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Vos SJB, Delvenne A, Jack CR, Thal DR, Visser PJ. The clinical importance of suspected non-Alzheimer disease pathophysiology. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:337-346. [PMID: 38724589 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-00962-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
The development of biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD) has led to the origin of suspected non-AD pathophysiology (SNAP) - a heterogeneous biomarker-based concept that describes individuals with normal amyloid and abnormal tau and/or neurodegeneration biomarker status. In this Review, we describe the origins of the SNAP construct, along with its prevalence, diagnostic and prognostic implications, and underlying neuropathology. As we discuss, SNAP can be operationalized using different biomarker modalities, which could affect prevalence estimates and reported characteristics of SNAP in ways that are not yet fully understood. Moreover, the underlying aetiologies that lead to a SNAP biomarker profile, and whether SNAP is the same in people with and without cognitive impairment, remains unclear. Improved insight into the clinical characteristics and pathophysiology of SNAP is of major importance for research and clinical practice, as well as for trial design to optimize care and treatment of individuals with SNAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J B Vos
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
| | - Aurore Delvenne
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Clifford R Jack
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Laboratory for Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Jelle Visser
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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2024 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3708-3821. [PMID: 38689398 PMCID: PMC11095490 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including prevalence and incidence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care and the ramifications of AD for family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report discusses the larger health care system for older adults with cognitive issues, focusing on the role of caregivers and non-physician health care professionals. An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure AD. Official AD death certificates recorded 119,399 deaths from AD in 2021. In 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer's was the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Official counts for more recent years are still being compiled. Alzheimer's remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2021, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 140%. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2023. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $346.6 billion in 2023. Its costs, however, extend to unpaid caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes. Members of the paid health care and broader community-based workforce are involved in diagnosing, treating and caring for people with dementia. However, the United States faces growing shortages across different segments of the dementia care workforce due to a combination of factors, including the absolute increase in the number of people living with dementia. Therefore, targeted programs and care delivery models will be needed to attract, better train and effectively deploy health care and community-based workers to provide dementia care. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are almost three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 22 times as great. Total payments in 2024 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $360 billion. The Special Report investigates how caregivers of older adults with cognitive issues interact with the health care system and examines the role non-physician health care professionals play in facilitating clinical care and access to community-based services and supports. It includes surveys of caregivers and health care workers, focusing on their experiences, challenges, awareness and perceptions of dementia care navigation.
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de Vries LE, Huitinga I, Kessels HW, Swaab DF, Verhaagen J. The concept of resilience to Alzheimer's Disease: current definitions and cellular and molecular mechanisms. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:33. [PMID: 38589893 PMCID: PMC11003087 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00719-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Some individuals are able to maintain their cognitive abilities despite the presence of significant Alzheimer's Disease (AD) neuropathological changes. This discrepancy between cognition and pathology has been labeled as resilience and has evolved into a widely debated concept. External factors such as cognitive stimulation are associated with resilience to AD, but the exact cellular and molecular underpinnings are not completely understood. In this review, we discuss the current definitions used in the field, highlight the translational approaches used to investigate resilience to AD and summarize the underlying cellular and molecular substrates of resilience that have been derived from human and animal studies, which have received more and more attention in the last few years. From these studies the picture emerges that resilient individuals are different from AD patients in terms of specific pathological species and their cellular reaction to AD pathology, which possibly helps to maintain cognition up to a certain tipping point. Studying these rare resilient individuals can be of great importance as it could pave the way to novel therapeutic avenues for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luuk E de Vries
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Inge Huitinga
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helmut W Kessels
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dick F Swaab
- Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Sensory loss in olfaction, vision, and hearing is a risk factor for dementia, but the reasons for this are unclear. This review presents the neurobiological evidence linking each sensory modality to specific dementias and explores the potential mechanisms underlying this. Olfactory deficits can be linked to direct neuropathologic changes in the olfactory system due to Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease, and may be a marker of disease severity. Visual deficits potentially increase dementia risk in a vulnerable individual by reducing resilience to dementia. Hearing deficits may indicate a susceptibility to Alzheimer disease through a variety of mechanisms. More generally, sensory impairment could be related to factors associated with resilience against dementia. Further research is needed to tease out the specific and synergistic effects of sensory impairment. Studying sensory loss in relation to neurodegenerative biomarkers is necessary to clarify the mechanisms involved. This could produce new monitoring and management strategies for people at risk of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meher Lad
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - William Sedley
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Timothy D Griffiths
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK
- Human Brain Research Laboratory, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Pillai JA, Bena J, Tousi B, Rothenberg K, Keene CD, Leverenz JB. Lewy body pathology modifies risk factors for cerebral amyloid angiopathy when comorbid with Alzheimer's disease pathology. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:2564-2574. [PMID: 38353367 PMCID: PMC11032524 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) often accompanies dementia-associated pathologies and is important in the context of anti-amyloid monoclonal therapies and risk of hemorrhage. METHODS We conducted a retrospective neuropathology-confirmed study of 2384 participants in the National Alzheimer Coordinating Center cohort (Alzheimer's disease [AD], n = 1175; Lewy body pathology [LBP], n = 316; and mixed AD and LBP [AD-LBP], n = 893). We used logistic regression to evaluate age, sex, education, APOE ε4, neuritic plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in CAA risk. RESULTS APOE ε4 increased CAA risk in all three groups, while younger age and higher NFT stages increased risk in AD and AD-LBP. In AD-LBP, male sex and lower education were additional risk factors. The odds of APOE ε4 carrier homozygosity related to CAA was higher in LBP (25.69) and AD-LBP (9.50) than AD (3.17). DISCUSSION AD and LBPs modify risk factors for CAA and should be considered in reviewing the risk of CAA. HIGHLIGHTS Lewy body pathology modifies risk factors for cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) when present along with Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology. In the context of anti-amyloid monoclonal therapies and their associated risks for hemorrhage, the risk of underlying CAA in mixed dementia with Lewy body pathology needs to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagan A. Pillai
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain HealthCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
- Neurological InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
- Department of NeurologyCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
| | - James Bena
- Quantitative Health SciencesCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Babak Tousi
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain HealthCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
- Neurological InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Kasia Rothenberg
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain HealthCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
- Neurological InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyUniversity of Washington School of MedicineSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - James B. Leverenz
- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain HealthCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
- Neurological InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
- Department of NeurologyCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
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6
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Maldonado-Díaz C, Hiya S, Yokoda RT, Farrell K, Marx GA, Kauffman J, Daoud EV, Gonzales MM, Parker AS, Canbeldek L, Kulumani Mahadevan LS, Crary JF, White CL, Walker JM, Richardson TE. Disentangling and quantifying the relative cognitive impact of concurrent mixed neurodegenerative pathologies. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:58. [PMID: 38520489 PMCID: PMC10960766 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02716-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC), Lewy body disease (LBD), limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC), and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) frequently coexist, but little is known about the exact contribution of each pathology to cognitive decline and dementia in subjects with mixed pathologies. We explored the relative cognitive impact of concurrent common and rare neurodegenerative pathologies employing multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, and level of education. We analyzed a cohort of 6,262 subjects from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database, ranging from 0 to 6 comorbid neuropathologic findings per individual, where 95.7% of individuals had at least 1 neurodegenerative finding at autopsy and 75.5% had at least 2 neurodegenerative findings. We identified which neuropathologic entities correlate most frequently with one another and demonstrated that the total number of pathologies per individual was directly correlated with cognitive performance as assessed by Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We show that ADNC, LBD, LATE-NC, CVD, hippocampal sclerosis, Pick disease, and FTLD-TDP significantly impact overall cognition as independent variables. More specifically, ADNC significantly affected all assessed cognitive domains, LBD affected attention, processing speed, and language, LATE-NC primarily affected tests related to logical memory and language, while CVD and other less common pathologies (including Pick disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration) had more variable neurocognitive effects. Additionally, ADNC, LBD, and higher numbers of comorbid neuropathologies were associated with the presence of at least one APOE ε4 allele, and ADNC and higher numbers of neuropathologies were inversely correlated with APOE ε2 alleles. Understanding the mechanisms by which individual and concomitant neuropathologies affect cognition and the degree to which each contributes is an imperative step in the development of biomarkers and disease-modifying therapeutics, particularly as these medical interventions become more targeted and personalized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Maldonado-Díaz
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Satomi Hiya
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Raquel T Yokoda
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gabriel A Marx
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Justin Kauffman
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Elena V Daoud
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Mitzi M Gonzales
- Department of Neurology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Alicia S Parker
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Leyla Canbeldek
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Lakshmi Shree Kulumani Mahadevan
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Ronal M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jamie M Walker
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank and Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Timothy E Richardson
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Annenberg Building, 15.238, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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Grill JD, Flournoy C, Dhadda S, Ernstrom K, Sperling R, Molina-Henry D, Tranotti K, Harris R, Kanekiyo M, Gee M, Irizarry M, Kramer L, Aisen P, Raman R. Eligibility Rates among Racially and Ethnically Diverse US Participants in Phase 2 and Phase 3 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomized Trials of Lecanemab and Elenbecestat in Early Alzheimer Disease. Ann Neurol 2024; 95:288-298. [PMID: 37830926 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many factors contribute to inadequate diversity in Alzheimer disease (AD) clinical trials. We evaluated eligibility rates among racial and ethnic groups at US sites in large global multisite trials in early AD. METHODS Using screening data from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in early AD, we assessed rates of eligibility among racial and ethnic groups controlling for other demographic covariates. Each trial incorporated positron emission tomography and/or cerebrospinal fluid to evaluate brain amyloid pathology, as well as typical eligibility criteria used in early AD trials. RESULTS Across the trials, 10,804 US participants were screened: 193 (2%) were of Hispanic ethnicity and Black race, 2,624 (25%) were of Hispanic ethnicity and White race, 118 (1%) were of non-Hispanic ethnicity (NH) and Asian race, 696 (7%) were of NH ethnicity and Black race, and 7,017 (65%) were of NH ethnicity and White race. Data from 156 participants who did not fit into these categories were excluded. Accounting for age, sex, and trial and using NH White participants as a reference group, we observed higher probabilities of ineligibility for amyloid biomarker criteria among Hispanic Black (odds ratio [OR] = 3.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.11-4.88), Hispanic White (OR = 4.15, 95% CI = 3.58-4.83), NH Asian (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.23-4.55), and NH Black (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 2.80-5.06) participants. INTERPRETATION Differential eligibility may contribute to underrepresentation of some minoritized racial and ethnic groups in early AD trials. Amyloid biomarker eligibility is a requirement to confirm the diagnosis of AD and for treatment with amyloid-lowering drugs and differed among racial and ethnic groups. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:288-298.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Grill
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Charlene Flournoy
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Karin Ernstrom
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Reisa Sperling
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Doris Molina-Henry
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul Aisen
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rema Raman
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA
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8
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Lopez OL, Villemagne VL, Chang YF, Cohen AD, Klunk WE, Mathis CA, Pascoal T, Ikonomovic MD, Rowe C, Dore V, Snitz BE, Lopresti BJ, Kamboh MI, Aizenstein HJ, Kuller LH. Association Between β-Amyloid Accumulation and Incident Dementia in Individuals 80 Years or Older Without Dementia. Neurology 2024; 102:e207920. [PMID: 38165336 PMCID: PMC10870745 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES While the highest prevalence of dementia occurs in individuals older than 80 years, most imaging studies focused on younger populations. The rates of β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and the effect of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology on progression to dementia in this age group remain unexplored. In this study, we examined the relationship between changes in Aβ deposition over time and incident dementia in nondemented individuals followed during a period of 11 years. METHODS We examined 94 participants (age 85.9 + 2.8 years) who had up to 5 measurements of Pittsburgh compound-B (PiB)-PET and clinical evaluations from 2009 to 2020. All 94 participants had 2 PiB-PET scans, 76 participants had 3 PiB-PET scans, 18 participants had 4 PiB-PET scans, and 10 participants had 5 PiB-PET scans. The rates of Aβ deposition were compared with 120 nondemented individuals younger than 80 years (69.3 ± 5.4 years) from the Australian Imaging, Biomarker, and Lifestyle (AIBL) study who had 3 or more annual PiB-PET assessments. RESULTS By 2020, 49% of the participants developed dementia and 63% were deceased. There was a gradual increase in Aβ deposition in all participants whether they were considered Aβ positive or negative at baseline. In a Cox model controlled for age, sex, education level, APOE-4 allele, baseline Mini-Mental State Examination, and mortality, short-term change in Aβ deposition was not significantly associated with incident dementia (HR 2.19 (0.41-11.73). However, baseline Aβ burden, cortical thickness, and white matter lesions volume were the predictors of incident dementia. Aβ accumulation was faster (p = 0.01) in the older cohort (5.6%/year) when compared with AIBL (4.1%/year). In addition, baseline Aβ deposition was a predictor of short-term change (mean time 1.88 years). DISCUSSION There was an accelerated Aβ accumulation in cognitively normal individuals older than 80 years. Baseline Aβ deposition was a determinant of incident dementia and short-term change in Aβ deposition suggesting that an active Aβ pathologic process was present when these participants were cognitively normal. Consequently, age may not be a limiting factor for the use of the emergent anti-Aβ therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar L Lopez
