Adequacy of food consumption in elderly Alzheimer’s disease in a community of Southern Brazil: a Cross-sectional study

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, with a multifactorial etiology, in which the person has great difficulty identifying feelings of hunger, satiety, and feeding, which may affect their nutritional status. Pathologically, it is associated with neurodegeneration of synapses followed by neuronal loss, accompanied by glial proliferation surrounded by neurofibrillary tangles, beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) deposition, inflammation and cerebrovascular injury hindering the ability to perform activities of daily living. This study aimed to analyze quantitatively the differences between an elderly group with AD and a control group, in terms of macro and micronutrient consumption evaluation. Methods: the study involved 69 participants who were assessed via collection of anthropometric measurements (weight, height and body mass index) with nutritional status being assessed by 24-hour food recall and three-day food record. Cognitive assessments were performed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Ranting (CDR). Results: The intake of lipids in patients with severe dementia, was lower (p <0.05). The consumption of proteins showed a decrease with demential advance. For vitamins, there was a significant difference (p <0.05) in the amount of thiamine, niacin, vitamin D, E and K and calcium, chromium and iodine minerals, which were significantly reduced in AD patients (p <0.05). Conclusions: Decreases in macronutrient and micronutrient consumption may result in a consequent impairment of nutritional status, dementia progression, and decreased quality and life expectancy of elderly patients with AD.

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Nutritional status of selenium in Alzheimer's disease patients

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114509992832 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 103 (6) ◽

pp. 803-806 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

Bárbara Rita Cardoso ◽

Thomas Prates Ong ◽

Wilson Jacob-Filho ◽

Omar Jaluul ◽

Maria Isabel d'Ávila Freitas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Neuronal Degeneration ◽

Hydride Generation ◽

Control Group ◽

Food Record ◽

Age Related ◽

Normal Cognitive Function ◽

Dietary Food

Studies have shown that various antioxidants are decreased in different age-related degenerative diseases and thus, oxidative stress would have a central role in the pathogenesis of many disorders that involve neuronal degeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study aimed to assess the nutritional status of Se in AD patients and to compare with control subjects with normal cognitive function. The case–control study was carried out on a group of elderly with AD (n 28) and compared with a control group (n 29), both aged between 60 and 89 years. Se intake was evaluated by using a 3-d dietary food record. Se was evaluated in plasma, erythrocytes and nails by using the method of hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. Deficient Se intake was largely observed in the AD group. AD patients showed significantly lower Se levels in plasma, erythrocytes and nails (32·59 μg/l, 43·74 μg/l and 0·302 μg/g) when compared with the control group (50·99 μg/l, 79·16 μg/l and 0·400 μg/g). The results allowed us to suggest that AD has an important relation with Se deficiency.

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AFFECTIVE THEORY OF MIND IN PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

10.5327/1980-5764.rpda052 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aline De Lucena ◽

Paulo Fernando Santos ◽

Marcia Cristina Dourado

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Emotional State ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Social Situations ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Emotional Reasoning ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Emotional Aspects

Background: In recent years, interest has been growing in cognitive and affective ToM functioning in individuals suffering from neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the affective ToM has been less investigated. Objective: This study aims to compare affective ToM performance in persons with mild to moderate AD and healthy older controls (HOC), and its relationship with cognition. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 97 mild to moderate AD individuals and 40 HOC. To assess affective ToM, participants were administered a task that examines ability to comprehend the emotional situation nature along with the appropriate emotional state that one would experience in that situation. Assessments of cognition, dementia severity, functionality, awareness of disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms were completed for AD group. Results: Analyses of emotional reasoning indicated a group effect on performance. There was a significant difference between the AD and HOC groups in terms of their ability to understand situations of sadness, surprise, anger, and happiness, with the moderate AD showing the worst performance for all emotional situations. Ability to appropriately name the emotional state was significantly different for surprise, anger, and happiness, but not for sadness, with both AD groups showing lower performance for surprise and anger, and with the mild AD showing better performance for happiness. In both AD groups, ability to understand the emotional situation and to name the emotion was significantly correlated with cognitive impairment and awareness of disease. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were significantly correlated in moderate AD group. Conclusions: Impairment in understanding the emotional aspects of situations can lead moderate AD people to experience conflicts in family and social situations. Mild AD people can experience same conflicts when their preserved ability in understanding the emotional situation is underestimated.

