Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

PLoS One 2019 24;14(4):e0216162. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technology, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Background: Although cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are considered as a risk factor for vascular dementia, data on their impact on cerebral hemodynamics are scarce. We test and compare transcranial Doppler (TCD) features in WML patients with or without associated cognitive impairment.

Methods: A sample of non-demented elderly patients with WMLs was consecutively recruited. Read More

Geriatrics (Basel) 2017 Aug 27;2(3). Epub 2017 Aug 27.

Dean's Office, Faculty of Medicine and Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are the primary pharmacologic treatment for dementia. Their efficacy in patients of Chinese descent is not well described. We reviewed how ChEIs could affect cognition and behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) in Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), or mixed (AD with vascular component) dementia. Read More

Alzheimers Dement (N Y) 2019 9;5:107-117. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Molecular & Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London and Department of Neurology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are frequently seen on brain magnetic resonance imaging scans of older people. Usually interpreted clinically as a surrogate for cerebral small vessel disease, WMHs are associated with increased likelihood of cognitive impairment and dementia (including Alzheimer's disease [AD]). WMHs are also seen in cognitively healthy people. Read More

Alzheimers Dement (Amst) 2019 Dec 12;11:310-326. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Introduction: The Meta VCI Map consortium performs meta-analyses on strategic lesion locations for vascular cognitive impairment using lesion-symptom mapping. Integration of data from different cohorts will increase sample sizes, to improve brain lesion coverage and support comprehensive lesion-symptom mapping studies.

Methods: Cohorts with available imaging on white matter hyperintensities or infarcts and cognitive testing were invited. Read More

Eur Stroke J 2017 Jun 9;2(2):137-143. Epub 2017 Feb 9.

Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, Basel University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.

Background: The cause of cervical artery dissection is not well understood. We test the hypothesis that mutations in genes associated with known arterial connective tissue disorders are enriched in patients with familial cervical artery dissection.

Patients And Methods: Patient duos from nine pedigrees with familial cervical artery dissection were analyzed by whole exome sequencing. Read More

Eur Stroke J 2016 Jun 18;1(2):122-129. Epub 2016 May 18.

Université Lille 2, INSERM U 1171, Lille, France.

Background: White matter changes and lacunar infarcts are regarded as linked to the same underlying small-vessel pathology. On magnetic resonance imaging, white matter changes are frequently observed, while the number of lacunar infarcts is probably underestimated. The present study post-mortem 7. Read More

Eur Stroke J 2018 Sep 24;3(3):206-219. Epub 2018 May 24.

Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany.

Lake Eibsee, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 16 to 18 November, 2017: The European Stroke Organisation convened >120 stroke experts from 21 countries to discuss latest results and hot topics in clinical, translational and basic stroke research. Since its inception in 2011, the European Stroke Science Workshop has become a cornerstone of European Stroke Organisation's academic activities and a major highlight for researchers in the field. Participants include stroke researchers at all career stages and with different backgrounds, who convene for plenary lectures and discussions. Read More

Eur Stroke J 2018 Jun 8;3(2):145-156. Epub 2018 Jan 8.

3Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.

Background: Cognitive impairment can complicate minor stroke, but there is limited information on risk factors including peak cognitive ability earlier in life.

Methods: We recruited patients with clinically-evident lacunar or minor non-lacunar ischaemic stroke, recorded clinical features, vascular risk factors, magnetic resonance imaging-detected stroke sub-type and small vessel disease burden. At 1-3 and 12 months after stroke, we assessed educational attainment (years of education), current cognition (Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised), pre-morbid intelligence (National Adult Reading Test) and dependency (modified Rankin Scale). Read More

Behav Brain Res 2019 Apr 18:111839. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, No. 361 Zhongshan East Road, Changan District, Shijiazhuang, 050017, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China; Department of Neurology, Hebei General Hospital, No. 348 Heping West Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 19;9(1):6320. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Research has suggested that the retinal vasculature may act as a surrogate marker for diseased cerebral vessels. Retinal vascular parameters were measured using Vessel Assessment and Measurement Platform for Images of the Retina (VAMPIRE) software in two cohorts: (i) community-dwelling older subjects of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n = 603); and (ii) patients with recent minor ischaemic stroke of the Mild Stroke Study (n = 155). Imaging markers of small vessel disease (SVD) (white matter hyperintensities [WMH] on structural MRI, visual scores and volume; perivascular spaces; lacunes and microbleeds), and vascular risk measures were assessed in both cohorts. Read More