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Victor L Villemagne
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yue-Fang Chang
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ann D Cohen
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - William E Klunk
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chester A Mathis
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tharick Pascoal
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Milos D Ikonomovic
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christopher Rowe
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Vincent Dore
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Beth E Snitz
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brian J Lopresti
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - M Ilyas Kamboh
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Howard J Aizenstein
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lewis H Kuller
- From the Departments of Neurology (O.L.L., W.E.K., M.D.I., B.E.S.), Psychiatry (O.L.L., V.L.V., A.D.C., W.E.K., T.P., H.J.A.), Neurosurgery (Y.-F.C.), Radiology (A.D.C., C.A.M., B.J.L.), Epidemiology (L.H.K.), and Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health (M.I.K.), University of Pittsburgh, PA; Department of Molecular Imaging and Therapy (C.R.), Austin Health, Melbourne; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (C.R., V.D.), University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Health and Biosecurity (V.D.), Melbourne, Australia
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9
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Aaltonen S, Urjansson M, Varjonen A, Vähä-Ypyä H, Iso-Markku P, Kaartinen S, Vasankari T, Kujala UM, Silventoinen K, Kaprio J, Vuoksimaa E. Accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior in nonagenarians: Associations with self-reported physical activity, anthropometric, sociodemographic, health and cognitive characteristics. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294817. [PMID: 38055660 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on device-based physical activity in the oldest-old adults is scarce. We examined accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behavior in nonagenarians. We also investigated how the accelerometer characteristics associate with nonagenarians' self-reported physical activity, anthropometric, sociodemographic, health and cognitive characteristics. METHODS Nonagenarians from a population-based cohort study (N = 38, mean age 91.2) used accelerometers during the waking hours for seven days. They also participated in a health survey and cognitive telephone interview. The Wald test and Pearson and polyserial correlations were used to analyze the data. RESULTS The participants' average day consisted of 2931 steps, 11 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 13.6 hours of sedentary time. Physical activity bouts less than 3 minutes per day and sedentary time bouts of 20-60 minutes per day were the most common. No sex differences were found. Many accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity characteristics correlated positively (correlations ≥0.34, p-values <0.05). The low levels of many accelerometer-measured physical activity characteristics associated with low education (correlations ≥0.25, p-values <0.05), dizziness (correlations ≤-0.42, p-values <0.01) and fear of falling (correlations ≤-0.45, p-values <0.01). Fear of falling was also associated with accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior characteristics (correlations -0.42 or ≥0.43). CONCLUSIONS Nonagenarians were mostly sedentary and low in physical activity, but individual variability existed. Accelerometer-measured and self-reported physical activity had a good consistency. Education, dizziness and fear of falling were consistently related to accelerometer-measured characteristics in nonagenarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sari Aaltonen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mia Urjansson
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anni Varjonen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henri Vähä-Ypyä
- UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland
| | - Paula Iso-Markku
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- HUS Diagnostic Center, Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sara Kaartinen
- Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, HUS Hyvinkää Hospital, Hyvinkää, Finland
| | - Tommi Vasankari
- UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Urho M Kujala
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Vuoksimaa
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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10
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Cao B, Zeng MN, Hao FX, Hao ZY, Zhang ZK, Liang XW, Wu YY, Zhang YH, Feng WS, Zheng XK. P-coumaric acid ameliorates Aβ 25-35-induced brain damage in mice by modulating gut microbiota and serum metabolites. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115825. [PMID: 37924791 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is a lack of effective therapeutic drugs. There is great potential for natural products to be used in the development of anti-AD drugs. P-coumaric acid (PCA), a small molecule phenolic acid widely distributed in the plant kingdom, has pharmacological effects such as neuroprotection, but its anti-AD mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the mechanism of PCA intervention in the Aβ25-35-induced AD model using gut microbiomics and serum metabolomics combined with in vitro and in vivo pharmacological experiments. PCA was found to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction and neuronal cell damage in Aβ25-35-injected mice as measured by behavioral, pathological and biochemical indicators. 16S rDNA sequencing and serum metabolomics showed that PCA reduced the abundance of pro-inflammatory-associated microbiota (morganella, holdemanella, fusicatenibacter and serratia) in the gut, which were closely associated with metabolites of the glucose metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, tyrosine metabolism and phospholipid metabolism pathways in serum. Next, in vivo and in vitro pharmacological investigations revealed that PCA regulated Aβ25-35-induced disruption of glucose metabolism through activation of PI3K/AKT/Glut1 signaling. Additionally, PCA ameliorated Aβ25-35-induced neuroinflammation by inhibiting nuclear translocation of NF-κB and by modulating upstream MAPK signaling. In conclusion, PCA ameliorated cognitive deficits in Aβ25-35-induced AD mice by regulating glucose metabolism and neuroinflammation, and the mechanism is related not only to restoring homeostasis of gut microbiota and serum metabolites, but also to PI3K/AKT/Glut1 and MAPK/NF-κB signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Cao
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Meng-Nan Zeng
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Feng-Xiao Hao
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhi-You Hao
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhen-Kai Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xi-Wen Liang
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu-Han Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei-Sheng Feng
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of PR China, China.
| | - Xiao-Ke Zheng
- College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China; The Engineering and Technology Center for Chinese Medicine Development of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China; Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan & Education Ministry of PR China, China.
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11
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Higginbotham L, Carter EK, Dammer EB, Haque RU, Johnson ECB, Duong DM, Yin L, De Jager PL, Bennett DA, Felsky D, Tio ES, Lah JJ, Levey AI, Seyfried NT. Unbiased classification of the elderly human brain proteome resolves distinct clinical and pathophysiological subtypes of cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 186:106286. [PMID: 37689213 PMCID: PMC10750427 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment in the elderly features complex molecular pathophysiology extending beyond the hallmark pathologies of traditional disease classification. Molecular subtyping using large-scale -omic strategies can help resolve this biological heterogeneity. Using quantitative mass spectrometry, we measured ∼8000 proteins across >600 dorsolateral prefrontal cortex tissues with clinical diagnoses of no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. Unbiased classification of MCI and AD cases based on individual proteomic profiles resolved three classes with expression differences across numerous cell types and biological ontologies. Two classes displayed molecular signatures atypical of AD neurodegeneration, such as elevated synaptic and decreased inflammatory markers. In one class, these atypical proteomic features were associated with clinical and pathological hallmarks of cognitive resilience. We were able to replicate these classes and their clinicopathological phenotypes across two additional tissue cohorts. These results promise to better define the molecular heterogeneity of cognitive impairment and meaningfully impact its diagnostic and therapeutic precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenora Higginbotham
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - E Kathleen Carter
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rafi U Haque
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Erik C B Johnson
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Duc M Duong
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luming Yin
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Philip L De Jager
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Taub Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel Felsky
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Earvin S Tio
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James J Lah
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Allan I Levey
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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12
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Boivin-Proulx LA, Brouillette J, Dorais M, Perreault S. Association between cardiovascular diseases and dementia among various age groups: a population-based cohort study in older adults. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14881. [PMID: 37689801 PMCID: PMC10492794 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42071-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The link between cardiovascular (CV) risk factors or diseases and dementia is documented. There is conflicting evidence whether age moderates the association. We need to study this gap so that research and clinical initiatives target appropriate age groups. A cohort of 320,630 adult patients without dementia was built using Quebec healthcare databases (1998-2010). The CV risk factors were hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, while diseases included stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), chronic heart failure (HF), and atrial fibrillation (AF). Dementia risk and CV risk factors or diseases were assessed using incidence rate ratios and Cox regression across age groups. The cohort presented by mainly female sex (67.7%) and mean age of 74.1 years. Incident rate of dementia increased with age, ranging from 4.1 to 93.5 per 1000 person-years. Diabetes, stroke, HF and AF were significantly associated with dementia risk, hazard ratios ranged from 1.08 to 3.54. The strength of association decreased in advanced age for diabetes, stroke and HF. The results suggest that prevention of diabetes, stroke, HF and AF are crucial to mitigate dementia risk. The pathophysiology of dementia in younger and older populations seems to differ, with less impact of CV risk factors in advanced age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie-Anne Boivin-Proulx
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Judith Brouillette
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marc Dorais
- StatSciences Inc., Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Perreault
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, Case Postale 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Partenaire CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal et l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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13
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Sordo L, Qian T, Bukhari SA, Nguyen KM, Woodworth DC, Head E, Kawas CH, Corrada MM, Montine TJ, Sajjadi SA. Characterization of hippocampal sclerosis of aging and its association with other neuropathologic changes and cognitive deficits in the oldest-old. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:415-432. [PMID: 37382680 PMCID: PMC10412485 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02606-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-A) is a common age-related neuropathological lesion characterized by neuronal loss and astrogliosis in subiculum and CA1 subfield of hippocampus. HS-A is associated with cognitive decline that mimics Alzheimer's disease. Pathological diagnosis of HS-A is traditionally binary based on presence/absence of the lesion. We compared this traditional measure against our novel quantitative measure for studying the relationship between HS-A and other neuropathologies and cognitive impairment. We included 409 participants from The 90+ study with neuropathological examination and longitudinal neuropsychological assessments. In those with HS-A, we examined digitized H&E and LFB stained hippocampal slides. The length of HS-A in each subfield of hippocampus and subiculum, each further divided into three subregions, was measured using Aperio eSlide Manager. For each subregion, the proportion affected by HS-A was calculated. Using regression models, both traditional/binary and quantitative measures were used to study the relationship between HS-A and other neuropathological changes and cognitive outcomes. HS-A was present in 48 (12%) of participants and was always focal, primarily affecting CA1 (73%), followed by subiculum (9%); overlapping pathology (subiculum and CA1) affected 18% of individuals. HS-A was more common in the left (82%) than the right (25%) hemisphere and was bilateral in 7% of participants. HS-A traditional/binary assessment was associated with limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE-NC; OR = 3.45, p < 0.001) and aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG; OR = 2.72, p = 0.008). In contrast, our quantitative approach showed associations between the proportion of HS-A (CA1/subiculum/combined) and LATE-NC (p = 0.001) and arteriolosclerosis (p = 0.005). While traditional binary assessment of HS-A was associated with impaired memory (OR = 2.60, p = 0.007), calculations (OR = 2.16, p = 0.027), and orientation (OR = 3.56, p < 0.001), our quantitative approach revealed additional associations with impairments in language (OR = 1.33, p = 0.018) and visuospatial domains (OR = 1.37, p = 0.006). Our novel quantitative method revealed associations between HS-A and vascular pathologies and impairment in cognitive domains that were not detected using traditional/binary measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Sordo
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Office 364, Med Surge II Building, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tianchen Qian
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Syed A Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Katelynn M Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Office 364, Med Surge II Building, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Davis C Woodworth
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Office 364, Med Surge II Building, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Claudia H Kawas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Office 364, Med Surge II Building, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - María M Corrada
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Office 364, Med Surge II Building, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - S Ahmad Sajjadi
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Office 364, Med Surge II Building, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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14
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Neuville RS, Biswas R, Ho CC, Bukhari S, Sajjadi SA, Paganini-Hill A, Montine TJ, Corrada MM, Kawas CH. Study of neuropathological changes and dementia in 100 centenarians in The 90+ Study. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:3417-3425. [PMID: 36795955 PMCID: PMC10427735 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The association between neuropathological changes and dementia among centenarians and nonagenarians remains unclear. METHODS We examined brain tissue from 100 centenarians and 297 nonagenarians from The 90+ Study, a community-based longitudinal study of aging. We determined the prevalence of 10 neuropathological changes and compared their associations with dementia and cognitive performance between centenarians and nonagenarians. RESULTS A total of 59% of centenarians and 47% of nonagenarians had at least four neuropathological changes. In centenarians, neuropathological changes were associated with higher odds of dementia and, compared to nonagenarians, the odds were not attenuated. For each additional neuropathological change, the Mini-Mental State Examination score was lower by 2 points for both groups. DISCUSSION Neuropathological changes continue to be strongly related to dementia in centenarians, highlighting the importance of slowing or preventing the development of multiple neuropathological changes in the aging brain to maintain cognitive health. HIGHLIGHTS Individual and multiple neuropathological changes are frequent in centenarians. These neuropathological changes are strongly associated with dementia. There is no attenuation of this association with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raumin S. Neuville
- School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine,
