INTRODUCTION: Sex influences neurodegeneration, but it has been poorly investigated in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We investigated sex differences in brain atrophy in DLB using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We included 436 patients from the European-DLB consortium and the Mayo Clinic. Sex differences and sex-by-age interactions were assessed through visual atrophy rating scales (n = 327; 73 ± 8 years, 62% males) and automated estimations of regional gray matter volume and cortical thickness (n = 165; 69 ± 9 years, 72% males). RESULTS: We found a higher likelihood of frontal atrophy and smaller volumes in six cortical regions in males and thinner olfactory cortices in females. There were significant sex-by-age interactions in volume (six regions) and cortical thickness (seven regions) across the entire cortex. DISCUSSION: We demonstrate that males have more widespread cortical atrophy at younger ages, but differences tend to disappear with increasing age, with males and females converging around the age of 75. HIGHLIGHTS: Male DLB patients had higher odds for frontal atrophy on radiological visual rating scales. Male DLB patients displayed a widespread pattern of cortical gray matter alterations on automated methods. Sex differences in gray matter measures in DLB tended to disappear with increasing age.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * patologie MeSH
- atrofie patologie MeSH
- demence s Lewyho tělísky * diagnostické zobrazování patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční tomografie MeSH
- mozková kůra patologie MeSH
- pohlavní dimorfismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Although there is growing evidence of the association between gender and early diagnosis of preclinical Alzheimer's disease, little attention has been given to the enrolment ratio of men and women in clinical trials and data reporting. METHODS: This study aims to analyze gender differences in sociodemographic factors associated with the willingness to participate in clinical trials and undergo specific procedures in the context of an Alzheimer's disease prevention research cohort. 2544 cognitively unimpaired participants from the ALFA parent cohort (age 45-75 years) of the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center were contacted through a structured phone call to determine their willingness to participate in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials and undergo trial-related procedures (magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture, positron emission tomography, and cognitive assessment). Sociodemographic data on education, occupational attainment, civil and caregiver status were gathered. Stepwise logistic regression models were performed in order to study the interaction between gender and sociodemographic factors in the willingness to participate in clinical trials and to undergo clinical trial-related procedures. RESULTS: 1,606 out of the 2,544 participants were women (63.1%). Women were significantly younger and had lower educational attainment compared with men. In addition, women were more likely to be caregivers, single and unemployed. Women showed a significantly lower willingness than men to participate in a clinical trial (p = 0.003) and to undergo a lumbar puncture (p < 0.001). Single women were less willing to participate in clinical trials than single men (p = 0.041). Regarding clinical trial-related procedures, women with higher years of education were significantly less willing to undergo a lumbar puncture (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: We found gender differences regarding the sociodemographic factors that predict the willingness to participate in clinical trials and to undergo clinical trial-related procedures. Our results highlight the urgent need to design recruitment strategies accounting for gender-related factors, particularly those related to marital status and education.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * psychologie MeSH
- klinické zkoušky jako téma * psychologie MeSH
- kohortové studie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pohlavní dimorfismus MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- sexuální faktory MeSH
- stupeň vzdělání MeSH
- výběr pacientů MeSH
- zapojení pacienta psychologie statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Studies have correlated living close to major roads with Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. However, the mechanisms responsible for this link remain unclear. METHODS: We exposed olfactory mucosa (OM) cells of healthy individuals and AD patients to diesel emissions (DE). Cytotoxicity of exposure was assessed, mRNA, miRNA expression, and DNA methylation analyses were performed. The discovered altered pathways were validated using data from the human population-based Rotterdam Study. RESULTS: DE exposure resulted in an almost four-fold higher response in AD OM cells, indicating increased susceptibility to DE effects. Methylation analysis detected different DNA methylation patterns, revealing new exposure targets. Findings were validated by analyzing data from the Rotterdam Study cohort and demonstrated a key role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling in responses to air pollutants. DISCUSSION: This study identifies air pollution exposure biomarkers and pinpoints key pathways activated by exposure. The data suggest that AD individuals may face heightened risks due to impaired cellular defenses. HIGHLIGHTS: Healthy and AD olfactory cells respond differently to DE exposure. AD cells are highly susceptible to DE exposure. The NRF2 oxidative stress response is highly activated upon air pollution exposure. DE-exposed AD cells activate the unfolded protein response pathway. Key findings are also confirmed in a population-based study.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- čichová sliznice metabolismus MeSH
- epigenomika MeSH
- faktor 2 související s NF-E2 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metylace DNA * MeSH
- mikro RNA metabolismus genetika MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- transkriptom MeSH
