Journal of Alzheimer's Disease - Volume 61, issue 3

Authors: Baird, Amee | Thompson, William Forde

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: In this review, we consider how the onset and progression of dementia can disrupt one’s sense of self, and propose that music is an ideal tool for alleviating this distressing symptom. Various aspects of the self can be impaired in people with dementia, depending on how the self is defined. There are anecdotal reports that music can ‘bring people back to themselves’ in the face of dementia, but there have been scarce empirical investigations of this topic. Motivated by a consideration of the existing literature, we outline a novel theoretical framework that accounts for the relationship between music and the …self in people with dementia. We propose that music has a number of ‘design features’ that make it uniquely equipped to engage multiple aspects of the self. We suggest that each design feature interacts with different aspects of the self to varying degrees, promoting overall wellbeing. We discuss how existing research on music and dementia fits within this framework, and describe two case studies in which music was an ideal stimulus for reaffirming their sense of self. Our framework may be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of impairments of self in people with dementia, and highlights how music, given its ability to engage all aspects of the self simultaneously, can result in an overall enhanced sense of self. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, music, self

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170737

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 827-841, 2018

Authors: Reddy, P. Hemachandra | Manczak, Maria | Yin, Xiangling | Grady, Mary Catherine | Mitchell, Andrew | Tonk, Sahil | Kuruva, Chandra Sekhar | Bhatti, Jasvinder Singh | Kandimalla, Ramesh | Vijayan, Murali | Kumar, Subodh | Wang, Rui | Pradeepkiran, Jangampalli Adi | Ogunmokun, Gilbert | Thamarai, Kavya | Quesada, Kandi | Boles, Annette | Reddy, Arubala P.

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The purpose of our article is to assess the current understanding of Indian spice, curcumin, against amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. Natural products, such as ginger, curcumin, and gingko biloba have been used as diets and dietary supplements to treat human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndromes, and neurological disorders. Products derived from plants are known to have protective effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-arthritis, pro-healing, and boosting memory cognitive functions. In the last decade, several groups have designed and synthesized curcumin and its derivatives and extensively tested using cell and mouse models of …AD. Recent research on Aβ and curcumin has revealed that curcumin prevents Aβ aggregation and crosses the blood-brain barrier, reach brain cells, and protect neurons from various toxic insults of aging and Aβ in humans. Recent research has also reported that curcumin ameliorates cognitive decline and improves synaptic functions in mouse models of AD. Further, recent groups have initiated studies on elderly individuals and patients with AD and the outcome of these studies is currently being assessed. This article highlights the beneficial effects of curcumin on AD. This article also critically assesses the current limitations of curcumin’s bioavailability and urgent need for new formulations to increase its brain levels to treat patients with AD. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-β, amyloid-β protein precursor, curcumin, mitochondria, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170512

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 843-866, 2018

Authors: Botchway, Benson O.A. | Moore, Masania K. | Akinleye, Faith O. | Iyer, Ishwari C. | Fang, Marong

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Since its discovery some hundred years ago, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease and an eminent cause of most dementia, continues to pose problems for affected families and society, especially in developed countries. With the approved medications by the Food and Drugs Administration in the United States, effectual treatment of AD apropos to the complete eradication of the disease continues to be elusive due to complexities relating to the pathophysiology of the disease. Nutrition has and continues to play a salient role in the survival of living organisms with no exception for human beings. Herein, we report the connection between …nutrition and AD with particular attention to vitamins, curcumin, and the Mediterranean diet. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, curcumin, dementia, Mediterranean diet, neurodegenerative, nutrition, vitamins