Irvine, CA 92617, USA
| | - Roshni Biswas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine,
Hewitt Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Chu-Ching Ho
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological
Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Syed Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur
Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - S. Ahmad Sajjadi
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine,
Hewitt Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological
Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of
California, Irvine, Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Annlia Paganini-Hill
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine,
Hewitt Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Thomas J. Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur
Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - María M. Corrada
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine,
Hewitt Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological
Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California,
Irvine, Anteater Instruction & Research Offices (AIRB), 653 E. Peltason Drive,
Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Claudia H. Kawas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine,
Hewitt Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological
Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, University of
California, Irvine, Gillespie NRF, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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15
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Krishnamurthy S, Harrison W, Craft S, Lockhart SN, Bateman JR. When prion disease Isn't suspected: prion disease as the cause of terminal decline in chronic mixed dementia. Neurocase 2023; 29:92-97. [PMID: 38687122 PMCID: PMC11145467 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2024.2346990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, although multiple pathologies are found in nearly half of the cases with clinically diagnosed AD. Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), are rare causes of dementia and typically manifest as a rapidly progressive dementia, where symptom onset to dementia most often occurs over the course of months. In this brief report, we describe a patient's typically progressive dementia with a precipitous decline at the end of their life who, on neuropathological evaluation, was found to have multiple neurodegenerative proteinopathies as well as spongiform encephalopathy due to CJD. This case of unsuspected CJD highlights a rare, but epidemiologically important, cause of sudden decline in well-established neurodegenerative dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudarshan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - William Harrison
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - Samuel N. Lockhart
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | - James R. Bateman
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
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16
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Otoki Y, Yu D, Shen Q, Sahlas DJ, Ramirez J, Gao F, Masellis M, Swartz RH, Chan PC, Pettersen JA, Kato S, Nakagawa K, Black SE, Swardfager W, Taha AY. Quantitative Lipidomic Analysis of Serum Phospholipids Reveals Dissociable Markers of Alzheimer's Disease and Subcortical Cerebrovascular Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 93:665-682. [PMID: 37092220 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circulating phospholipid species have been shown to predict Alzheimer's disease (AD) prognosis but the link between phospholipid disturbances and subcortical small vessel cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) common in AD patients is not known. OBJECTIVE This study used quantitative lipidomics to measure serum diacyl, alkenyl (ether), alkyl, and lyso phospholipid species in individuals with extensive CeVD (n = 29), AD with minimal CeVD (n = 16), and AD with extensive CeVD (n = 14), and compared them to age-matched controls (n = 27). Memory was assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test. 3.0T MRI was used to assess hippocampal volume, atrophy, and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes as manifestations of CeVD. RESULTS AD was associated with significantly higher concentrations of choline plasmalogen 18:0_18:1 and alkyl-phosphocholine 18:1. CeVD was associated with significantly lower lysophospholipids containing 16:0. Phospholipids containing arachidonic acid (AA) were associated with poorer memory in controls, whereas docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing phospholipids were associated with better memory in individuals with AD+CeVD. In controls, DHA-containing phospholipids were associated with more atrophy and phospholipids containing linoleic acid and AA were associated with less atrophy. Lysophospholipids containing 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 were correlated with less atrophy in controls, and of these, alkyl-phosphocholine 18:1 was correlated with smaller WMH volumes. Conversely, 16:0_18:1 choline plasmalogen was correlated with greater WMH volumes in controls. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates discernable differences in circulating phospholipids in individuals with AD and CeVD, as well as new associations between phospholipid species with memory and brain structure that were specific to contexts of commonly comorbid vascular and neurodegenerative pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurika Otoki
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Food Function Analysis, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Di Yu
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Unit, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Qing Shen
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Demetrios J Sahlas
- Department of Medicine (Neurology Division), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Joel Ramirez
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Fuqiang Gao
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mario Masellis
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology Division) and the Northern Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Richard H Swartz
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pak Cheung Chan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jacqueline A Pettersen
- Department of Medicine (Neurology Division) and the Northern Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Shunji Kato
- Laboratory of Food Function Analysis, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Nakagawa
- Laboratory of Food Function Analysis, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Sandra E Black
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Unit, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology Division), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Walter Swardfager
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Unit, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
- University Health Network Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ameer Y Taha
- Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, Genome Center, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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17
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Biswas R, Kawas C, Montine TJ, Bukhari SA, Jiang L, Corrada MM. Superior Global Cognition in Oldest-Old Is Associated with Resistance to Neurodegenerative Pathologies: Results from The 90+ Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 93:561-575. [PMID: 37066908 DOI: 10.3233/jad-221062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some oldest-old individuals can maintain superior cognition despite advanced age. Little is known about the neuropathological changes in the brains of oldest-old superior cognitive performers. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to examine the associations between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD neuropathologic features in relation to superior cognitive performance in oldest-old individuals. METHODS We analyzed brain autopsy data from 102 participants with normal cognition from The 90+ Study. Superior global cognitive performers (SGCP) were defined as having Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥28 in the last visit 12 to 2 months before death. To examine the associations between individual and multiple comorbid neuropathologic features with SGCP status we used multiple logistic regression models adjusting for age, sex, and education. RESULTS Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change (ADNC) and low levels of vascular pathologic change were not associated with superior cognition. In contrast, participants with limbic (OR = 8.37; 95% CI: 1.48-47.44) and neocortical (OR = 10.80;95% CI: 1.03-113.82) Lewy body disease (LBD), or with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) (OR = 5.28; 95% CI: 1.10-25.47) were more likely to be non-SGCP. High total burden of multiple comorbid neuropathologic features was associated with a lower likelihood of being SGCP. CONCLUSION Oldest-old superior cognitive performers were resilient to ADNC and low levels of vascular pathologic change and were resistant to non-AD neurodegenerative changes and multiple comorbid neuropathologic features. Understanding the factors underlying the ability of superior cognitive performers to resist these changes might provide useful insights on maintenance of superior cognition despite advanced age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshni Biswas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Claudia Kawas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Syed A Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Luohua Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Maria M Corrada
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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18
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Abstract
This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease, including prevalence and incidence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report examines the patient journey from awareness of cognitive changes to potential treatment with drugs that change the underlying biology of Alzheimer's. An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, and Alzheimer's disease was officially listed as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer's was the seventh-leading cause of death. Alzheimer's remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. This trajectory of deaths from AD was likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 18 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2022. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $339.5 billion in 2022. Its costs, however, extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes - costs that have been aggravated by COVID-19. Members of the paid health care workforce are involved in diagnosing, treating and caring for people with dementia. In recent years, however, a shortage of such workers has developed in the United States. This shortage - brought about, in part, by COVID-19 - has occurred at a time when more members of the dementia care workforce are needed. Therefore, programs will be needed to attract workers and better train health care teams. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are almost three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 22 times as great. Total payments in 2023 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $345 billion. The Special Report examines whether there will be sufficient numbers of physician specialists to provide Alzheimer's care and treatment now that two drugs are available that change the underlying biology of Alzheimer's disease.
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19
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Flores AC, Jensen GL, Mitchell DC, Na M, Wood GC, Still CD, Gao X. Prospective Study of Diet Quality and the Risk of Dementia in the Oldest Old. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15051282. [PMID: 36904280 PMCID: PMC10005581 DOI: 10.3390/nu15051282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined the associations between overall diet quality and the risk of dementia in a rural cohort among the oldest old. Included in this prospective cohort study were 2232 participants aged ≥ 80 years and dementia-free at the baseline according to the Geisinger Rural Aging Study (GRAS), a longitudinal cohort in rural Pennsylvania. In 2009, diet quality was assessed by a validated dietary screening tool (DST). Incident cases of dementia during 2009-2021 were identified using diagnosis codes. This approach was validated by a review of electronic health records. Associations between diet quality scores and the incidence of dementia were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for potential confounders. Across a mean of 6.90 years of follow-up, we identified 408 incident cases of all-cause dementia. Having a higher diet quality was not significantly associated with a lower risk for incidents of all-cause dementia (adjusted HR for the highest compared with the lowest tertile: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.29, P-trend = 0.95). Similarly, we did not observe a significant association between diet quality and altered risks of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Overall, having a higher diet quality was not significantly associated with a lower risk of dementia among the oldest old during the full follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley C. Flores
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Gordon L. Jensen
- Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Diane C. Mitchell
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - Muzi Na
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
| | - G. Craig Wood
- Obesity Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822, USA
| | | | - Xiang Gao
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16801, USA
- School of Public Health, Institute of Nutrition, Fudan University, Shanghai 200437, China
- Correspondence:
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20
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Meis C, Corvol A. [Disclosing Alzheimer's disease: Why and how?]. Rev Med Interne 2023; 44:139-142. [PMID: 36781313 DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C Meis
- Université de Rennes, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - A Corvol
- Université de Rennes, CHU de Rennes, CNRS, Inserm, CIC 1414, Arènes - UMR 6051, RSMS - U 1309, 35000 Rennes, France.
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21
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Espay AJ, Herrup K, Daly T. Finding the falsification threshold of the toxic proteinopathy hypothesis in neurodegeneration. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 192:143-154. [PMID: 36796939 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85538-9.00008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
A biomedical hypothesis is a theoretical assumption amenable to being tested in a randomized clinical trial. The main hypotheses in neurodegenerative disorders are based on the concept that proteins accumulate in an aggregated fashion and trigger toxicity. The toxic proteinopathy hypothesis posits that neurodegeneration is caused by toxicity of aggregated amyloid in Alzheimer's disease (toxic amyloid hypothesis), aggregated α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease (toxic synuclein hypothesis), and aggregated tau in progressive supranuclear palsy (toxic tau hypothesis). To date, we have accumulated 40 negative anti-amyloid randomized clinical, 2 anti-synuclein trials, and 4 anti-tau trials. These results have not prompted a major reconsideration of the toxic proteinopathy hypothesis of causality. Imperfections in trial design and execution (incorrect dosage, insensitive endpoints, too-advanced population) but not in the underlying hypotheses have prevailed as explaining the failures. We review here the evidence suggesting that the threshold of hypothesis falsifiability may be too high and advocate in favor of a minimal set of rules that facilitate the interpretation of negative clinical trials as falsifying the driving hypotheses, in particular if the desirable change in surrogate endpoints has been achieved. We propose four steps to refute a hypothesis in future-negative surrogate-backed trials and argue that for the actual rejection to take place, refutation must be accompanied by the proposal of an alternative hypothesis. The absence of alternative hypotheses may be the single greatest reason why there remains hesitancy in rejecting the toxic proteinopathy hypothesis: in the absence of alternatives, we have no clear guidance as to where to redirect or focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto J Espay
- James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
| | - Karl Herrup
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Timothy Daly
- Science Norms Democracy, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
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22
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White matter microstructural correlates of associative learning in the oldest-old. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 23:114-124. [PMID: 36163584 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-01035-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The ability to learn associations between events is critical for everyday functioning (e.g., decision making, social interactions) and has been attributed to structural differences in white matter tracts connecting cortical regions to the hippocampus (e.g., fornix) and striatum (e.g., internal capsule) in younger-old adults (ages 65-85 years). However, evidence of associative learning has not been assessed within oldest-old adults (ages 90+ years), despite its relevance to other extensively characterized cognitive abilities in the oldest-old and the relatively large effect of advanced age on the microstructural composition of these white matter tracts. We acquired multicompartment diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data from 22 oldest-old adults without dementia (mean age = 92.91 ± 1.44 years) who also completed an associative learning task. Behavioral results revealed significantly better associative learning performance during later task stages, as expected if participants incidentally learned the cue-cue-target associations for frequently occurring event triplets. Moreover, better learning performance was significantly predicted by better microstructure of cortico-striatal white matter (posterior limb of the internal capsule). Finding that associative learning abilities in the 10th decade of life are supported by better microstructure of white matter tracts connecting the cortex to the striatum underscores their importance to learning performance across the entire lifespan.
