Journal of Alzheimer's Disease - Volume 80, issue 2

Authors: Brewster, Katharine K. | Hu, Mei-Chen | Wall, Melanie M. | Brown, Patrick J. | Zilcha-Mano, Sigal | Roose, Steven P. | Stein, Alexandra | Golub, Justin S. | Rutherford, Bret R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Age-related hearing loss (HL) has been associated with dementia, though the neurocognitive profile of individuals with HL is poorly understood. Objective: To characterize the neurocognitive profile of HL. Methods: N = 8,529 participants from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center ≥60 years and free of cognitive impairment who were characterized as Untreated-, Treated-, or No HL. Outcomes included executive function (Trail Making Test [TMT] Part B), episodic memory (Immediate/Delayed Recall), language fluency (Vegetables, Boston Naming Test), and conversion to dementia. Regression models were fit to examine associations between HL and neurocognitive performance at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models …examined the links between HL, neurocognitive scores, and development of dementia over follow-up. Results: At baseline, those with Untreated HL (versus No HL) had worse neurocognitive performance per standardized difference on executive function (TMT Part B [mean difference = 0.05 (95% CI 0.00, 0.10)]) and language fluency (Vegetables [mean difference = –0.07 (95% CI –0.14, –0.01)], Boston Naming Test [mean difference = –0.07 (95% CI –0.13, –0.01)]). No differences in these neurocognitive performance scores were demonstrated between Treated HL and No HL groups other than MMSE [mean difference = –0.06 (95% CI –0.12, 0.00)]. Through follow-up, executive dysfunction differed by hearing group (χ 2 (2) = 46.08, p  < 0.0001) and was present among 39.12% in No HL, 44.85% in Untreated HL, and 49.40% in Treated HL. Worse performance across all cognitive domains predicted incident dementia. Conclusion: The observed association between Untreated HL and lower cognitive ability that improved when hearing aids were worn may reflect an inability to hear the test instructions. Future studies using cognitive assessments validated for use in HL are needed to evaluate the neuropsychological profile of HL and identify individuals at risk for dementia. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive dysfunction, dementia, hearing loss, neuropsychological tests

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-200908

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 855-864, 2021

Authors: Tam, Mallorie T. | Dosso, Jill A. | Robillard, Julie M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the physical and emotional health of older adults living with dementia and their care partners. Objective: Using a patient-centered approach, we explored the experiences and needs of people living with dementia and their care partners during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of an ongoing evaluation of dementia support services in British Columbia, Canada. Methods: A survey instrument was developed around the priorities identified in the context of the COVID-19 and Dementia Task Force convened by the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Results: A total of 417 surveys were analyzed. …Overall, respondents were able to access information that was helpful for maintaining their own health and managing a period of social distancing. Care partners reported a number of serious concerns, including the inability to visit the person that they care for in long-term or palliative care. Participants also reported that the pandemic increased their levels of stress overall and that they felt lonelier and more isolated than they did before the pandemic. The use of technology was reported as a way to connect socially with their loved ones, with the majority of participants connecting with others at least twice per week. Conclusion: Looking at the complex effects of a global pandemic through the experiences of people living with dementia and their care partners is vital to inform healthcare priorities to restore their quality of life and health and better prepare for the future. Show more

Keywords: Aged, Alzheimer’s disease, caregiver burnout, carers, COVID-19, dementia, health services for the aged, pandemic, social isolation

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201114

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 865-875, 2021

Authors: Hirao, Kentaro | Yamashita, Fumio | Tsugawa, Akito | Haime, Rieko | Fukasawa, Raita | Sato, Tomohiko | Kanetaka, Hidekazu | Umahara, Takahiko | Sakurai, Hirofumi | Hanyu, Haruo | Shimizu, Soichiro

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) on MRI have been reported to increase the risk of conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, effects of the progression of WMH on the cognition of patients with MCI remains unclear to date. Objective: To investigate the association between WMH progression and cognitive decline in amnestic MCI patients. Methods: Thirty-eight subjects with amnestic MCI were analyzed prospectively every year for 2 years. Fourteen MCI subjects dropped out on the final visit, and therefore 24 subjects with MCI were analyzed for the entire duration. The volumes of …periventricular hyperintensities (PVH) and deep WMH (DWMH) were measured on T2 FLAIR using the 3D-slicer. The associations between PVH/DWMH progression and cognitive decline were investigated. Results: An increase in DWMH volume significantly correlated with changes in Mini-Mental State Examination and category verbal fluency scores, whereas an increase in PVH volume did not correlate with changes in any item. Conclusion: DWMH progression was closely associated with a decline in frontal lobe function and semantic memory, suggesting that WMH progression might affect some AD pathophysiologies in amnestic MCI patients. Show more

