Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Acta Diabetol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Internal Medicine III, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.

Aims: Agonistic autoantibodies directed against adrenergic, endothelin, and angiotensin receptors are known as pathogenic factors in disease-causing vascular impairments such as Buergers' disease, dilatative cardiomyopathy, dementia, and preeclampsia. Diabetes mellitus also causes micro- and macrovascular damages, but pathogenesis is still not fully understood. Following indications for a pathogenic role of the mentioned antibodies from our preliminary investigations, we investigated the prevalence in a bigger cohort of patients with longstanding diabetes with or without diabetic complications. Read More

Brain 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität LMU, Feodor-Lynen Straße 17, Munich, Germany.

In Alzheimer's disease, tau pathology spreads hierarchically from the inferior temporal lobe throughout the cortex, ensuing cognitive decline and dementia. Similarly, circumscribed patterns of pathological tau have been observed in normal ageing and small vessel disease, suggesting a spatially ordered distribution of tau pathology across normal ageing and different diseases. In vitro findings suggest that pathological tau may spread 'prion-like' across neuronal connections in an activity-dependent manner. Read More

J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2019 ;6(2):108-111

Michaël Rochoy, 20 rue André Pantigny, 62230 Outreau, France. +33667576735,

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the first cause of dementia. Diagnostic criteria have evolved: proposals to revise the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria were published in 2007. Our aim was to analyze the evolution in the coding of AD in the French nationwide exhaustive hospital discharge database (PMSI) between 2007 and 2017. Read More

PM R 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University, Goyang, South Korea.

Background: The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) evaluates frontal lobe and executive function. Therefore, it can be helpful in differentiating cognitive deficits. However, there are no studies comparing the COWAT performance according to the type and stage of cognitive impairment. Read More

Trials 2019 Feb 11;20(1):114. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, CIPER - Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana, Lisbon, Portugal.

Background: Cognitive impairment and cerebrovascular pathology are both frequent with ageing. Cognitive impairment due to vascular pathology of the brain, termed vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), is one of the most frequent causes of cognitive impairment in elderly subjects. Thus far, VCI has no specific pharmacological treatment. Read More

Stroke 2019 Feb 12:STROKEAHA118023781. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

From the Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan (J.T., K.M., S.O., K.T., T.S., M.S., H.M.).

Background and Purpose- Carotid artery stenosis is common in the elderly and contributes to cognitive impairment and dementia. Cortical cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) play an important role in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. We aimed to investigate the association between CMIs on 3T magnetic resonance imaging and clinical and radiological features, including plaque morphology, and cognitive function in patients with carotid stenosis. Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Feb 9;8(2). Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Departement of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona,Via Casorati 43, 37127 Verona, Italy.

Recent literature highlights the importance of identifying factors associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Actual validated biomarkers include neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid assessments; however, we investigated non-Aβ-dependent factors associated with dementia in 12 MCI and 30 AD patients. Patients were assessed for global cognitive function (Mini-Mental state examination-MMSE), physical function (Physical Performance Test-PPT), exercise capacity (6-min walking test-6MWT), maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), brain volume, vascular function (flow-mediated dilation-FMD), inflammatory status (tumor necrosis factor-α ,TNF- α, interleukin-6, -10 and -15) and neurotrophin receptors (p75NTR and Tropomyosin receptor kinase A -TrkA). Read More

Neuroimage Clin 2019 Feb 4;22:101711. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Danish Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Diagnosing frontotemporal dementia may be challenging. New methods for analysis of regional brain atrophy patterns on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could add to the diagnostic assessment. Therefore, we aimed to develop automated imaging biomarkers for differentiating frontotemporal dementia subtypes from other diagnostic groups, and from one another. Read More

Transl Psychiatry 2019 Feb 11;9(1):78. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Science, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Cigarette smoking has been associated with dementia and dementia-related brain changes, notably gray matter (GM) volume atrophy. These associations are thought to reflect the co-morbidity of smoking and vascular, respiratory, and substance use/psychological conditions. However, the extent and localization of the smoking-GM relationship and the degree to which vascular, respiratory, and substance use/psychological factors influence this relationship remain unclear. Read More

Am J Nurs 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Melinda R. Steis is a nurse manager at the Viera Outpatient Clinic, Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Melbourne, FL. Lynn Unruh is a professor and Varadraj Prabhu Gurupur is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Management and Informatics, College of Community Innovation and Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando. Emilia Shettian is a cofounder of Enigma Health and is based in Leesburg, FL. Meredeth Rowe is a professor in the College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa. Adam Golden is associate chief of staff of research at Orlando VAMC and a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida. The authors acknowledge Nadia Telemaque-Brathwaite, MBA, health care administrator and team leader at the Viera Outpatient Clinic, for her assistance with data collection. Contact author: Melinda R. Steis, The authors and planners have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Study findings support targeted interventions that facilitate early recognition and appropriate action.