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23
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Sorond FA, Gorelick PB. Brain Reserve, Resilience, and Cognitive Stimulation Across the Lifespan: How Do These Factors Influence Risk of Cognitive Impairment and the Dementias? Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:151-160. [PMID: 36404028 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of effective treatments for dementia, maintaining cognitive health in old age is one of the major challenges facing aging societies. Interventions for cognitive health that are tailored to the person are more likely to bring the best benefits with a minimum burden. We review the existing literature on this topic and discuss the role of the primary care physician.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh A Sorond
- Department of Neurology, Division of Stroke, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 625 North Michigan Avenue, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Philip B Gorelick
- Department of Neurology, Division of Stroke, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 625 North Michigan Avenue, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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24
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Walker JM, Richardson TE. Cognitive resistance to and resilience against multiple comorbid neurodegenerative pathologies and the impact of APOE status. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2023; 82:110-119. [PMID: 36458951 PMCID: PMC9852945 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlac115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is currently the leading cause of cognitive decline and dementia worldwide. Recently, studies have suggested that other neurodegenerative comorbidities such as limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC), Lewy body disease (LBD), and cerebrovascular disease frequently co-occur with Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) and may have significant cognitive effects both in isolation and synergistically with ADNC. Herein, we study the relative clinical impact of these multiple neurodegenerative pathologies in 704 subjects. Each of these pathologies is relatively common in the cognitively impaired population, while cerebrovascular pathology and ADNC are the most common in cognitively normal individuals. Moreover, while the number of concurrent neuropathologic entities rises with age and has a progressively deleterious effect on cognition, 44.3% of cognitively intact individuals are resistant to having any neurodegenerative proteinopathy (compared to 15.2% of cognitively impaired individuals) and 83.5% are resistant to having multiple concurrent proteinopathies (compared to 64.6% of cognitively impaired individuals). The presence of at least 1 APOE ε4 allele was associated with impaired cognition and the presence of multiple proteinopathies, while APOE ε2 was protective against cumulative proteinopathies. These results indicate that maintenance of normal cognition may depend on resistance to the development of multiple concurrent proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M Walker
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Timothy E Richardson
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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25
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Tyagi A, Pugazhenthi S. A Promising Strategy to Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases by SIRT3 Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021615. [PMID: 36675125 PMCID: PMC9866791 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
SIRT3, the primary mitochondrial deacetylase, regulates the functions of mitochondrial proteins including metabolic enzymes and respiratory chain components. Although SIRT3's functions in peripheral tissues are well established, the significance of its downregulation in neurodegenerative diseases is beginning to emerge. SIRT3 plays a key role in brain energy metabolism and provides substrate flexibility to neurons. It also facilitates metabolic coupling between fuel substrate-producing tissues and fuel-consuming tissues. SIRT3 mediates the health benefits of lifestyle-based modifications such as calorie restriction and exercise. SIRT3 deficiency is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), a precondition for diseases including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The pure form of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rare, and it has been reported to coexist with these diseases in aging populations. SIRT3 downregulation leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and inflammation, potentially triggering factors of AD pathogenesis. Recent studies have also suggested that SIRT3 may act through multiple pathways to reduce plaque formation in the AD brain. In this review, we give an overview of SIRT3's roles in brain physiology and pathology and discuss several activators of SIRT3 that can be considered potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpna Tyagi
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Subbiah Pugazhenthi
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-720-857-5629
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26
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Sajjadi SA, Bukhari S, Scambray KA, Yan R, Kawas C, Montine TJ, Corrada MM. Impact and Risk Factors of Limbic Predominant Age-Related TDP-43 Encephalopathy Neuropathologic Change in an Oldest-Old Cohort. Neurology 2023; 100:e203-e210. [PMID: 36302666 PMCID: PMC9841447 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000201345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Limbic predominant age-related TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) is a prevalent degenerative pathology in the oldest-old who are the fastest-growing segment of our population with the highest rates of dementia. We aimed to determine the relationship between LATE-NC and cognitive impairment and to identify its potential risk factors by studying its relationship with common past medical histories in an oldest-old cohort. METHODS Participants from The 90+ Study with longitudinal evaluations and autopsy data were included. Dementia status and impairment in 5 main cognitive domains were determined at postmortem conferences leveraging all clinical and neuropsychological data blind to neuropathologic diagnosis. Medical history information was obtained from patients and their informants. LATE-NC and Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) were considered present in those with TDP-43 pathology in the hippocampus and/or neocortex and those with high likelihood of ADNC according to NIA-AA guidelines, respectively. We examined the association of degenerative pathologies with cognitive outcomes and multiple comparisons-adjusted relationship of medical history variables with LATE-NC and ADNC using logistic regressions adjusted for age at death, sex, and education. RESULTS Three hundred twenty-eight participants were included in this study. LATE-NC was present in 32% of the participants. It had a significant association with the presence of dementia (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.7-4.6) and impairment in memory (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.8-5.1), language (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6-4.3), and orientation (OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.1-5.9). The association with impaired orientation was unique to LATE-NC, and the strength and significance of the other associations were comparable to ADNC. Furthermore, we found that history of osteoarthritis (OR 0.37, adjusted 95% CI 0.21-0.66) and hypertension (OR 0.52, adjusted 95% CI 0.28-0.98) were associated with a reduced likelihood of LATE-NC, but not ADNC. DISCUSSION Our results suggest that LATE-NC is a prevalent degenerative pathology in the oldest-old and has significant associations with dementia and impairment in cognitive domains with magnitudes that are comparable to ADNC. We also found that past medical histories of hypertension and osteoarthritis were associated with a lower likelihood of LATE-NC. This might help identify upstream mechanisms leading to this important pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ahmad Sajjadi
- From the University of California (S.A.S., K.A.S., R.Y., C.K., M.M.C.), Irvine; and Stanford University (S.B., T.J.M.), CA.
| | - Syed Bukhari
- From the University of California (S.A.S., K.A.S., R.Y., C.K., M.M.C.), Irvine; and Stanford University (S.B., T.J.M.), CA
| | - Kiana A Scambray
- From the University of California (S.A.S., K.A.S., R.Y., C.K., M.M.C.), Irvine; and Stanford University (S.B., T.J.M.), CA
| | - Rui Yan
- From the University of California (S.A.S., K.A.S., R.Y., C.K., M.M.C.), Irvine; and Stanford University (S.B., T.J.M.), CA
| | - Claudia Kawas
- From the University of California (S.A.S., K.A.S., R.Y., C.K., M.M.C.), Irvine; and Stanford University (S.B., T.J.M.), CA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- From the University of California (S.A.S., K.A.S., R.Y., C.K., M.M.C.), Irvine; and Stanford University (S.B., T.J.M.), CA
| | - Maria M Corrada
- From the University of California (S.A.S., K.A.S., R.Y., C.K., M.M.C.), Irvine; and Stanford University (S.B., T.J.M.), CA
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White LR, Corrada MM, Kawas CH, Cholerton BA, Edland SE, Flanagan ME, Montine TJ. Neuropathologic Changes of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Relevance to Future Prevention. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:307-316. [PMID: 37522210 PMCID: PMC10851925 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decedents with late-life dementia are often found at autopsy to have vascular pathology, cortical Lewy bodies, hippocampal sclerosis, and/or TDP-43 encephalopathy alone or with concurrent Alzheimer's disease (AD) lesions. Nonetheless, it is commonly believed that AD neuropathologic changes (NC) are the dominant or exclusive drivers of late-life dementia. OBJECTIVE Assess associations of end-of-life cognitive impairment with any one or any combination of five distinct NC. Assess impairment prevalence among subjects having natural resistance to each type of NC. METHODS Brains from 1,040 autopsied participants of the Honolulu-Asia Study, the Nun Study, and the 90 + Study were examined for NC of AD, Lewy body dementia, microvascular brain injury, hippocampal sclerosis, and limbic predominate TDP-43 encephalopathy. Associations with impairment were assessed for each NC and for NC polymorbidity (variable combinations of 2-5 concurrent NC). RESULTS Among 387 autopsied decedents with severe cognitive impairment, 20.4% had only AD lesions (ADNC), 25.3% had ADNC plus 1 other NC, 11.1% had ADNC plus 2 or more other NC, 28.7% had no ADNC but 1-4 other NC, and 14.5% had no/negligible NC. Combinations of any two, three, or four NC were highly frequent among the impaired. Natural resistance to ADNC or any other single NC had a modest impact on overall cohort impairment levels. CONCLUSION Polymorbidity involving 1-5 types of concurrent NC is a dominant neuropathologic feature of AD and related dementias. This represents a daunting challenge to future prevention and could explain failures of prior preventive intervention trials and of efforts to identify risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lon R. White
- Pacific Health Research and Education Institute, Honolulu, USA
| | | | | | | | - Steve E. Edland
- University of California at San Diego, School of Public Health, La Jolla, USA
| | - Margaret E Flanagan
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pathology, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Wisniewski T, Masurkar AV. Gait dysfunction in Alzheimer disease. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 196:267-274. [PMID: 37620073 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-98817-9.00013-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of age-associated dementia and will exponentially rise in prevalence in the coming decades, supporting the parallel development of the early stage detection and disease-modifying strategies. While primarily considered as a cognitive disorder, AD also features motor symptoms, primarily gait dysfunction. Such gait abnormalities can be phenotyped across classic clinical syndromes as well as by quantitative kinematic assessments to address subtle dysfunction at preclinical and prodromal stages. As such, certain measures of gait can predict the future cognitive and functional decline. Moreover, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have associated gait abnormalities with imaging, biofluid, and genetic markers of AD across all stages. This suggests that gait assessment is an important tool in the clinical assessment of patients across the AD spectrum, especially to help identify at-risk individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wisniewski
- Department of Neurology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Division of Cognitive Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Arjun V Masurkar
- Department of Neurology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Division of Cognitive Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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Brenowitz WD, Yaffe K. Observational studies in Alzheimer disease: bridging preclinical studies and clinical trials. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:747-757. [PMID: 36316487 PMCID: PMC9894623 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00733-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent high-profile failures of Alzheimer disease treatments at the clinical trial stage have led to renewed efforts to identify and test novel interventions for Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). In this Perspective, we highlight the importance of including well-designed observational studies as part of these efforts. Observational research is an important cornerstone for gathering evidence on risk factors and causes of ADRD; this evidence can then be combined with data from preclinical studies and randomized controlled trials to inform the development of effective interventions. Observational study designs can be particularly beneficial for hypothesis generation, posing questions that are unethical or impractical for a trial setting, studying life-course associations, research in populations typically not included in trials, and public health surveillance. Here, we discuss each of these situations in the specific context of ADRD research. We also highlight novel approaches to enhance causal inference and provide a timely discussion on how observational epidemiological studies help provide a bridge between preclinical studies and successful interventions for ADRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willa D Brenowitz
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kristine Yaffe
