sheilla de Medeiros Correia Marin ◽  
Paulo Henrique Ferreira Bertolucci
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Cognitive Responses ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Severe Dementia ◽  
Advanced Stages ◽  
State Examination

Cognitive assessment in advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is limited by the imprecision of most instruments. Objective: To determine objective cognitive responses in moderate and severe AD patients by way of the Severe Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE), and to correlate performances with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Method: Consecutive outpatients in moderate and severe stages of AD (Clinical Dementia Rating 2.0 or 3.0) were evaluated and compared according to MMSE and SMMSE scores. Results: Overall 400 patients were included, 67.5% females, mean age 76.6±6.7 years-old. There was no significant impact of age or gender over MMSE or SMMSE scores. Mean schooling was 4.4±2.5 years, impacting SMMSE scores (p=0.008). Scores on MMSE and SMMSE were significantly correlated (F-ratio=690.6325, p<0.0001). Conclusion: The SMMSE is influenced by schooling, but not by age or gender, and is an accurate test for assessment of moderate and severe AD.

scholarly journals Evaluating Digital Device Technology in Alzheimer's Disease via Artificial Intelligence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meemansa Sood ◽  
Mohamed Aborageh ◽  
Daniel Domingo-Fernandez ◽  
Robbert Harms ◽  
Thomas Lordick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Functional Activity Questionnaire ◽  
Diagnostic Benefit ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Examination ◽  
Device Technology ◽  
Activity Questionnaire

The use of digital technologies may help to diagnose Alzheimer's Disease (AD) at the pre-symptomatic stage. However, before implementation into clinical practice, digital measures (DMs) need to be evaluated for their diagnostic benefit compared to established questionnaire-based assessments, such as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Functional Activity Questionnaire (FAQ). We analyzed data from smartphone based virtual reality game and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We employed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based approach to elucidate the relationship of DMs to MMSE and FAQ. Furthermore, we used Machine Learning (ML) and statistical methods to assess the diagnostic benefit of DMs compared to questionnaire-based scores. We found non-trivial relationships between DMs, MMSE, and FAQ which can be visualized as a complex network. DM showed a better ability to discriminate between different stages of the disease than questionnaire-based methods. Our results indicate that DMs have the potential to act as a crucial measure in the early diagnosis and staging of AD.

Gut Microbiota Changes and Their Correlation with Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Yunzhe Zhou ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Meina Quan ◽  
Huiying Zhao ◽  
Jianping Jia
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
State Examination

Background: Gut microbiota can influence human brain function and behavior. Recent studies showed that gut microbiota might play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective: To investigate the composition of gut microbiota in AD patients and their association with cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). Methods: The fecal samples from 60 AD patients (30 with NPS and 30 without NPS) and 32 healthy control subjects (HC) were collected and analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. The functional variations of gut microbiota were predicted using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States. The correlation between different bacterial taxa and cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)), and NPS measures were analyzed. Results: The fecal microbial composition of AD patients was quite distinct from HC. Bifidobacterium, Sphingomonas, Lactobacillus, and Blautia were enriched, while Odoribacter, Anaerobacterium, and Papillibacter were reduced. AD patients with NPS showed decreased Chitinophagaceae, Taibaiella, and Anaerobacterium compared with those without NPS. Functional pathways were different between AD and HC, and between AD patients with and without NPS. Correlation analysis showed that Sphingomonas correlated negatively with MMSE; Anaerobacterium and Papillibacter correlated positively with MMSE and negatively with CDR. Cytophagia, Rhodospirillaceae, and Cellvibrio correlated positively with NPS, while Chitinophagaceae, Taibaiella, and Anaerobacterium correlated negatively with NPS. Conclusion: AD patients have gut microbiota alterations related to cognition, and differential taxa between AD patients with and without NPS associated differently with NPS domains, which helps further understand the pathogenesis of AD and explore potential therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Polypharmacy in Alzheimer's disease patients in Brazil: Guidance for pharmaceutical assistance

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Nathanael Coelho Vaz ◽  
Luana Bortoluzzi Trombim ◽  
Guilherme Barroso L. de Freitas ◽  
Maria Vaitsa Loch Haskel ◽  
Giovana dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
The Body ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
State Examination