Pharmacol Rep 2019 Jan 30;71(3):443-448. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address:

Background: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) can induce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which leads to oxidative damage, neuronal injury, and central cholinergic dysfunction in vulnerable regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These effects can lead to significant cognitive impairments in clinical populations of vascular dementia (VaD). The present studies aimed to investigate the role of the cholinergic system in memory functions and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) impairments induced by CCH in rats. Read More

Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Pharmacology Department, October University for Modern Science and Arts, 11787, 6, October City, Egypt.

Vascular dementia is considered a vascular cognitive impairment disease caused by neuronal degeneration in the brain. Several studies have supported the hypothesis that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are the main pathogenic factors in vascular dementia. This current study aims to determine the possible neuroprotective effects of zafirlukast, piracetam and the combination of piracetam and zafirlukast on L-methionine-induced vascular dementia in rats. Read More

Clin Sci (Lond) 2019 Apr 18;133(8):933-937. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Chair of Vascular Biology, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Klinikum der Universität München (KUM), Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich 81377, Germany

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) represents the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therapy options generally aim at restoring the blood flow to the heart muscle and relieve the ischemic insult. Paradoxically, coronary artery reperfusion itself, both during emergency intervention in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients or in the setting of elective cardiac surgery, damages the heart muscle, a phenomenon known as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury (IRI). Read More

Neuroscience 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan; Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is not only a cause of vascular dementia (VD) but also a contributing factor to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The essential pathological feature of CSVD is the disruption of blood-brain barrier (BBB). Dysfunction of BBB due to degeneration of both endothelial cells and pericytes in capillaries leads to neuronal damage and progressive brain atrophy. Read More

Open Med (Wars) 2019 4;14:307-316. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032, Hungary.

Background: Behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) form an important sub-syndrome of dementia. We assessed the frequency and severity of BPSD in a random sample of Hungarian treatment-naïve dementia patients. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between cognitive symptoms and BPSD and the pattern of BPSD in specific types of dementias. Read More

Neurology 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

From the Centre for the Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK.

Objective: Since use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) positivity in the "tissue-based" definition of stroke in patients with a clinical TIA is supported by the high associated 90-day risk of recurrent stroke, we aimed to determine long-term prognostic significance, stratified by etiologic subtype, and whether the same tissue-based distinction is predictive in minor strokes.

Methods: Consecutive eligible patients with TIA or minor stroke (NIH Stroke Scale [NIHSS] ≤3) in the population-based Oxford Vascular Study underwent brain MRI at baseline. Stroke risk on 10-year follow-up was stratified by NIHSS (0/1 vs 2/3) and Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification of the initial event. Read More

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2019 May;78(5):436-452

Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is cognitive decline linked to reduced cerebral blood perfusion, yet there are few therapeutic options to protect cognitive function following cerebrovascular accidents. The purpose of this study was to profile gene expression changes unique to VaD to identify and characterize disease relevant changes that could offer clues for future therapeutic direction. Microarray-based profiling and validation studies of postmortem frontal cortex samples from VaD, Alzheimer disease, and age-matched control subjects revealed that the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) was strongly and differentially upregulated in VaD. Read More

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2019 Feb;44(3):602-607

Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100053, China.

Fangji Dihuang Decoction and Fengyin Decoction, which were firstly recorded in Synopsis of the Golden Chamber, could be used to treat stroke. However, both of these two decoctions are used infrequently. There is a clear pathogenesis of modern pathophysiology behind Fangji Dihuang Decoction syndrome and Fengyin Decoction syndrome, which can be interpreted by modern language of science. Read More

Brain Nerve 2019 Apr;71(4):409-414

Community Healthcare and Geriatrics, Medicine in Growth and Aging, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine.