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Godrich D, Martin ER, Schellenberg G, Pericak‐Vance MA, Cuccaro M, Scott WK, Kukull W, Montine T, Beecham GW. Neuropathological lesions and their contribution to dementia and cognitive impairment in a heterogeneous clinical population. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2403-2412. [PMID: 35142102 PMCID: PMC9360193 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alzheimer disease (AD) and related dementias are characterized by damage caused by neuropathological lesions in the brain. These include AD lesions (plaques and tangles) and non-AD lesions such as vascular injury or Lewy bodies. We report here an assessment of lesion association to dementia in a large clinic-based population. METHODS We identified 5272 individuals with neuropathological data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center. Individual lesions, as well as a neuropathological composite score (NPCS) were tested for association with dementia, and both functional and neurocognitive impairment using regression models. RESULTS Most individuals exhibited mixed pathologies, especially AD lesions in combination with non-AD lesions. All lesion types were associated with one or more clinical outcomes; most even while controlling for AD pathology. The NPCS was also associated with clinical outcomes. DISCUSSION These data suggest mixed-type pathologies are extremely common in a clinic-based population and may contribute to dementia and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Godrich
- Dr. John T MacDonald Foundation Department of Human GeneticsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Eden R. Martin
- Dr. John T MacDonald Foundation Department of Human GeneticsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human GenomicsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Gerard Schellenberg
- Penn Neurodegeneration Genomics CenterDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Margaret A. Pericak‐Vance
- Dr. John T MacDonald Foundation Department of Human GeneticsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human GenomicsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Michael Cuccaro
- Dr. John T MacDonald Foundation Department of Human GeneticsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human GenomicsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - William K. Scott
- Dr. John T MacDonald Foundation Department of Human GeneticsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human GenomicsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
| | - Walter Kukull
- Department of EpidemiologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Thomas Montine
- Department of PathologyStanford UniversityStanfordCaliforniaUSA
| | - Gary W. Beecham
- Dr. John T MacDonald Foundation Department of Human GeneticsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human GenomicsMiller School of MedicineUniversity of MiamiMiamiFloridaUSA
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Mecca AP, O'Dell RS, Sharp ES, Banks ER, Bartlett HH, Zhao W, Lipior S, Diepenbrock NG, Chen M, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Nabulsi NB, Vander Wyk BC, Arnsten AFT, Huang Y, Carson RE, van Dyck CH. Synaptic density and cognitive performance in Alzheimer's disease: A PET imaging study with [ 11 C]UCB-J. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2527-2536. [PMID: 35174954 PMCID: PMC9381645 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For 30 years synapse loss has been referred to as the major pathological correlate of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, this statement is based on remarkably few patients studied by autopsy or biopsy. With the recent advent of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, we have begun to evaluate the consequences of synaptic alterations in vivo. METHODS We examined the relationship between synaptic density measured by [11 C]UCB-J PET and neuropsychological test performance in 45 participants with early AD. RESULTS Global synaptic density showed a significant positive association with global cognition and performance on five individual cognitive domains in participants with early AD. Synaptic density was a stronger predictor of cognitive performance than gray matter volume. CONCLUSION These results confirm neuropathologic studies demonstrating a significant association between synaptic density and cognitive performance, and suggest that this correlation extends to the early stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P. Mecca
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Ryan S. O'Dell
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Emily S. Sharp
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of NeurologyYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Emmie R. Banks
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Hugh H. Bartlett
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Wenzhen Zhao
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Sylwia Lipior
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Nina G. Diepenbrock
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Ming‐Kai Chen
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Mika Naganawa
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Takuya Toyonaga
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Nabeel B. Nabulsi
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | | | - Amy F. T. Arnsten
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of NeuroscienceYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Yiyun Huang
- Program on AgingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Richard E. Carson
- Program on AgingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Christopher H. van Dyck
- Alzheimer's Disease Research UnitYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of PsychiatryYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of NeurologyYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
- Department of NeuroscienceYale University School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
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Brinkley TE, Justice JN, Basu S, Bauer SR, Loh KP, Mukli P, Ng TKS, Turney IC, Ferrucci L, Cummings SR, Kritchevsky SB. Research priorities for measuring biologic age: summary and future directions from the Research Centers Collaborative Network Workshop. GeroScience 2022; 44:2573-2583. [PMID: 36242692 PMCID: PMC9768050 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00661-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Biologic aging reflects the genetic, molecular, and cellular changes underlying the development of morbidity and mortality with advancing chronological age. As several potential mechanisms have been identified, there is a growing interest in developing robust measures of biologic age that can better reflect the underlying biology of aging and predict age-related outcomes. To support this endeavor, the Research Centers Collaborative Network (RCCN) conducted a workshop in January 2022 to discuss emerging concepts in the field and identify opportunities to move the science forward. This paper presents workshop proceedings and summarizes the identified research needs, priorities, and recommendations for measuring biologic age. The highest priorities identified were the need for more robust measures, longitudinal studies, multidisciplinary collaborations, and translational approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina E Brinkley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Jamie N Justice
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Shubhashrita Basu
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Scott R Bauer
- Departments of Medicine and Urology, University of California and San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kah Poh Loh
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Peter Mukli
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ted Kheng Siang Ng
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Indira C Turney
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Intramural Research Program of the National Institute On Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Steven R Cummings
- San Francisco Coordinating Center, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stephen B Kritchevsky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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Nassif C, Kawles A, Ayala I, Minogue G, Gill NP, Shepard RA, Zouridakis A, Keszycki R, Zhang H, Mao Q, Flanagan ME, Bigio EH, Mesulam MM, Rogalski E, Geula C, Gefen T. Integrity of Neuronal Size in the Entorhinal Cortex Is a Biological Substrate of Exceptional Cognitive Aging. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8587-8594. [PMID: 36180225 PMCID: PMC9665923 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0679-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Average aging is associated with a gradual decline of memory capacity. SuperAgers are humans ≥80 years of age who show exceptional episodic memory at least as good as individuals 20-30 years their junior. This study investigated whether neuronal integrity in the entorhinal cortex (ERC), an area critical for memory and selectively vulnerable to neurofibrillary degeneration, differentiated SuperAgers from cognitively healthy younger individuals, cognitively average peers ("Normal Elderly"), and individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Postmortem sections of the ERC were stained with cresyl violet to visualize neurons and immunostained with mouse monoclonal antibody PHF-1 to visualize neurofibrillary tangles. The cross-sectional area (i.e., size) of layer II and layer III/V ERC neurons were quantified. Two-thirds of total participants were female. Unbiased stereology was used to quantitate tangles in a subgroup of SuperAgers and Normal Elderly. Linear mixed-effect models were used to determine differences across groups. Quantitative measurements found that the soma size of layer II ERC neurons in postmortem brain specimens were significantly larger in SuperAgers compared with all groups (p < 0.05)-including younger individuals 20-30 years their junior (p < 0.005). SuperAgers had significantly fewer stereologically quantified Alzheimer's disease-related neurofibrillary tangles in layer II ERC than Normal Elderly (p < 0.05). This difference in tangle burden in layer II between SuperAgers and Normal Elderly suggests that tangle-bearing neurons may be prone to shrinkage during aging. The finding that SuperAgers show ERC layer II neurons that are substantially larger even compared with individuals 20-30 years younger is remarkable, suggesting that layer II ERC integrity is a biological substrate of exceptional memory in old age.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Average aging is associated with a gradual decline of memory. Previous research shows that an area critical for memory, the entorhinal cortex (ERC), is susceptible to the early formation of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology, even during average (or typical) trajectories of aging. The Northwestern University SuperAging Research Program studies unique individuals known as SuperAgers, individuals ≥80 years old who show exceptional memory that is at least as good as individuals 20-30 years their junior. In this study, we show that SuperAgers harbor larger, healthier neurons in the ERC compared with their cognitively average same-aged peers, those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and - remarkably - even compared with individuals 20-30 years younger. We conclude that larger ERC neurons are a biological signature of the SuperAging trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren Nassif
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Allegra Kawles
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Ivan Ayala
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Grace Minogue
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Nathan P Gill
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Robert A Shepard
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Antonia Zouridakis
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Rachel Keszycki
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Hui Zhang
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Qinwen Mao
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Margaret E Flanagan
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Eileen H Bigio
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - M-Marsel Mesulam
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Emily Rogalski
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Changiz Geula
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
| | - Tamar Gefen
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611
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Morphometric imaging biomarker identifies Alzheimer's disease even among mixed dementia patients. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17675. [PMID: 36319674 PMCID: PMC9626495 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21796-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), even in the presence of co-morbid neuropathology (occurring in > 50% of AD cases), is a significant unmet medical need that has obstructed the discovery of effective AD therapeutics. An AD-biomarker, the Morphometric Imaging (MI) assay on cultured skin fibroblasts, was used in a double-blind, allcomers (ages 55-90) trial of 3 patient cohorts: AD dementia patients, N = 25, all autopsy confirmed, non-AD dementia patients, N = 21-all autopsy or genetically confirmed; and non-demented control (AHC) patients N = 27. Fibroblasts cells isolated from 3-mm skin punch biopsies were cultured on a 3-D Matrigel matrix with movement dynamics quantified by image analysis. From counts of all aggregates (N) in a pre-defined field image and measures of the average area (A) of aggregates per image, the number-to-area ratios in a natural logarithmic form Ln(A/N) were determined for all patient samples. AD cell lines formed fewer large aggregates (cells clustered together) than non-AD or AHC cell lines. The cut-off value of Ln(A/N) = 6.98 was determined from the biomarker values of non-demented apparently healthy control (AHC) cases. Unequivocal validation by autopsy, genetics, and/or dementia criteria was possible for all 73 patient samples. The samples were collected from multiple centers-four US centers and one center in Japan. The study found no effect of center-to-center variation in fibroblast isolation, cell growth, or cell aggregation values (Ln(A/N)). The autopsy-confirmed MI Biomarker distinguished AD from non-AD dementia (non-ADD) patients and correctly diagnosed AD even in the presence of other co-morbid pathologies at autopsy (True Positive = 25, False Negative = 0, False Positive = 0, True Negative = 21, and Accuracy = 100%. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 100% (95% CI = 84 to 100.00%). From these findings, the MI assay appears to detect AD with great accuracy-even with abundant co-morbidity.
