Odor identification and cognitive abilities in Alzheimer’s disease

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mladenka Tkalčić ◽  
Nika Spasić ◽  
Matea Ivanković ◽  
Alessandra Pokrajac-Bulian ◽  
Daša Bosanac
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Odor Identification ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Neuropsychological Measures ◽  
Category Fluency

AbstractResearch results indicate systemic odor identification deficits in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aims of this study were: 1) to compare the ability to identify different odors and to compare cognitive status among patients with AD, patients with vascular dementia (VaD) and a comparison group of elderly persons; 2) to test the efficiency of olfactory and neuropsychological measures to classify patients and 3) to relate the odor identification ability with cognitive functioning for each group, respectively. The participants were 15 patients with AD, 11 patients with VaD and 30 non-demented elderly persons, age range 58 to 90. To assess olfactory function, we used the Scandinavian Odor-Identification Test. To assess cognitive functions, we used the Dementia Rating Scale-2, the Clock Drawing Test, the Boston Naming Test and the Category Fluency Test. The ANOVA showed that patients with AD correctly identifed significantly fewer odors presented to them compared to patients with VaD and control group. Patients with AD achieved significantly lower scores on all neuropsychological measures compared to the control group and differ in the DRS-2 total score, initiation/perseveration, constructive and naming abilities comparing to patients with VaD. Discriminant analysis showed that category fluency and olfactory identification were the best predictors of AD. Significant correlations were found between the olfactory and initiation/perseveration, memory and animal naming abilities for patients with AD. Differences among patients with AD, VaD and elderly persons exist in their abilities to identify odors. The findings suggest that olfactory functional testing in combination with memory testing are important.

scholarly journals Alexithymia in Alzheimer’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Eva Mª Arroyo-Anlló ◽  
Corinne Souchaud ◽  
Pierre Ingrand ◽  
Jorge Chamorro Sánchez ◽  
Alejandra Melero Ventola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control

Alexithymia is widely recognized as the inability to identify and express emotions. It is a construct which consists of four cognitive traits such as difficulty in identifying feelings, describing feelings to others, externally oriented thinking, and limited imaginative capacity. Several studies have linked alexithymia to cognitive functioning, observing greater alexithymia scores associated with poorer cognitive abilities. Despite Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being a neurodegenerative pathology characterized by cognitive troubles from the early stages, associated to behavioral and emotional disturbances, very few investigations have studied the alexithymia in AD. These studies have shown that alexithymia scores—assessed with Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS)—were greater in AD patients than healthy participants. The objective of the study was to investigate if the alexithymia was present in patients with mild AD. We hypothesized that the AD group would show more alexithymia features than the control group. We evaluated 54 subjects, including 27 patients diagnosed with mild AD and 27 normal healthy controls, using the Shalling Sifneos Psychosomatic Scale (SSPS-R) and a neuropsychological test battery. Using non-parametric statistical analyses—Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney U tests—we observed that the SSPS-R scores were similar in the AD and control groups. All participants showed SSPS-R scores below to 10 points, which means no-alexithymia. We did not find significant correlations between SSPS-R scores and cognitive variables in both groups (p > 0.22), but we observed a negative association between name abilities and alexithymia, but it does not reach to significance (p = 0.07). However, a significant correlation between SSPS-R score and mood state, assessed using Zerssen Rating Scale, was found in both groups (p = 0.01). Because we did not find a significant difference in the alexithymia assessment between both subject groups, pot hoc analyses were computed for each item of the SSPS-R. We made comparisons of alexithymic responses percentages in each SSPS-R item between AD and control groups, using Fisher’s test. We observed that AD patients produced more alexithymic responses in some items of SSPS-R test than the control group, particularly about difficulties to find the words to describe feelings, as well as difficulties of imagination capacity and externally oriented thinking. The present results do not confirm our hypothesis and they do not support the results of previous studies revealing great alexithymia in AD.