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Modulating Effect of Diet on Alzheimer’s Disease

Diseases ◽

10.3390/diseases7010012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Paloma Fernández-Sanz ◽

Daniel Ruiz-Gabarre ◽

Vega García-Escudero

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Inflammatory Response ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Senile Plaques ◽

Neuronal Loss ◽

Pleiotropic Effect ◽

Amyloid Peptide ◽

Dietary Recommendations

As life expectancy is growing, neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are increasing. This disease is characterised by the accumulation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein, senile plaques composed of an extracellular deposit of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), and neuronal loss. This is accompanied by deficient mitochondrial function, increased oxidative stress, altered inflammatory response, and autophagy process impairment. The present study gathers scientific evidence that demonstrates that specific nutrients exert a direct effect on both Aβ production and Tau processing and their elimination by autophagy activation. Likewise, certain nutrients can modulate the inflammatory response and the oxidative stress related to the disease. However, the extent to which these effects come with beneficial clinical outcomes remains unclear. Even so, several studies have shown the benefits of the Mediterranean diet on Alzheimer’s disease, due to its richness in many of these compounds, to which can be attributed their neuroprotective properties due to the pleiotropic effect they show on the aforementioned processes. These indications highlight the potential role of adequate dietary recommendations for clinical management of both Alzheimer’s diagnosed patients and those in risk of developing it, emphasising once again the importance of diet on health.

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Prevalence of Comorbidities in Individuals Diagnosed and Undiagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in León, Spain and a Proposal for Contingency Procedures to Follow in the Case of Emergencies Involving People with Alzheimer’s Disease

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17103398 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (10) ◽

pp. 3398

Author(s):

Macrina Tortajada-Soler ◽

Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón ◽

Marta Blanco-Nistal ◽

José Alberto Benítez-Andrades ◽

Cristina Liébana-Presa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitive Disorders ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Emergency Procedures ◽

And Control ◽

Similar Incidence

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is the most common type of dementia is characterized by mental or cognitive disorders. People suffering with this condition find it inherently difficult to communicate and describe symptoms. As a consequence, both detection and treatment of comorbidities associated with Alzheimer’s disease are substantially impaired. Equally, action protocols in the case of emergencies must be clearly formulated and stated. Methods: We performed a bibliography search followed by an observational and cross-sectional study involving a thorough review of medical records. A group of AD patients was compared with a control group. Each group consisted of 100 people and were all León residents aged ≥65 years. Results: The following comorbidities were found to be associated with AD: cataracts, urinary incontinence, osteoarthritis, hearing loss, osteoporosis, and personality disorders. The most frequent comorbidities in the control group were the following: eye strain, stroke, vertigo, as well as circulatory and respiratory disorders. Comorbidities with a similar incidence in both groups included type 2 diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, depression, obesity, arthritis, and anxiety. We also reviewed emergency procedures employed in the case of an emergency involving an AD patient. Conclusions: Some comorbidities were present in both the AD and control groups, while others were found in the AD group and not in the control group, and vice versa.

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Selenium concentrations in elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease: a cross-sectional study with control group

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0984 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 74 (suppl 2) ◽

Author(s):

Carlos Queiroz do Nascimento ◽

João Araújo Barros-Neto ◽

Nathalia Fidelis Lins Vieira ◽

José Antonio Menezes-Filho ◽

Sabrina Joanny Felizardo Neves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Elderly Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Disease Group ◽

Cross Sectional

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate possible differences in plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of selenium among elderly with and without a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Cross-sectional study, performed with an elderly group with Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosed by a geriatric doctor, and compared to an elderly group without the disease, equaling gender, education, and age. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry determined plasma and erythrocyte concentrations of total selenium (Set). Results: The mean age was 74.41±7.1 years in the Alzheimer’s disease group and 71.46±5.1 years among the control group. The Alzheimer’s disease group presented lower plasma concentrations (mean of 45.29±14.51 µg/dL vs. 55.14±14.01 µg/dL; p=0.004), and erythrocyte Set (median of 56.36 µg/L vs. 76.96 µg/L; p<0.001). The logistic regression model indicated an association between erythrocyte Set concentrations and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (p=0.028). Conclusion: Elderly with Alzheimer’s disease present lower selenium concentrations in the evaluated organic compartments.