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Abdulrahman H, van Dalen JW, den Brok M, Latimer CS, Larson EB, Richard E. Hypertension and Alzheimer's disease pathology at autopsy: A systematic review. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:2308-2326. [PMID: 35758526 PMCID: PMC9796086 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension is an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and all-cause dementia. The mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. Hypertension may be associated with AD neuropathological changes (ADNC), but reports are sparse and inconsistent. This systematic review included 15 autopsy studies (n = 5879) from observational cohorts. Studies were highly heterogeneous regarding populations, follow-up duration, hypertension operationalization, neuropathological methods, and statistical analyses. Hypertension seems associated with higher plaque and tangle burden, but results are inconsistent. Four studies (n = 3993/5879; 68%), reported clear associations between hypertension and ADNC. Another four suggested that antihypertensive medication may protect against ADNC. Larger studies with longer follow-up reported the strongest relationships. Our findings suggest a positive association between hypertension and ADNC, but effects may be modest, and possibly attenuate with higher hypertension age and antihypertensive medication use. Investigating interactions among plaques, tangles, cerebrovascular pathology, and dementia may be key in better understanding hypertension's role in dementia development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herrer Abdulrahman
- Department of NeurologyAmsterdam University Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Department of NeurologyRadboud University Medical CenterDonders Institute for BrainCognition and BehaviorNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem van Dalen
- Department of NeurologyAmsterdam University Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Department of NeurologyRadboud University Medical CenterDonders Institute for BrainCognition and BehaviorNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Melina den Brok
- Department of NeurologyAmsterdam University Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
- Department of NeurologyRadboud University Medical CenterDonders Institute for BrainCognition and BehaviorNijmegenthe Netherlands
| | - Caitlin S. Latimer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Eric B. Larson
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute SeattleSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Edo Richard
- Department of NeurologyRadboud University Medical CenterDonders Institute for BrainCognition and BehaviorNijmegenthe Netherlands
- Department of Public and Occupational HealthAmsterdam University Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamthe Netherlands
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Murakami A, Koga S, Sekiya H, Oskarsson B, Boylan K, Petrucelli L, Josephs KA, Dickson DW. Old age amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and limbic TDP-43 pathology. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13100. [PMID: 35715944 PMCID: PMC9616086 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess and compare the burden of transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) pathology and clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in three age groups. All cases were from the Mayo Clinic brain bank for neurodegenerative disorders and most were followed longitudinally in the ALS Clinic. Cases with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change were excluded. The 55 cases included in the study were divided into three groups by age at death: 75 years or older (old-ALS, n = 8), 64-74 years (middle-ALS, n = 23), and 63 years or younger (young-ALS, n = 24). Clinical features, including disease duration, initial symptoms, and ALS Cognitive Behavior Score (ALS-CBS), were summarized. Sections of paraffin-embedded tissue from the motor cortex, basal forebrain, medial temporal lobe, and middle frontal gyrus were processed for phospho-TDP-43 immunohistochemistry. The burden of TDP-43 pathology was analyzed using digital image analysis. The TDP-43 burden in the limbic system (i.e., amygdala, dentate gyrus and CA1 sector of the hippocampus, subiculum, and entorhinal cortex) was greater in old-ALS than in young-ALS and middle-ALS. TDP-43 burden in the middle frontal gyrus was sparse and did not differ between the three groups. The average of ALS-CBS was not different between the three groups. The present study shows that the amygdala and hippocampus are vulnerable to TDP-43 pathology in older patients with ALS. We discuss the evidence for and against this pathology being related to concurrent limbic-predominant, age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Murakami
- Department of NeuroscienceMayo ClinicJacksonvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Shunsuke Koga
- Department of NeuroscienceMayo ClinicJacksonvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Hiroaki Sekiya
- Department of NeuroscienceMayo ClinicJacksonvilleFloridaUSA
| | | | - Kevin Boylan
- Department of NeurologyMayo ClinicJacksonvilleFloridaUSA
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Rossi SL, Subramanian P, Bu G, Di Polo A, Golde TE, Bovenkamp DE. Common features of neurodegenerative disease: exploring the brain-eye connection and beyond (Part 1): the 2021 pre-symposium of the 15th international conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:68. [PMID: 36310167 PMCID: PMC9620636 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00570-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sharyn L. Rossi
- grid.453152.40000 0000 8621 6363BrightFocus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Dr, 20871 Clarksburg, MD USA
| | - Preeti Subramanian
- grid.453152.40000 0000 8621 6363BrightFocus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Dr, 20871 Clarksburg, MD USA
| | - Guojun Bu
- grid.417467.70000 0004 0443 9942Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL USA
| | - Adriana Di Polo
- grid.14848.310000 0001 2292 3357Departments of Neuroscience and Ophthalmology, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), University of Montreal, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Todd E. Golde
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Departments of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, and Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Diane E. Bovenkamp
- grid.453152.40000 0000 8621 6363BrightFocus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Dr, 20871 Clarksburg, MD USA
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Montine TJ, Corrada MM, Kawas C, Bukhari SA, White LR, Tian L, Cholerton B. Association of Cognition and Dementia With Neuropathologic Changes of Alzheimer Disease and Other Conditions in the Oldest Old. Neurology 2022; 99:e1067-e1078. [PMID: 35705500 PMCID: PMC9519247 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Age is the largest risk factor for dementia. However, dementia is not universal, even among the oldest-old age groups. Following contemporary neuropathologic guidelines, our objectives were to describe the key neuropathologic lesions and their associations with antemortem cognition in oldest-old individuals. METHODS Participants were those enrolled in The 90+ Study, a longitudinal, population-based study of aging/dementia in the oldest old, who agreed to postmortem brain examination. All autopsied brains as of December 2020 were evaluated for the prevalence of Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) and non-ADNC neuropathologic comorbidities. Associations between neuropathologic lesions or the total neuropathologic burden score (sum of the individual scores) and cognition were assessed using multinomial logistic regression and multiple linear regression. Separate regression analyses evaluated relationships between limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE-NC) and hippocampal sclerosis (HS) or ADNC/primary age-related tauopathy (PART). Resistance, or failure to develop ADNC/PART, and resilience, inferred from higher-than-expected cognitive functioning, were evaluated in the presence or absence of non-ADNC neuropathologic features. RESULTS The most common neuropathologic features in the sample (n = 367) were ADNC/PART related. Increased dementia odds were associated with elevated total neuropathologic burden (odds ratio [OR] 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.7, p < 0.0001), β-amyloid (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.0, p < 0.0001), neurofibrillary tangles (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-4.1, p < 0.0001), and LATE-NC (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.7-3.1, p < 0.0001), correcting for multiple comparisons. LATE-NC was associated with dementia with (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.0-18.7, p = 0.002) and without (OR 5.0, 95% CI 2.6-9.7, p < 0.0001) co-occurring HS and increased the odds of dementia among participants with ADNC (OR 5.0, 95% CI 2.7-9.2, p < 0.0001). Resistance to moderate/severe ADNC/PART was rare (3%), but resilience to ADNC/PART was not (55%). Resilience was rarer in the presence of non-ADNC comorbid lesions, particularly LATE-NC. Among those with moderate/severe ADNC/PART, dementia odds increased with each non-ADNC comorbid lesion (e.g., 1 lesion: OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.5, p < 0.005; 2 lesions: OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.8-12.3, p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION These results highlight the importance of non-ADNC neuropathologic comorbidity, predominantly LATE-NC, to cognition in the oldest old. Given the cumulative effects of non-ADNC comorbid neuropathologic abnormalities, reducing their prevalence, especially LATE-NC, will be vital to the ultimate goal of reducing dementia burden in the oldest-old individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Montine
- From the Department of Pathology (T.J.M., S.B., B.C.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Departments of Neurology (M.M.C., C.K.), Epidemiology (M.M.C.), and Neurobiology & Behavior (C.K.), University of California Irvine; Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (L.W.), Honolulu, HI; and Department of Biomedical Data Science (L.T.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Maria M Corrada
- From the Department of Pathology (T.J.M., S.B., B.C.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Departments of Neurology (M.M.C., C.K.), Epidemiology (M.M.C.), and Neurobiology & Behavior (C.K.), University of California Irvine; Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (L.W.), Honolulu, HI; and Department of Biomedical Data Science (L.T.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Claudia Kawas
- From the Department of Pathology (T.J.M., S.B., B.C.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Departments of Neurology (M.M.C., C.K.), Epidemiology (M.M.C.), and Neurobiology & Behavior (C.K.), University of California Irvine; Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (L.W.), Honolulu, HI; and Department of Biomedical Data Science (L.T.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Syed A Bukhari
- From the Department of Pathology (T.J.M., S.B., B.C.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Departments of Neurology (M.M.C., C.K.), Epidemiology (M.M.C.), and Neurobiology & Behavior (C.K.), University of California Irvine; Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (L.W.), Honolulu, HI; and Department of Biomedical Data Science (L.T.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Lon R White
- From the Department of Pathology (T.J.M., S.B., B.C.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Departments of Neurology (M.M.C., C.K.), Epidemiology (M.M.C.), and Neurobiology & Behavior (C.K.), University of California Irvine; Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (L.W.), Honolulu, HI; and Department of Biomedical Data Science (L.T.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Lu Tian
- From the Department of Pathology (T.J.M., S.B., B.C.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Departments of Neurology (M.M.C., C.K.), Epidemiology (M.M.C.), and Neurobiology & Behavior (C.K.), University of California Irvine; Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (L.W.), Honolulu, HI; and Department of Biomedical Data Science (L.T.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Brenna Cholerton
- From the Department of Pathology (T.J.M., S.B., B.C.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA; Departments of Neurology (M.M.C., C.K.), Epidemiology (M.M.C.), and Neurobiology & Behavior (C.K.), University of California Irvine; Pacific Health Research and Education Institute (L.W.), Honolulu, HI; and Department of Biomedical Data Science (L.T.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA.
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Cognitive resilience to three dementia-related neuropathologies in an oldest-old man: A case report from The 90+ Study. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 116:12-15. [PMID: 35526514 PMCID: PMC9733494 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive resilience provides insights into maintaining good cognition despite dementia-related neuropathologic changes. It is of special interest in the oldest-old (age 90+) because age is the strongest risk factor for dementia. We describe the only participant of The 90+ Study, among 367 autopsies, who maintained normal cognition despite intermediate-high levels of 3 dementia-related neuropathologic changes, advanced age, and comorbidities associated with cognitive impairment. This man remained cognitively normal throughout 13 semi-annual study visits, last one being 4 months before his death at 96. His cognitive test scores remained around the 90th percentile for non-timed tests and declined from 90th to 50th percentile (significant for semantic fluency) for timed tests. He remained physically and cognitively active until death, despite extrapyramidal signs in the last year of life. Neuropathological examination revealed intermediate level of Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (Thal phase 5, Braak NFT stage IV, CERAD score 3), Lewy bodies and neurites in the olfactory bulb, brainstem and limbic areas (Braak PD stage 4), TDP-43 inclusions in the amygdala and hippocampus (LATE stage 2), and a microvascular lesion in putamen. This case demonstrates that cognitive impairment is not inevitable even in the oldest-old with mutltiple dementia-related neuropathologic changes.
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Nelson PT, Brayne C, Flanagan ME, Abner EL, Agrawal S, Attems J, Castellani RJ, Corrada MM, Cykowski MD, Di J, Dickson DW, Dugger BN, Ervin JF, Fleming J, Graff-Radford J, Grinberg LT, Hokkanen SRK, Hunter S, Kapasi A, Kawas CH, Keage HAD, Keene CD, Kero M, Knopman DS, Kouri N, Kovacs GG, Labuzan SA, Larson EB, Latimer CS, Leite REP, Matchett BJ, Matthews FE, Merrick R, Montine TJ, Murray ME, Myllykangas L, Nag S, Nelson RS, Neltner JH, Nguyen AT, Petersen RC, Polvikoski T, Reichard RR, Rodriguez RD, Suemoto CK, Wang SHJ, Wharton SB, White L, Schneider JA. Frequency of LATE neuropathologic change across the spectrum of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology: combined data from 13 community-based or population-based autopsy cohorts. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 144:27-44. [PMID: 35697880 PMCID: PMC9552938 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02444-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) and Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) are each associated with substantial cognitive impairment in aging populations. However, the prevalence of LATE-NC across the full range of ADNC remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, neuropathologic, genetic, and clinical data were compiled from 13 high-quality community- and population-based longitudinal studies. Participants were recruited from United States (8 cohorts, including one focusing on Japanese-American men), United Kingdom (2 cohorts), Brazil, Austria, and Finland. The total number of participants included was 6196, and the average age of death was 88.1 years. Not all data were available on each individual and there were differences between the cohorts in study designs and the amount of missing data. Among those with known cognitive status before death (n = 5665), 43.0% were cognitively normal, 14.9% had MCI, and 42.4% had dementia-broadly consistent with epidemiologic data in this age group. Approximately 99% of participants (n = 6125) had available CERAD neuritic amyloid plaque score data. In this subsample, 39.4% had autopsy-confirmed LATE-NC of any stage. Among brains with "frequent" neuritic amyloid plaques, 54.9% had comorbid LATE-NC, whereas in brains with no detected neuritic amyloid plaques, 27.0% had LATE-NC. Data on LATE-NC stages were available for 3803 participants, of which 25% had LATE-NC stage > 1 (associated with cognitive impairment). In the subset of individuals with Thal Aβ phase = 0 (lacking detectable Aβ plaques), the brains with LATE-NC had relatively more severe primary age-related tauopathy (PART). A total of 3267 participants had available clinical data relevant to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and none were given the clinical diagnosis of definite FTD nor the pathological diagnosis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 inclusions (FTLD-TDP). In the 10 cohorts with detailed neurocognitive assessments proximal to death, cognition tended to be worse with LATE-NC across the full spectrum of ADNC severity. This study provided a credible estimate of the current prevalence of LATE-NC in advanced age. LATE-NC was seen in almost 40% of participants and often, but not always, coexisted with Alzheimer's disease neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter T Nelson
- University of Kentucky, Rm 311 Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Lexington, KY, USA.