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170874

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 867-883, 2018

Authors: Jonveaux, Thérèse Rivasseau | Fescharek, Reinhard

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The creation of healing gardens for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases (ADRD) offers vast potential. They can play a role in the scaffolding of cognitive disorders, emotional stress, sensory processing, sense of harmony, and appeasement. These effects are achieved through a distributed interplay of psychological functions with the immediate environment and local culture on the one hand, and dialogue on the other. The garden, a natural canvas created by man, shares with art the ability to foster an esthetic sense for which the perception can be measured by functional neurological imaging exploration. Art represents a mediator for the …collaborative realization of distributed psychological functions between different individuals. Based on the hypothesis of an optimization of the therapeutic potential of a garden by a design adapted to the neuro-psycho-social and cultural specificities of its users combined with the thoughtful introduction of an artistic dimension, the “art, memory and life ” healing garden was created at the University Hospital of Nancy as a prototype for persons with ADRD. The design concept was based on two hypotheses that we formulate herein, discuss their theoretical foundation, and suggest enhanced design for therapeutic gardens based upon our experience. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, art, beauty, cognition, healing gardens, interaction

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170781

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 885-898, 2018

Authors: Brici, David | Götz, Jürgen | Nisbet, Rebecca M.

Article Type: Short Communication

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by two main pathological hallmarks in the human brain: the extracellular deposition of amyloid-β as plaques and the intracellular accumulation of the hyperphosphorylated protein tau as neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Phosphorylated tau (p-tau) specific-antibodies and silver staining have been used to reveal three morphological stages of NFT formation: pre-NFTs, intraneuronal NFTs (iNFTs), and extraneuronal NFTs (eNFTs). Here we characterize a novel monoclonal antibody, RN235, which is specific for tau phosphorylated at serine 235, and detects iNFTs and eNFTs in brain tissue, suggesting that phosphorylation at this site is indicative of late stage changes in tau.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, antibody, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, neurofibrillary tangle, tau

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170610

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 899-905, 2018

Authors: Rozzini, Luca | Lanfranchi, Francesco | Pilotto, Andrea | Catalani, Simona | Gilberti, Maria Enrica | Paganelli, Matteo | Apostoli, Pietro | Padovani, Alessandro

Article Type: Short Communication

Abstract: Several studies showed high serum copper levels in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study applied a newly developed method to detect serum copper free from proteins (free-Cu). Forty-four patients affected by dementia due to AD, thirty-six patients affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, and twenty-eight healthy controls underwent clinical, cognitive, and MRI assessment. The new method showed higher free-Cu concentrations in MCI and dementia due to AD compared to controls (p  < 0.0001). No correlation between copper levels, cognitive or MRI measures were found.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid beta-protein, copper, dementia, medial temporal lobe atrophy, mild cognitive impairment

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170552

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 907-912, 2018

Authors: Shea, Thomas B. | Remington, Ruth

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be preceded by subtle memory decline that can last a decade or more before progressing to what would be diagnosed as the mild cognitive impairment stage. During this early stage of decline, individuals and even their caregivers can fail to perceive any serious difficulty or need to consult a physician. Herein, we present evidence in support of these concerns, and demonstrate how this can interfere not only with clinical trials of AD but also those involving cognitive performance of elderly individuals without intentional reference to AD.

Keywords: Cognitive decline, executive function, Mini-Mental State Exam, outliers, self-report, Trail-making test

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170794

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 913-915, 2018

Authors: Emrani, Sheina | Libon, David J. | Lamar, Melissa | Price, Catherine C. | Jefferson, Angela L. | Gifford, Katherine A. | Hohman, Timothy J. | Nation, Daniel A. | Delano-Wood, Lisa | Jak, Amy | Bangen, Katherine J. | Bondi, Mark W. | Brickman, Adam M. | Manly, Jennifer | Swenson, Rodney | Au, Rhoda | on behalf of the Consortium for Clinical and Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (CENDA)

