Current Alzheimer Research - Volume 8, Issue 7, 2011

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects memory and neurogenesis. Adult neurogenesis plays an important role in memory function and impaired neurogenesis contributes to cognitive deficits associated with AD. Increased physical/ cognitive activity is associated with both reduced risk of dementia and increased neurogenesis. Previous attempts to restore hippocampal neurogenesis in transgenic mice by voluntary running Read More

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder that leads to progressive, irreversible cognitive decline. It develops as a result of over-production and aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in the brain. We have recently shown that stress exacerbates, while nicotine prevents long-term memory impairment induced by β-Amyloid. In this study, we evaluated the effect of chronic psychosocial stress on synaptic plastici Read More

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate pesticide widely used in intensive agriculture. Various studies have demonstrated delayed neurotoxic effects in adult mammals after acute CPF exposure. This pesticide induces oxidative stress and neuronal damage, which suggests a possible relationship between CPF exposure and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we examined in a mice model of AD, long-term c Read More

β-amyloid protein (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity is the main component of Alzheimer7apos;s disease (AD) neuropathogenesis. Inhalation anesthetics have long been considered to protect against neurotoxicity. However, recent research studies have suggested that the inhalation anesthetic isoflurane may promote neurotoxicity by inducing apoptosis and increasing Aβ levels. We therefore set out to determine whether isoflur Read More

Treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) enhances cholinergic activity and alleviates clinical symptoms. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated the effect of the AChEI rivastigmine on cognitive function and brain activation patterns during a face recognition memory task. Twenty patients with newly-diagnosed mild AD were administered a sin Read More

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele and sigma-1 receptor (SIGMAR1) c.5C (Q2P) polymorphisms have been acknowledged as risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether these polymorphisms influence the disease process is unclear. Therefore, two cohorts with a clinical diagnosis of AD were recruited, a postmortem confirmed Australian cohort (82 cases) from the Australian Brain Bank Network, Read More

To evaluate the effects of galantamine withdrawal, and compare this with uninterrupted therapy, two 6-week double-blind withdrawal studies (Studies 1 and 2) were performed. These enrolled individuals who had completed one of two 3- or 5-month randomized clinical trials (parent trials) involving patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). In Study 1 (GAL-USA-11; n'723), patients continuously treated with gal Read More

One early and prominent pathologic feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the appearance of activated microglia in the vicinity of developing β-amyloid deposits. However, the precise role of microglia during the course of AD is still under discussion. Microglia have been reported to degrade and clear β-amyloid, but they also can exert deleterious effects due to overwhelming inflammatory reactions. Here, we demonstrate the Read More

Morphometric and neuropsychological retrospective studies of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have demonstrated that regional atrophies and cognitive impairments may differentiate stable from progressing MCI. No measure has proved helpful prospectively. In this study, twenty five amnestic MCI patients and 25 healthy controls underwent structural MRI and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment Read More

While much uncertainty exists in the estimates of the global burden of Alzheimer's disease and about the potential impact of various interventions, there is a widespread acceptance of the fact that the steady increase in the incidence and prevalence of the condition worldwide is becoming a massive public health problem as well as a huge economic burden for all healthcare systems and societies. These heavy demands are f Read More