scholarly journals Predictors of rapid cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease: results from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of ageing

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Sona ◽  
Ping Zhang ◽  
David Ames ◽  
Ashley I. Bush ◽  
Nicola T. Lautenschlager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Imaging Biomarkers ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Biological Variables ◽  
Rapid Cognitive Decline

ABSTRACTBackground: The AIBL study, which commenced in November 2006, is a two-center prospective study of a cohort of 1112 volunteers aged 60+. The cohort includes 211 patients meeting NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) (180 probable and 31 possible). We aimed to identify factors associated with rapid cognitive decline over 18 months in this cohort of AD patients.Methods: We defined rapid cognitive decline as a drop of 6 points or more on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) between baseline and 18-month follow-up. Analyses were also conducted with a threshold of 4, 5, 7 and 8 points, as well as with and without subjects who had died or were too severely affected to be interviewed at 18 months and after, both including and excluding subjects whose AD diagnosis was “possible” AD. We sought correlations between rapid cognitive decline and demographic, clinical and biological variables.Results: Of the 211 AD patients recruited at baseline, we had available data for 156 (73.9%) patients at 18 months. Fifty-one patients were considered rapid cognitive decliners (32.7%). A higher Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) and higher CDR “sum of boxes” score at baseline were the major predictors of rapid cognitive decline in this population. Furthermore, using logistic regression model analysis, patients treated with a cholinesterase inhibitor (CheI) had a higher risk of being rapid cognitive decliners, as did males and those of younger age.Conclusions: Almost one third of patients satisfying established research criteria for AD experienced rapid cognitive decline. Worse baseline functional and cognitive status and treatment with a CheI were the major factors associated with rapid cognitive decline over 18 months in this population.

scholarly journals Callosal Atrophy Correlates with Temporal Lobe Volume and Mental Status in Alzheimer's Disease

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 204-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra E. Black ◽  
Scott D. Moffat ◽  
David C. Yu ◽  
Jayson Parker ◽  
Peter Stanchev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Temporal Lobe ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Anterior Commissure ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Temporal Lobes ◽  
Cerebral Commissures ◽  
State Examination

Background:Recent studies have reported significant atrophy of the corpus callosum (CC) in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, it is currently unknown whether CC atrophy is associated with specific cortical volume changes in AD. Moreover, possible atrophy in extra-callosal commissures has not been examined to date. The purpose of the present study was to quantify atrophy in two cerebral commissures [the CC and the anterior commissure (AC)], to correlate this measure with cognitive status, and to relate commissural size to independent measures of temporal lobe volume in AD patients.Methods:A sample of AD patients and of age- and education-matched normal control subjects (NCs) underwent MRI and a cognitive test battery including the Dementia Rating Scale and Mini Mental State examination. Mid-sagittal regional areas within CC and AC were measured along with superior, middle and inferior temporal lobes volumes.Results:Alzheimer's Disease patients had significantly smaller callosa than did NCs. The callosal regions most affected in AD included the midbody, isthmus and genu. The isthmus and midbody areas of the CC were positively correlated with cognitive performance and with superior temporal lobe volume in AD patients. The mid-sagittal area of the AC and the superior temporal volumes did not differ between AD patients and NCs.Conclusion:The study demonstrated that the regional morphology of the CC correlates with current cognitive status and temporal lobe atrophy in AD. As well, the lack of difference for the AC suggests that commissural atrophy in AD is regionally specific.

scholarly journals Treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction with novel butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Zakošek Pipan ◽  
Sonja Prpar Mihevc ◽  
Malan Štrbenc ◽  
Urban Košak ◽  
Ilija German Ilić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Dysfunction ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Moderate Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Interesting Candidate ◽  
Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitor

AbstractCanine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is common in aged dogs and has many similarities with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, like Alzheimer’s disease, CCD cannot be cured. In the present study, we treated dogs with CCD with our newly developed and characterized butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor (BChEi). Seventeen dogs were randomized into two groups (treated with BChEi and untreated) and followed for 6 months at regular check-ups. The dogs’ cognitive status was determined by a Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) questionnaire and two cognitive tests. In dogs with moderate cognitive impairment, treatment caused significant improvement in the clinical rating of cognitive abilities and the performance-based tests of cognitive functioning when compared to the untreated group (p < 0.001). Dogs treated with BChEi showed markedly improved cognitive function with enhanced quality of life. No side effects were observed in the treated dogs with moderate cognitive impairment. According to the results of this preliminary study, there is an indication that novel BChEi may be a promising drug for the treatment of CCD in dogs and may be an interesting candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in humans. However, further clinical studies are needed to confirm this.

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

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-545 ◽  
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.

Apathy and executive function in Alzheimer's disease

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSAN McPHERSON ◽  
LYNN FAIRBANKS ◽  
SIBEL TIKEN ◽  
JEFFREY L. CUMMINGS ◽  
CARLA BACK-MADRUGA
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Neuropsychological Measures ◽  
Behavior Rating Scale ◽  
Interference Test ◽  
The Relationship

Apathy is a common behavioral disturbance in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have linked the presence of apathy to alterations in frontal lobe functions, but few studies have explored the relationship using standard neuropsychological measures in patients with AD. We administered a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests and a behavior rating scale to 80 patients with AD. We explored the relationship of apathy to executive dysfunction. AD patients with apathy performed significantly worse on tests of executive function (WAIS–R Digit Symbol, Trail-Making, Stroop Color Interference Test) than AD patients without apathy. The presence of dysphoria did not modify these results and no significant relationships were found between tests of executive functions and dysphoria. Performance on executive measures as a group were effective in correctly classifying patients as apathetic or nonapathetic with 75% accuracy. Neuropsychological measures not dependent on executive functions were unrelated to apathy. Apathy is associated with executive dysfunction and not with other neuropsychological deficits. Apathy is distinct from dysphoria. (JINS, 2002, 8, 373–381.)

Anxiety and Depression in Caregivers are Associated with Patient and Caregiver Characteristics in Alzheimer's Disease

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
José María García-Alberca ◽  
Joséa Pablo Lara ◽  
Marcelo Luis Berthier
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Antidementia Drugs ◽  
Severity Of Dementia

Objective: The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of anxiety and depression in caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and assess the association of caregiver burden (CB) with characteristics of both patients and caregivers. Method: Sociodemographic and clinical variables have been obtained (patients: age, gender, marital status, years of education, duration and severity of dementia, psychiatric disorders, previous history, and use of psychoactive and antidementia drugs; caregivers: age, gender, relationship with patient, and marital status). Cognition was assessed with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); severity of dementia was assessed with Global Deterioration Scale (GDS); caregiver burden was assessed with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the number of hours of attention to the basic activities of daily-living (H-BADL). Results: More than 50% of caregivers have shown high anxiety and depression scores. Patients with longer duration of dementia, greater severity of dementia, and lower education levels significantly differ in anxiety and depression mean scores. Conclusion: The presence of CB in AD patients is strongly associated with the duration and severity of dementia and the educational level of patients. The results of this study should encourage researchers and clinicians working with elderly persons to consider these modifiable psychological states.

Music therapy in moderate and severe dementia of Alzheimer's type: a case–control study

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. Svansdottir ◽  
J. Snaedal
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Therapy Group ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Study

Background: Music therapy is a potential non-pharmacological treatment for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, but although some studies have found it to be helpful, most are small and uncontrolled.Methods: This case–control study was carried out by qualified music therapists in two nursing homes and two psychogeriatric wards. The participants were 38 patients with moderate or severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) assigned randomly to a music therapy group and a control group.Results: The study showed a significant reduction in activity disturbances in the music therapy group during a 6-week period measured with the Behavior Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD). There was also a significant reduction in the sum of scores of activity disturbances, aggressiveness and anxiety. Other symptoms rated by subscales of the BEHAVE-AD did not decrease significantly. Four weeks later the effects had mostly disappeared.Conclusions: Music therapy is a safe and effective method for treating agitation and anxiety in moderately severe and severe AD. This is in line with the results of some non-controlled studies on music therapy in dementia.