- výfukové emise vozidel * toxicita MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: The spread of tau pathology closely correlates with the disease course and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau-targeting immunotherapies are being developed to stop the spread of tau pathology and thus halt disease progression. In this post hoc analysis of the ADAMANT clinical trial, we examined the performance of AADvac1, an active immunotherapy targeting the microtubule-binding region (MTBR) of tau, in a subgroup of participants with elevated plasma p-tau217, indicating AD-related neuropathological changes. METHODS: ADAMANT was a 24-month, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blinded, multicenter, phase 2 clinical trial in subjects with mild AD. The trial participants were randomized 3:2 to receive six doses of AADvac1 or placebo at 4-week intervals, followed by five booster doses at 14-week intervals. The primary outcome was safety. The secondary outcomes were the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study - Activities of Daily Living score for Mild Cognitive Impairment 18-item version (ADCS-ADL-MCI-18), and immunogenicity. Volumetric MRI, plasma neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were exploratory outcomes. The inclusion criterion for this post-hoc analysis was a baseline plasma p-tau217 level above the cutoff for AD. RESULTS: Among 196 ADAMANT participants, 137 were positive for plasma p-tau217 (mean age 71.4 years, 59% women). AADvac1 was safe and well tolerated in this subgroup. AADvac1 reduced the rate of accumulation of log-plasma NfL by 56% and that of GFAP by 73%. The treatment differences in the CDR-SB and ADCS-ADL-MCI-18 scores favored AADvac1 but were not statistically significant. AADvac1 had no effect on whole-brain volume but nonsignificantly reduced the loss of brain cortical tissue in several regions. Importantly, the impact on the study outcomes was more pronounced in participants with higher anti-tau antibody levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AADvac1 tau immunotherapy can reduce plasma biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. These findings and possible observations on brain atrophy and cognition are hypothesis-generating and warrant further evaluation in a larger clinical trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT 2015-000630-30 (primary) and NCT02579252.
- MeSH
- aktivní imunoterapie metody MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * krev terapie imunologie MeSH
- biologické markery krev MeSH
- dvojitá slepá metoda MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- proteiny tau * krev MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- testy pro posouzení mentálních funkcí a demence MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- klinické zkoušky, fáze II MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
- randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Uniform Data Set (UDS) 2 battery in distinguishing between individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) attributable to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD) and those with MCI due to other causes (MCI-nonAD), based on contemporary AT(N) biomarker criteria. Despite the implementation of the novel UDS 3 battery, the UDS 2 battery is still used in several non-English-speaking countries. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional design. A total of 113 Czech participants with MCI underwent a comprehensive diagnostic assessment, including cerebrospinal fluid biomarker evaluation, resulting in two groups: 45 individuals with prodromal AD (A+T+) and 68 participants with non-Alzheimer's pathological changes or normal AD biomarkers (A-). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed with neuropsychological test scores and demographic variables as predictors and AD status as an outcome. Model 1 included UDS 2 scores that differed between AD and non-AD groups (Logical Memory delayed recall), Model 2 employed also Letter Fluency and Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). The two models were compared using area under the receiver operating characteristic curves. We also created separate logistic regression models for each of the UDS 2 scores. RESULTS: Worse performance in delayed recall of Logical Memory significantly predicted the presence of positive AD biomarkers. In addition, the inclusion of Letter Fluency RAVLT into the model significantly enhanced its discriminative capacity. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that using Letter Fluency and RAVLT alongside the UDS 2 battery can enhance its potential for differential diagnostics.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * diagnóza mozkomíšní mok MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein mozkomíšní mok MeSH
- biologické markery * mozkomíšní mok MeSH
- diferenciální diagnóza MeSH
- kognitivní dysfunkce * diagnóza etiologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neuropsychologické testy * normy statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- proteiny tau mozkomíšní mok MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Genetic variations in a common single nucleotide polymorphism in the ninth intron of the KIBRA gene have been linked to memory performance and risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: We examined the risk of AD related to presence of KIBRA T allele (versus CC homozygote) and to memory performance. The role of established genetic risk factors APOE ε4 and BDNF Met was also considered. METHODS: Participants were cognitively healthy individuals (n = 19), participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) due to AD (n = 99) and AD dementia (n = 37) from the Czech Brain Aging Study. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions compared odds of belonging to a certain diagnostic category and multivariate linear regressions assessed associations with memory. RESULTS: KIBRA T allele was associated with increased AD dementia risk (odds ratio [OR] = 5.98, p = 0.012) compared to KIBRA CC genotype. In APOE ε4 negative individuals, KIBRA T allele was associated with a greater risk of both aMCI due to AD (OR = 6.68, p = 0.038) and AD dementia (OR = 15.75, p = 0.009). In BDNF Met positive individuals, the KIBRA T allele was associated with a greater risk of AD dementia (OR = 10.98, p = 0.050). In AD dementia, the association between KIBRA T allele and better memory performance approached significance (β = 0.42; p = 0.062). The link between possessing the KIBRA T allele and better memory reached statistical significance only among BDNF Met carriers (β = 1.21, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that KIBRA T allele may not fully protect against AD dementia but could potentially delay progression of post-diagnosis cognitive deficits.