Abstract: Background: When older adults with cognitive impairment develop new physical or behavioral symptoms, their family caregivers face a difficult decision: whether and when to seek professional medical care. Most family caregivers lack formal training in assessment and may have difficulty making such decisions. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Neurology, Danish Dementia Research Centre, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen OE, Denmark.

Background: The diagnostic workup of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) can be challenging due to an overlap in symptoms and neuroimaging features with other disorders. Despite a growing interest, a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker profile in iNPH has not yet been identified.

Objective: To determine the CSF biomarkers with the greatest evidence for differentiating iNPH from the most common differential diagnoses, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD). Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Cognition, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Objectives: To evaluate whether discontinuation of antihypertensive medication in community-dwelling older people is associated with a reduction in memory complaints and/or incident dementia.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study within the Prevention of Dementia by Intensive Vascular Care (preDIVA) trial.

Setting And Participants: Community-dwelling participants (aged 70-78 years at baseline) who underwent 2-yearly assessments during 6-8 years of follow-up. Read More

Neurobiol Aging 2019 Jan 10;76:181-193. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address:

The protracted accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) is a major pathologic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and may trigger secondary pathological processes that include neurovascular damage. This study was aimed at investigating long-term effects of Aβ burden on cerebral blood volume of arterioles and pial arteries (CBVa), possibly present before manifestation of dementia. Aβ burden was assessed by 11C Pittsburgh compound-B positron emission tomography in 22 controls and 18 persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), [ages: 75(±6) years]. Read More

Neuron 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. Electronic address:

Cerebrovascular alterations are a key feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, whether vascular damage contributes to synaptic dysfunction and how it synergizes with amyloid pathology to cause neuroinflammation and cognitive decline remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the blood protein fibrinogen induces spine elimination and promotes cognitive deficits mediated by CD11b-CD18 microglia activation. Read More

J Pathol 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Inserm U1256, Nutrition-Genetics and Environmental Exposure, Medical faculty and University Hospital Center, Université de Lorraine, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.

The pathomechanisms that associate a deficit in folate and/or vitamin B12 and the subsequent hyperhomocysteinemia with pathological brain ageing are unclear. We investigated the homocysteinylation of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia, and in rats depleted in folate and vitamin B12, Cd320 KO mice with selective B12 brain deficiency and H19-7 neuroprogenitors lacking folate. Compared with controls, N-homocysteinylated tau and MAP1 were increased and accumulated in protein aggregates and tangles in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum of patients and animals. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2019 Feb;73(5):612-619

Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.

Numerous vascular risk factors and vascular diseases contribute to cognitive impairment and dementia. Many studies and registries show an association of atrial fibrillation (AF) with cognitive impairment, cognitive decline, and dementia. This is true for vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Read More

Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019 Feb 7;7(1):16. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Neurovascular Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK.

Previous studies suggest white matter (WM) integrity is vulnerable to chronic hypoperfusion during brain ageing. We assessed ~ 0.7 million capillary profiles in the frontal lobe WM across several dementias comprising Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease with dementia, vascular dementia, mixed dementias, post-stroke dementia as well as post-stroke no dementia and similar age ageing and young controls without significant brain pathology. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2019 Feb 1;163. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Amsterdam UMC, locatie AMC, afd. Huisartsgeneeskunde.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease is a common condition in elderly patients. Cases of severe peripheral vascular disease can be treated with endovascular revascularization or bypass surgery. An amputation may be necessary if revascularization treatments fail. Read More

J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK.

Early detection and accurate diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders may provide better epidemiological data, closer monitoring of disease progression and enable more specialised intervention. We analysed the clinical records and pathology of brain donations from 180 patients from two Brains for Dementia Research cohorts to determine the agreement between in-life clinical diagnosis and post-mortem pathological results. Clinical diagnosis was extracted from medical records and cases assigned into broad clinical groups; control, Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (CVD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and combined diseases. Read More

J Diabetes Res 2019 9;2019:2718465. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA.