scholarly journals Dual-Task Training Affect Cognitive and Physical Performances and Brain Oscillation Ratio of Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz Parvin ◽  
Fatemeh Mohammadian ◽  
Sadegh Amani-Shalamzari ◽  
Mahdi Bayati ◽  
Behnaz Tazesh
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Visual Stimulation ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Task Training ◽  
Dual Task Training

This study aimed to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of dual-task training on cognitive status, physical performance, and brain oscillation of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Twenty-six AD patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the training group (TG) and control group (CG). TG executed progressive combined exercises with visual stimulation twice a week for 12 weeks. Training included muscle endurance, balance, flexibility, and aerobic exercises with eyes closed and opened. Brain oscillation on electroencephalography (EEG) and a series of physical, cognitive, and mental tests were taken before and post-intervention. There was a significant improvement after training protocol in cognitive function, particularly in short-term and working memory, attention, and executive function (p &lt; 0.01). Besides, there were substantial improvements in depression status (GDS scale), aerobic fitness (6 min walking), flexibility (chair sit and reach) functional ability (chair stand, timed up and go test), strength (knee extensions, preacher biceps curl, handgrip) in TG compared to CG. These signs of progress were associated with a significant increase (p &lt; 0.05) in the frequency of brain oscillation and a decrease in the theta/alpha ratio. In addition to physical performance, the regular combined training with visual stimulation improves brain health as indicated by improving cognitive function and reducing the theta/alpha ratio.Clinical Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) https://www.irct.ir/, identifier IRCT20190504043468N1—August 5, 2020.

scholarly journals Olfactory Impairment is Related to Tau Pathology and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Julia Klein ◽  
Xinyu Yan ◽  
Aubrey Johnson ◽  
Zeljko Tomljanovic ◽  
James Zou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Odor Identification ◽  
Amyloid Pet ◽  
Tau Pathology ◽  
Olfactory Impairment ◽  
T Tau

Background: Olfactory impairment is evident in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, its precise relationships with clinical biomarker measures of tau pathology and neuroinflammation are not well understood. Objective: To determine if odor identification performance measured with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) is related to in vivo measures of tau pathology and neuroinflammation. Methods: Cognitively normal and cognitively impaired participants were selected from an established research cohort of adults aged 50 and older who underwent neuropsychological testing, brain MRI, and amyloid PET. Fifty-four participants were administered the UPSIT. Forty-one underwent 18F-MK-6240 PET (measuring tau pathology) and fifty-three underwent 11C-PBR28 PET (measuring TSPO, present in activated microglia). Twenty-three participants had lumbar puncture to measure CSF concentrations of total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and amyloid-β (Aβ 42). Results: Low UPSIT performance was associated with greater18F-MK-6240 binding in medial temporal cortex, hippocampus, middle/inferior temporal gyri, inferior parietal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex (p <  0.05). Similar relationships were seen for 11C-PBR28. These relationships were primarily driven by amyloid-positive participants. Lower UPSIT performance was associated with greater CSF concentrations of t-tau and p-tau (p <  0.05). Amyloid status and cognitive status exhibited independent effects on UPSIT performance (p <  0.01). Conclusion: Olfactory identification deficits are related to extent of tau pathology and neuroinflammation, particularly in those with amyloid pathophysiology. The independent association of amyloid-positivity and cognitive impairment with odor identification suggests that low UPSIT performance may be a marker for AD pathophysiology in cognitive normal individuals, although impaired odor identification is associated with both AD and non-AD related neurodegeneration. NCT Registration Numbers: NCT03373604; NCT02831283

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