Current Alzheimer Research - Volume 17, Issue 6, 2020

Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDD) are the major contributors to age-related causes of mental disability on a global scale. Most NDDs, like Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), are complex in nature - implying that they are multi-parametric both in terms of heterogeneous clinical outcomes and underlying molecular paradigms. Emerging evidence from high throughput genomic, transcriptomic and small RNA sequencing experim Read More

Aims: Unlike autobiographical memory (i.e., memory for personal information) in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), little is known about Self-Defining Memories (SDM) (i.e., memories of highly significant personal events) in AD. Methods: The characteristics of self-defining memories in AD were evaluated by analyzing their specificity, emotional valence, and integration, as well as their centrality and contribution to self-continuity. Read More

Background: Identifying and classifying individuals with Cognitive Impairment-No Dementia (CIND) has further challenged diagnostic methods, since varying the cutoffs for objective impairment as well as the neuropsychological tests considered can significantly affect diagnosis. Therefore, we investigated the applicability of an actuarial neuropsychological approach for clinical subdivision of CIND and quantified the variability in Read More

Background: Utilisation of intervention programmes and services for Persons with Dementia (PWD) has been generally modest despite the growing numbers. One reason has been the lack of knowledge about dementia and information on such services. Objective: We sought to close this gap by providing caregivers with an information session about dementia and the importance and availability of related services. We explored th Read More

Aims: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the reliability of our new visual scale for a quick atrophy assessment of parietal lobes on brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) among different professionals. A good agreement would justify its use for differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative dementias, especially early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), in clinical settings. Methods: The visual scale named the Read More

Background: Early-Onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (EOFAD) has been reported to be associated with Presenilin 1 (PSEN1), Presenilin 2 (PSEN2), and Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) genes. The spectrum of mutations in Chinese patients with EOFAD was rarely investigated. Objective: To investigate the spectrum of mutations in patients with EOFAD in Chinese population. Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing Read More

Background: White matter lesions are frequently found in mild cognitive impairments and Alzheimer’s disease. Matrix metalloproteinases and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases are implicated in amyloid-β catabolism and blood brain barrier permeability. However, it remains unclear whether they are associated with white matter lesions in Alzheimer’s disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the associ Read More

Background: The present study was designed to examine the association of circulating cholesterol with cognitive function in non-demented community aging adults. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 1754 Chinese adults aged 55-80 years. The association between serum cholesterol levels and cognitive function was examined. Participants were categorized into four groups according to the quartile o Read More

Background: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) have an increased incidence in modern society. Although increasing evidence has supported the close linkage between these two disorders, the inter-relational mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Objective: The primary purpose of this study is to explore the shared pathophysiological mechanisms of AD and T2DM. Methods: We downloaded t Read More

Background: The accumulation and aggregation of Aβ as amyloid plaques, the hallmark pathology of the Alzheimer's disease, has been found in other neurological disorders, such as traumatic brain injury. The axonal injury may contribute to the formation of Aβ plaques. Studies to date have focused on the brain, with no investigations of spinal cord, although brain and cord share the same cellular components. Objective: We Read More