Aims: Circulating insulin-like growth factor- (IGF-) 1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are often lower in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) and are important for repairing vascular and neuronal dysfunction. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the cross-sectional relations of physical activity to circulating concentrations of IGF-1, VEGF, and BDNF in individuals with and without DM.

Methods: In 1730 participants from the Framingham Offspring Study examination cycle 7, including those with DM ( = 179, mean age 64 years, 39% women) and without DM ( = 1551, mean age 60 years, 46% women), we related self-reported physical activity variables to circulating concentrations of IGF-1, VEGF, and BDNF using linear multivariable regression models. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2019 23;6. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Vascular Biology, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.

When the human genome was sequenced, it came as a surprise that it contains "only" 21,306 protein-coding genes. However, complexity and diversity are multiplied by alternative splicing, non-protein-coding transcripts, or post-translational modifications (PTMs) on proteome level. Here, we discuss how the multi-tasking potential of proteins can substantially enhance the complexity of the proteome further, while at the same time offering mechanisms for the fine-regulation of cell responses. Read More

Geroscience 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 921 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.

As data on prevalence and etiology of dementia in American Indians are limited, we sought to determine rates and patterns of memory loss among American Indian veterans with vascular risk factors. Sixty consecutive outpatient American Indian veterans with a mean age of 64 years (range 50-86), without prior dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and with ≥ 2 vascular risk factors were enrolled. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II were used to screen for cognitive impairment and depression. Read More

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Dementia Services Development Centre, Bangor University, Bangor.

Objectives: To determine whether individual goal-oriented cognitive rehabilitation (CR) improves everyday functioning for people with mild-to-moderate dementia.

Design And Methods: Parallel group multi-centre single-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing CR added to usual treatment (CR) with usual treatment alone (TAU) for people with an ICD-10 diagnosis of Alzheimer's, vascular or mixed dementia and mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment (MMSE score ≥ 18), and with a family member willing to contribute. Participants allocated to CR received ten weekly sessions over three months and four maintenance sessions over six months. Read More

Behav Brain Res 2019 Feb 2;364:29-40. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, India. Electronic address:

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, but drug regulatory authorities have not approved any effective medication for this indication. Researchers are keenly aware of the need to uncover precise and druggable targets for VaD. However, finding such a target is an experimentally impractical and challenging task, owing to the highly complex interplay between cognitive and functional abilities of the brain with a diversity of vascular diseases that usually results from various underlying risk factors. Read More

Microcirculation 2019 Feb 5:e12535. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824.

Objective: Hypertension-associated parenchymal arteriole (PA) dysfunction reduces cerebral perfusion and impairs cognition. This is associated with impaired TRPV4-mediated PA dilation; therefore, we tested the hypothesis that TRPV4 channels are important regulators of cerebral perfusion, PA structure and dilation, and cognition.

Methods: 10-12-month-old male TRPV4 knockout (WKY-Trpv4 ) and age-matched control WKY rats were studied. Read More

J Clin Med 2019 Feb 1;8(2). Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung City 801, Taiwan.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is traditionally thought of as a neurodegenerative disease. Recent evidence shows that beta amyloid-independent vascular changes and beta amyloid-dependent neuronal dysfunction both equally influence the disease, leading to loss of structural and functional connectivity. White matter changes (WMCs) in the brain are commonly observed in dementia patients. Read More

Thromb Haemost 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Vascular Biology, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Klinikum der Universität München (KUM), Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany.

Chemokines orchestrate leukocyte recruitment in atherosclerosis and their blockade is a promising anti-atherosclerotic strategy, but few chemokine-based approaches have advanced into clinical trials, in part owing to the complexity and redundancy of the chemokine network. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pivotal mediator of atherosclerotic lesion formation. It has been characterized as an inflammatory cytokine and atypical chemokine that promotes atherogenic leukocyte recruitment and lesional inflammation through interactions with the chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR4, but also exhibits phase-specific CD74-mediated cardioprotective activity. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Memory Aging & Cognition Centre, National University Health System, Singapore.

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is one of the major contributors to cognitive impairment and dementia. However, data on the incidence and progression of SVD in an Asian population are lacking.

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the incidence, progression, associated risk factors, and clinical relevance of SVD in a memory clinic setting. Read More

J Neuroimaging 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

U.O.C. Neurologia, Fondazione IstitutoG. Giglio, Contrada Pietrapollastra-Pisciotto, 90015, Cefalù, Italy.