Background: Elderly patients frequently have concomitant diseases, triggering the necessity of utilizing several different medications, which can cause adverse events associated with therapy, called polypharmacy. This study aimed to evaluate the main concomitant diseases with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and discuss possible interactions between drugs utilized to treat dementia and its comorbidities, and indicate safe medicines for patients with AD. Methods: 41 individuals with AD who withdraw medicines for dementia from the Brazilian public health system (SUS) participated in this study. Data collection was performed using three questionnaires: 1) Clinical Dementia Rating, to verify disease stage; 2) Mini–mental state examination, to measure cognitive impairment; and 3) Sociodemographic analysis, to evaluate concomitant diseases, utilized drugs, drug-drug interactions, among other demographic variables. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS and data was presented as relative frequency. Results: The results of this study showed that the most frequent concomitant diseases with AD are: systemic arterial hypertension, depression, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia. Polypharmacy was observed in 95.12% of patients. The pharmacologic classes that presented interactions with AD medications were anxiolytics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, and antidiabetics. Conclusion: In the present study, polypharmacy in patients with AD and other concomitant diseases has been characterized. The average number of drugs that these patients ingested was seven per day, and this leads to drug interactions, which are potentially damaging to the body. Consequently, we have tried to reduce these interactions, by suggesting drugs that are safer, for example furosemide instead of amlodipine to treat hypertension.

scholarly journals C-10 Interaction of ApoE4 and Gender in Neuropsychiatric Presentation in Probable Alzheimer’s Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1037-1037
Author(s):  
C Alexander ◽  
J Suhr
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Apoe4 Allele ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Examination

Abstract Objective Individuals with probable Alzheimer’s disease (pAD) often have neuropsychiatric symptoms; however, the relationship of these symptoms and ApoE4 status is unclear. Recent research suggests gender moderates the relationship of ApoE4 to AD. We examined how ApoE4 genetic status and gender predict neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with pAD. Method Data from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Centers (NACC) was utilized in the present study. We included only individuals diagnosed with pAD with collaterals who were judged reliable by clinical NACC staff and who saw the participant at least three times per week. The selected sample (N = 6943) was 52% male; 85.6% White, 10.2% African American; and 7.5% Hispanic. Average age was 73 years. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire, completed by the participant’s collateral, was used to assess symptoms. Analyses controlled for age and cognitive impairment as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results The presence of at least one ApoE4 allele predicted higher severity of delusions, p = .04. Males had higher severity of agitation, apathy, and irritability; females had higher delusions, depression, and anxiety, all p’s < .05. Gender moderated the relationship of ApoE4 with disinhibition, night disturbances, and appetite, all p’s < .05. In all three cases, for males, scores were higher for non-carriers than for ApoE4 carriers; however, for females, differences did not exist between carriers and non-carriers. Conclusions Differences between ApoE4 carriers and non-carriers as well as between genders are demonstrated, and evidence supports the hypothesis that gender and ApoE4 status interact to predict some pAD neuropsychiatric symptomatology.

scholarly journals A Case Report of a Patient with Mild Cognitive Impairment Treated with Gugijihwang-tang

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 1082-1093
Author(s):  
Mi-so Park ◽  
Seock-man Kang ◽  
Dai-won Yoo ◽  
In-cheol Chae ◽  
Gyeong-soon Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Treatment Method ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Irreversible Brain Damage ◽  
State Examination ◽  
With Memory

Objective: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive, irreversible brain damage and cognitive decline. Although the diagnosis and treatment of the prodromal symptoms of dementia are important, no treatment for mild cognitive impairment has been currently established. Herein, we report the case of an 80-year-old female patient with memory complaints treated with Gugijihwang-tang, a traditional Korean medicine herbal formula, as an add-on medication.Case Presentation: The patient was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment based on clinical examinations using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale, Global Deterioration (GDR) Scale, and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale. She was treated with Gugijihwang-tang bis in die for 12 months while continuing her original medications, including 5-mg donepezil and 590-mg acetyl-l-carnitine. The MMSE score in the Korean Version of the CERAD Assessment Packet increased from 21 to 27 during the 12-month treatment period, and the CERAD 2 score increased from 33 to 62. The instrumental ADL scale score improved from 11 to 5. Other clinical examination results also showed improvement. The patient was satisfied and experienced no significant adverse events related to the Gugijihwang-tang treatment.Conclusion: This case suggests that Gugijihwang-tang could be considered as a treatment method for patients with mild cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Relationship between Performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination Sub-Items and Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1537
Author(s):  
Gwanghee Han ◽  
Michio Maruta ◽  
Yuriko Ikeda ◽  
Tomohisa Ishikawa ◽  
Hibiki Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Examination

Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) subitems provide useful information about the cognitive status of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). If the relationship between MMSE subitems and activities of daily living (ADL) can be shown, the performance of sub-items can predict ADL status and may provide useful information for early ADL intervention. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between MMSE subitem scores and ADL. The study sample consisted of 718 patients with AD. Logistic regression analysis using the Physical Self-maintenance Scale (PSMS) and Lawton’s Instrumental ADL (L-IADL) was performed with each of the subitems as the dependent variables and the MMSE subitem as the independent variable. As a result, the subitems of MMSE, which are strongly related to each item in PSMS differed (e.g., toilet: registration odds ratio 3.00, grooming: naming 3.66). In the case of L-IADL, most items were strongly associated with “writing” (e.g., shopping: odds ratio 4.29, laundry 3.83). In clinical practice, we often focus only on the total MMSE score in patients with AD. However, the relationship between each MMSE subitem and ADL suggested in this study may be useful information that can be linked to ADL care from the performance of the MMSE subitem.

scholarly journals Effects of Dog-Assisted Therapies on Cognitive Mnemonic Capabilities in People Affected by Alzheimer’s Disease

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1366
Author(s):  
Fausto Quintavalla ◽  
Simona Cao ◽  
Diana Spinelli ◽  
Paolo Caffarra ◽  
Fiammetta M. Rossi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Disease Assessment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Assessment Tests ◽  
Brief Assessment ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Examination

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in humans and, currently, a valid treatment is lacking. Our goal is to demonstrate the importance and benefits of the relationship with companion animals (considered as co-therapists), intended as a means of facilitating social relations and promoting evident wellbeing in AD patients. The study involved 30 randomly chosen patients with Alzheimer’s disease (group T) and three dogs. The group participated in a total of 24 animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) sessions over a span of 12 weeks, using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Wellness and Cognitive Ability Questionnaire (Brief Assessment Cognition or BAC), and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) as assessment tests. A second group (group C), consisting of 10 people with AD, was enrolled as control group and underwent the same assessment tests but did not benefit from the presence of the dogs. Tests were carried out at time T0 (before starting sessions), T1 (end of sessions), and T2 (two months after last session). People belonging to group T achieved an overall improvement in their perceived state of wellbeing, even on a cognitive and mnemonic plane. However, two months after the end of the sessions, the test results in people suffering from AD decreased towards the baseline (T0). The study shows how such progress can be achieved through activities based on the relationship with an animal, as long as the animal is a steady presence in the life of the patient receiving the intervention. Dogs involved in other dog-assisted therapies have been found suitable also for assisting patients with AD.

Is there an MCI reversion to cognitively normal? Analysis of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers profiles

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moon Ho Park ◽  
Changsu Han
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Disease Biomarkers ◽  
State Examination ◽  
Fluid Imaging

ABSTRACTBackground:We investigated the characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) reversion to cognitively normal (CN).Methods:Of a total of 1,233 participants from the ADNI database, 42 participants with MCI reversion to CN (MCIr), 778 with MCI, and 413 CN were obtained. We evaluated demographics, clinical outcomes, medication use, MCI type, and AD biomarkers, including genetic, cerebrospinal fluid, imaging, and neuropsychological data.Results:This study showed that the differences between MCIr and CN were only age, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Clinical Dementia Rating – Sum of Boxes, but the differences between MCIr and MCI were not only clinical outcomes but also AD biomarkers, including genetic, cerebrospinal fluid, imaging, and neuropsychological data. Overall, MCIr may be similar to CN and not MCI in clinical characteristics.Conclusions:With assessment of MCI reversion to CN, the possibility of false-positive errors should be considered. With the assistance of AD biomarkers, MCI can be evaluated more accurately than the conventional criteria.

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