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Working memory (WM) is often assessed with serial order tests such as repeating digits backward. In prior dementia research using the Backward Digit Span Test (BDT), only aggregate test performance was examined. Objective: The current research tallied primacy/recency effects, out-of-sequence transposition errors, perseverations, and omissions to assess WM deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Memory clinic patients (n  = 66) were classified into three groups: single domain amnestic MCI (aMCI), combined mixed domain/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI), and non-MCI where patients did not meet criteria for MCI. Serial order/WM ability was assessed by asking …participants to repeat 7 trials of five digits backwards. Serial order position accuracy, transposition errors, perseverations, and omission errors were tallied. Results: A 3 (group)×5 (serial position) repeated measures ANOVA yielded a significant group×trial interaction. Follow-up analyses found attenuation of the recency effect for mixed/dys MCI patients. Mixed/dys MCI patients scored lower than non-MCI patients for serial position 3 (p  < 0.003) serial position 4 (p  < 0.002); and lower than both group for serial position 5 (recency; p  < 0.002). Mixed/dys MCI patients also produced more transposition errors than both groups (p  < 0.010); and more omissions (p  < 0.020), and perseverations errors (p  < 0.018) than non-MCI patients. Conclusions: The attenuation of a recency effect using serial order parameters obtained from the BDT may provide a useful operational definition as well as additional diagnostic information regarding working memory deficits in MCI. Show more

Keywords: Boston process approach, digit span, executive functions, mild cognitive impairment, serial order, working memory

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170555

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 917-928, 2018

Authors: Atanasova, Boriana | Mondon, Karl | Dreyfuss, Lise | Beaufils, Emilie | Desmidt, Thomas | Hommet, Caroline | El-Hage, Wissam | Belzung, Catherine

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Several clinical studies concerning the olfactory function of patients with cognitive impairment have used sensory scales to investigate hedonic perception. However, no study has focused on the choice of the most appropriate sensory hedonic scale for the individuals with neurodegenerative disorders or other psychiatric diseases involving cognitive deficits. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to use two hedonic scales (category scale and linear scale) and compare their discriminatory capacity, repeatability, and ease of use. This should allow us to identify the most appropriate hedonic scale for …patients with AD. Methods: We recruited 18 patients with mild to moderate AD, and 20 healthy volunteers matched for gender, age, smoking status, and educational level. The participants underwent a clinical assessment and hedonic evaluation of three odorants (pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral), using a five-point category scale and a 10-cm linear scale with a marked mid-point. Results: AD patients were able to use hedonic scales as well as paired healthy elderly subjects. The linear scale performed slightly better in terms of ease of use for both patients and healthy controls and discriminatory capacity for AD patients. The results for AD patients and controls with both scales were repeatable. Conclusion: The linear scale may be more appropriate for AD patients pending further studies involving a larger population of patients, using several odorants. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, five-point category scale, hedonic evaluation, linear scale, olfaction

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-170433

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 929-938, 2018

Authors: Lövheim, Hugo | Olsson, Jan | Weidung, Bodil | Johansson, Anders | Eriksson, Sture | Hallmans, Göran | Elgh, Fredrik

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Several environmental factors, including infectious agents, have been suggested to cause Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been associated with AD in several recent studies. Objective: To investigate whether carriage of CMV, alone or in combination with Herpes simplex virus (HSV), increased the risk of developing AD. Methods: Plasma samples from 360 AD cases (75.3% women, mean age 61.2 years), taken an average of 9.6 years before AD diagnosis, and 360 age-, sex-, cohort-, and sampling date matched dementia-free controls were analyzed to detect anti-CMV (immunoglobulin [Ig] G and IgM), group-specific anti-HSV (IgG and IgM), …and specific anti-HSV1 and HSV2 IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. AD cases and dementia-free controls were compared using conditional logistic regression analyses. Results: The presence of anti-CMV IgG antibodies did not increase the risk of AD (odds ratio [OR], 0.857; p  = 0.497). Among AD cases, an association between CMV and HSV1 carriage was detected (OR 7.145, p  < 0.001); in a conditional logistic regression model, the interaction between CMV and HSV1 was associated with AD development (OR 5.662; p  = 0.007). Conclusion: The present findings do not support a direct relationship between CMV infection and the development of AD; however, an interaction between CMV and HSV1 was found to be associated significantly with AD development. These findings suggest that CMV infection facilitates the development of HSV1-associated AD, possibly via its effects on the immune system. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, cytomegalovirus, dementia, Herpes simplex virus, nested case-control study

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-161305

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 939-945, 2018