Bilberry/red grape juice decreases plasma biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage in aged men with subjective memory impairment –a randomized clinical trial

Background Few randomized clinical trials have explored the health effects of bilberries in humans. The aim was to test the effect of bilberry and red grape-juice consumption on visual memory, motor speed and dexterity as well as inflammatory and tissue damage biomarkers of plasma in aged men with subjective memory impairment. Methods Nine-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, dietary intervention study of aged men (n = 60, age ≥ 67 years) with subjective memory impairment randomized to consume a 50/50 mix of bilberry/red grape-juice or an iso-caloric placebo juice. A selection of Cambridge Cognition Test Battery (CANTAB), Grooved Pegboard tests and blood-sampling for biomarker analysis were performed before and after the intervention. Results Compared to placebo the selected memory and motor test scores were un-affected by the bilberry/red grape intervention. However, the plasma levels of tissue damage biomarkers decreased significantly more in the bilberry/red grape group. In particular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) decreased from 362 U/L (median, baseline) to 346 U/L (median, post intervention) in the bilberry/red grape group. Also, several biomarkers of inflammation (EGF, IL6, IL9, IL10 and TNFα) decreased significantly more in the bilberry/red grape group. Furthermore, several plasma polyphenols; p-coumaric acid, hippuric acid, protocatechuic acid, 3HPAA and vanillic acid, increased significantly more in the bilberry/red grape group compared to placebo with the largest increase in p-coumaric acid with 116%; from 2.2 [1.0,5.5] to 4.7 [2.8,8.1] μM/L (median [95% CL]). Conclusions The results indicate that a nine-week bilberry/red grape juice intervention has no measurable effects on the selected memory scores in aged men experiencing memory problems but decreases the level of biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage. Whether the dampening effects on inflammation and tissue damage biomarkers have relevance for neuroinflammatory brain pathology remains to be established. Trial registration Registration number (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00972972), September 9, 2009.

The Independent and Joint Effects of Different Childhood Abuse Types on Subjective Prospective and Retrospective Memory Impairment During Pregnancy

Background and Objective: Childhood abuse is considered a risk factor in various health outcomes during pregnancy. However, no study has explored the relationship between childhood abuse and memory impairment during pregnancy. This study is the first to explore the relationship between childhood abuse and subjective memory impairment.Participants, Setting, and Methods: A total of 1,825 pregnant women were recruited from a comprehensive hospital in Shandong province, China, and completed a questionnaire survey. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between childhood abuse and subjective prospective and retrospective memory.Results: Pregnant women with high total childhood abuse scores had high prospective and retrospective memory impairment. Among pregnant women reporting only emotional abuse, only physical abuse, or only sexual abuse, women reporting only emotional abuse were found to have high prospective and retrospective memory impairment. Women with all three childhood abuse types also had high prospective and retrospective memory impairment.Conclusion: Women who experienced childhood abuse, especially childhood emotional abuse, had high subjective memory impairment during pregnancy. It is important to ask pregnant women about their experiences of childhood abuse, especially emotional abuse, during early prenatal care, as such abuse is likely to have negative effects on memory during pregnancy.

Differences in Subjective Memory Impairment, Depressive Symptoms, Sleep, and Physical Activity in African American and Asian American Elderly

Background: Subjective memory impairment (SMI) is associated with negative health outcomes including mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. However, ethnic differences in SMI and disparities in risk factors associated with SMI among minority populations are understudied. The study examined the ethnic differences in SMI, whether SMI was associated with depressive symptoms, sleep, and physical activity (PA), and whether the associations vary across racial/ethnic groups. Methods: Participants included 243 African and Asian Americans (including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean Americans) aged 50 or older. Demographic information, SMI, depressive symptoms, daily sleeping hours, and PA levels were assessed. Results: Vietnamese Americans reported the highest SMI score. Depressive symptoms, sleeping hours, and PA levels were significantly associated with SMI. Depressive symptoms were the only significant factor across all ethnic groups. Significant interaction effects were found between ethnicity and health behaviors in predicting SMI. In particular, Vietnamese American participants with greater depressive symptoms and physical inactivity were significantly more likely to experience SMI compared to other ethnic groups Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate ethnic differences in SMI and its association with depressive symptoms, sleep, and PA, which highlight the importance of considering the unique cultural and historical backgrounds across different racial/ethnic groups when examining cognitive functioning in elderly.

Characteristics of Performance according to Type of Semantic Lexical Task in Normal Elderly and Individuals with Subjective Memory Impairment

Purpose: For comparison of a semantic knowledge processing of the elderly, particularly the normal individuals and individuals with subjective memory impairment, this study aims to clarify what factors of semantic knowledge task could sensitively discriminate between the two groups by conducting various types of tasks and analyzing the aspects.Methods: High/low frequency category fluency test, concrete/abstract noun word defining test, and semantic association task were performed by 30 normal subjects and 30 subjective memory impaired subjects over 65 years old. Total and each subcategory scores were assessed for the category fluency test and word defining test, and correct response and reaction time were measured for the semantic association task.Results: It was found that there were significant differences between the two groups in the total score of the category fluency task (p < 0.001), low-frequency category score, abstract noun word defining task score (p < 0.05), and reaction time of semantic association task (p < 0.01).Conclusion: The result showed that in case of a target word with lower contact frequency and more abstract concept, the elderly with subjective memory impairment have difficulties in neural-networking activation of semantic knowledge and control of interruption stimulation when approaching a target word, with increased reaction time. This findings demonstrate that a semantic and lexical task has a clinical significance in discriminating a subjective memory impairment group.

Disrupted White Matter Networks from Subjective Memory Impairment to Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background and Objective: Subjective memory impairment (SMI) is a preclinical stage prior to amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) along with the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continuum. We hypothesized that SMI patients had white matter (WM) network disruptions similar to those in aMCI patients. Methods: We used diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging and graph theory to construct, analyze, and compare the WM networks among 20 normal controls (NC), 20 SMI patients, and 20 aMCI patients. Results: Compared with the NC group, the SMI group had significantly decreased global and local efficiency and an increased shortest path length. Moreover, similar to the aMCI group, the SMI group had lower nodal efficiency in regions located in the frontal and parietal lobes, limbic systems, and caudate nucleus compared to that of the NC group. Conclusion: Similar to aMCI patient, SMI patients exhibited WM network disruptions, and detection of these disruptions could facilitate the early detection of SMI.