Accumulating data have established that diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for dementia of both Alzheimer's and vascular types. However, the underlying mechanism of DM-induced neurodegeneration remains to be fully elucidated. Insulin resistance (IR) in the brain may be involved in DM-related cognitive impairment or dementia, and treatment of IR in the brain may lead to the prevention and/or treatment of dementia. Read More

Brain Res 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Neurology, The first affiliated hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China.

Remyelination has been widely noticed as an important repair mechanism triggered after a stroke-induced white matter injury, but it often fails due to the lack of recruitment of the oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to the demyelinated area and the inadequate differentiation of OPCs. Racemic dl-3-n-butylphthalide (dl-NBP) has been reported to improve the functional recovery in animal models of vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and ischemic stroke. Dl-NBP (70 mg/kg) by oral gavage for two weeks from day 7 after a stroke was administered in the study, the treatment promoted differentiation and maturation of OPCs in perilesional white matter and enhanced the length of crossing corticospinal tract (CST) fibers into the denervated hemispheres. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 29;10:262. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Translational Medicine Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) with comorbid vascular dementia (VD) often have poor response to ventriculo-peritoneal (V-P) shunt. Here, three patients over the age of 60 came to the hospital with the similar clinical symptoms, Evan index over 0.3, mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score <27, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure under 200 mmHO. Read More

Altern Ther Health Med 2019 Jan;25(1):20-26

Context: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) or vascular dementia is widely considered to be the second-most-common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, accounting for 20% of cases. Little is known about the effectiveness of breath qigong for seniors suffering from VCI or dementia.

Objectives: For seniors with VCI, the study aimed to compare the benefits of qigong practice, cognitive training, and qigong practice + cognitive training in improving cognitive function, memory, executive function, and daily problem-solving ability. Read More

Brain Behav Immun 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Lancet Neurol 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Program in Medical Population and Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA; Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Stroke, a leading cause of long-term disability and death worldwide, has a heritable component. Recent gene discovery efforts have expanded the number of known single-gene disorders associated with stroke and have linked common variants at approximately 35 genetic loci to stroke risk. These discoveries have highlighted novel mechanisms and pathways implicated in stroke related to large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, and small vessel disease, and defined shared genetic influences with related vascular traits. Read More

Front Neurol 2019 26;10:238. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

White matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin (WMH) are a common finding in elderly people and a growing social malady in the aging western societies. As a manifestation of cerebral small vessel disease, WMH are considered to be a vascular contributor to various sequelae such as cognitive decline, dementia, depression, stroke as well as gait and balance problems. While pathophysiology and therapeutical options remain unclear, large-scale studies have improved the understanding of WMH, particularly by quantitative assessment of WMH. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2019 Apr 11;19(1):101. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Baleares Health Services-IbSalut, Palma, Spain.

Background: Previous observational studies and clinical trials have shown that cholinesterase inhibitors (with or without memantine) provide benefit for patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. However, the impact of treatment continuation after progression to severe disease is unknown. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect and safety of continuing treatment with ChEIs (with or without memantine) for patients with severe dementia. Read More

Alzheimers Res Ther 2019 Apr 9;11(1):31. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Background: Dementia is prevalent in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population. However, it is still not clarified whether ESRD is one of the etiology of dementia or its attributable effect on the cumulative risk of dementia. Meanwhile, the effect of competing risk of mortality should be taken into consideration when performing epidemiologic analyses among populations with high risk of mortality. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019 Mar;23(6):2587-2595

Brain Research Institute, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea.

Objective: Given the aging population, the treatment of vascular dementia (VaD) is becoming increasingly important. The antioxidant α-lipoic acid (α-LA) protects against neurodegeneration in VaD, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Hence, we aimed to identify the effects of α-LA on cognitive function following chronic cerebrovascular hypoperfusion in a VaD animal model. Read More

J Endocr Soc 2019 Apr 27;3(4):773-783. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Reinier the Graaf Hospital, Delft, Netherlands.

Context: Cohort studies show that cognitive dysfunction and both vascular and Alzheimer's dementia are more common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective: To review and compare brain volume and F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in brain of individuals age 60 to 70 years with or without type 2 diabetes.

Design: We searched 620 medical records for negative FDG PET-CT scans obtained during 33 months. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Alzheimer's Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.