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SOCIAL COGNITION AND AWARENESS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.441 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S120-S120

Author(s):

Marcia Dourado ◽

Tatiana Belfort ◽

José Simões Neto

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Social Cognition ◽

Social Functioning ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

Consecutive Series ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Impaired Awareness ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Social cognition is the capacity to interpret and predict another’s behavior according to beliefs, intentions, and emotions, and the ability to decode environmental stimuli in order to be better able to adapt to new situations. A key question is the relationship between social cognition and awareness in dementia. This study aimed to investigate the relation between social and emotional functioning (SEF) and awareness in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a cross-sectional design, a consecutive series of 50 people with mild to moderate AD and their 50 family caregivers were assessed. The study variables were awareness, SEF, neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition, working memory, quality of life, functional activities, presence of depressive symptoms, and caregivers’ burden and cognition. We found a significant difference between self-rated SEF and informant-rated SEF. In 56% of the cases, self-rated SEF was lower than the informant-rated SEF. People with AD mostly (56%) had mildly impaired awareness of disease, 20% had moderate impaired awareness of disease, and 6% were unaware of the disease. A multivariate linear regression examined the association between informant-rated SEF score and the variables. The social functioning and relationship domain of awareness and informant-rated QoL of people with AD were significantly associated with informant-rated SEF. Conclusion: The relationship between informant-rated SEF and awareness of social functioning and relationship supports the multidimensional nature of awareness. SEF and awareness of social functioning shows that they are comprised of judgments related to perceptions about oneself and values qualitatively different from awareness of memory or functionality, which can be directly observed.

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Yishen Huazhuo Decoction Induces Autophagy to Promote the Clearance of Aβ1-42 in SAMP8 Mice: Mechanism Research of a Traditional Chinese Formula Against Alzheimer’s Disease

CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871527319666200604174223 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 276-289

Author(s):

Kai Wang ◽

Weiming Sun ◽

Jiachun Xu ◽

Qijing Qin ◽

Zhen Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Learning And Memory ◽

Neuronal Loss ◽

Tunel Staining ◽

Initiation Increase ◽

Apoptosis Index ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Related Proteins ◽

Samp8 Mice

Background: Studies have found that autophagy could promote the clearance of Aβ. To promote and maintain the occurrence of autophagy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be a potential way to reduce neuronal loss and improve the learning and memory of AD. Objective: To investigate the possible mechanisms of Yishen Huazhuo Decoction (YHD) against AD model. Methods: Forty 7-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model (P8) group and YHD group, 20 in each group, with 20 SAMR1 mice as control (R1) group. All mice were intragastrically administered for 4 weeks, YHD at the dosage of 6.24g/kg for YHD group, and distilled water for P8 group and R1 group. Morris water maze (MWM) test, Nissl’s staining, TEM, TUNEL staining, immunofluorescence double staining, and western blot analysis were applied to learning and memory, structure and ultrastructure of neurons, autophagosome, apoptosis index, Aβ, LAMP1, and autophagy related proteins. Results: The escape latency time of YHD group was significantly shorter on the 4th and 5th day during MWM test than those in P8 group (P=0.011, 0.008<0.05), and the number of crossing platform in YHD group increased significantly (P=0.02<0.05). Nissl’s staining showed that the number of neurons in YHD group increased significantly (P<0.0001). TEM showed in YHD group, the nucleus of neurons was slightly irregular, with slightly reduced organelles, partially fused and blurred cristae and membrane of mitochondria. The apoptosis index of YHD group showed a decreasing trend, without statistically significant difference (P=0.093>0.05), while Caspase3 expression in YHD group was significantly lower (P=0.044<0.05). YHD could promote the clearance of Aβ1-42 protein, improve the expression of Beclin-1 and p-Bcl2 proteins, reduce mTOR and p62 proteins. Conclusions: YHD could induce autophagy initiation, increase the formation of autophagosomes and autolysosome, promote the degradation of autophagy substrates, thereby to regulate autophagy, thereby to promote the clearance of Aβ1-42 to improve memory impairment in SAMP8 mice.