Background And Purpose: While AD can be definitively confirmed by postmortem histopathologic examination, in vivo imaging may improve the clinician's ability to identify AD at the earliest stage. The aim of the study was to test the performance of amyloid PET using new processing imaging algorithm for more precise diagnosis of AD.

Methods: Amyloid PET results using a new processing imaging algorithm (MRI-Less and AAL Atlas) were correlated with clinical, cognitive status, CSF analysis, and other imaging. Read More

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Objectives: Screening tests of global cognition detect racial differences in scores even after adjustment for educational attainment. Differential educational environments in adolescence may affect individual cognitive function. This study examines the impact of high school educational quality on late-life cognition among community-dwelling older adults. Read More

Br J Pharmacol 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Univlille, INSERM, CHU de Lille, Degenerative and vascular cognitive disorders, Lille, F-59000.

Many risk factors are known to induce or precipitate dementia. Drugs acting via different mechanisms can modulate cognitive performance and exert either beneficial or deleterious effects on cognition through functional or neuropathological mechanisms. This review discusses the association between several classes of drugs and cognitive impairment and dementia risk. Read More

J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Univ. of Arizona.

A growing body of evidence indicates that decreased brain blood flow, increased reactive oxygen species production (ROS), and pro-inflammatory mechanisms accelerate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). There is an urgent clinical need for safe and effective therapies for the treatment and prevention of cognitive impairment known to occur in patients with VCID and chronic inflammatory diseases such as heart failure (HF), hypertension and diabetes. This study used our mouse model of VCID/HF to test our novel glycosylated Angiotensin-(1-7) peptide, PNA5, as a therapy to treat VCID and investigate circulating inflammatory biomarkers that may be involved. Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2019 Feb;25(1):147-164

Purpose Of Review: This article provides an overview of vascular cognitive impairment; discusses its epidemiology, subtypes, and associations with other neurodegenerative diseases; and reviews the diagnostic evaluation and management of these disorders.

Recent Findings: Cerebrovascular disease is a common cause of dementia and frequently coexists with neurodegenerative causes. The heterogeneity of mechanisms leading to vascular cognitive impairment makes developing unifying clinical and research criteria difficult. Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2019 Feb;25(1):14-33

Purpose Of Review: Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of late-onset dementia. This article describes the epidemiology, genetic and environmental risk factors, clinical diagnosis, biomarkers, and treatment of late-onset AD, defined by age of onset of 65 years or older.

Recent Findings: An estimated 5. Read More

Curr Neurovasc Res 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, Punjabi university, Patiala- 147002, Punjab. India.

Cerebral hypoperfusion has been associated with increased risk of vascular dementia (VaD). The present study investigates the potential of Tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, in rat model of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAo) induced VaD. Wistar rats were subjected to BCCAo procedure under anesthesia to induce VaD. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 Feb 31;144(3):156-160. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Abteilung für Gerontopsychiatrie, ZI Mannheim, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg.

Antidementia therapy: The clinical use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE-I) for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia is recognized worldwide, despite its modest effectiveness. AChE-I may be continued to be used into severe stages of the dementia. In moderate to severe Alzheimer's dementia, the NMDA-receptor-antagonist Memantin is indicated. Read More

Neurobiol Aging 2018 Dec 21;76:71-79. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

NeuroImaging and Surgical Tools Laboratory, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are common in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease. Patients with MCI with high WMH volumes are known to have an increased chance of conversion to Alzheimer's disease compared with those without WMHs. In this article, we assess the differences between patients with MCI that remain stable (N = 413) and those that progress to dementia (N = 178) in terms of WMH volume (as a surrogate of amount of tissue damage) and T1-weighted (T1w) image hypointensity (as a surrogate of severity of tissue damage) in periventricular, deep, and juxtacortical brain regions. Read More

PLoS One 2019 31;14(1):e0210335. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Orthopedics, Korea University Hospital, Ansan, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Among a variety of comorbidities of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the association between dementia and AS by using an extensive dataset from the Korean National Health Insurance System was evaluated in this study. We extracted 15,547 newly diagnosed AS subjects among the entire Korean population and excluded wash-out patients (n = 162) and patients that were inappropriate for cohort match (n = 1192). Finally, 14,193 subjects were chosen as the AS group, and through 1:5 age- and sex-stratified matching, 70,965 subjects were chosen as the control group. Read More

Stat Med 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

We study regularized estimation in high-dimensional longitudinal classification problems, using the lasso and fused lasso regularizers. The constructed coefficient estimates are piecewise constant across the time dimension in the longitudinal problem, with adaptively selected change points (break points). We present an efficient algorithm for computing such estimates, based on proximal gradient descent. Read More

Am J Epidemiol 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.

