MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders' source. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:54:19 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5668048&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_Impact_of_Dementia_Severity_on_Caregiver.99752.pdf This study is the first to show that caregivers of SemDem, PNFA, and AD patients show similar burden, while confirming that bvFTD caregivers show higher burden than AD caregivers. More importantly, this study demonstrates that burden worsens with disease progression in FTD. (C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5668048 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100 5668048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5660563&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCharacterization_of_Apathy_in_Persons_Wth.99756.pdf In conclusion, apathy has been defined as a condition of diminished motivation that is difficult to operationalize. Among patients with frontotemporal dementia, apathy was associated with lower levels of activity, greater number of bouts of immobility, and longer immobility bout duration. Apathy and diminished daytime activity appeared to have an impact on the caregiver. Objective measures of behavioral output may help in formulation of a more precise definition of apathy. (C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5660563 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100 5660563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5649118&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FScales_for_the_Evaluation_of_End_of_Life_Care_in.99754.pdf This study extends the psychometric properties of the EOLD scales by showing the sensitivity to clinically meaningful change in these scales to specific outcomes related to end-of-life care and quality of life among residents with end-stage advanced dementia and their HCPs. (C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5649118 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100 5649118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5639057&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FMontreal_Cognitive_Assessment__Validation_Study.99759.pdf This study aims to validate the MoCA for screening Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) through an analysis of diagnostic accuracy and the proposal of cut-offs. Patients were classified into 2 clinical groups according to standard criteria: MCI (n=90) and AD (n=90). The 2 control groups (C-MCI: n=90; C-AD: n=90) consisted of cognitively healthy community dwellers selected to match patients in sex, age, and education. The MoCA showed consistently superior psychometric properties compared with the MMSE, and higher diagnostic accuracy to discriminate between MCI (area under the curve=0.856; 95% confidence interval, 0.796-0.904) and AD patients (area under the curve=0.980; 95% confidence interval, 0.947-0.995). At an optimal cut-off of below 22 for MCI and below 17 for AD... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5639057 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100 5639057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5629825&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FMaternal_Transmission_of_Alzheimer_Disease.99755.pdf Some researchers propose maternal Alzheimer disease (AD) inheritance. We compared dementia family histories in AD cases and cognitively normal controls. We expected more mothers to have AD in both groups. If maternal risk was not only due to female longevity, more AD cases' than controls' mothers should have dementia. We matched 196 AD cases to 200 controls by sex and age. We obtained parent dementia status and age of death for 348 AD and 319 control parents. Twenty-four (12%) controls' fathers, 26 (13%) AD patients' fathers, 58 (29%) controls' mothers, and 55 (28%) AD mothers had memory difficulty. More mothers than fathers had memory problems in both groups and the statistical significance persisted after adjusting for parent age at death and APOE for controls [odds ratios (OR)=2.40, P=0... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5629825 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100 5629825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5620814&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FDeterminants_of_Care_Costs_of_Patients_With.99757.pdf Conclusions: Cognitive functioning and instrumental activities of daily living are important variables to include in health care decision models. We recommend also including caregiver burden and patient sex in decision models for health policy decision makers to fully reflect the heterogeneity of the disease progression of cognitive disorders. (C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5620814 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100 5620814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5609957&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FSmoking%2C_Death%2C_and_Alzheimer_Disease__A_Case_of.99762.pdf In this study, we demonstrate that the effect of smoking on AD differs in models that are and are not adjusted for competing risks. (C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5609957 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100 5609957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5572774&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FSubjective_Cognitive_Complaints_of_Older_Adults_at.99761.pdf Subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) are increasingly a focus in studies on prodromal Alzheimer disease (AD) and risk for dementia. Little is known about the optimal approach to measure SCCs. We used item response theory (IRT) to examine the characteristics of 24 SCC items in a sample of 3495 older adults pooled from 4 community-based studies. We investigated the potential advantages of IRT scoring over conventional scoring on the basis of participants' item response patterns. Items most likely endorsed by individuals low in SCC severity relate to word retrieval and general subjective memory decline. Items likely endorsed only by individuals high in SCC severity relate to nonepisodic memory changes, such as decline in comprehension, judgment and executive functions, praxis and procedural... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5572774 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5572774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5545157&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_Cornell_Brown_Scale_for_Quality_of_Life_in.99758.pdf This study is the first to report the factor structure of the CBS. These results indicate that CBS is a useful tool in assessing persons with dementia. Replication of these results with larger samples is advised. The Spanish version of the CBS is reliable and valid in persons with mild/moderate dementia who are living at home and with a known caregiver. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5545157 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5545157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5538629&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FPrior_Transient_Ischemic_Attack_and_Dementia_After.99760.pdf Although functional recovery and survival after ischemic stroke seem to improve in patients with prior transient ischemic attack (TIA), little is known about the effect of prior TIA on poststroke cognition. To evaluate the impact of prior TIA on dementia, 1697 nonaphasic patients who survived the first month after their first-ever ischemic stroke were identified from the population-based registry of Dijon, France, from 1985 to 2007 and divided into 3 groups according to the time interval between prior TIA and stroke (=4 wk, no TIA). Outcome was dementia diagnosed by neurologists using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders-III or IV criteria over the first month after stroke. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models. The prevalence of dementia af... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5538629 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5538629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5526188&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCerebrospinal_Fluid_Proteins_Predict_Longitudinal.99763.pdf Conclusions: Despite the small sample size, we found that [ALPHA][beta]1-42 related and tau-related CSF measures were associated with hippocampal degeneration in individuals with clinically diagnosed early AD and may reflect an association with a common underlying disease mechanism. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5526188 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5526188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5495468&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAge_specific_and_Sex_specific_Prevalence_and.99764.pdf As the population ages, the need to characterize rates of cognitive impairment and dementia within demographic groups defined by age, sex, and race becomes increasingly important. There are limited data available on the prevalence and incidence of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment (naMCI) from population-based studies. The Einstein Aging Study, a systematically recruited community-based cohort of 1944 adults aged 70 or older (1168 dementia free at baseline; mean age, 78.8 y; average follow-up, 3.9 y), provides the opportunity to examine the prevalence and incidence rates for dementia, Alzheimer dementia (AD), aMCI, and naMCI by demographic characteristics. Dementia prevalence was 6.5% (4.9% AD). Overall dementia incidence was 2.9/100 person... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5495468 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5495468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5487838&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FHistorical_Changes_in_the_Severity_of_Dementia_and.99766.pdf Conclusion: Over the period 1992 to 2008, patients were increasingly more likely to present with early stages of dementia and fewer symptoms of psychoses and agitation, and racial differences in illness severity and neuropsychiatric symptoms disappeared. If our sample reflects trends in the United States, then it suggests that more persons will be in care for longer periods of time, previous research findings derived from dementia centers must be considered historically specific, and clinicians must be prepared to work with persons with milder forms of neurocognitive disorders. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5487838 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5487838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5477349&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_Influence_of_Chronic_Stress_on.99770.pdf Increased susceptibility of the aging brain to both chronic stress and incipient dementia-related neuropathology may accelerate cognitive decline. We investigated associations between chronic stress and diagnostic change in 62 individuals (mean age, 78.7 y) participating in an Alzheimer disease research center longitudinal study. The subjects, diagnosed at baseline as cognitively normal (CN) or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were followed for an average of 2.5 years. Senior neurologists, blind to detailed measures of stress and cognition, assigned diagnoses annually. Logistic regression analyses assessed the accuracy with which measures of stress (event-based ratings, cortisol levels) predicted the conversion to MCI and dementia. Eleven individuals with MCI at baseline received a de... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5477349 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5477349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5442077&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FSources_of_Stress_for_Family_Members_of_Nursing.99769.pdf The sources of stress for families of nursing home (NH) residents with advanced dementia have not been well described. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 family members previously enrolled in the Choices, Attitudes, and Strategies for Care of Advanced Dementia at the End-of-Life study, a prospective cohort of 323 NH residents with advanced dementia and their family members. Questions were asked pertaining to the experience of having a family member in the NH, communication with health-care professionals, surrogate decision making, emotional distress, and recommendations for improvement in care. Transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method. The majority of the participants were women (63%), children of the resident (94%), and white (94%). The average age was... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5442077 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5442077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5442076&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCrossed_Aphasia_in_a_Dextral_Patient_With.99779.pdf Conclusions: This case report provides evidence that crossed PPA can present with a logopenic variant in addition to the nonfluent type demonstrated by others. Functional neuroimaging showed unexpected right-sided hypoperfusion in this case with only subtle structural brain asymmetry, implicating a reverse pattern of language dominance. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5442076 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5442076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5432423&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCerebrospinal_Fluid_Cytokine_Dynamics_Differ.99765.pdf The time courses of levels of multiple plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokines in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and in age-matched control subjects were compared. Interleukin (IL)-1[beta], IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon-[gamma], and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were measured 7 times over a 24-hour period in plasma and CSF using a lumbar catheter. Baseline plasma and CSF cytokine levels were found to be similar in AD and control subjects. However, the CSF levels of all measured cytokines, except IL-6 and IL-8, diverged over time between AD and control subjects, such that CSF cytokine levels in AD subjects were higher than in controls. This difference was greatest at 24 hours after the insertion of the lumba... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5432423 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5432423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5409550&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAlpha_synuclein_in_the_Cerebrospinal_Fluid.99772.pdf We examined the utility of quantification of [alpha]-synuclein (SNCA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to differentiate patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson disease (PD), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Methods: Thirty-seven patients were divided into 4 age-matched and sex-matched clinical groups: AD (n=9), DLB (n=6), PD (n=11), and MSA (n=11). Eleven subjects served as neurological disease controls. The total of 48 subjects included 27 men and 21 women, aged 66.5+/-11.4 years. We performed a solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which enables the sensitive quantification of CSF SNCA. Results: In comparison with controls, CSF SNCA levels in AD were significantly higher (P (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5409550 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5409550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5401302&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FPredictive_Factors_for_the_Objective_Burden_of.99767.pdf Conclusions: Many factors were found to be (potential) predictors of objective burden, reflecting its complex nature. Objective and subjective burdens are 2 different relevant aspects of informal care. Interventions aimed at countering behavioral problems and impairments regarding daily functioning could reduce objective burden. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5401302 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5401302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5401301&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRegional_Cerebral_Blood_Flow_Abnormalities.99780.pdf The aim of this study was to identify brain areas related to apathy or depression in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Eighty-one AD patients were enrolled in this prospective study. 99mTc-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography was performed to evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). According to the Neuropsychiatric Inventory subscores of apathy and depression, 9 patients were classified as clinically significant (cs) depressed and non-cs-apathetic (D+) groups and 9 were classified as cs-apathetic and non-cs-depressed (A+) groups. In addition, 18 patients were classified as age-matched and Mini-Mental State Examination-matched disease control groups (D-, A-). The significance of rCBF differences between groups and the correlation between rCBF and subscores in 81 AD pat... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5401301 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100 5401301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5388652&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FPlasma_Levels_of_Complement_4a_Protein_are.99768.pdf Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that has been predicted to affect 106.2 million people worldwide by 2050. Currently, definitive diagnosis for this disease is given post mortem, and there is a need for biomarker identification to enable earlier diagnosis of this disease. Biomarkers of AD would ideally represent early disease process and will be present in peripheral tissue before cognitive decline develops in this population. Proteomic technologies offer a strategy to undertake such work. In recent times, research in this field has moved away from classical 2-dimensional gel-based proteomics toward more sensitive, non-gel-based proteomic methodologies. In the study presented here, isobaric labeling for relative and absolute quantification was used to ass... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5388652 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5388652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5388651&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRapidly_Progressive_Dementia__Experience_in_a.99773.pdf In conclusion, nonprion neurodegenerative diseases are the most common cause of RPD in our center. Our results suggest that although CJD is often suspected as a cause of RPD, its frequency depends on the referral differences across specialized centers (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5388651 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5388651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5337180&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCORDIAL___Cognitive_Rehabilitation_and.99774.pdf In this study, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptance, efficacy, and usefulness of a CR intervention in a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial on 201 patients with mild dementia in Alzheimer disease and their carers. The intervention comprised 12 individual weekly sessions and combined 4 established strategies adopted from neurorehabilitation and psychotherapy. Activities of daily living were chosen as the primary outcome. The results show that the feasibility, treatment adherence, and carer commitment were excellent. However, no effect of the intervention was demonstrable on everyday functioning. There were improvements favoring the intervention on quality of life and treatment satisfaction and a significant antidepressant effect in female participants. The lack of impact on everyd... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5337180 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5337180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5337179&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FLong_standing_Prion_Dementia_Manifesting_as.99777.pdf We present the clinical and neuropathological features of a family with an early and long-standing dementia manifesting with posterior cortical atrophy and related to a 120 bp insertional mutation of the prion protein gene. Two cases exhibited mixed prion and A[beta] pathology. The differential diagnosis with Alzheimer disease is discussed. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5337179 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5337179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5324607&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FUsing_Mental_Imagery_to_Improve_Memory_in_Patients.99782.pdf This study was conducted to understand whether patients with mild Alzheimer disease (AD) could use general or self-referential mental imagery to improve their recognition of visually presented words. Experiment 1 showed that, unlike healthy controls, patients generally did not benefit from either type of imagery. To help determine whether the patients' inability to benefit from mental imagery at encoding was due to poor memory or due to an impairment in mental imagery, participants performed 4 imagery tasks with varying imagery and cognitive demands. Experiment 2 showed that patients successfully performed basic visual imagery, but degraded semantic memory, coupled with visuospatial and executive functioning deficits, impaired their ability to perform more complex types of imagery. Given t... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5324607 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5324607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5324606&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FNeuropathological_Profile_of_Mild_Cognitive.99784.pdf Whether the neuropathological profile of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) reflects an intermediate state between normal aging and dementia is not clear. Identifying which phenomena initiate disease and which occur secondary to the neuropathological process is important for targeted disease prevention. Current definitions of MCI include amnestic (aMCI), nonamnestic (nMCI), and multidomain (mMCI) subtypes. In an unbiased population-based cohort of brain donors, we have determined how many individuals fulfill these criteria in the period leading up to death [n=10 (5 multidomain MCI, 4 amnestic MCI, 1 nonamnestic MCI)]. All MCI cases were collapsed into 1 group and we tested whether their pathologic profile, including markers of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular disease (VD), is intermediate ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5324606 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5324606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5316259&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_SIST_M__Predictive_Validity_of_a_Brief.99775.pdf Conclusion: CDR scores based on items from this shortened interview had high predictive ability for AD-comparable to that using a lengthy clinical interview. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5316259 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5316259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5305151&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FLongitudinal_Trajectories_of_Awareness_in.99789.pdf We examined awareness in 101 individuals with early-stage dementia (PwD) and their carers; 66 were reassessed after 12 months and 51 were seen again at 20 months. Awareness was assessed in relation to memory, everyday activities, and socio-emotional functioning using discrepancies between PwD and carer ratings on parallel questionnaires. PwD completed neuropsychological tests and measures of mood and quality of life. Carers completed measures of mood and stress. At initial assessment, discrepancies were greatest for activities of daily living, moderate for memory, and least pronounced for socio-emotional functioning. Discrepancy scores did not change over time. PwD self-ratings indicated perceived poorer functioning in everyday activities over time, but no change for memory and socio-emoti... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5305151 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5305151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5506048&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FThe_Association_of_Age_With_Rate_of_Cognitive.4.aspx Conclusions: This study adds an additional aspect to the complexity of the association between age and rate of cognitive decline, showing that the direction and amplitude of this effect differs according to the stage along the course of cognitive decline. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5506048 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5506048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5487837&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FMark_A__Smith___Impresario_of_Alzheimer.12.aspx No abstract available (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5487837 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5487837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5477348&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FHippocampal_Sclerosis_in_the_Elderly__Genetic_and.11.aspx Conclusions: HpScl is common in an elderly cohort with dementia, occurring in 14% of the cases in this series, and 89% have TDP-43 pathology, often associated with a risk variant in GRN. Patients with HpScl who present after the age of 75 years often have presentations consistent with AD, but at autopsy have non-Alzheimer pathologies. Elderly patients with HpScl may be mistaken for AD. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5477348 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5477348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5442075&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FNeuropsychiatric_Profiles_in_Dementia.6.aspx We compared patterns of neuropsychiatric symptoms across 4 dementia types [Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VAD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Parkinson disease dementia], and 2 mixed groups (AD/VAD and AD/DLB) in sample of 2,963 individuals from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set between September 2005 and June 2008. We used confirmatory factor analysis to compare neuropsychiatric symptom severity ratings made by collateral sources on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire for people with Clinical Dementia Rating scores of 1 or higher. A 3-factor model of psychiatric symptoms (mood, psychotic, and frontal) was shared across all dementia types. Between-group comparisons revealed unique neuropsychiatric profiles by dementia type. The AD gro... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5442075 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5442075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5432424&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FPrevalence_and_Demographic_Features_of_Early_Onset.8.aspx A few epidemiologic studies are available on the prevalence of early-onset Alzheimer disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The aim of this study was to establish in an Italian population, namely in Brescia County, the prevalence of early-onset neurodegenerative dementia, and how it is shared between AD and FTLD. A network among the participating centers has been established for 10 years. A standardized form was sent to be filled in for each patient. The census day was chosen as December 1, 2009. The prevalence of disease was calculated stratifying patients according to sex and diagnosis. On the census day, 175 patients in the whole population aged 45--65 years were enrolled into the study. The resulting overall prevalence of early-onset neurodegenerative dementia was f... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5432424 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5432424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5423109&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FSafety_and_Effectiveness_of_Donepezil_on.7.aspx The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and treatment responsiveness of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer disease recruited in a naturalistic treatment setting in Spain. All the patients, who matched the prescribing recommendations for donepezil and were able to participate in the study, received donepezil (5 to 10 mg/d) for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of adverse events. Secondary outcome measures were neuropsychiatric function measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), the Mini-Mental State Evaluation, and caregiver burden measured by the Zarit scale. Five hundred and twenty-nine patients were included of which 455 completed the study. The mean baseline NPI score was 19.1. Sixty-five patient... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5423109 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5423109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5409552&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FUsing_the_WHOQOL_BREF_in_Persons_With_Dementia__A.9.aspx This study is the first to report on the use of the WHOQOL-BREF in persons with mild-to-moderate dementia. These results indicate that it is a useful tool in assessing these groups, as it includes important dimensions commonly omitted from other dementia measures. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5409552 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5409552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5409551&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FDepression_in_Patients_With_Moderate_Alzheimer.5.aspx Syndromes of depression are frequently concomitant with Alzheimer disease (AD), although often inaccurately diagnosed and/or treated. This prospective, multicenter, observational, cohort study assessed baseline data and 6-month disease changes in moderate AD patients (n=1249) from Spain. Baseline Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) scores defined 2 cohorts (depressive ≥8 or nondepressive (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5409551 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5409551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5409549&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FSharing_Transnational_Experiences_of.1.aspx No abstract available (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5409549 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5409549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5409548&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F10000%2FRelationship_Between_Education_and_Dementia__An.2.aspx Conclusions: Lower education was associated with a greater risk for dementia in many but not all studies. The level of education associated with risk for dementia varied by study population and more years of education did not uniformly attenuate the risk for dementia. It seemed that a more consistent relationship with dementia occurred when years of education reflected cognitive capacity, suggesting that the effect of education on risk for dementia may be best evaluated within the context of a lifespan developmental model. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5409548 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5409548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5297625&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FMolecular_Genetic_Analysis_of_the_APP%2C_PSEN1%2C_and.99776.pdf Mutations in 3 genes, amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1), and presenilin 2 (PSEN2), have been identified as causing a proportion of early-onset Alzheimer disease (eoAD) cases. A few PSEN mutations have also been previously detected in patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). In order to evaluate the role of these genes in a clinical series of Finnish eoAD and FTLD patients, we sequenced exons 16 and 17 of the APP gene and the coding regions of the PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes in 140 eoAD and 66 FTLD patients. No pathogenic mutations were identified in the cohort. The E318G variant was detected with similar frequencies in the cases with eoAD and FTLD and the healthy controls, therefore, showing no association between E318G and eoAD. Furthermore, the PSEN2 R71W var... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5297625 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5297625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5297624&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FTotal_Daily_Activity_Measured_With_Actigraphy_and.99785.pdf Actigraphic measures of physical activity do not rely on participants' self-report and may be of particular importance for examining the health benefits of physical activity across the full spectrum of older individuals, especially those with dementia, a group in which loss of motor function is particularly salient. We tested whether actigraphy could be used to examine the relationship between total daily physical activity and motor function in community-dwelling older persons both with (n=70) and without (n=624) clinical dementia. Total daily activity was measured using actigraphy for a median of 9 (range: 2-16) days. All participants also underwent a structured examination, including 9 muscle strength and 9 motor performance measures summarized as a composite measure. In linear regressio... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5297624 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5297624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5286581&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FDystypia_Without_Aphasia_Associated_With.99778.pdf Keyboard typing is a multifunctional task related to language, visual-spatial and motor abilities. If one of these functions is impaired, difficulty during typing could occur. Here, a 64-year-old right-handed man is reported who developed a sudden typing disturbance without aphasia or neglect. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed discrete acute infarcts in the border-zone regions, bilaterally, predominantly in the left hemisphere. The neuropsychiatric testing showed an impaired visual-spatial memory domain; however, other cognitive functions were all normal. These findings suggest that visual-spatial memory impairment, associated with a left frontal subcortical infarct, is a probable anatomic substrate associated with the inability to type. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5286581 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5286581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5286579&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FProdromal_Dementia_With_Lewy_Bodies_Manifesting_as.99786.pdf Conclusions: To our knowledge, there has been no report of sertraline-induced or aggravated parkinsonian motor symptoms in DLB patients. Our patient had a short period with neither dementia nor parkinsonism during the early stage of his illness, and this period might have been regarded as the preclinical stage of DLB in the natural course of his illness. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5286579 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5286579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5286578&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAnticipatory_Grief_in_New_Family_Caregivers_of.99783.pdf Anticipatory grief is the process of experiencing normal phases of bereavement in advance of the loss of a significant person. To date, anticipatory grief has been examined in family caregivers to individuals who have had Alzheimer disease (AD) an average of 3 to 6 years. Whether such grief is manifested early in the disease trajectory (at diagnosis) is unknown. Using a cross-sectional design, we examined differences in the nature and extent of anticipatory grief between family caregivers of persons with a new diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=43) or AD (n=30). We also determined whether anticipatory grief levels were associated with caregiver demographics, caregiving burden, depressive symptoms, and marital quality. The mean anticipatory grief levels were high in the total sa... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5286578 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5286578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5274729&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCardiovascular_Risk_Factors_Cause_Cortical.99781.pdf Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with cognitive impairments. However, the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the topography of cortical thinning have not yet been studied in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the topography of cortical thinning related to cardiovascular risk factors and the relationships among cardiovascular risk factors, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and cortical atrophy. Participants included 226 patients with Alzheimer disease or subcortical vascular dementia and 135 patients with amnestic MCI or subcortical vascular MCI. We automatically measured the volume of WMH and cortical thickness. Hypertension was associated with cortical thinning in the frontal and perisylvian regions, and cortical thinn... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5274729 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5274729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5274728&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FNALP1_NLRP1_Genetic_Variants_are_Associated_With.99787.pdf Alzheimer disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease. Genetic and molecular studies have confirmed that in the human brain, amyloid-[beta] fibrils can induce, through the activation of NALP1 inflammosome, inflammatory and apoptotic responses involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Considering that AD pathogenesis is multifactorial, we hypothesized that NALP1/NLRP1 could be a susceptibility gene involved in the devolvement of the disease. The possible association between 9 selected polymorphisms in the NALP1/NLRP1 gene and AD was evaluated by comparing their frequency distribution in an Italian cohort of AD patients (AD, n=276) and in a group of Italian sex-matched and age-matched healthy controls without dementia (HC, n=266). Our study, evidences the association of 4 nonsynonymous pol... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5274728 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5274728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5261737&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FMark_A__Smith___Impresario_of_Alzheimer.99788.pdf No abstract available (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5261737 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5261737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5261736&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAnomalous_PiB_enhancement_in_the_Superior_Sagittal.99790.pdf Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB), an amyloid-binding positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, is widely used for imaging amyloid-[beta] in those with and at risk for Alzheimer disease. Here, we report on an otherwise normal 68-year-old female with abnormally high and very focal PiB retention. Coregistered T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and dynamic 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) images confirmed that the focal PiB enhancement was in the superior sagittal and transverse sinuses, outside of the adjacent cortex. Flow through the venous vasculature was normal as assessed by dynamic FDG PET imaging. These features supported the conclusion that PiB retention was not simply due to a hemodynamic abnormality, but may have represented PiB binding to fibrillar deposits of a [beta]-sheet protein... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5261736 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5261736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5184853&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThree_week_Nutritional_Supplementation_Effect_on.99791.pdf Short-term nutritional supplements enable an improvement in Alzheimer patients' nutritional status, but it remains to be seen whether they will be sufficient to improve long-term nutritional status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of a 3-week nutritional supplementation on the nutritional status of undernourished patients with probable mild Alzheimer disease. A 21-day prospective randomized nonblinded controlled trial was conducted. Patients were followed-up for an additional period until the 90th day after the beginning of the intervention. Intervention resulted in significant improvements in Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score [Mean=1.4, standard deviation (SD)=0.8 vs. 0.0 (0.1) in the control group, P (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5184853 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5184853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5031240&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FWillingness_to_Use_Computerized_Systems_for_the.99795.pdf The aim of the study was to examine factors associated with the expressed willingness to use computerized systems (CSs) for dementia diagnosis. The conceptual model proposed that expressed willingness to use a CS would be directly associated with attitudes toward computerized programs, patient-physician relationship, and satisfaction with current health care. In addition, it was hypothesized that technology anxiety and past behavior with CS for dementia diagnosis would affect the expressed willingness to use a CS. Interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 420 Israeli adults (mean age, 64 y). Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypothesized relationships. Expressed willingness to use a CS for dementia diagnosis was moderate, although significantly higher when p... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5031240 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5031240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5337181&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FDifferential_Impact_of_ApoE__4_on_Cortical.10.aspx This study explores the neurofunctional correlates of the recognition of famous faces in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and healthy controls depending on the genetic risk factor, Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4. An event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment was conducted while participants discriminated between famous and nonfamous faces. We compared the results of 32 healthy controls [17 ApoE ε4 carriers (E4+); 15 noncarriers (E4−)] with those of 30 patients with aMCI (16 E4+; 14 E4−). Despite comparable task performance, patients with aMCI, E4+ showed significantly less activation in a large cortical network including the left parahippocampal gyrus than patients with aMCI E4−. Furthermore, in the aMCI group, we found significantly reduced a... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5337181 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5337181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5286580&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FDementia__MC_2__A_4_item_Screening_Test_for_Mild.6.aspx To develop a practical informant-based screening tool that reliably identifies patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, we analyzed data from a sample of patients and normal controls seen in a memory clinic. All patients were evaluated with the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Individual Clinical Dementia Rating responses were dichotomized and entered into a forward stepwise multivariable logistic regression model. Four independent predictors of MCI and dementia thus identified were combined into a prediction rule that was validated in a separate cohort drawn from the same clinic. Using a cut point of 2 or more positive responses to the 4 questions, the final prediction rule had sensitivity of 95% (95% confidence interval (CI): 92-97%) for MCI or dementia, and a specifici... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5286580 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5286580 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5251477&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FThe_Neuroanatomical_Substrate_of_Lexical_Semantic.8.aspx Lexical-semantic competency in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) ε4 carriers was used as an endophenotype, and gray matter volume in MCI ε4 carriers/noncarriers and in noncarrier controls was compared. Residual gray matter volumes were correlated with age of acquisition values for words from a category fluency task, an index of semantic competency. MCI patients had significantly impoverished lexical-semantic output compared with controls, more marked in MCI ε4 carriers. Smaller volumes in the left hippocampus, bilateral regions of the uncus, and posterior cingulate cortex were associated with a tendency to retrieve earlier acquired words in the category fluency task in MCI ε4 carriers, whereas poor semantic performance in MCI noncarriers was associated with smaller volumes in the left un... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5251477 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5251477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5238979&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FCortical_Thinning_in_Verbal%2C_Visual%2C_and_Both.9.aspx In this study, we compared the topography of cortical thinning among 3 subtypes of patients with aMCI: 33 patients with predominant verbal memory impairment (verbal-aMCI), 35 with predominant visual memory impairment (visual-aMCI), and 56 with both verbal and visual memory-predominant impairment (both-aMCI), and 143 patients with normal cognition. As a result, patients with verbal-aMCI showed cortical thinning in the left anterior and medial temporal regions compared with individuals with normal cognition, while those with visual-aMCI did not show significant cortical thinning. The cortical thinning areas of both-aMCI group overlapped those of verbal-aMCI but were more widespread involving the bilateral temporal regions. These findings suggest that the verbal-aMCI and both-aMCI are more li... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5238979 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5238979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5227110&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FGeographic_Distribution_of_Dementia_Mortality_.2.aspx We hypothesized that patterns of elevated stroke mortality among those born in the United States Stroke Belt (SB) states also prevailed for mortality related to all-cause dementia or Alzheimer Disease. Cause-specific mortality (contributing cause of death, including underlying cause cases) rates in 2000 for United States-born African Americans and whites aged 65 to 89 years were calculated by linking national mortality records with population data based on race, sex, age, and birth state or state of residence in 2000. Birth in a SB state (NC, SC, GA, TN, AR, MS, or AL) was cross-classified against SB residence at the 2000 Census. Compared with those who were not born in the SB, odds of all-cause dementia mortality were significantly elevated by 29% for African Americans and 19% for whites ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5227110 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5227110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5192897&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FDiversity_and_Disparity_in_Dementia___The_Impact.1.aspx Debate exists regarding differences in the prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD) in African Americans and Hispanics in the United States, with some evidence suggesting that the prevalence of AD may be considerably higher in these groups than in non-Hispanic whites. Despite this possible disparity, patients of minority ethnoracial groups often receive delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment for dementia. This review investigates these disparities by conceptualizing the dementia disease process as a product of both biological and cultural factors. Ethnoracial differences in biological risk factors, such as genetics and cardiovascular disease, may help to explain disparities in the incidence and prevalence of AD, whereas race-specific cultural factors may impact diagnosis and treatment. Cult... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5192897 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5192897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5176182&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FPrognostic_Factors_for_Weight_Loss_Over_1_year.12.aspx The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors for weight loss in patients recently diagnosed with mild Alzheimer disease (AD), with special emphasis on the patients' social participation and living arrangements. The data used in this study was part of the Danish Alzheimer Intervention StudY. The patients were home-living patients with a clinical diagnosis, within the past 12 months, of probable AD or mixed AD; age ≥50 years; mini-mental state examination score ≥20; informed consent; and data available at 1-year follow-up. In total, 268 patients were included. We used a cut off of 4% in 1 year for defining weight loss. The mean age at inclusion was 76.1 years. Sixty-six patients (24.6%) lost more than 4% of their body weight during the study period. A logistic regression showe... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5176182 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5176182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5176181&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FEmotional_Memory_Deficit_and_its.11.aspx This study examined the cortisol secretion pattern and declarative memory performance of dementia caregivers. An illustrated story paradigm memory task was used to evaluate the effects of emotional arousal on memory and assess the caregivers' cognitive compensation capacity. Younger (n=19) and elderly (n=24) noncaregivers and elderly caregivers (n=14) took part in 2 experiments to elucidate the effects of aging (experiment 1) and chronic stress (experiment 2) on memory performance and cortisol levels. Each group was divided in 2 subgroups: one that was exposed to an emotionally neutral story, and one that was exposed to a similar, but emotionally arousing story. Participants completed a multiple-choice questionnaire in the test session. Salivary cortisol samples were collected at 8:00 AM, ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5176181 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5176181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5170905&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FAssociation_Study_of_the_GAB2_Gene_With_the_Risk.14.aspx Conclusions: Our findings implicate an association between genetic variations of GAB2 and AD in Han Chinese, and the minor alleles of the 3 tested SNPs (rs4945261, rs7101429, and rs7115850) might increase the risk of AD. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5170905 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5170905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5163322&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FThe_Efficacy_of_Nonpharmacological_Treatment_for.5.aspx Objective: To determine the usefulness of a formal, structured, nonpharmacological treatment for apathetic dementia patients. Patients and Methods: A controlled, cross-over, randomized, simple-blind, multicentre clinical trial. A total of 146 institutionalized or day care dementia patients with a stage 1 or 2 Clinical Dementia Rating, with no significant motor or sensory problems, or with rapidly evolving dementia and in a clinically stable state were recruited. A cognitive mini examination, and functional, depression, and potential toxicity scales, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), and Dementia Apathy Interview and Rating (DAIR) scales were applied at baseline. Patients were randomized to initial intervention (music and art therapy and psychomotor activity) or initial con... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5163322 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5163322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5163321&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FEarly_Onset_Dementia__Characteristics_in_a_Large.3.aspx Conclusions: EOD is characterized by specific features and different causes although Alzheimer's and vascular dementias remain the main causes of dementia in EOD. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5163321 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5163321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5163320&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FMicrocephaly_Genes_and_Risk_of_Late_onset.13.aspx We examined the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms tagging common sequence variations in these genes and risk of AD in two case-control samples. We found that the G allele of rs2442607 in microcephalin 1 was associated with an increased risk of AD (under an additive genetic model, P=0.01; odds ratio=3.41; confidence interval, 1.77-6.57). However, this association was not replicated using another case-control sample research participants from the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. We conclude that the common variations we measured in the 4 microcephaly genes do not affect the risk of AD or that their effect size is small. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5163320 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5163320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5163319&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FFunctional_Impairment_in_the_Diagnosis_of_Mild.7.aspx The criterion on functional activity in the revised diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) seems to be conceptually and operationally problematic. We investigated the predictive validity for dementia of this criterion in 140 patients with MCI who participated in the baseline study of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging and completed 18-month follow-up evaluation (mean duration of follow-up, 1.57±0.24 y). Annual conversion rates to dementia were compared between the patients who fulfilled the criterion on functional activity and those who did not. Annual conversion rates to dementia of the patients who fulfilled the criterion on functional activity was 4.76%, whereas that of the patients with MCI who did not was 33.07%, indicating that the criterion on funct... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5163319 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5163319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5163318&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F07000%2FPF_04494700%2C_an_Oral_Inhibitor_of_Receptor_for.4.aspx Conclusions: Ten weeks of treatment with PF-04494700 was safe and well tolerated in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease, indicating the feasibility of a larger long-term efficacy trial. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5163318 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0100 5163318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4994123&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FHealth_Care_Utilization_in_Frontotemporal_Lobar.99792.pdf The aim of this study was to find out how patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration are cared for, to which extent family caregivers utilize professional support, and which medical treatment patients receive. Using a standardized interview, information was obtained from the caregivers of 124 patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration on patient survival, sociodemographic characteristics, living arrangements, health care situation including formal and informal support, and pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment. At the time of the interview, 72 patients were still alive, whereas 52 patients had already died before the interview. Fifty-seven percent of the patients lived at home. At the time of the interview/before death, respectively, 43% of the patients had been instit... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4994123 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4994123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4971149&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FSuicide_Risk_in_Frontotemporal_Lobe_Degeneration_.99796.pdf We report the case of a patient recently diagnosed as having a behavioral variant of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), apathetic syndrome, who committed suicide by hanging. His personal and family history was negative for mental disorders; a depressive syndrome was diagnosed 1 year before FTLD diagnosis, and treated unsuccessfully. To the best of our knowledge, no data are available about self-harmful events in FTLD. This case report argues for the urgent need for developing specific tools for the assessment of suicidal ideation among at-risk population. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4971149 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4971149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4955123&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCentral_Obesity_in_the_Elderly_is_Related_to.99797.pdf The evidence relating obesity measured with body mass index (BMI) in the elderly to late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) is conflicting. Central obesity in middle age is related to a higher risk of LOAD, but data in the elderly are lacking. We explored whether measures of central obesity, waist circumference, and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were better predictors of LOAD compared with BMI in the elderly. Participants were 1459 persons aged 65 years and older without dementia at baseline, with follow-up, and with anthropometric data from a longitudinal study of aging in New York City. Proportional hazards regression was used for multivariable analyses relating BMI, waist circumference, and WHR to LOAD. There were 145 cases of Alzheimer disease in 5734 person-years of follow-up. Only WHR was rel... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4955123 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4955123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4947018&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FApolipoprotein_E_Polymorphism_and_Behavioral_and.99799.pdf The aims of this study were to identify subsyndromes of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Alzheimer disease (AD), and to investigate whether the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene confers a risk of distinct BPSD subsyndromes. BPSD of 96 patients with AD were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Factor analysis with principal component analysis and varimax rotation was used to construct the BPSD subsyndromes. ApoE genotypes were determined using the TaqMan technology. The results showed that the 5 subsyndromes can be determined, including: agitation/aggression-delusion, euphoria-disinhibition, depression-apathy, hallucination-nighttime behavior, and appetite. ApoE [epsilon]4 carriers had higher factor scores in the agitation/aggression-delusion subsyndrome. We ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4947018 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4947018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4938739&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FMarital_Relationship_Quality_in_Early_Stage.99793.pdf This study explored caregiver and PwD perceptions of RQ, identified associated factors, and examined changes over an 18-month period. Participants were 54 couples where one spouse had early-stage dementia and 54 were control couples. RQ was assessed with the Positive Affect Index. Measures of mood, stress, and quality of life (QoL) were also administered. The clinical couples were followed up after 9 and 18 months. Caregivers gave significantly lower RQ ratings than controls. PwD ratings did not differ significantly from those of caregivers or controls. Dyadic discrepancies were significantly greater in the clinical than in the control group. Caregiver ratings were associated with stress, whereas PwD ratings were associated with depression and QoL. Discrepancies were associated with caregi... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4938739 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4938739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4938738&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FGreater_Responsiveness_to_Donepezil_in_Alzheimer.99794.pdf The aim of the study was to predict donepezil responders among patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) based on cognitive tests and positron emission tomography. The Mini-Mental State Examination, Digit Symbol subtest (DigSm) of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised, and Trail-Making Test A were administered for 80 patients with AD to assess global function, attention, and executive function, respectively. The same tests and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale were conducted after treatment with oral donepezil (5 mg/d) for 6 months (study 1). [11C]-Donepezil positron emission tomography examinations were conducted before and after treatment for 30 randomly selected patients. The distribution volume (DV), which indicates the density of donepezil-binding sites, was calculated using L... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4938738 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4938738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4904860&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRecognition_Memory_and__beta__amyloid_Plaques_in.99798.pdf In this study, the diet of wild-type and Tg2576 mice (animals overexpressing the human amyloid precursor protein) was supplemented with Al lactate (1 mg/g). General neurotoxic Al effects were evaluated using a functional observational battery and a novel object recognition task. Four experimental groups were used: Control-wild, Al-wild, Control-Tg, and Al-Tg mice. The results show a decreased home-cage activity and an increase in piloerection in all Al-exposed animals, and an increased sensorimotor reactivity in Tg2576 mice given Al. Neither Al treatment nor genotype had any noticeable effect on corticosterone levels and Al concentrations in frontal cortex and cerebellum of the mice. Recognition memory was impaired in Tg2576 mice, whereas [beta]-amyloid plaque depositions were observed in ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4904860 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4904860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4904859&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FSemantic_Dementia_Versus_Nonfluent_Progressive.99804.pdf Conclusions: Neuropsychological tests that examine verbal and nonverbal semantic associations, verbal working memory, and phonological processing are the most helpful for distinguishing between PNFA and SD. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4904859 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4904859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4886259&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_Association_of_Age_With_Rate_of_Cognitive.99801.pdf Conclusions: This study adds an additional aspect to the complexity of the association between age and rate of cognitive decline, showing that the direction and amplitude of this effect differs according to the stage along the course of cognitive decline. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4886259 Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4886259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4873721&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCholine_Acetyltransferase_2384G_A_Polymorphism_and.99800.pdf We examined the main effect of CHAT polymorphism and its interaction with apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism in the development of AD in a well-powered elderly Korean sample. We analyzed CHAT 2384G>A polymorphism and APOE polymorphism among 736 Korean patients with probable AD and 1386 nondemented Korean controls. We tested the association between AD and CHAT genotype using a logistic regression model. In addition, we used generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction to investigate the interaction between CHAT and APOE with regard to the risk of AD. The CHAT A allele was associated with AD risk in a dose-dependent manner (odds ratio=1.40, 95% confidence interval=1.06-1.85, P=0.018 for heterozygotes; and odds ratio=3.92, 95% confidence interval=1.78-8.58, P=0.001 for homozygotes). The... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4873721 Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4873721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4854952&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCaregiver_Burden_and_Coping_in_Early_stage.99806.pdf This study was set out to describe caregiver-perceived burden and coping in early-stage Alzheimer disease (AD). A total of 163 consecutive pairs of patients with AD and their principal caregivers were initially recruited. The caregivers completed the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and the Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced scale, and also provided sociodemographic information; the patients with AD were assessed by means of the Mini Mental State Examination and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Data from 126 patient-caregiver pairs were analyzed. The caregivers (mean age 56.11+/-12.37 y) were mainly women (76%); 64% were the patient's offspring; 39% lived with the patient. From the CBI data, it emerged that caregivers perceived loss of personal time (objective burden, 33%) and the ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4854952 Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4854952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4854951&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FDementia__MC_2__A_4_item_Screening_Test_for_Mild.99803.pdf To develop a practical informant-based screening tool that reliably identifies patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, we analyzed data from a sample of patients and normal controls seen in a memory clinic. All patients were evaluated with the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Individual Clinical Dementia Rating responses were dichotomized and entered into a forward stepwise multivariable logistic regression model. Four independent predictors of MCI and dementia thus identified were combined into a prediction rule that was validated in a separate cohort drawn from the same clinic. Using a cut point of 2 or more positive responses to the 4 questions, the final prediction rule had sensitivity of 95% (95% confidence interval (CI): 92-97%) for MCI or dementia, and a specifici... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4854951 Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4854951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848818&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAdult_Polyglucosan_Body_Disease_Masquerading_as.99802.pdf We describe an exceptional clinical picture, namely, cognitive impairment of the Alzheimer disease type in a man who later developed manifestations typical of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and who was subsequently found to have adult polyglucosan body disease (APGBD) upon postmortem neuropathologic explorations. The combined occurrence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cognitive impairment of the Alzheimer disease type in APGBD has not been reported before. This case also underlines the diverse clinical presentation of this rare clinicopathologic entity (namely APGBD) and highlights the importance of recognizing the unusual association of clinical features in making the diagnosis. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848818 Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4848818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795558&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FYounger_Age_at_Crisis_Following_Parental_Death_in.99805.pdf Conclusions: CFPD during childhood is associated with an increased risk for dementia in men who survived until old age. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795558 Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4795558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795557&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FFalls_and_Risk_Factors_for_Falls_in.99812.pdf To estimate the number of fallers and risk factors for falls in a cohort with dementia, we did a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized controlled trial (NutriAlz) in 11 outpatient and day care centers in Catalonia (Spain) including 626 community-dwelling patients with dementia, followed for 12 months. Participants' characteristics were assessed at baseline, at 6 and 12 months [fall in the earlier 6 mo, anthropometric data, comorbidities, Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview and Mini-Nutritional Assessment]. Multivariate logistic regression models and generalized linear models were used to explore risk factors f... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795557 Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4795557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4755334&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRelation_Between_Insulin%2C_Insulin_related_Factors%2C.99808.pdf We examined the association between insulin, insulin-related factors, and plasma A[beta] at late midlife. Plasma A[beta]42, A[beta]40, fasting insulin, and c-peptide were measured in 468 women without diabetes, aged 59 to 69 years (median 63 y). Before blood draw, participants reported body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity, alcohol intake, hypertension, and diabetes family history. Linear regression was used to calculate age-adjusted mean differences in A[beta]42 to A[beta]40 ratio, and A[beta]42 levels, by insulin and insulin-related factors. The ratio of A[beta]42 to A[beta]40 was statistically significantly lower in women with family history of diabetes, and A[beta]42 was significantly lower with less physical activity, greater waist circumference, hypertension, and fa... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4755334 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4755334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742997&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAssessment_of_Nondeclarative_Learning_in_Severe.99838.pdf This study examines a newly developed test, the Implicit Memory Test, in 28 patients with severe AD (mini-mental state examination 5 to 12) and 22 cognitively unimpaired matched controls (mini-mental state examination 25 to 29). The Implicit Memory Test consists of visually presented word (stem-completion) and picture (fragmented picture identification) subtests, each comprising 3 learning trials and a delayed test. Explicit memory was also assessed, using the verbal paired-associate learning subtest from the Wechsler Memory Scale and the Visual Association Test. Patients with AD obtained a floor performance on both explicit memory tests, whereas a significant learning curve was found for both the stem-completion and the fragmented pictures subtests of the Implicit Memory Test. Delayed tes... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742997 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4742997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4736771&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FImpact_of_Subcortical_Hyperintensities_on.99807.pdf This study explored the costs of dual-tasking in relation to SH severity in AD and normal controls (NCs). Cadence while walking on a treadmill, and speed-accuracy-tradeoff (SAT), on 3 working memory tasks, were measured during single-task and dual-task conditions. Dual-task costs (DTC) on SAT, cadence, and overall DTC were measured for each of these tasks. On visual rating of SH severity, AD and NC groups were subdivided into high-SH and low-SH subgroups. Compared with the NC, the AD group performed poorly on all working memory tasks across both conditions, decreased cadence on dual-tasking, and showed a decrement in overall DTC (all P (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4736771 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4736771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4978179&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FFactor_Structure_of_the_National_Alzheimer_s.5.aspx We examined the factor structure of the battery across levels of cognition [normal, mild cognitive impairment, dementia] based on Clinical Dementia Rating scores to determine cognitive domains tapped by the battery. Using data pooled from 29 Alzheimer's Disease Centers funded by National Institute on Aging, exploratory factor analysis was used to derive a general model using half of the sample; 4 factors representing memory, attention, executive function, and language were identified. Confirmatory factor analysis was used on the second half of the sample to evaluate invariance between groups and within groups over 1 year. Factorial invariance testing included systematic addition of constraints and comparisons of nested models. The general confirmatory factor analysis model had a good fit. ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4978179 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4978179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4896301&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FAttentional_Distractibility_Induced_by_Optokinetic.9.aspx In this study, we investigated whether OKS also perturbs balanced attentional deficit in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a prodromal phase of AD, and explored whether the effects of OKS at baseline differ between aMCI patients who convert to AD at follow-up (converters) and those who do not (nonconverters). A total of 44 patients with aMCI, 14 patients with subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI), and 35 age-matched and education-matched normal controls were studied for their ability to bisect solid lines superimposed on a background of OKS. Background OKS movements were either leftward or rightward, or were stationary. A total of 33 of the 44 patients with aMCI were clinically followed for an average of 2.8 years, of which there were 15 converters a... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4896301 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4896301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4886262&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FDietary_Inflammation_Factor_Rating_System_and_Risk.8.aspx We examined the composite total Inflammation Factor Rating (tIFR), as a measure of inflammatory impact of foods, in relation with (i) serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and (ii) risk of incident AD using Cox proportional hazard model. The tIFR was not associated with serum hsCRP level. After an average of 4.0 years of follow-up, 262 paticipants developed incident AD. The tIFR was not associated with AD risk: compared with the lowest tertile of tIFR (most proinflammatory), hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest tertile (most anti-inflammatory) was 0.97 (0.69-1.35) (P-for-trend=0.71), in the adjusted model. We conclude that tIFR might not be a biologically relevant measure of the inflammatory impact of the diet. In addition, although it remains possib... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4886262 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4886262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4886261&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FManagement_of_Behavioral_and_Psychological.14.aspx Conclusions: These findings that are still preliminary support a particular role for the CBU for elderly patients showing the most advanced dementia and disruptive BPSD. Colocated APU and CBU may allow for more effective integration of medical and psychiatric care in elderly patients with BPSD with frequent comorbidities. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4886261 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4886261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4886260&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FNovel_Progranulin_Mutation_Detected_in_2_Patients.12.aspx In this study, we screened a group of 51 FTLD patients for PGRN mutations and identified a novel exon 6 splice donor site deletion (IVS6+5_8delGTGA) in 2 unrelated patients. This mutation displayed an altered splicing pattern generating 2 aberrant transcripts and causing frameshifts of the coding sequence, premature termination codons, and a near absence of PGRN mRNA from the mutated alleles most likely through nonsense-mediated decay. The subsequent PGRN haploinsufficiency is consistent with previously described PGRN mutations. We present a molecular characterization of the IVS6+5_8delGTGA mutation and also describe clinical and neuropathologic features from the 2 patients carrying this PGRN mutation. From the screening of these 51 FTLD patients, we could also identify the earlier reporte... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4886260 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4886260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4878129&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FUndiagnosed_Illness_and_Neuropsychiatric_Behaviors.2.aspx The aim of this retrospective analysis was to examine prevalence of undiagnosed acute illness and characteristics including neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with illness in community residing older adults with Alzheimer disease or related disorders. Subjects included 265 community residing older adults with dementia who participated in 1 of 2 interventions being tested in randomized clinical trials. Measures included a brief nursing assessment and laboratory evaluations including complete blood count, blood chemistry (Chem 7), and thyroid function tests of serum samples and culture and sensitivity tests of urine samples. Undiagnosed illness was identified according to currently published criteria. Neuropsychiatric behaviors were assessed using 21 behaviors derived from standard measure... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4878129 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4878129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4878128&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FApoE_E4_is_a_Susceptibility_Factor_in_Amnestic_But.10.aspx The goal of this study was to determine if the apolipoprotein ε gene, which is a well-established susceptibility factor for Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology in typical amnestic dementias, may also represent a risk factor in the language-based dementia, primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Apolipoprotein E genotyping was obtained from 149 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PPA, 330 cognitively healthy individuals (NC), and 179 patients with a clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (PrAD). Allele frequencies were compared among the groups. Analyses were also completed by sex and in 2 subsets of PPA patients: 1 in which the patients were classified by subtype (logopenic, agrammatic, and semantic) and another in which pathologic data were available. The allele frequencies for the... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4878128 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4878128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4873723&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FCaregiver_Burden_and_Neuropsychiatric_Symptoms_in.3.aspx Objectives: To estimate the quantity of informal care associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with cognitive impairment. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Setting: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study. Participants: A sample (n=450) of adults aged 71 years and older with cognitive impairment drawn form the Health and Retirement Study. Measurements: The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, agitation, depression, apathy, elation, anxiety, disinhibition, irritation, and aberrant motor behaviors) was identified using the neuropsychiatric inventory. Cognitive category [normal, cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND), or dementia] was assigned by a consensus panel. The hours per week of active help and supervision were ascertained by i... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4873723 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4873723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4873722&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FThe_Measurement_of_Psychosis_in_Dementia__A.1.aspx This study compares assessments of psychotic symptoms in persons with dementia, specifically of hallucinations and delusions, through the 4 most frequently used assessments. Participants were 74 nursing home residents from 9 nursing homes in Israel, diagnosed with dementia. Assessment tools used included the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Homes (NPI-NH), the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Behavior Rating Scale for Dementia (CERAD-BRSD), and the Columbia University Scale for Psychopathology in Alzheimer's Disease (CUSPAD). The highest prevalence rates of delusions were found through the CUSPAD, and the lowest through the CERAD-BRSD. Rates identified by the BEHAVE-AD were intermediate an... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4873722 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4873722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4873720&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FRelationship_Between_Thyroid_Hormone_Levels_and.6.aspx Subclinical thyroid disease and even variations in thyroid function within the normal range is associated with cognitive function and a risk of Alzheimer disease (AD). Several studies reported the effect of thyroid hormones on cerebral blood flow. The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in association with thyroid hormone levels within the normal range in patients with AD. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3, and free T4 levels were measured in 62 patients with AD (23 men and 39 women; age 56 to 91 y; mean age 77.3 y) and 27 control subjects (9 men and 18 women; age 61 to 93 y; mean age 75.8 y). The 99mTc ethylcysteinate dimer single photon emission computed tomography was performed in all subjects. The rCBF in the region of intere... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4873720 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4873720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4865057&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FUtilization_of_Antihypertensives%2C_Antidepressants%2C.7.aspx This study explores the longitudinal relationship between patient characteristics and use of 4 drug classes (antihypertensives, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and hormones) that showed significant changes in use rates over time in patients with Alzheimer disease. Patient/caregiver-reported prescription medication usage was categorized by drug class for 201 patients from the Predictors Study. Patient characteristics included use of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine, function, cognition, living situation, baseline age, and sex. Assessment interval, year of study entry, and site were controlled for. Before adjusting for covariates, useage increased for antihypertensives (47.8% to 62.2%), antipsychotics (3.5% to 27.0%), and antidepressants (32.3% to 40.5%); use of hormones decreased... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4865057 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4865057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4865056&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FAssessment_of_Nondeclarative_Learning_in_Severe.13.aspx This study examines a newly developed test, the Implicit Memory Test, in 28 patients with severe AD (mini-mental state examination 5 to 12) and 22 cognitively unimpaired matched controls (mini-mental state examination 25 to 29). The Implicit Memory Test consists of visually presented word (stem-completion) and picture (fragmented picture identification) subtests, each comprising 3 learning trials and a delayed test. Explicit memory was also assessed, using the verbal paired-associate learning subtest from the Wechsler Memory Scale and the Visual Association Test. Patients with AD obtained a floor performance on both explicit memory tests, whereas a significant learning curve was found for both the stem-completion and the fragmented pictures subtests of the Implicit Memory Test. Delayed tes... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4865056 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4865056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4854953&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FAdding_Delayed_Recall_to_the_Alzheimer_Disease.4.aspx Conclusions/Relevance: The addition of DR to the ADAS-cog score increased the ability to detect change in subjects with MCI over 1 year compared with the ADAS-cog11 but increased the variance in subjects with AD, even in those with mild impairment These findings speak to the need to tailor outcome measures to the specific study population and diagnosis for maximal efficiency and economy when conducting clinical trials. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4854953 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4854953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4854950&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F04000%2FNonfibrillar_Abeta1_42_Inhibits_Glutamate_Uptake.11.aspx Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, characterized by an increased deposition of β-amyloid (Abeta) within the central nervous system, leading to neuronal death. The availability of effective models, in which confirming novel pathogenic hypotheses and developing therapeutic targets, represents a very important goal for the field of AD. Fibroblasts from these patients may be relevant models in which addressing these issues, as they display biochemical alterations mirroring SNC ones. In this work, fibroblasts obtained from controls were studied after exposure to nonfibrillar Abeta1–42, showing decreased glutamate uptake, similar to that observed in AD cells, in absence of transporters modifications. Nonfibrillar Abeta1–42 was able to induce in control c... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4854950 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4854950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4694041&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCorrelation_of_Amyloid_PET_Ligand_Florbetapir_F_18.99810.pdf Conclusions: Florbetapir F 18 selectively binds A[beta] in human brain tissue. The binding intensity was quantitatively correlated with the density of A[beta] plaques identified by standard neuropathologic techniques and correlated with the density of A[beta] measured by immunohistochemistry. As A[beta] plaques are a defining neuropathologic feature for Alzheimer disease, these results support the use of florbetapir F 18 as an amyloid positron emission tomography ligand to identify the presence of Alzheimer disease pathology in patients with signs and symptoms of progressive late-life cognitive impairment. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4694041 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4694041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4677892&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FPsychotropic_Drug_Effects_on_Gene_Transcriptomics.99820.pdf This report provides an initial summary and framework to understand the potential impact of psychotropic drugs on AD-relevant genes. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4677892 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4677892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4677891&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FExtended_Kindred_With_Recessive_Late_Onset.99811.pdf Late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) is a complex genetic disorder. Although genes involved in early-onset forms were discovered more than a decade ago, LOAD research has only been able to point out small effect loci, with the exception of APOE. We mapped the gene predisposing to LOAD in an extended inbred family coming from a genetically isolated region (24 sampled individuals, 12 of whom are affected), completing a genome-wide screen with an Affymetrix10 K single nucleotide polymorphism microarray. Genotyping results were evaluated under model-dependent (dominant and recessive) and model-free analysis. We obtained a maximum nonparametric linkage score of 3.24 (P=0.00006) on chromosome 8p22-p21.2. The same genomic position also yielded the highest multipoint heterogeneity LOD (HLOD) under ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4677891 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4677891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4672145&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FSafety_and_Effectiveness_of_Donepezil_on.99815.pdf The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and treatment responsiveness of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer disease recruited in a naturalistic treatment setting in Spain. All the patients, who matched the prescribing recommendations for donepezil and were able to participate in the study, received donepezil (5 to 10 mg/d) for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of adverse events. Secondary outcome measures were neuropsychiatric function measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), the Mini-Mental State Evaluation, and caregiver burden measured by the Zarit scale. Five hundred and twenty-nine patients were included of which 455 completed the study. The mean baseline NPI score was 19.1. Sixty-five patient... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4672145 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4672145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4659702&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FImproving_Physician_Awareness_of_Alzheimer_Disease.99816.pdf Conclusions: The following primary goals were accomplished: increased knowledge and confidence, changed practice habits, and enhanced research recruitment. Educational programs such as the CPP may be beneficial for increasing access to accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment for Alzheimer disease while also enhancing research participation. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4659702 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4659702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4654738&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FHippocampal_Atrophy_and_Ventricular_Enlargement_in.99813.pdf Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia worldwide. Hippocampal atrophy and ventricular enlargement have been associated with AD but also with normal aging. We analyzed 1.5-T brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 46 cognitively normal elderly individuals (NC), 33 mild cognitive impairment and 43 AD patients. Hippocampal and ventricular analyses were conducted with 2 novel semiautomated segmentation approaches followed by the radial distance mapping technique. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the effects of age and diagnosis on hippocampal and ventricular volumes and radial distance. In addition, 3-dimensional map correction for multiple comparisons was made with permutation testing. As expected, most significant hippocampal atrophy and ventricular enlarg... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4654738 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4654738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4654737&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FDepression_in_Patients_With_Moderate_Alzheimer.99823.pdf In conclusion, CSDD >=8 identified depressive symptomatology in moderate AD patients, significantly associated with excessive neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional, but not cognitive, 6-month deterioration. The health effects over patients and caregivers, alongside the finding that most patients remained depressive after 6 months, demand accurate diagnostic tools and effective treatments for depression in AD. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4654737 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4654737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4645483&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRelationship_Between_Education_and_Dementia__An.99809.pdf Conclusions: Lower education was associated with a greater risk for dementia in many but not all studies. The level of education associated with risk for dementia varied by study population and more years of education did not uniformly attenuate the risk for dementia. It seemed that a more consistent relationship with dementia occurred when years of education reflected cognitive capacity, suggesting that the effect of education on risk for dementia may be best evaluated within the context of a lifespan developmental model. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4645483 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4645483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4623422&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FPrevalence_and_Demographic_Features_of_Early_Onset.99819.pdf A few epidemiologic studies are available on the prevalence of early-onset Alzheimer disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The aim of this study was to establish in an Italian population, namely in Brescia County, the prevalence of early-onset neurodegenerative dementia, and how it is shared between AD and FTLD. A network among the participating centers has been established for 10 years. A standardized form was sent to be filled in for each patient. The census day was chosen as December 1, 2009. The prevalence of disease was calculated stratifying patients according to sex and diagnosis. On the census day, 175 patients in the whole population aged 45--65 years were enrolled into the study. The resulting overall prevalence of early-onset neurodegenerative dementia was f... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4623422 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4623422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4611732&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FHippocampal_Sclerosis_in_the_Elderly__Genetic_and.99824.pdf Conclusions: HpScl is common in an elderly cohort with dementia, occurring in 14% of the cases in this series, and 89% have TDP-43 pathology, often associated with a risk variant in GRN. Patients with HpScl who present after the age of 75 years often have presentations consistent with AD, but at autopsy have non-Alzheimer pathologies. Elderly patients with HpScl may be mistaken for AD. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4611732 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4611732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4611731&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_Efficacy_of_Nonpharmacological_Treatment_for.99822.pdf Objective: To determine the usefulness of a formal, structured, nonpharmacological treatment for apathetic dementia patients. Patients and Methods: A controlled, cross-over, randomized, simple-blind, multicentre clinical trial. A total of 146 institutionalized or day care dementia patients with a stage 1 or 2 Clinical Dementia Rating, with no significant motor or sensory problems, or with rapidly evolving dementia and in a clinically stable state were recruited. A cognitive mini examination, and functional, depression, and potential toxicity scales, Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), and Dementia Apathy Interview and Rating (DAIR) scales were applied at baseline. Patients were randomized to initial intervention (music and art therapy and psychomotor activity) or initial con... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4611731 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4611731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4607133&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FNEDD9_Gene_Polymorphism_Influences_the_Risk_of.99817.pdf Neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally down-regulated (NEDD9) gene was a new candidate risk gene for Alzheimer disease (AD). The CC genotype of a single nucleotide polymorphism rs760678 within this gene was associated with increasing risk of AD in a large study with white population. Our study aimed to replicate the initial report in Chinese population and explore its effect on cognitive performance. A total of 262 patients with AD , 293 patients with mild cognitive impairment, and 434 cognitive intact controls were recruited in the study. The result showed that G allele had a greater risk of AD ([chi]2 for trend test=5.61, df 1, P=0.018). The effects were mainly observed among Apolipoprotein E (APOE) [epsilon]4 noncarriers ([chi]2 for trend test=4.30, df 1, P=0.038). After adjus... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4607133 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4607133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4607132&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRacial_Differences_in_the_Recognition_of_Cognitive.99818.pdf We assessed the influence of race and education on informants' reports of cognitive decline in 252 community-residing older persons who were receiving services from senior health agencies. An expert consensus panel made diagnoses of normal cognition, cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND), and dementia based on clinical evaluations and standardized neuropsychological testing (using both population and race-adjusted norms). Informants were interviewed using the Informant Questionnaire for Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). Informants of black participants with CIND reported less cognitive decline (lower IQCODE scores) than informants of white CIND participants [3.03 (0.61) vs. 3.23 (0.41); t (117)=2.12, P (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4607132 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4607132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4602001&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FDiversity_and_Disparity_in_Dementia___The_Impact.99814.pdf Debate exists regarding differences in the prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD) in African Americans and Hispanics in the United States, with some evidence suggesting that the prevalence of AD may be considerably higher in these groups than in non-Hispanic whites. Despite this possible disparity, patients of minority ethnoracial groups often receive delayed diagnosis or inadequate treatment for dementia. This review investigates these disparities by conceptualizing the dementia disease process as a product of both biological and cultural factors. Ethnoracial differences in biological risk factors, such as genetics and cardiovascular disease, may help to explain disparities in the incidence and prevalence of AD, whereas race-specific cultural factors may impact diagnosis and treatment. Cult... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4602001 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4602001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4596441&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FApoE_E4_is_a_Susceptibility_Factor_in_Amnestic_but.99821.pdf The goal of this study was to determine if the apolipoprotein [epsilon] gene, which is a well-established susceptibility factor for Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology in typical amnestic dementias, may also represent a risk factor in the language-based dementia, primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Apolipoprotein E genotyping was obtained from 149 patients with a clinical diagnosis of PPA, 330 cognitively healthy individuals (NC), and 179 patients with a clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (PrAD). Allele frequencies were compared among the groups. Analyses were also completed by sex and in 2 subsets of PPA patients: 1 in which the patients were classified by subtype (logopenic, agrammatic, and semantic) and another in which pathologic data were available. The allele frequencies ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4596441 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4596441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4555327&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCortical_Thinning_in_Verbal%2C_Visual%2C_and_Both.99825.pdf In this study, we compared the topography of cortical thinning among 3 subtypes of patients with aMCI: 33 patients with predominant verbal memory impairment (verbal-aMCI), 35 with predominant visual memory impairment (visual-aMCI), and 56 with both verbal and visual memory-predominant impairment (both-aMCI), and 143 patients with normal cognition. As a result, patients with verbal-aMCI showed cortical thinning in the left anterior and medial temporal regions compared with individuals with normal cognition, while those with visual-aMCI did not show significant cortical thinning. The cortical thinning areas of both-aMCI group overlapped those of verbal-aMCI but were more widespread involving the bilateral temporal regions. These findings suggest that the verbal-aMCI and both-aMCI are more li... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4555327 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4555327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4552660&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_Cognitive_Change_in_Women_Study__CCW__.99827.pdf The value of self-reported memory complaints for identifying or predicting future cognitive decline or dementia is controversial, but observations from a third party, or "informant," may prove more useful. The relationship between Informant and Self-ratings of cognitive status and neuropsychological test scores was examined in a cohort of 384 nondemented, community-dwelling women, aged 60 years and older, participating in a single-site Women's Health Initiative ancillary study. Each participant and her respective informant separately completed the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). Participants also underwent neuropsychological testing and responded to questionnaires on depression and functioning in complex activities of daily living. All neuropsychologic... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4552660 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4552660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525666&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FNeuropsychiatric_Profiles_in_Dementia.99828.pdf We compared patterns of neuropsychiatric symptoms across 4 dementia types [Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VAD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Parkinson disease dementia], and 2 mixed groups (AD/VAD and AD/DLB) in sample of 2,963 individuals from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set between September 2005 and June 2008. We used confirmatory factor analysis to compare neuropsychiatric symptom severity ratings made by collateral sources on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire for people with Clinical Dementia Rating scores of 1or higher. A 3-factor model of psychiatric symptoms (mood, psychotic, and frontal) was shared across all dementia types. Between-group comparisons revealed unique neuropsychiatric profiles by dementia type. The AD grou... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525666 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525665&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FGhrelin_Attenuated_Cognitive_Dysfunction_in.99826.pdf This study aimed to explore the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy and the mechanisms of ghrelin to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in diabetic rats. Thirty-six streptozotocin diabetic rat models were established; 12 weeks later, all the rats were randomly divided into 3 groups [diabetic model group (D), ghrelin treatment group (T1), and ghrelin and D-lys-3-GHRP-6 treatment group (T2)] of 12 each. Twelve normoglycemic rats were classified in the normal group (N). Learning and memory behaviors were measured using a spatial version of the Morris water maze test. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), caspase-3, and Bcl-xl protein expressions in the hippocampi of all th... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525665 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4456354&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FMicrocephaly_Genes_and_Risk_of_Late_onset.99830.pdf We examined the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms tagging common sequence variations in these genes and risk of AD in two case-control samples. We found that the G allele of rs2442607 in microcephalin 1 was associated with an increased risk of AD (under an additive genetic model, P=0.01; odds ratio=3.41; confidence interval, 1.77-6.57). However, this association was not replicated using another case-control sample research participants from the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. We conclude that the common variations we measured in the 4 microcephaly genes do not affect the risk of AD or that their effect size is small. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4456354 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4456354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4442952&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FUsing_the_WHOQOL_BREF_in_Persons_With_Dementia__A.99831.pdf This study is the first to report on the use of the WHOQOL-BREF in persons with mild-to-moderate dementia. These results indicate that it is a useful tool in assessing these groups, as it includes important dimensions commonly omitted from other dementia measures. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4442952 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4442952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4442951&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAssociation_Study_of_the_GAB2_Gene_With_the_Risk.99835.pdf Conclusions: Our findings implicate an association between genetic variations of GAB2 and AD in Han Chinese, and the minor alleles of the 3 tested SNPs (rs4945261, rs7101429, and rs7115850) might increase the risk of AD. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4442951 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4442951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4442950&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FPrognostic_Factors_for_Weight_Loss_Over_1_year.99832.pdf The aim of the study was to identify prognostic factors for weight loss in patients recently diagnosed with mild Alzheimer disease (AD), with special emphasis on the patients' social participation and living arrangements. The data used in this study was part of the Danish Alzheimer Intervention StudY. The patients were home-living patients with a clinical diagnosis, within the past 12 months, of probable AD or mixed AD; age >=50 years; mini-mental state examination score >=20; informed consent; and data available at 1-year follow-up. In total, 268 patients were included. We used a cut off of 4% in 1 year for defining weight loss. The mean age at inclusion was 76.1 years. Sixty-six patients (24.6%) lost more than 4% of their body weight during the study period. A logistic regression showed ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4442950 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4442950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4442949&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FGeographic_Distribution_of_Dementia_Mortality_.99829.pdf We hypothesized that patterns of elevated stroke mortality among those born in the United States Stroke Belt (SB) states also prevailed for mortality related to all-cause dementia or Alzheimer Disease. Cause-specific mortality (contributing cause of death, including underlying cause cases) rates in 2000 for United States-born African Americans and whites aged 65 to 89 years were calculated by linking national mortality records with population data based on race, sex, age, and birth state or state of residence in 2000. Birth in a SB state (NC, SC, GA, TN, AR, MS, or AL) was cross-classified against SB residence at the 2000 Census. Compared with those who were not born in the SB, odds of all-cause dementia mortality were significantly elevated by 29% for African Americans and 19% for whites ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4442949 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4442949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4437244&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FFunctional_Impairment_in_the_Diagnosis_of_Mild.99833.pdf The criterion on functional activity in the revised diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) seems to be conceptually and operationally problematic. We investigated the predictive validity for dementia of this criterion in 140 patients with MCI who participated in the baseline study of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging and completed 18-month follow-up evaluation (mean duration of follow-up, 1.57+/-0.24 y). Annual conversion rates to dementia were compared between the patients who fulfilled the criterion on functional activity and those who did not. Annual conversion rates to dementia of the patients who fulfilled the criterion on functional activity was 4.76%, whereas that of the patients with MCI who did not was 33.07%, indicating that the criterion on func... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4437244 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4437244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433817&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FEmotional_Memory_Deficit_and_its.99834.pdf This study examined the cortisol secretion pattern and declarative memory performance of dementia caregivers. An illustrated story paradigm memory task was used to evaluate the effects of emotional arousal on memory and assess the caregivers' cognitive compensation capacity. Younger (n=19) and elderly (n=24) noncaregivers and elderly caregivers (n=14) took part in 2 experiments to elucidate the effects of aging (experiment 1) and chronic stress (experiment 2) on memory performance and cortisol levels. Each group was divided in 2 subgroups: one that was exposed to an emotionally neutral story, and one that was exposed to a similar, but emotionally arousing story. Participants completed a multiple-choice questionnaire in the test session. Salivary cortisol samples were collected at 8:00 AM, ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433817 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4433817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4654739&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FLong_term_Outcome_and_Prediction_Models_of.10.aspx The objective of this study was to describe the longitudinal functional outcome and analyze factors affecting the outcome in ChEI-treated patients. In an open, 3-year, nonrandomized, prospective, multicenter study in a routine clinical setting, 790 patients were treated with either donepezil, rivastigmine, or galantamine. At baseline and every 6 months, they were assessed with several rating scales including Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), Physical Self–Maintenance Scale (PSMS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). A faster functional decline was associated with lower cognitive ability at baseline, older age, and the interaction of higher education and longer time in the study. The patients residing with a spouse or relative showed slower deterioration in IADL score.... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4654739 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4654739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4602000&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FDerivation_of_a_New_ADAS_cog_Composite_Using.11.aspx Model-based statistical approaches were used to compare the ability of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers to predict 12-month progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer disease (AD). Using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data set, properties of the 11-item ADAS-cog (ADAS.11), the 13-item ADAS-cog (ADAS.All) and novel composite scores were compared, using weighting schemes derived from the Random Forests (RF) tree-based multivariate model. Weighting subscores using the RF model of ADAS.All enhanced discrimination between elderly controls, MCI and AD patients. The ability of the RF-wei... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4602000 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4602000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4578661&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FMAPT_V363I_Variation_in_a_Sporadic_Case_of.14.aspx The V363I mutation of the microtubule-associated protein tau gene has previously been associated with a case of primary progressive nonfluent aphasia with variable penetrance. Herein, we report the finding of the V363I variation in a sporadic early onset frontotemporal dementia patient and in several members of her family. The V363I variation was associated with frontotemporal dementia only in the proband which was also homozygous for the A allele of the progranulin single-nucleotide polymorphism rs9897526 and for methionine at codon 129 of the prion protein gene. The microtubule-associated protein tau V363I variation could be considered either an incomplete penetrant mutation or a rare polymorphism; although its pathogenicity has yet to be clearly demonstrated, modifier genetic factors se... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4578661 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4578661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4578660&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FCould_Toxoplasma_gondii_Have_any_Role_in_Alzheimer.1.aspx Conclusions: Our findings suggest that toxoplasma infection may be involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms of AD. If confirmed, a positive correlation between toxoplasmosis and AD may lead to new approaches for the management of AD. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4578660 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4578660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4562190&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FAwareness_of_Cognitive_Deficits_in_Older_Adults.5.aspx In this study, we examined whether community volunteers with CIND and reduced awareness had worse cognitive performance and cognitive decline over 18 months than CIND participants with intact awareness or healthy controls. We recruited 92 participants with CIND and 91 healthy controls with their respective informants. We used discrepancy scores (informant minus participant) on the Anosognosia Questionnaire for Dementia and Dysexecutive Questionnaire to ascertain participants' awareness of their cognitive performance. The main cognitive outcome variable was the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale: Cognitive Section. Bivariate correlations showed no relationship between the awareness measures and cognitive performance or decline. Overall, CIND participants' ratings of cognitive deficits corre... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4562190 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4562190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4552659&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FRisk_of_Decline_in_Functional_Activities_in.4.aspx We examined the risk of 1-year decline in 4 everyday activities in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), relative to patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Data were from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, gathered from 32 Alzheimer's Disease Centers. Participants (n=1880) were: aged 60+ years, demented with a primary clinical diagnosis of probable AD or DLB, and had a global Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5 to 2. The activities were measured with the Functional Activities Questionnaire. In modified Poisson regression models adjusted for demographics, baseline activity, years from symptom onset, cognitive impairment, and comorbidities; DLB participants aged 67 to 81 years had 1.5 to 2 times increased risk of decline in performing basic kitchen tasks, engaging in games/hob... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4552659 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4552659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4541727&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FPrion_Protein_Codon_129_Polymorphism_Modifies_Age.13.aspx Frontotemporal lobar degeneration because of mutations in the progranulin (PGRN) gene presents a high variability both in the clinical phenotype and age of onset of disease. Factors that influence this variability remain largely unknown. The aim of our study was to determine whether selected genetic variables modify age at onset of disease in our series of 21 patients with a single splicing mutation (c.709-1G>A) in the PGRN gene, all of whom were of Basque descent. In our analysis, we included the following genetic variables: PGRN rs5848 and rs9897526 polymorphisms, APOE and microtubule-associated protein tau genotypes, and PRNP codon 129 polymorphism. We found no association between PGRN polymorphisms, APOE and microtubule-associated protein tau genotypes, and age at onset of the disease;... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4541727 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4541727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4518577&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FFactors_Associated_With_African_American_and_White.3.aspx This study examined factors associated with brain donation program participation among African American and White elders. By postal mail, participants were recruited from an Alzheimer's research registry (all of whom had been invited to participate in the Center's brain donation program) and asked to complete surveys assessing brain donation knowledge, trust in healthcare systems, and religiousness. African American respondents completed a cultural mistrust inventory. Demographic, brain donation status, and literacy data (as assessed by the Wide Range Achievement Test-3 Reading subtest) were compiled from the respondents' most recent registry visit. The survey response rate was 60% (n=184 White and n=49 Black respondents). Logistic regression, comparing religiousness, trust in healthcare i... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4518577 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4518577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4518576&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FIncidence_and_Risk_Factors_for_Cognitive.2.aspx The aim of this study was to estimate the age-specific incidence of cognitive impairment, no dementia and mild cognitive impairment (CIND/MCI) in a large, community-based sample of older African Americans in Indianapolis, IN. A longitudinal, prospective, 2-stage design was used with follow-up assessments 2 and 5 years after the baseline. A total of 1668 participants completed the 2-year follow-up and a total of 1255 participants completed the 5-year follow-up. The person-years method was used to calculate incidence rates. The age-standardized, annual incidence of CIND/MCI was 4.95% (CI=3.39-6.52) and the subtype of medically unexplained memory loss (single-domain and multidomain amnestic MCI) was 3.67% (CI 2.75-4.48). Rates increased with age (3.43% for participants aged 65 to 74 y, 6.44% ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4518576 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4518576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4513755&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FReliability_and_Validity_of_Food_Frequency.8.aspx Conclusion: The reliability and validity of the FFQ and nutrient biomarkers vary according to the nutrient of interest. Memory deficit attenuates validity and inflates reliability of FFQ reports. Many plasma nutrient biomarkers have very good reliability over 1-month, regardless of memory state. This objective method can circumvent sources of error seen in other less direct and subjective methods of nutritional assessment. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4513755 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4513755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4508518&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FFractality_and_a_Wavelet_chaos_Methodology_for.12.aspx In this study, fractal dimension (FD) is used for the evaluation of the dynamical changes in the AD brain. The approach presented in this study is based on the research ideology that nonlinear features, such as FD, may not show significant differences between the AD and the control groups in the band-limited EEG, but may manifest in certain subbands. First, 2 different FD algorithms for computing the fractality of EEGs are investigated and their efficacy for yielding potential mathematical markers of AD is compared. They are Katz FD (KFD) and Higuchi FD. Significant features in different loci and different EEG subbands or band-limited EEG for discrimination of the AD and the control groups are determined by analysis of variation. The most discriminative FD and the corresponding loci and EE... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4508518 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4508518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4503184&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FEffects_of_Body_Weight_on_Tolerability_of.9.aspx The rationale for the development of the rivastigmine transdermal patch was to improve upon an efficacious therapy by mitigating certain adverse events, such as nausea and vomiting. This may be particularly important in Alzheimer disease patients with low body weights, who may be more susceptible to these adverse events. This analysis compared the effect of body weight on tolerability in Alzheimer disease patients receiving rivastigmine capsules or rivastigmine patch. Using data from a 24-week trial, adverse events and discontinuations were evaluated in patients stratified on the basis of extreme low weight (80 kg) at baseline. Rivastigmine patch was generally well tolerated, regardless of patient body weight. Among patients receiving rivastigmine patch, lower body weight, as stratified, w... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4503184 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4503184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498782&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FCoping_Strategies_Influence_Caregiver_Outcomes.6.aspx This cross-sectional study used the stress and coping paradigm to examine the factors associated with negative and positive adjustment outcomes among Asian family caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) in Singapore. One hundred seven family caregivers completed measures assessing patient illness characteristics, general coping styles of caregivers, specific dementia management strategies, religion and spirituality, and caregiver adjustment outcomes of burden and gain. Multiple regressions revealed that behavioral problems in the PWD, dementia severity, and the use of behavioral disengagement and criticism as coping strategies were significant predictors of burden accounting for 48% of the explained variance [F(4,99)=23.12, P (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498782 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4498782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498781&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2FFulltext%2F2011%2F01000%2FDevelopment_and_Validity_of_the_Family_Stigma_in.7.aspx Although it is widely assumed that persons with Alzheimer disease (AD) and their family caregivers are victims of stigmatization, family stigma in the area of AD has received surprisingly limited attention. Reliable, valid, and user-friendly scales are a first step in expanding this body of knowledge. The aim of this study was to develop and examine the validity of the Family Stigma in Alzheimer's disease Scale. Interviews were conducted with 185 children of persons with AD. A pool of 100 items was identified from the literature and an earlier qualitative study including 3 dimensions (caregivers’ stigma, lay persons’ stigma, and structural stigma). Exploratory factor analyses, theoretical relevance, and internal reliability analyses allowed us to reduce the pull to 62 items. Regarding ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498781 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4498781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4332797&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FManagement_of_Behavioral_and_Psychological.99843.pdf Background: The French government gave a consensual definition of reinforced care units for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD) within the project "Plan Alzheimer 2008/2012." These Cognitive and Behavioral Units (CBU) differ in resources from the traditional reference units for BPSD management, the Acute Psychogeriatric Units (APU). However, a better understanding of their operational specificities may enhance the CBU and APU synergies. Objectives: To describe one of the first CBU experiments, with regard to preexisting BPSD management in an APU in the same geriatric hospital. Participants: A total of 129 patients with BPSD, 35 from the CBU and 94 admitted to the APU before opening the colocated CBU. Results: Patients from the CBU often showed comorbidities and a lo... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4332797 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4332797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4327707&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FCaregiver_Burden_and_Neuropsychiatric_Symptoms_in.99837.pdf Objectives: To estimate the quantity of informal care associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with cognitive impairment. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Setting: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study. Participants: A sample (n=450) of adults aged 71 years and older with cognitive impairment drawn form the Health and Retirement Study. Measurements: The presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, agitation, depression, apathy, elation, anxiety, disinhibition, irritation, and aberrant motor behaviors) was identified using the neuropsychiatric inventory. Cognitive category [normal, cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND), or dementia] was assigned by a consensus panel. The hours per week of active help and supervision were ascertained by i... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4327707 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4327707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4325240&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FEarly_Onset_Dementia__Characteristics_in_a_Large.99840.pdf Conclusions: EOD is characterized by specific features and different causes although Alzheimer's and vascular dementias remain the main causes of dementia in EOD. (C) 2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4325240 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4325240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305662&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FDifferential_Impact_of_ApoE__epsilon_4_on_Cortical.99841.pdf This study explores the neurofunctional correlates of the recognition of famous faces in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and healthy controls depending on the genetic risk factor, Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) [epsilon]4. An event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment was conducted while participants discriminated between famous and nonfamous faces. We compared the results of 32 healthy controls [17 ApoE [epsilon]4 carriers (E4+); 15 noncarriers (E4-)] with those of 30 patients with aMCI (16 E4+; 14 E4-). Despite comparable task performance, patients with aMCI, E4+ showed significantly less activation in a large cortical network including the left parahippocampal gyrus than patients with aMCI E4-. Furthermore, in the aMCI group, we found significantly r... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305662 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4305662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305661&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FPF_04494700%2C_an_Oral_Inhibitor_of_Receptor_for.99839.pdf Conclusions: Ten weeks of treatment with PF-04494700 was safe and well tolerated in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease, indicating the feasibility of a larger long-term efficacy trial. (C) 2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders) Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305661 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4305661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4303241&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FThe_Neuroanatomical_Substrate_of_Lexical_Semantic.99842.pdf Lexical-semantic competency in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [epsilon]4 carriers was used as an endophenotype, and gray matter volume in MCI [epsilon]4 carriers/noncarriers and in noncarrier controls was compared. Residual gray matter volumes were correlated with age of acquisition values for words from a category fluency task, an index of semantic competency. MCI patients had significantly impoverished lexical-semantic output compared with controls, more marked in MCI [epsilon]4 carriers. Smaller volumes in the left hippocampus, bilateral regions of the uncus, and posterior cingulate cortex were associated with a tendency to retrieve earlier acquired words in the category fluency task in MCI [epsilon]4 carriers, whereas poor semantic performance in MCI noncarriers was associated with sm... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4303241 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4303241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4303240&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRisk_of_Decline_in_Functional_Activities_in.99836.pdf We examined the risk of 1-year decline in 4 everyday activities in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), relative to patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Data were from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, gathered from 32 Alzheimer's Disease Centers. Participants (n=1880) were: aged 60+ years, demented with a primary clinical diagnosis of probable AD or DLB, and had a global Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5 to 2. The activities were measured with the Functional Activities Questionnaire. In modified Poisson regression models adjusted for demographics, baseline activity, years from symptom onset, cognitive impairment, and comorbidities; DLB participants aged 67 to 81 years had 1.5 to 2 times increased risk of decline in performing basic kitchen tasks, engaging in games/hob... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4303240 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4303240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4282639&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FFactor_Structure_of_the_National_Alzheimer_s.99845.pdf We examined the factor structure of the battery across levels of cognition [normal, mild cognitive impairment, dementia] based on Clinical Dementia Rating scores to determine cognitive domains tapped by the battery. Using data pooled from 29 Alzheimer's Disease Centers funded by National Institute on Aging, exploratory factor analysis was used to derive a general model using half of the sample; 4 factors representing memory, attention, executive function, and language were identified. Confirmatory factor analysis was used on the second half of the sample to evaluate invariance between groups and within groups over 1 year. Factorial invariance testing included systematic addition of constraints and comparisons of nested models. The general confirmatory factor analysis model had a good fit. ... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4282639 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4282639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4254638&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FDietary_Inflammation_Factor_Rating_System_and_Risk.99844.pdf We examined the composite total Inflammation Factor Rating (tIFR), as a measure of inflammatory impact of foods, in relation with (i) serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and (ii) risk of incident AD using Cox proportional hazard model. The tIFR was not associated with serum hsCRP level. After an average of 4.0 years of follow-up, 262 paticipants developed incident AD. The tIFR was not associated with AD risk: compared with the lowest tertile of tIFR (most proinflammatory), hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest tertile (most anti-inflammatory) was 0.97 (0.69-1.35) (P-for-trend=0.71), in the adjusted model. We conclude that tIFR might not be a biologically relevant measure of the inflammatory impact of the diet. In addition, although it remains possib... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4254638 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4254638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4156354&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FNovel_Progranulin_Mutation_Detected_in_2_Patients.99849.pdf In this study, we screened a group of 51 FTLD patients for PGRN mutations and identified a novel exon 6 splice donor site deletion (IVS6+5_8delGTGA) in 2 unrelated patients. This mutation displayed an altered splicing pattern generating 2 aberrant transcripts and causing frameshifts of the coding sequence, premature termination codons, and a near absence of PGRN mRNA from the mutated alleles most likely through nonsense-mediated decay. The subsequent PGRN haploinsufficiency is consistent with previously described PGRN mutations. We present a molecular characterization of the IVS6+5_8delGTGA mutation and also describe clinical and neuropathologic features from the 2 patients carrying this PGRN mutation. From the screening of these 51 FTLD patients, we could also identify the earlier reporte... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4156354 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4156354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4153030&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FRelationship_Between_Thyroid_Hormone_Levels_and.99847.pdf Subclinical thyroid disease and even variations in thyroid function within the normal range is associated with cognitive function and a risk of Alzheimer disease (AD). Several studies reported the effect of thyroid hormones on cerebral blood flow. The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in association with thyroid hormone levels within the normal range in patients with AD. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3, and free T4 levels were measured in 62 patients with AD (23 men and 39 women; age 56 to 91 y; mean age 77.3 y) and 27 control subjects (9 men and 18 women; age 61 to 93 y; mean age 75.8 y). The 99mTc ethylcysteinate dimer single photon emission computed tomography was performed in all subjects. The rCBF in the region of intere... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4153030 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4153030 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4145529&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FUtilization_of_Antihypertensives%2C_Antidepressants%2C.99850.pdf This study explores the longitudinal relationship between patient characteristics and use of 4 drug classes (antihypertensives, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and hormones) that showed significant changes in use rates over time in patients with Alzheimer disease. Patient/caregiver-reported prescription medication usage was categorized by drug class for 201 patients from the Predictors Study. Patient characteristics included use of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine, function, cognition, living situation, baseline age, and sex. Assessment interval, year of study entry, and site were controlled for. Before adjusting for covariates, useage increased for antihypertensives (47.8% to 62.2%), antipsychotics (3.5% to 27.0%), and antidepressants (32.3% to 40.5%); use of hormones decreased... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4145529 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4145529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4135975&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FUndiagnosed_Illness_and_Neuropsychiatric_Behaviors.99853.pdf The aim of this retrospective analysis was to examine prevalence of undiagnosed acute illness and characteristics including neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with illness in community residing older adults with Alzheimer disease or related disorders. Subjects included 265 community residing older adults with dementia who participated in 1 of 2 interventions being tested in randomized clinical trials. Measures included a brief nursing assessment and laboratory evaluations including complete blood count, blood chemistry (Chem 7), and thyroid function tests of serum samples and culture and sensitivity tests of urine samples. Undiagnosed illness was identified according to currently published criteria. Neuropsychiatric behaviors were assessed using 21 behaviors derived from standard measure... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4135975 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4135975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4127919&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FAttentional_Distractibility_Induced_by_Optokinetic.99848.pdf In this study, we investigated whether OKS also perturbs balanced attentional deficit in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a prodromal phase of AD, and explored whether the effects of OKS at baseline differ between aMCI patients who convert to AD at follow-up (converters) and those who do not (nonconverters). A total of 44 patients with aMCI, 14 patients with subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI), and 35 age-matched and education-matched normal controls were studied for their ability to bisect solid lines superimposed on a background of OKS. Background OKS movements were either leftward or rightward, or were stationary. A total of 33 of the 44 patients with aMCI were clinically followed for an average of 2.8 years, of which there were 15 converters a... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4127919 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4127919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4127917&cid=s_34210_18_f&fid=34210&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpdfs.journals.lww.com%2Falzheimerjournal%2F9000%2F00000%2FEffects_of_Body_Weight_on_Tolerability_of.99846.pdf The rationale for the development of the rivastigmine transdermal patch was to improve upon an efficacious therapy by mitigating certain adverse events, such as nausea and vomiting. This may be particularly important in Alzheimer disease patients with low body weights, who may be more susceptible to these adverse events. This analysis compared the effect of body weight on tolerability in Alzheimer disease patients receiving rivastigmine capsules or rivastigmine patch. Using data from a 24-week trial, adverse events and discontinuations were evaluated in patients stratified on the basis of extreme low weight (80 kg) at baseline. Rivastigmine patch was generally well tolerated, regardless of patient body weight. Among patients receiving rivastigmine patch, lower body weight, as stratified, w... Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4127917 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4127917