Keywords: Deep white matter hyperintensities, mild cognitive impairment, periventricular hyperintensities

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201451

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 877-883, 2021

Authors: Daniele, Simona | Baldacci, Filippo | Piccarducci, Rebecca | Palermo, Giovanni | Giampietri, Linda | Manca, Maria Laura | Pietrobono, Deborah | Frosini, Daniela | Nicoletti, Valentina | Tognoni, Gloria | Giorgi, Filippo Sean | Lo Gerfo, Annalisa | Petrozzi, Lucia | Cavallini, Chiara | Franzoni, Ferdinando | Ceravolo, Roberto | Siciliano, Gabriele | Trincavelli, Maria Letizia | Martini, Claudia | Bonuccelli, Ubaldo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Red blood cells (RBCs) contain the majority of α -synuclein (α -syn) in blood, representing an interesting model for studying the peripheral pathological alterations proved in neurodegeneration. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of total α -syn, amyloid-β (Aβ1–42 ), tau, and their heteroaggregates in RBCs of Lewy body dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods: By the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, RBCs concentrations of total α -syn, Aβ1–42 , tau, and their heteroaggregates (α -syn/Aβ1–42 and α -syn/tau) were measured in 27 …individuals with LBD (Parkinson’s disease dementia, n  = 17; dementia with Lewy bodies, n  = 10), 51 individuals with AD (AD dementia, n  = 37; prodromal AD, n  = 14), and HC (n  = 60). Results: The total α -syn and tau concentrations as well as α -syn/tau heterodimers were significantly lower in the LBD group and the AD group compared with HC, whereas α -syn/Aβ1–42 concentrations were significantly lower in the AD dementia group only. RBC α -syn/tau heterodimers had a higher diagnostic accuracy for differentiating patients with LBD versus HC (AUROC = 0.80). Conclusion: RBC α -syn heteromers may be useful for differentiating between neurodegenerative dementias (LBD and AD) and HC. In particular, RBC α -syn/tau heterodimers have demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy for differentiating LBD from HC. However, they are not consistently different between LBD and AD. Our findings also suggest that α -syn, Aβ1–42 , and tau interact in vivo to promote the aggregation and accumulation of each other. Show more

Keywords: α-Synuclein, Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-β , Lewy body dementia, red blood cells

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201038

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 885-893, 2021

Authors: Phyo, Aung Zaw Zaw | Gonzalez-Chica, David A. | Stocks, Nigel P. | Storey, Elsdon | Woods, Robyn L. | Murray, Anne M. | Orchard, Suzanne G. | Shah, Raj C. | Gasevic, Danijela | Freak-Poli, Rosanne | Ryan, Joanne | on behalf of the ASPREE Investigator Group

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been shown to predict adverse health outcome in the general population. Objective: We examined the cross-sectional association between HRQoL and cognitive performance at baseline. Next, we explored whether baseline HRQoL predicted 5-year incident cognitive decline and dementia and whether there were gender differences. Methods: 19,106 community-dwelling participants from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, aged 65–98 years, free of major cognitive impairments, and completed the HRQoL 12-item short-form (SF-12) at baseline (2010–2014), were followed until June 2017. The physical (PCS) and mental component scores (MCS) …of SF-12 were calculated. The cognitive tests were assessed at baseline, year 1, 3, 5, and 7 or close-out visit. Cognitive decline was defined as > 1.5 SD drop from baseline on any of the cognitive tests. Dementia was adjudicated according to DSM-IV criteria. Linear and Cox proportional-hazards regressions were used to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations respectively. Results: At baseline, higher PCS and MCS were associated with better cognition. Over a median 4.7-year follow-up, higher MCS was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia (12% and 15% respectively, per 10-unit increase) and a 10-unit higher PCS was associated with a 6% decreased risk of cognitive decline. PCS did not predict dementia incidence. Findings were not different by gender. Conclusion: Our study found that higher HRQoL, in particular MCS, predicted a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia over time in community-dwelling older people. Show more

Keywords: Cognition, cognitive dysfunction, dementia, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), quality of life

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-201349

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 895-904, 2021

Article Type: Correction

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-219002

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 80, no. 2, pp. 905-905, 2021