| | | | | | - Erin L Abner
- University of Kentucky, Rm 311 Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jing Di
- University of Kentucky, Rm 311 Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lea T Grinberg
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mia Kero
- University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Eric B Larson
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Liisa Myllykangas
- University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sukriti Nag
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Janna H Neltner
- University of Kentucky, Rm 311 Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stephen B Wharton
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lon White
- Pacific Health Research and Education Institute, Honolulu, HI, USA
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Creavin ST, Noel-Storr AH, Langdon RJ, Richard E, Creavin AL, Cullum S, Purdy S, Ben-Shlomo Y. Clinical judgement by primary care physicians for the diagnosis of all-cause dementia or cognitive impairment in symptomatic people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 6:CD012558. [PMID: 35709018 PMCID: PMC9202995 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012558.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In primary care, general practitioners (GPs) unavoidably reach a clinical judgement about a patient as part of their encounter with patients, and so clinical judgement can be an important part of the diagnostic evaluation. Typically clinical decision making about what to do next for a patient incorporates clinical judgement about the diagnosis with severity of symptoms and patient factors, such as their ideas and expectations for treatment. When evaluating patients for dementia, many GPs report using their own judgement to evaluate cognition, using information that is immediately available at the point of care, to decide whether someone has or does not have dementia, rather than more formal tests. OBJECTIVES To determine the diagnostic accuracy of GPs' clinical judgement for diagnosing cognitive impairment and dementia in symptomatic people presenting to primary care. To investigate the heterogeneity of test accuracy in the included studies. SEARCH METHODS We searched MEDLINE (Ovid SP), Embase (Ovid SP), PsycINFO (Ovid SP), Web of Science Core Collection (ISI Web of Science), and LILACs (BIREME) on 16 September 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA We selected cross-sectional and cohort studies from primary care where clinical judgement was determined by a GP either prospectively (after consulting with a patient who has presented to a specific encounter with the doctor) or retrospectively (based on knowledge of the patient and review of the medical notes, but not relating to a specific encounter with the patient). The target conditions were dementia and cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment and dementia) and we included studies with any appropriate reference standard such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), International Classification of Diseases (ICD), aetiological definitions, or expert clinical diagnosis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors screened titles and abstracts for relevant articles and extracted data separately with differences resolved by consensus discussion. We used QUADAS-2 to evaluate the risk of bias and concerns about applicability in each study using anchoring statements. We performed meta-analysis using the bivariate method. MAIN RESULTS We identified 18,202 potentially relevant articles, of which 12,427 remained after de-duplication. We assessed 57 full-text articles and extracted data on 11 studies (17 papers), of which 10 studies had quantitative data. We included eight studies in the meta-analysis for the target condition dementia and four studies for the target condition cognitive impairment. Most studies were at low risk of bias as assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool, except for the flow and timing domain where four studies were at high risk of bias, and the reference standard domain where two studies were at high risk of bias. Most studies had low concern about applicability to the review question in all QUADAS-2 domains. Average age ranged from 73 years to 83 years (weighted average 77 years). The percentage of female participants in studies ranged from 47% to 100%. The percentage of people with a final diagnosis of dementia was between 2% and 56% across studies (a weighted average of 21%). For the target condition dementia, in individual studies sensitivity ranged from 34% to 91% and specificity ranged from 58% to 99%. In the meta-analysis for dementia as the target condition, in eight studies in which a total of 826 of 2790 participants had dementia, the summary diagnostic accuracy of clinical judgement of general practitioners was sensitivity 58% (95% confidence interval (CI) 43% to 72%), specificity 89% (95% CI 79% to 95%), positive likelihood ratio 5.3 (95% CI 2.4 to 8.2), and negative likelihood ratio 0.47 (95% CI 0.33 to 0.61). For the target condition cognitive impairment, in individual studies sensitivity ranged from 58% to 97% and specificity ranged from 40% to 88%. The summary diagnostic accuracy of clinical judgement of general practitioners in four studies in which a total of 594 of 1497 participants had cognitive impairment was sensitivity 84% (95% CI 60% to 95%), specificity 73% (95% CI 50% to 88%), positive likelihood ratio 3.1 (95% CI 1.4 to 4.7), and negative likelihood ratio 0.23 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.40). It was impossible to draw firm conclusions in the analysis of heterogeneity because there were small numbers of studies. For specificity we found the data were compatible with studies that used ICD-10, or applied retrospective judgement, had higher reported specificity compared to studies with DSM definitions or using prospective judgement. In contrast for sensitivity, we found studies that used a prospective index test may have had higher sensitivity than studies that used a retrospective index test. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Clinical judgement of GPs is more specific than sensitive for the diagnosis of dementia. It would be necessary to use additional tests to confirm the diagnosis for either target condition, or to confirm the absence of the target conditions, but clinical judgement may inform the choice of further testing. Many people who a GP judges as having dementia will have the condition. People with false negative diagnoses are likely to have less severe disease and some could be identified by using more formal testing in people who GPs judge as not having dementia. Some false positives may require similar practical support to those with dementia, but some - such as some people with depression - may suffer delayed intervention for an alternative treatable pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ryan J Langdon
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Edo Richard
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Cognition, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Sarah Cullum
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Purdy
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Yoav Ben-Shlomo
- Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Frank B, Ally M, Tripodis Y, Puzo C, Labriolo C, Hurley L, Martin B, Palmisano J, Chan L, Steinberg E, Turk K, Budson A, O’Connor M, Au R, Qiu WQ, Goldstein L, Kukull W, Kowall N, Killiany R, Stern R, Stein T, McKee A, Mez J, Alosco M. Trajectories of Cognitive Decline in Brain Donors With Autopsy-Confirmed Alzheimer Disease and Cerebrovascular Disease. Neurology 2022; 98:e2454-e2464. [PMID: 35444054 PMCID: PMC9231841 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) is frequently comorbid with autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer disease (AD), but its contribution to the clinical presentation of AD remains unclear. We leveraged the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) uniform and neuropathology datasets to compare the cognitive and functional trajectories of AD+/CBVD+ and AD+/CBVD- brain donors. METHODS The sample included NACC brain donors with autopsy-confirmed AD (Braak stage ≥3, Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease score ≥2) and complete Uniform Data Set (UDS) evaluations between 2005 and 2019, with the most recent UDS evaluation within 2 years of autopsy. CBVD was defined as moderate to severe arteriosclerosis or atherosclerosis. We used propensity score weighting to isolate the effects of comorbid AD and CBVD. This method improved the balance of covariates between the AD+/CBVD+ and AD+/CBVD- groups. Longitudinal mixed-effects models were assessed with robust bayesian estimation. UDS neuropsychological test and the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) scores were primary outcomes. RESULTS Of 2,423 brain donors, 1,476 were classified as AD+/CBVD+. Compared with AD+/CVBD- donors, the AD+/CBVD+ group had accelerated decline (i.e., group × time effects) on measures of processing speed (β = -0.93, 95% CI -1.35, -0.51, Bayes factor [BF] 130.75), working memory (β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.02, 0.07, BF 3.59), verbal fluency (β = 0.10, 95% CI 0.04, 0.15, BF 1.28), naming (β = 0.09, 95% CI 0.03, 0.16, BF = 0.69), and CDR-SB (β = -0.08, 95% CI -0.12, -0.05, BF 18.11). Effects ranged from weak (BFs <3.0) to strong (BFs <150). We also found worse performance in the AD+/CBVD+ group across time on naming (β = -1.04, 95% CI -1.83, -0.25, BF 2.52) and verbal fluency (β = -0.73, 95% CI -1.30, -0.15, BF 1.34) and more impaired CDR-SB scores (β = 0.45, 95% CI 0.01, 0.89, BF 0.33). DISCUSSION In brain donors with autopsy-confirmed AD, comorbid CBVD was associated with an accelerated functional and cognitive decline, particularly on neuropsychological tests of attention, psychomotor speed, and working memory. CBVD magnified effects of AD neuropathology on semantic-related neuropsychological tasks. Findings support a prominent additive and more subtle synergistic effect for comorbid CBVD neuropathology in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael Alosco
- From the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center and CTE Center (B.F., M. Ally, Y.T., C.P., C.L., B.M., J.P., L.C., E.S., K.T., A.B., M.O., R.A., W.Q.Q., L.G., N.K., R.K., R.S., T.S., A.M., J.M., M. Alosco), Boston University School of Medicine; Veteran Affairs Bedford Healthcare System (B.F., M.O., T.S., A.M.), Bedford; Department of Biostatistics (Y.T.), Boston University School of Public Health, MA; Yale School of Public Health (L.H.), New Haven, CT; Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center (B.M., J.P.), Boston University School of Public Health; Department of Neurology (K.T., A.B., R.A., N.K., R.S., A.M., J.M., M. Alosco), Boston University School of Medicine; Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (K.T., A.B., N.K., T.S., A.M); Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology (R.A., R.K., R.S.), Boston University School of Medicine; MA; Framingham Heart Study (R.A.), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD; Department of Epidemiology (R.A.), Boston University School of Public Health; Department of Psychiatry (W.Q.Q.), Boston University School of Medicine; Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (W.Q.Q.), Boston University School of Medicine; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (L.G.), Boston University School of Medicine; Departments of Psychiatry and Ophthalmology (L.G.), Boston University School of Medicine; Departments of Biomedical, Electrical & Computer Engineering (L.G.), Boston University College of Engineering, MA; National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (W.K.), Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle; Center for Biomedical Imaging (R.K.), and Boston University School of Medicine; Department of Neurosurgery (R.S.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA.
