Long-term Physical Exercise Improves Finger Tapping of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linlin Zhao ◽  
Guanghua Liu ◽  
Lingli Zhang ◽  
Yuxiang Du ◽  
Le Lei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Finger Tapping ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
The Impact

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease which has been characterized by progressive development of long onset early disease with complicated etiology, and may cause memory loss, cognitive impairment, and behavioral changes. Physical exercise may play a preventive role in AD. In the present study, we investigated the impact of longer-term physical exercise on finger tapping of AD patient by comparing the finger tapping of AD patients and heathy controls without AD. Methods: In this study, 140 subjects who aged ≥ 60 years were enrolled. Group A consisted of 70 subjects (27 males and 43 females) without exercise habits who selected from Yangpu District (Shanghai, China). Group B consisted of 70 subjects (27 males and 43 females) who selected from Minxing District (Shanghai, China). All the subjects were right-handed as well. The subjects’ data, including subjects’ age, weight, height, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and finger tapping frequency were measured. Results: The subjects were matched in age, weight, and height. The AD subjects’ MoCA and MMSE scores were noticeably lower than healthy subjects’ scores (P<0.001); besides, AD patients with exercise have significantly lower MoCA and MMSE scores than healthy controls with exercise (P<0.001). The finger tapping of AD subjects’ left hands was significantly lower than that of healthy subjects without AD (P<0.01), and AD subjects with exercise tapped significantly slower with left hand than healthy subjects with exercise (P<0.01). Meanwhile, AD subjects with exercise tapped significantly faster with left hand than AD subjects (P<0.05). The right hands of AD subjects tapped remarkably less than healthy subjects (P<0.01) with or without exercise. Meanwhile, subjects with exercise tapped significantly faster with right hand than healthy subjects (P<0.05), and AD subjects with exercise tapped significantly faster with right hand than AD subjects (P<0.05). Conclusion: Long-term physical exercises can improve finger tapping frequency, especially patients with AD. Finger tapping frequency may be used as an index to monitor cognitive decline in ageing AD patients.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Long-Term Rivastigmine and Donepezil Treatment on All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 385-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Kazmierski ◽  
Chaido Messini-Zachou ◽  
Mara Gkioka ◽  
Magda Tsolaki
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Symptomatic Treatment ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Functional Assessments ◽  
The Impact

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are the mainstays of symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, their efficacy is limited, and their use was associated with deaths in some groups of patients. The aim of the current study was to assess the impact of the long-term use of ChEIs on mortality in patients with AD. This observational, longitudinal study included 1171 adult patients with a diagnosis of AD treated with donepezil or rivastigmine. Each patient was observed for 24 months or until death. The cognitive and functional assessments, the use of ChEIs, memantine, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anxiolytics were recorded. The total number of deaths at the end of the observational period was 99 (8.45%). The patients who had received rivastigmine treatment were at an increased risk of death in the follow-up period. The higher risk of death in the rivastigmine group remained significant in multivariate Cox regression models.

scholarly journals Astrocyte remodeling in the beneficial effects of long-term voluntary exercise in Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Belaya ◽  
Mariia Ivanova ◽  
Annika Sorvari ◽  
Marina Ilicic ◽  
Sanna Loppi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Neuronal Loss ◽  
Voluntary Exercise ◽  
Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
5Xfad Mice

Abstract Background Increased physical exercise improves cognitive function and reduces pathology associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise in AD on the level of specific brain cell types remain poorly investigated. The involvement of astrocytes in AD pathology is widely described, but their exact role in exercise-mediated neuroprotection warrant further investigation. Here, we investigated the effect of long-term voluntary physical exercise on the modulation of the astrocyte state. Methods Male 5xFAD mice and their wild-type littermates had free access to a running wheel from 1.5 to 7 months of age. A battery of behavioral tests was used to assess the effects of voluntary exercise on cognition and learning. Neuronal loss, impairment in neurogenesis, beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, and inflammation were evaluated using a variety of histological and biochemical measurements. Sophisticated morphological analyses were performed to delineate the specific involvement of astrocytes in exercise-induced neuroprotection in the 5xFAD mice. Results Long-term voluntary physical exercise reversed cognitive impairment in 7-month-old 5xFAD mice without affecting neurogenesis, neuronal loss, Aβ plaque deposition, or microglia activation. Exercise increased glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity and the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes in 5xFAD hippocampi. GFAP-positive astrocytes in hippocampi of the exercised 5xFAD mice displayed increases in the numbers of primary branches and in the soma area. In general, astrocytes distant from Aβ plaques were smaller in size and possessed simplified processes in comparison to plaque-associated GFAP-positive astrocytes. Morphological alterations of GFAP-positive astrocytes occurred concomitantly with increased astrocytic brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and restoration of postsynaptic protein PSD-95. Conclusions Voluntary physical exercise modulates the reactive astrocyte state, which could be linked via astrocytic BDNF and PSD-95 to improved cognition in 5xFAD hippocampi. The molecular pathways involved in this modulation could potentially be targeted for benefit against AD.

