| 1. |
- Balbag, MA, et al.
(författare)
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Playing a Musical Instrument as a Protective Factor against Dementia and Cognitive Impairment: A Population-Based Twin Study
- 2014
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Ingår i: International journal of Alzheimer's disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-8024 .- 2090-0252. ; 2014, s. 836748-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increasing evidence supports that playing a musical instrument may benefit cognitive development and health at young ages. Whether playing an instrument provides protection against dementia has not been established. In a population-based cotwin control study, we examined the association between playing a musical instrument and whether or not the twins developed dementia or cognitive impairment. Participation in playing an instrument was taken from informant-based reports of twins’ leisure activities. Dementia diagnoses were based on a complete clinical workup using standard diagnostic criteria. Among 157 twin pairs discordant for dementia and cognitive impairment, 27 pairs were discordant for playing an instrument. Controlling for sex, education, and physical activity, playing a musical instrument was significantly associated with less likelihood of dementia and cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 0.36 [95% confidence interval 0.13–0.99]). These findings support further consideration of music as a modifiable protective factor against dementia and cognitive impairment.
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| 2. |
- Blom, Elin S, et al.
(författare)
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Increased mRNA Levels of TCF7L2 and MYC of the Wnt Pathway in Tg-ArcSwe Mice and Alzheimer's Disease Brain
- 2010
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Ingår i: International journal of Alzheimer's disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-0252 .- 2090-8024. ; 2011, s. 936580-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several components in the Wnt pathway, including β-catenin and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, have been implied in AD pathogenesis. Here, mRNA brain levels from five-month-old tg-ArcSwe and nontransgenic mice were compared using Affymetrix microarray analysis. With surprisingly small overall changes, Wnt signaling was the most affected pathway with altered expression of nine genes in tg-ArcSwe mice. When analyzing mRNA levels of these genes in human brain, transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) and v-myc myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC), were increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) (P < .05). Furthermore, no clear differences in TCF7L2 and MYC mRNA were found in brains with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, suggesting that altered regulation of these Wnt-related genes could be specific to AD. Finally, mRNA levels of three neurogenesis markers were analyzed. Increased mRNA levels of dihydropyrimidinase-like 3 were observed in AD brain, suggesting that altered Wnt pathway regulation may signify synaptic rearrangement or neurogenesis.
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| 3. |
- Ferencz, Beata, et al.
(författare)
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Promising Genetic Biomarkers of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease : The Influence of APOE and TOMM40 on Brain Integrity
- 2012
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Ingår i: International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-8024 .- 2090-0252. ; 2012
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Finding biomarkers constitutes a crucial step for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain imaging techniques have revealed structural alterations in the brain that may be phenotypic in preclinical AD. The most prominent polymorphism that has been associated with AD and related neural changes is the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4. The translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40 (TOMM40), which is in linkage disequilibrium with APOE, has received increasing attention as a promising gene in AD. TOMM40 also impacts brain areas vulnerable in AD, by downstream apoptotic processes that forego extracellular amyloid beta aggregation. The present paper aims to extend on the mitochondrial influence in AD pathogenesis and we propose a TOMM40-induced disconnection of the medial temporal lobe. Finally, we discuss the possibility of mitochondrial dysfunction being the earliest pathophysiological event in AD, which indeed is supported by recent findings.
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| 4. |
- Gustafson, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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A factor analytic approach to symptom patterns in dementia.
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-0252 .- 2090-8024.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous publications have shown a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of three short clinical rating scales for Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and vascular dementia (VaD) validated against neuropathological (NP) diagnoses. In this study, the aim was to perform an exploratory factor analysis of the items in these clinical rating scales. The study included 190 patients with postmortem diagnoses of AD (n = 74), VaD (n = 33), mixed AD/VaD (n = 31), or FTD (n = 52). The factor analysis produced three strong factors. Factor 1 contained items describing cerebrovascular disease, similar to the Hachinski Ischemic Score. Factor 2 enclosed major clinical characteristics of FTD, and factor 3 showed a striking similarity to the AD scale. A fourth symptom cluster was described by perception and expression of emotions. The factor analyses strongly support the construct validity of the diagnostic rating scales.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Andreasen, Niels, et al.