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Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Binding in Platelets From Patients With Alzheimer's Disease or Vascular Dementia

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610200006645 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 537-545 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Olav Spigset ◽

Christer Wilhelmsson ◽

Tom Mjörndal ◽

Sture Eriksson

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Vascular Dementia ◽

Receptor Binding ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Control Group ◽

Receptor Status ◽

Serotonin System ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Scale Scores

It is well known that abnormalities in the brain serotonin system exist in patients with dementia. The present study was performed in order to investigate whether a peripheral serotonin system marker, the platelet 5-HT2A receptor, is affected in dementia. Thirty-eight patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 13 patients with vascular dementia, and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. There were no significant differences in receptor density for 5-HT2A receptor binding between the groups. Affinity of the radioligand to the receptor was significantly lower in AD than in vascular dementia and in the controls (p = .006 and p = .003, respectively), whereas there was no significant difference between the vascular dementia group and the control group. In 12 patients, treatment with citalopram was started due to depression or agitation. This treatment significantly reduced the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale scores (p = .001), but did not affect the platelet 5-HT2A receptor status. There was no correlation between 5-HT2A receptor status before treatment and the therapeutic effect of citalopram. The study indicates that platelet 5-HT2A receptor status is of limited value as a peripheral marker in dementia.

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Reduced expression of SIRT1 and SOD-1 and the correlation between these levels in various regions of the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Journal of Clinical Pathology ◽

10.1136/jclinpath-2018-205320 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 71 (12) ◽

pp. 1090-1099 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kun Cao ◽

Yang-Ting Dong ◽

Jie Xiang ◽

Yi Xu ◽

Wei Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Granule Cells ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Control Group ◽

Braak Stage ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pearson Correlation Test ◽

Weak Expression

AimsThis study was designed to explore the expression and distribution of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) in various regions of the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as to assess potential correlations between the levels of these proteins and also between these proteins and the Braak stage of AD.MethodsIn the temporal and frontal cortices, hippocampus and cerebellum of 10 patients with AD and 10 age-matched control subjects, expression of SIRT1 and SOD-1, together with histopathology, were assessed by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent stainings. Relationships between variables were examined with the Pearson correlation test.ResultsThe numbers of both SIRT1-positive and SOD-1-positive neurons and integrated optical density of immunohistochemical staining for these proteins in the temporal and frontal cortices, and hippocampus of patients with AD were significantly decreased than those in corresponding controls. In the case of the cerebellum, very weak expression of SIRT1 and obvious expression of SOD-1 were observed in granule cells, with no significant difference between AD and the control group. Interestingly, the protein levels between SIRT1 and SOD-1, as well as the level of SIRT1 or SOD-1 and Braak stage, were significantly correlated in neurons in all regions of the AD brains investigated except for the cerebellum.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that the reduced level of SIRT1 in the brains of patients with AD may be related to the decline in SOD-1 and neuropathological changes of this disorder.

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Testosterone profile in older men with Alzheimer's disease

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-57642009dn20400010 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 289-293

Author(s):

Cristiana Roscito Arenella Dusi ◽

Lílian Schafirovits Morillo ◽

Regina Miksian Magaldi ◽

Adriana Nunes Machado ◽

Sami Liberman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Free Testosterone ◽

Older Men ◽

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽

Control Group ◽

Total Testosterone ◽

Chi Square ◽

Testosterone Levels ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Evidence suggests low testosterone levels in Alzheimer's disease. Objectives: To compare testosterone levels between older men with and without Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Fourteen men with Alzheimer's disease were compared with twenty eight men without dementia. Demographic variables and clinical profiles were analyzed. Within fifteen days before or after the described evaluation, measures of total testosterone and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) were performed. Free testosterone level was calculated based on total testosterone and SHBG. Quantitative variables were analyzed using Student's t test or Kruskal-Wallis test, while qualitative variables were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher test. Results: Mean age in the Control and Alzheimer's disease groups were 72.0 (SD±4.8) years and 79.3(SD±5.9) years, respectively (p=0.001). Mean schooling between these two groups were 8.78 and (±5.86) years, respectively (p=0.022). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for testosterone levels, although a trend was observed for the Alzheimer's disease group to present lower levels than the control group (p=0.066). There was no direct correlation between free testosterone and age, although a trend was evident (p=0.068). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in testosterone between men with AD and those without dementia.

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