Background: Assessment of human brain atrophy in temporal regions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), resting state functional MRI connectivity in the left parietal cortex, and limbic electroencephalographic (rsEEG) rhythms as well as plasma amyloid peptide 42 (Aβ42) has shown that each is a promising biomarker of disease progression in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients with prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the value of their combined use is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the association with cognitive decline and the effect on sample size calculation when using a biomarker composite matrix in prodromal AD clinical trials. Read More

Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology and Pathology, Lund University, Sweden.

Aims: We observed a microvascular structure in the cerebral cortex that has not, to our knowledge, been previously described. We have termed the structure a 'raspberry', referring to its appearance under a bright-field microscope. We hypothesised that raspberries form through angiogenesis due to some form of brain ischaemia or hypoperfusion. Read More

J Psychiatr Res 2019 Mar 30;113:141-147. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China; Parkinson's Disease Center, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China. Electronic address:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. It shares clinical and pathological features with other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia (VaD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We have hypothesized that there might be an overlapping molecular mechanism and genetic basis to the different types of dementia. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2019 Apr 4;704:133-140. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Neurology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia in aging adults. Increasing evidence has revealed that vascular risk factors influence the midlife development of AD and that diet-induced obesity accelerates tau phosphorylation in tau transgenic mice and increases the level of serum leptin receptor (leptin-R). Leptin-R is upregulated in the peri-infarct cortices after acute cerebral ischemia. Read More

Clin Biochem 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

Objectives: Altered amyloid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction play key roles in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We asked whether an association exists between disturbed platelet mitochondrial respiration and the plasma concentrations of Aβ and Aβ in patients with AD.

Design And Methods: Plasma Aβ and Aβ concentrations and mitochondrial respiration in intact and permeabilized platelets were measured in 50 patients with AD, 15 patients with vascular dementia and 25 control subjects. Read More

Neurology 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

From the Imaging of Dementia and Aging Laboratory and Center for Neurosciences (P.M., E.F., B.S., O.M., C.D.), Davis, CA; and Department of Neurology (D.K.J., J.M.O., S.T.F., C.D.), University of California, Davis.

Objective: To determine whether free water (FW) content, initially developed to correct metrics derived from diffusion tensor imaging and recently found to be strongly associated with vascular risk factors, may constitute a sensitive biomarker of white matter (WM) microstructural differences associated with cognitive performance but remains unknown.

Methods: Five hundred thirty-six cognitively diverse individuals, aged 77 ± 8 years, received yearly comprehensive clinical evaluations and a baseline MRI examination of whom 224 underwent follow-up MRI. WM microstructural measures, including FW, fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity corrected for FW and WM hyperintensity burden were computed within WM voxels of each individual. Read More

Hum Brain Mapp 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) is a major subtype of vascular dementia with features that overlap clinically with Alzheimer's disease (AD), confounding diagnosis. Neuroimaging is a more specific and biologically based approach for detecting brain changes and thus may help to distinguish these diseases. There is still a lack of knowledge regarding the shared and specific functional brain abnormalities, especially functional connectivity changes in relation to AD and SIVD. Read More

Br J Pharmacol 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Department of Neurology, Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030.

The incidence of dementia, most commonly caused by cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, continues to grow as our population ages. Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) are responsible for more than 80% of all cases of dementia. There are few effective, long-term treatments for AD and VCI-related conditions (e. Read More

Psychiatr Danub 2019 Mar;31(1):111-115

Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) represent a leading public-health problem given the rising age of the population. Early diagnosis of dementia, especially at the stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has become an important goal of the modern patient work-up. Brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has become a mainstay of diagnostic algorithms in patients with dementia showing specific patterns of hypoperfusion in temporal and parietal lobes. Read More

Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Neurovascular Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Aims: Carotid artery disease (CAD) is an important risk factor for stroke. We first evaluated CAD and stroke pathology in elderly post-stroke survivors. To simulate CAD, we assessed long-term consequences of bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) in mice and exposed them to environmental enrichment (EE). Read More

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2019 Mar;39(3):299-302

School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Anhui University of CM, Hefei 230038, China.