(författare)
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Neuroinflammation Screening in Immunotherapy Trials against Alzheimer's Disease.
- 2010
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Ingår i: International journal of Alzheimer's disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-0252. ; :638379
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Due to side effects in the form of meningoencephalitis in the interrupted phase II AN1792 trial of active antiamyloid β(Aβ) immunization against Alzheimer's disease (AD), there has been concern that anti-Aβ immunization may cause destructive neuroinflammation. Here, we report on two patients fulfilling clinical AD criteria who were diagnosed with Lyme neuroborreliosis during screening before inclusion in anti-Aβ immunotherapy trials. The two cases illustrate the necessity of careful biochemical screening for neuroinflammatory/neuroinfectious conditions before an AD diagnosis is made and before clinical AD patients are included in trials of therapy that could impact the immune system. Should the two cases have been included and deteriorated, additional investigations might have led to the erroneous conclusion that therapy-induced meningoencephalitis had occurred.
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| 8. |
- Bjerke, Maria, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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Confounding factors influencing amyloid Beta concentration in cerebrospinal fluid.
- 2010
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Ingår i: International journal of Alzheimer's disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-0252. ; 2010
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Patients afflicted with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibit a decrease in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of the 42 amino acid form of beta-amyloid (Abeta(42)). However, a high discrepancy between different centers in measured Abeta(42) levels reduces the utility of this biomarker as a diagnostic tool and in monitoring the effect of disease modifying drugs. Preanalytical and analytical confounding factors were examined with respect to their effect on the measured Abeta(42) level. Methods. Aliquots of CSF samples were either treated differently prior to Abeta(42) measurement or analyzed using different commercially available xMAP or ELISA assays. Results. Confounding factors affecting CSF Abeta(42) levels were storage in different types of test tubes, dilution with detergent-containing buffer, plasma contamination, heat treatment, and the origin of the immunoassays used for quantification. Conclusion. In order to conduct multicenter studies, a standardized protocol to minimize preanalytical and analytical confounding factors is warranted.
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| 9. |
- Hjorth, E, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of immunomodulatory substances on phagocytosis of abeta(1-42) by human microglia
- 2010
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Ingår i: International journal of Alzheimer's disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-0252. ; 2010
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glial activation and increased inflammation characterize neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim was to develop a model for studying phagocytosis of -amyloid (A) peptide by human microglia and to test effects thereupon by immunomodulatory substances. Human CHME3 microglia showed intracellular A colocalized with lysosome-associated membrane protein-2, indicating phagocytosis. This was increased by interferon-, and to a lesser degree with Protollin, a proteosome-based adjuvant. Secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was decreased by A and by interferon- and interleukin-1. These cytokines, but not A, stimulated interleukin-6 release. Microglia which phagocytosed A exhibited a higher degree of expression of interleukin-1 receptor type I and inducible nitric oxide synthase. In conclusion, we show that human microglia are able to phagocytose A and that this is associated with expression of inflammatory markers. A and interferon- decreased BDNF secretion suggesting a new neuropathological role for A and the inflammation accompanying AD.
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| 10. |
- Lautner, Ronald, et al.
(författare)
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Biomarkers for microglial activation in Alzheimer's disease.
- 2011
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Ingår i: International journal of Alzheimer's disease. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-0252. ; 2011
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intensive research over the last decades has provided increasing evidence for neuroinflammation as an integral part in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS) are initiated by activated microglia, representing the first line of the innate immune defence of the brain. Therefore, biochemical markers of microglial activation may help us understand the underlying mechanisms of neuroinflammation in AD as well as the double-sided qualities of microglia, namely, neuroprotection and neurotoxicity. In this paper we summarize candidate biomarkers of microglial activation in AD along with a survey of recent neuroimaging techniques.
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