Current Alzheimer Research - Volume 10, Issue 5, 2013

Neuropeptides are found throughout the entire nervous system where they can act as neurotransmitter, neuromodulator or neurohormone. In those functions, they play important roles in the regulation of cognition and behavior. In brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD), where abnormal cognition and behavior are observed, the study of neuropeptides is particularly interesting since altered neuropeptides can fu Read More

Neostriatum is one of the brain areas that are not primarily affected in Alzheimer's disease, according to classic regard of the disease. However, recent data emphasize the involvement of neostriatum, especially the head of the caudate nucleus, in the emergence of characteristic symptoms of the disease. Glutamatergic neurotransmission is a key component of striatal pathways. The present study is focused on glutamate rec Read More

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), the mainstay treatment for dementia, have systemic actions that can affect cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Thirty-nine patients with Alzheimer's disease or mixed dementia underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation, prior to and during ChEIs therapy, including orthostatic challenge, electrocardiogram (EKG) and heart rate variability (HRV) spectral analysis through Read More

Immunotherapy against amyloid-β(Aβ) may improve rodent cognitive function by reducing amyloid neuropathology and is being validated in clinical trials with positive preliminary results. However, for a complete understanding of the direct and long-term immunization responses in the aged patient, and also to avoid significant side effects, several key aspects remain to be clarified. Thus, to investigate brain Aβ clearance and Read More

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common human neurodegenerative disease, is characterized pathologically by numerous deposits of amyloid plaques in the brain. Systemic administration of clioquinol (CQ) and inoculation with amyloid-beta42 (Aβ42) vaccines have been demonstrated to significantly inhibit deposits of amyloid in AD brains. However, each of these treatments has also been reported to be neurotoxic. The ge Read More

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by progressive memory loss. In contrast, accumulating evidence suggests a neuroprotective role of regular exercise in aging associated memory impairment. In this study, we investigated the ability of regular exercise to prevent impairments of short-term memory (STM) and early long-term potentiation (E-LTP) in area CA1 of the hippocampus i Read More

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD) are also seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD), being agitation and anxiety common symptoms. Since cholinergic agonists used to be the first pharmacological intervention in AD and this neurotransmission system have been related to cognitive and behavioral symptoms in this serious disease, we here address the question of a possible therapeutic role of PNU-28298 Read More

The remarkable potentiality of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) after transplantation to models of neurological disease and injury has been described. We have previously published data confirming the influence of BM-MSCs on β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model. However, therapeutic approaches in neurological diseases such as AD, including those for BM-M Read More

BRI2, a protein mutated in Familial British and Familial Danish Dementias, interacts with Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and reduces the levels of secreted APPβ (sAPPβ), which derives from APP cleavage by β-secretase (BACE1). Exploring the mechanisms of this effect, we obtained data that BRI2 decreases the cellular levels of BACE1 thus reducing the β-cleavage of APP. Deletion of N-terminal cytoplasmic or C-terminal extra Read More

There is a clear need of dietary recommendations or guidelines at both population and/or individual levels, to prevent the Alzheimer's disease or reduce its symptoms. Though data from cellular and animal models of Alzheimer's disease indicate that dietary lipids ameliorate cognitive deficits or neuropathology associated with this disease. However, the data from the present dietary studies are not standardized. Most dietary r Read More

Background: Previous research indicates that persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma may have more cognitive impairment compared to persons without these diseases. However, there are no previous studies regarding long-term effects of these diseases on the risk of clinically diagnosed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. We examined the association between midlife and late-life Read More