In the aspects of the acupoint prescription, acupuncture techniques and typical cases, the characteristics and experience of professor in the clinical treatment of vascular dementia with acupuncture and moxibustion were introduced. Vascular dementia is treated on the base of etiology, focusing on the brain as the root cause, with the reinforcing and the promoting as the dominant principle of acupuncture. The treatment is emphasized on tonifying the kidney to fill up marrow, strengthening the spleen to nourish the brain and promoting the collateral circulation to improve the intelligence. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 19;10:258. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae and Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

Jia-Wei-Kai-Xin-San (JWKXS) is a Chinese medicine formula applied for treating morbid forgetfulness in ancient China. Today, this formula is frequently applied for Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia (VD) in clinic. Here, we developed it as granules and aimed to evaluate its anti-AD effect on β amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ) induced cognitive deficit mice and reveal the possible molecular mechanisms. Read More

PLoS One 2019 2;14(4):e0214685. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Ophthalmology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America.

Purpose: Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) exhibit decreased retinal blood flow and vessel density (VD). However, it is not known whether these changes are also present in individuals with early AD (eAD) or amnestic type mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), an enriched pre-AD population with a higher risk for progressing to dementia. We performed a prospective case-control clinical study to investigate whether optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in the macula and disc are altered in those with aMCI and eAD. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Mar 29;11(4). Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97219, USA.

Vascular risk factors for age-related cognitive decline are significant, and their management may ultimately prove the most successful strategy for reducing risk and sustaining cognitive health. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with parallel group allocation to either marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) or soybean oil placebo assesses the effects on the total volume of accumulation in cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH), a potentially modifiable neurovascular component of age-related cognitive decline. Total WMH accumulation over 3 years is the primary endpoint. Read More

Yakugaku Zasshi 2019 ;139(4):609-615

Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nihon University.

Diseases of the motor-conducting system that cause moving disability affect socio-economic activity as well as human dignity. Neurolathyrism, konzo, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PDC) have attracted researchers to study the pathology of motor neuron (MN) diseases such as ALS. I have been studying neurolathyrism, which is caused by overconsumption of a legume grass pea (Lathyrys sativus L. Read More

Neuroimage Clin 2019 Mar 23;22:101789. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. Electronic address:

Background: Vascular mild cognitive impairment (VMCI) is a potentially transitional state between normal aging and vascular dementia. The presence of macroscopic white matter lesions (WML) of moderate or severe extension on brain MRI is the hallmark of the VMCI.

Objective: To assess the clinical relevance of the frequency of WML in patients with VMCI independently of total lesion volume (LV). Read More

Eur J Neurol 2019 Mar 30. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Background: VASCOG criteria for vascular cognitive disorders were published in 2014, but their concurrent and predictive validity have not been examined.

Methods: Participants (N=165, aged 49-86 years) were from Sydney Stroke Study, a longitudinal study of post-stroke cognitive impairment and dementia. Diagnoses using NINDS-AIREN, ADDTC, and DSM-IV criteria for vascular dementia (VaD) were made by consensus at multi-disciplinary case conferences. Read More

Nat Genet 2019 04 29;51(4):636-648. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.

The concentrations of high- and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides are influenced by smoking, but it is unknown whether genetic associations with lipids may be modified by smoking. We conducted a multi-ancestry genome-wide gene-smoking interaction study in 133,805 individuals with follow-up in an additional 253,467 individuals. Combined meta-analyses identified 13 new loci associated with lipids, some of which were detected only because association differed by smoking status. Read More

Semin Neurol 2019 Apr 29;39(2):241-250. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

The term vascular cognitive disorder (VCD) refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders in which the primary feature is cognitive impairment attributable to cerebrovascular disease (CVD). This includes not only vascular dementia (VaD) but also cognitive impairment of insufficient severity to meet diagnostic criteria for dementia. VCD is recognized as the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD), but prevalence rates vary widely according to the diagnostic criteria employed. Read More

Semin Neurol 2019 Apr 29;39(2):213-226. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Neurology, Institute of Memory and Alzheimer's Disease, Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the commonest neurodegenerative disease and the most frequent cause of dementia. It affects 30 million people worldwide. Current research criteria focus on biomarkers' status for amyloid and tau using positron emission tomography and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, independent of clinical status. Read More