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Grothe J, Röhr S, Luppa M, Pabst A, Kleineidam L, Heser K, Fuchs A, Pentzek M, Oey A, Wiese B, Lühmann D, van den Bussche H, Weyerer S, Werle J, Weeg D, Bickel H, Scherer M, König HH, Hajek A, Wagner M, Riedel-Heller SG. Social Isolation and Incident Dementia in the Oldest-Old-A Competing Risk Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:834438. [PMID: 35757202 PMCID: PMC9226337 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.834438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Social isolation is considered a risk factor for dementia. However, less is known about social isolation and dementia with respect to competing risk of death, particularly in the oldest-old, who are at highest risk for social isolation, dementia and mortality. Therefore, we aimed to examine these associations in a sample of oldest-old individuals. Methods Analyses were based on follow-up (FU) 5-9 of the longitudinal German study AgeCoDe/AgeQualiDe. Social isolation was assessed using the short form of the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), with a score ≤ 12 indicating social isolation. Structured interviews were used to identify dementia cases. Competing risk analysis based on the Fine-Gray model was conducted to test the association between social isolation and incident dementia. Results Excluding participants with prevalent dementia, n = 1,161 individuals were included. Their mean age was 86.6 (SD = 3.1) years and 67.0% were female. The prevalence of social isolation was 34.7% at FU 5, 9.7% developed dementia and 36.0% died during a mean FU time of 4.3 (SD = 0.4) years. Adjusting for covariates and cumulative mortality risk, social isolation was not significantly associated with incident dementia; neither in the total sample (sHR: 1.07, 95%CI 0.65-1.76, p = 0.80), nor if stratified by sex (men: sHR: 0.71, 95%CI 0.28-1.83, p = 0.48; women: sHR: 1.39, 95%CI 0.77-2.51, p = 0.27). Conclusion In contrast to the findings of previous studies, we did not find an association between social isolation and incident dementia in the oldest-old. However, our analysis took into account the competing risk of death and the FU period was rather short. Future studies, especially with longer FU periods and more comprehensive assessment of qualitative social network characteristics (e.g., loneliness and satisfaction with social relationships) may be useful for clarification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Grothe
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Röhr
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Melanie Luppa
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexander Pabst
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Luca Kleineidam
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Kathrin Heser
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Angela Fuchs
- Institute of General Practice (ifam), Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Pentzek
- Institute of General Practice (ifam), Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anke Oey
- Institute of General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Birgitt Wiese
- Institute of General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dagmar Lühmann
- Department of Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik van den Bussche
- Department of Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Siegfried Weyerer
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Werle
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dagmar Weeg
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Horst Bickel
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Scherer
- Department of Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
- Medical Faculty, Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Gómez-Isla T, Frosch MP. Lesions without symptoms: understanding resilience to Alzheimer disease neuropathological changes. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:323-332. [PMID: 35332316 PMCID: PMC10607925 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00642-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Since the original description of amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles more than 100 years ago, these lesions have been considered the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD). The prevalence of plaques, tangles and dementia increases with age, and the lesions are considered to be causally related to the cognitive symptoms of AD. Current schemes for assessing AD lesion burden examine the distribution, abundance and characteristics of plaques and tangles at post mortem, yielding an estimate of the likelihood of cognitive impairment. Although this approach is highly predictive for most individuals, in some instances, a striking mismatch between lesions and symptoms can be observed. A small subset of individuals harbour a high burden of plaques and tangles at autopsy, which would be expected to have had devastating clinical consequences, but remain at their cognitive baseline, indicating 'resilience'. The study of these brains might provide the key to understanding the 'black box' between the accumulation of plaques and tangles and cognitive impairment, and show the way towards disease-modifying treatments for AD. In this Review, we begin by considering the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations associated with the presence of plaques and tangles, and then focus on insights derived from the rare yet informative individuals who display high amounts of amyloid and tau deposition in their brains (observed directly at autopsy) without manifesting dementia during life. The resilient response of these individuals to the gradual accumulation of plaques and tangles has potential implications for assessing an individual's risk of AD and for the development of interventions aimed at preserving cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Gómez-Isla
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston, MA, USA
- C.S. Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Tai XY, Veldsman M, Lyall DM, Littlejohns TJ, Langa KM, Husain M, Ranson J, Llewellyn DJ. Cardiometabolic multimorbidity, genetic risk, and dementia: a prospective cohort study. THE LANCET. HEALTHY LONGEVITY 2022; 3:e428-e436. [PMID: 35711612 PMCID: PMC9184258 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(22)00117-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Individual cardiometabolic disorders and genetic factors are associated with an increased dementia risk; however, the relationship between dementia and cardiometabolic multimorbidity is unclear. We investigated whether cardiometabolic multimorbidity increases the risk of dementia, regardless of genetic risk, and examined for associated brain structural changes. Methods We examined health and genetic data from 203 038 UK Biobank participants of European ancestry, aged 60 years or older without dementia at baseline assessment (2006-10) and followed up until March 31, 2021, in England and Scotland and Feb 28, 2018, in Wales, as well as brain structural data in a nested imaging subsample of 12 236 participants. A cardiometabolic multimorbidity index comprising stroke, diabetes, and myocardial infarction (one point for each), and a polygenic risk score for dementia (with low, intermediate, and high risk groups) were calculated for each participant. The main outcome measures were incident all-cause dementia and brain structural metrics. Findings The dementia risk associated with high cardiometabolic multimorbidity was three times greater than that associated with high genetic risk (hazard ratio [HR] 5·55, 95% CI 3·39-9·08, p<0·0001, and 1·68, 1·53-1·84, p<0·0001, respectively). Participants with both a high genetic risk and a cardiometabolic multimorbidity index of two or greater had an increased risk of developing dementia (HR 5·74, 95% CI 4·26-7·74, p<0·0001), compared with those with a low genetic risk and no cardiometabolic conditions. Crucially, we found no interaction between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and polygenic risk (p=0·18). Cardiometabolic multimorbidity was independently associated with more extensive, widespread brain structural changes including lower hippocampal volume (F2, 12 110 = 10·70; p<0·0001) and total grey matter volume (F2, 12 236 = 55·65; p<0·0001). Interpretation Cardiometabolic multimorbidity was independently associated with the risk of dementia and extensive brain imaging differences to a greater extent than was genetic risk. Targeting cardiometabolic multimorbidity might help to reduce the risk of dementia, regardless of genetic risk. Funding Wellcome Trust, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alan Turing Institute/Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula, National Health and Medical Research Council, JP Moulton Foundation, and National Institute on Aging/National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin You Tai
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Division of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Michele Veldsman
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Donald M Lyall
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Kenneth M Langa
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Masud Husain
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Division of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Janice Ranson
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - David J Llewellyn
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
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Taddei RN, Sanchez-Mico MV, Bonnar O, Connors T, Gaona A, Denbow D, Frosch MP, Gómez-Isla T. Changes in glial cell phenotypes precede overt neurofibrillary tangle formation, correlate with markers of cortical cell damage, and predict cognitive status of individuals at Braak III-IV stages. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:72. [PMID: 35534858 PMCID: PMC9082857 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinico-pathological correlation studies show that some otherwise healthy elderly individuals who never developed cognitive impairment harbor a burden of Alzheimer's disease lesions (plaques and tangles) that would be expected to result in dementia. In the absence of comorbidities explaining such discrepancies, there is a need to identify other brain changes that meaningfully contribute to the cognitive status of an individual in the face of such burdens of plaques and tangles. Glial inflammatory responses, a universal phenomenon in symptomatic AD, show robust association with degree of cognitive impairment, but their significance in early tau pathology stages and contribution to the trajectory of cognitive decline at an individual level remain widely unexplored. We studied 55 brains from individuals at intermediate stages of tau tangle pathology (Braak III-IV) with diverging antemortem cognition (demented vs. non-demented, here termed `resilient'), and age-matched cognitively normal controls (Braak 0-II). We conducted quantitative assessments of amyloid and tau lesions, cellular vulnerability markers, and glial phenotypes in temporal pole (Braak III-IV region) and visual cortex (Braak V-VI region) using artificial-intelligence based semiautomated quantifications. We found distinct glial responses with increased proinflammatory and decreased homeostatic markers, both in regions with tau tangles (temporal pole) and without overt tau deposits (visual cortex) in demented but not in resilient. These changes were significantly associated with markers of cortical cell damage. Similar phenotypic glial changes were detected in the white matter of demented but not resilient and were associated with higher burden of overlying cortical cellular damage in regions with and without tangles. Our data suggest that changes in glial phenotypes in cortical and subcortical regions represent an early phenomenon that precedes overt tau deposition and likely contributes to cell damage and loss of brain function predicting the cognitive status of individuals at intermediate stages of tau aggregate burden (Braak III-IV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel N Taddei
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15th Parkman St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maria V Sanchez-Mico
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15th Parkman St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Orla Bonnar
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15th Parkman St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Theresa Connors
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston, MA, USA
- C.S. Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Angelica Gaona
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston, MA, USA
- C.S. Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dominique Denbow
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15th Parkman St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston, MA, USA
- C.S. Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Teresa Gómez-Isla
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15th Parkman St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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47
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Merenstein JL, Bennett IJ. Bridging patterns of neurocognitive aging across the older adult lifespan. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104594. [PMID: 35227712 PMCID: PMC9888009 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of brain and neurocognitive aging rarely include oldest-old adults (ages 80 +). But predictions of neurocognitive aging theories derived from MRI findings in younger-old adults (ages ~55-80) may not generalize into advanced age, particularly given the increased prevalence of cognitive impairment/dementia in the oldest-old. Here, we reviewed the MRI literature in oldest-old adults and interpreted findings within the context of regional variation, compensation, brain maintenance, and reserve theories. Structural MRI studies revealed regional variation in brain aging as larger age effects on medial temporal and posterior regions for oldest-old than younger-old adults. They also revealed that brain maintenance explained preserved cognitive functioning into the tenth decade of life. Very few functional MRI studies examined compensatory activity in oldest-old adults who perform as well as younger groups, although there was evidence that higher brain reserve in oldest-old adults may mediate effects of brain aging on cognition. Despite some continuity, different cognitive and neural profiles across the older adult lifespan should be addressed in modern neurocognitive aging theories.
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Abstract
High blood pressure (BP) is detrimental to brain health. High BP contributes to cognitive impairment and dementia through pathways independent of clinical stroke. Emerging evidence shows that the deleterious effect of high BP on cognition occurs across the life span, increasing the risk for early-onset and late-life dementia. The term vascular cognitive impairment includes cognitive disorders associated with cerebrovascular disease, regardless of the pathogenesis. This focused report is a narrative review that aims to summarize the epidemiology of BP and vascular cognitive impairment, including differences by sex, race, and ethnicity, as well as the management and reversibility of BP and vascular cognitive impairment. It also discusses knowledge gaps and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A. Levine
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cognitive Health Services Research Program, University of Michigan (U-M), Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Program, U-M, Ann Arbor, MI
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, U-M, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mellanie V. Springer
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Program, U-M, Ann Arbor, MI
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, U-M, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Amy Brodtmann
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia
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Abstract
This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including incidence and prevalence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on family caregivers, the dementia workforce and society. The Special Report discusses consumers' and primary care physicians' perspectives on awareness, diagnosis and treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including MCI due to Alzheimer's disease. An estimated 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, the latest year for which data are available. Alzheimer's disease was officially listed as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States in 2019 and the seventh-leading cause of death in 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 entered the ranks of the top ten causes of death. Alzheimer's remains the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 16 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2021. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $271.6 billion in 2021. Its costs, however, extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes - costs that have been aggravated by COVID-19. Members of the dementia care workforce have also been affected by COVID-19. As essential care workers, some have opted to change jobs to protect their own health and the health of their families. However, this occurs at a time when more members of the dementia care workforce are needed. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are almost three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 22 times as great. Total payments in 2022 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $321 billion. A recent survey commissioned by the Alzheimer's Association revealed several barriers to consumers' understanding of MCI. The survey showed low awareness of MCI among Americans, a reluctance among Americans to see their doctor after noticing MCI symptoms, and persistent challenges for primary care physicians in diagnosing MCI. Survey results indicate the need to improve MCI awareness and diagnosis, especially in underserved communities, and to encourage greater participation in MCI-related clinical trials.
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Fixemer S, Ameli C, Hammer G, Salamanca L, Uriarte Huarte O, Schwartz C, Gérardy JJ, Mechawar N, Skupin A, Mittelbronn M, Bouvier DS. Microglia phenotypes are associated with subregional patterns of concomitant tau, amyloid-β and α-synuclein pathologies in the hippocampus of patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:36. [PMID: 35296366 PMCID: PMC8925098 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01342-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular alterations of the hippocampus lead to memory decline, a shared symptom between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) patients. However, the subregional deterioration pattern of the hippocampus differs between AD and DLB with the CA1 subfield being more severely affected in AD. The activation of microglia, the brain immune cells, could play a role in its selective volume loss. How subregional microglia populations vary within AD or DLB and across these conditions remains poorly understood. Furthermore, how the nature of the hippocampal local pathological imprint is associated with microglia responses needs to be elucidated. To this purpose, we employed an automated pipeline for analysis of 3D confocal microscopy images to assess CA1, CA3 and DG/CA4 subfields microglia responses in post-mortem hippocampal samples from late-onset AD (n = 10), DLB (n = 8) and age-matched control (CTL) (n = 11) individuals. In parallel, we performed volumetric analyses of hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau), amyloid-β (Aβ) and phosphorylated α-synuclein (pSyn) loads. For each of the 32,447 extracted microglia, 16 morphological features were measured to classify them into seven distinct morphological clusters. Our results show similar alterations of microglial morphological features and clusters in AD and DLB, but with more prominent changes in AD. We identified two distinct microglia clusters enriched in disease conditions and particularly increased in CA1 and DG/CA4 of AD and CA3 of DLB. Our study confirms frequent concomitance of pTau, Aβ and pSyn loads across AD and DLB but reveals a specific subregional pattern for each type of pathology, along with a generally increased severity in AD. Furthermore, pTau and pSyn loads were highly correlated across subregions and conditions. We uncovered tight associations between microglial changes and the subfield pathological imprint. Our findings suggest that combinations and severity of subregional pTau, Aβ and pSyn pathologies transform local microglia phenotypic composition in the hippocampus. The high burdens of pTau and pSyn associated with increased microglial alterations could be a factor in CA1 vulnerability in AD.
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