- MeSH
- alely MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * genetika MeSH
- apolipoprotein E4 genetika MeSH
- genetická predispozice k nemoci genetika MeSH
- genotyp MeSH
- intracelulární signální peptidy a proteiny genetika MeSH
- jednonukleotidový polymorfismus * genetika MeSH
- kognitivní dysfunkce * genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mozkový neurotrofický faktor genetika MeSH
- neuropsychologické testy MeSH
- paměť fyziologie MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: The hippocampal representation of space, formed by the collective activity of populations of place cells, is considered as a substrate of spatial memory. Alzheimer's disease (AD), a widespread severe neurodegenerative condition of multifactorial origin, typically exhibits spatial memory deficits among its early clinical signs before more severe cognitive impacts develop. OBJECTIVE: To investigate mechanisms of spatial memory impairment in a double transgenic rat model of AD. METHODS: In this study, we utilized 9-12-month-old double-transgenic TgF344-AD rats and age-matched controls to analyze the spatial coding properties of CA1 place cells. We characterized the spatial memory representation, assessed cells' spatial information content and direction-specific activity, and compared their population coding in familiar and novel conditions. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that TgF344-AD animals exhibited lower precision in coding, as evidenced by reduced spatial information and larger receptive zones. This impairment was evident in maps representing novel environments. While controls instantly encoded directional context during their initial exposure to a novel environment, transgenics struggled to incorporate this information into the newly developed hippocampal spatial representation. This resulted in impairment in orthogonalization of stored activity patterns, an important feature directly related to episodic memory encoding capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results shed light on the nature of impairment at both the single-cell and population levels in the transgenic AD model. In addition to the observed spatial coding inaccuracy, the findings reveal a significantly impaired ability to adaptively modify and refine newly stored hippocampal memory patterns.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * patofyziologie MeSH
- amyloidový prekurzorový protein beta genetika MeSH
- hipokampální oblast CA1 patofyziologie MeSH
- hipokampus patofyziologie MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- poruchy paměti etiologie patofyziologie MeSH
- potkani inbrední F344 MeSH
- potkani transgenní * MeSH
- prostorová paměť fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Biomarkers are the most significant diagnosis tools tending towards unique approaches and solutions for the prevention and cure of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The current report provides a clear perception of the concept of various biomarkers and their prominent features through analysis to provide a possible solution for the inhibition of events in AD. Scientists around the world truly believe that crucial hallmarks can serve as critical tools in the early diagnosis, cure, and prevention, as well as the future of medicine. The awareness and understanding of such biomarkers would provide solutions to the puzzled mechanism of this neuronal disorder. Some of the argued biomarkers in the present article are still in an experimental phase as they need to undergo specific clinical trials before they can be considered for treatment.
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc * farmakoterapie diagnóza metabolismus MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein metabolismus antagonisté a inhibitory MeSH
- biologické markery * analýza metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- proteiny tau metabolismus antagonisté a inhibitory MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Tau protein je jedním z neurocytoskeletálních proteinů podílejících se na patogenezi závažných neurologických onemocnění, zejména Alzheimerovy nemoci. Vyznačuje se značnou strukturní variabilitou, která se odráží v existenci jeho četných proteoforem. Tento přehled si klade za cíl poskytnout stručné informace o struktuře tau proteinu a jeho proteoformách, které se zdají být perspektivní jako biomarkery pro klinické použití. Jsou diskutovány biologické tekutiny vhodné pro laboratorní vyšetření v klinické praxi, tj. mozkomíšní mok a krev (plazma/sérum). Celkový tau protein a jeho fosforylované formy (hlavně protein pT181-tau, fosforylovaný na threoninovém zbytku 181) již našly klinické uplatnění v diagnostice Alzheimerovy nemoci.
The tau protein is one of the neurocytoskeletal proteins that participate in the pathogenesis of serious neurological diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. The tau protein is characterized by considerable structural variability, which is reflected in the existence of its numerous proteoforms. This review aims to provide brief information on the structure of tau protein and its proteoforms, which seem promising biomarkers for clinical use. Biological fluids, suitable for laboratory examination in clinical practice, i.e., cerebrospinal fluid and blood (plasma/serum), are discussed. Total tau protein and its phosphorylated forms (mainly the pT181-tau protein, phosphorylated at the threonine residue 181) have already found clinical application in diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