An individual's lipid profile is influenced by genetic variants and alcohol consumption, but the contribution of interactions between these exposures has not been studied. We therefore incorporated gene-alcohol interactions into a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. We included 45 studies in Stage 1 (genome-wide discovery) and 66 studies in Stage 2 (focused follow-up), for a total of 394,584 individuals from five ancestry groups. Read More

Am J Clin Nutr 2019 Feb;109(2):361-368

Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that higher Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence is associated with higher global cognitive performance and brain structural integrity as well as decreased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD).

Objectives: We directly examined cross-sectional associations between the MedDiet and cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes associated with AD and VaD (separately) in a cohort of nondemented, nondepressed older adults.

Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (n = 82; aged ∼68. Read More

Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2018 Dec;76(12):849-852

Western University, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, London, Ontario, Canada.

Neurological disorders account for the most Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY's) -of the Global Burden of Disease (10%). More than half of neurological DALY's result from the combination of stroke (42%) and dementia (10%). The two pose risk for each other and share the same predisposing factors. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 29;9(1):851. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Neurology, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the prevalence and risk factors of cognitive impairment (CI) by analyzing and comparing two cross-sectional epidemiological surveys of CI and its subtypes were performed in a rural area of northern China between 2010 and 2015. Residents aged ≥60 years were drawn in northern China. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is recommended to test for CI. Read More

J Neurotrauma 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , 5323 Harry Hines , CS2.122 , Dallas, Texas, United States , 75390-9055 ;

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with increased risk of later-life neurodegeneration and dementia. However, the underpinning mechanisms are poorly understood and secondary injury resulting from perturbed physiological processes play a significant role. Cerebral vasoreactivity (CVR), a measure of hemodynamic reserve, is known to be impaired in TBI. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 28;9(1):787. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is thought to be a pure genetic form of subcortical vascular cognitive impairment (SVCI). The aim of this study was to compare white matter integrity and cortical thickness between typical CADASIL, a genetic form, and two sporadic forms of SVCI (with NOTCH3 and without NOTCH3 variants). We enrolled typical CADASIL patients (N = 11) and SVCI patients [with NOTCH3 variants (N = 15), without NOTCH3 variants (N = 101)]. Read More

Cell Death Dis 2019 Jan 28;10(2):89. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Research, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montréal, H3A 2B4, QC, Canada.

Transgenic mice overexpressing transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF mice) display impaired cerebrovascular reactivity, cerebral hypoperfusion and neurovascular uncoupling, but no overt cognitive deficits until old age. Cardiovascular diseases are a major risk factor for vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). We investigated the impact of a high cholesterol diet (HCD) on cerebrovascular and cognitive function in adult (6 months) and aged (12 months) TGF mice, together with the potential benefit of simvastatin (SV), an anti-cholesterol drug with pleiotropic effects, in adult mice. Read More

J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA.

Objectives: Among kidney disease patients ≥80 years progressing to end-stage renal disease, there is growing interest in conservative nondialytic management approaches. However, among those who have initiated hemodialysis, little is known about the impact of withdrawal from dialysis on mortality, nor the patient characteristics associated with withdrawal from dialysis.

Study Design: Historical cohort study. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Melbourne Health, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.

Cerebral amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques are the hallmark biomarker of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are detectable decades before clinical symptoms. Modifying risk factors associated with Aβ accrual offers an opportunity for AD prevention. While midlife vascular health is linked to AD; there is minimal longitudinal evidence regarding the effect of midlife lipids on Aβ. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 May;14(5):805-816

Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.

Objective: To assess and compare the clinical efficacy and safety of cognitive enhancers (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and memantine) on cognition, behavior, function, and global status in patients with vascular cognitive impairment.

Data Sources: The initial literature search was performed with PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Methodology Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health (CINAHL) from inception to January 2018 for studies regarding donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and memantine for treatment of vascular cognitive impairment.

Data Selection: Randomized controlled trials on donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and memantine as monotherapy in the treatment of vascular cognitive impairment were included. Read More

Can J Neurol Sci 2019 Jan;46(1):115-120

1Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,Western University,London,Canada.