Assessing the Impact of Factors that Influence the Ketogenic Response to Varying Doses of Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Oil

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
A.G. Juby ◽  
D.R. Brocks ◽  
D.A. Jay ◽  
C.M.J. Davis ◽  
D.R. Mager
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Medium Chain Triglyceride ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Medium Chain ◽  
Waist Hip Ratio ◽  
The Impact

Objectives, Design, Setting: The ketogenic effect of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil offers potential for Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment. Limited literature suggests a linear B-hyroxybutyrate (BHB) response to increasing MCT doses. This pharmacokinetic study evaluates factors affecting BHB response in three subject groups. Participants: Healthy subjects without cognitive deficits <65years, similarly healthy subjects >=65years, and those with Alzheimer’s Disease were assessed. Intervention: Different doses (0g,14g, 28g, 42g) of MCT oil (99.3% C8:0) were administered, followed by fasting during the study period. Measurements: BHB measured by finger prick sampling hourly for 5 hours after ingestion. Each subject attended four different days for each ascending dose. Data was also collected on body composition, BMI, waist/hip ratio, grip strength, gait speed, nutrient content of pre-study breakfast and side effects. Results: Twenty-five participants: eight healthy; average age of 44yr (25-61), nine healthy; 79yr (65-90) and eight with AD; 78.6yr (57-86) respectively. Compiled data showed the expected linear dose response relationship. No group differences, with baseline corrected area under the blood vs. time curve (r2=0.98) and maximum concentrations (r2=0.97). However, there was notable individual variability in maximum BHB response (42g dose: 0.4 -2.1mM), and time to reach maximum BHB response both, within and between individuals. Variability was unrelated to age, sex, sarcopenic or AD status. Visceral fat, BMI, waist/hip ratio and pretest meal CHO and protein content all affected the BHB response (p<0.001). Conclusion: There was a large inter-individual variability, with phenotype effects identified. This highlights challenges in interpreting clinical responses to MCT intake.

scholarly journals Long-Term Perseveration in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case Report

1991 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-233
Author(s):  
Edith V. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Clinical Sign ◽  
Parietal Cortex ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Perseverative Response ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Alzheimer Pathology

The most common clinical sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is progressive memory loss. Presented here is a case of AD who, despite ultimate profound dementia with severe amnesia, showed retention of a perseverative response she developed during 26 encounters, over 4.5 years, with the Brown–Peterson distractor test. From Test 9 onwards, she responded from the first distractor-filled trial with one consonant trigram, appearing in none of the seven test forms given her. At Test 26, she could not repeat heard trigrams yet faithfully responded with her perseverative trigram. The trigram, ostensibly declarative information, apparently became part and parcel of the task's procedure. Although perseveration is a form of impairment probably resulting from Alzheimer pathology involving frontal and parietal cortex, it may also reflect a form of preserved memory, albeit distorted, supported by posterior cortical regions spared in AD.

scholarly journals Biomarkers to Evaluate Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration: Old Drugs, New Concerns

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vérane Achard ◽  
Kelly Ceyzériat ◽  
Benjamin B. Tournier ◽  
Giovanni B. Frisoni ◽  
Valentina Garibotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Androgen Deprivation Therapy ◽  
Androgen Deprivation ◽  
Cortical Activation ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
The Impact

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a standard treatment for prostate cancer patients, routinely used in the palliative or in the curative setting in association with radiotherapy. Among the systemic long-term side effects of ADT, growing data suggest a potentially increased risk of dementia/Alzheimer’s disease in prostate cancer patients treated with hormonal manipulation. While pre-clinical data suggest that androgen ablation may have neurotoxic effects due to Aβ accumulation and increased tau phosphorylation in small animal brains, clinical studies have measured the impact of ADT on long-term cognitive function, with conflicting results, and studies on biological changes after ADT are still lacking. The aim of this review is to report on the current evidence on the association between the ADT use and the risk of cognitive impairment in prostate cancer patients. We will focus on the contribution of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, namely through imaging, to investigate potential ADT-induced brain modifications. The evidence from these preliminary studies shows brain changes in gray matter volume, cortical activation and metabolism associated with ADT, however with a large variability in biomarker selection, ADT duration and cognitive outcome. Importantly, no study investigated yet biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, namely amyloid and tau. These preliminary data emphasize the need for larger targeted investigations.

Assessment of Memory Impairment in Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 975-985
Author(s):  
Martin Vyhnálek ◽  
Hana Marková ◽  
Jan Laczó ◽  
Rossana De Beni ◽  
Santo Di Nuovo
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Memory Assessment ◽  
Memory Binding

Memory impairment has been considered as one of the earliest clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. This paper summarizes recent progress in the assessment of memory impairment in predementia stages. New promising approaches of memory assessment include evaluation of longitudinal cognitive changes, assessment of long-term memory loss, evaluation of subjective cognitive concerns and testing of other memory modalities, such as spatial memory. In addition, we describe new challenging memory tests based on memory binding paradigms that have been recently developed and are currently being validated.

scholarly journals Ganglion Cell Layer Thinning in Alzheimer’s Disease

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 553
Author(s):  
Alicia López-de-Eguileta ◽  
Andrea Cerveró ◽  
Ainara Ruiz de Sabando ◽  
Pascual Sánchez-Juan ◽  
Alfonso Casado
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Ganglion Cell Layer ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Preclinical Ad ◽  
Future Direction ◽  
The Impact

The main advantages of optical retinal imaging may allow researchers to achieve deeper analysis of retinal ganglion cells (GC) in vivo using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Using this device to elucidate the impact of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) on retinal health with the aim to identify a new AD biomarker, a large amount of studies has analyzed GC in different stages of the disease. Our review highlights recent knowledge into measuring retinal morphology in AD making distinctive between whether those studies included patients with clinical dementia stage or also mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which selection criteria were applied to diagnosed patients included, and which device of OCT was employed. Despite several differences, previous works found a significant thinning of GC layer in patients with AD and MCI. In the long term, an important future direction is to achieve a specific ocular biomarker with enough sensitivity to reveal preclinical AD disorder and to monitor progression.

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