| 1. |
- Dumitrescu, L., et al.
(författare)
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Sex differences in the genetic predictors of Alzheimer's pathology
- 2019
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Ingår i: Brain. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0006-8950 .- 1460-2156. ; 142, s. 2581-2589
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Autopsy measures of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology have been leveraged as endophenotypes in previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, despite evidence of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease risk, sex-stratified models have not been incorporated into previous GWAS analyses. We looked for sex-specific genetic associations with Alzheimer's disease endophenotypes from six brain bank data repositories. The pooled dataset included 2701 males and 3275 females, the majority of whom were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at autopsy (70%). Sex-stratified GWAS were performed within each dataset and then meta-analysed. Loci that reached genome-wide significance (P < 5 x 10(-8)) in stratified models were further assessed for sex interactions. Additional analyses were performed in independent datasets leveraging cognitive, neuroimaging and CSF endophenotypes, along with age-at-onset data. Outside of the APOE region, one locus on chromosome 7 (rs34331204) showed a sex-specific association with neurofibrillary tangles among males (P = 2.5 x 10(-8)) but not females (P = 0.85, sex-interaction P = 2.9 x 10(-4)). In follow-up analyses, rs34331204 was also associated with hippocampal volume, executive function, and age-at-onset only among males. These results implicate a novel locus that confers male-specific protection from tau pathology and highlight the value of assessing genetic associations in a sex-specific manner.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Deming, Yuetiva, et al.
(författare)
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Sex-specific genetic predictors of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers
- 2018
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Ingår i: Acta Neuropathologica. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0001-6322 .- 1432-0533. ; 136:6, s. 857-872
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) and tau have been evaluated as endophenotypes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) genetic studies. Although there are sex differences in AD risk, sex differences have not been evaluated in genetic studies of AD endophenotypes. We performed sex-stratified and sex interaction genetic analyses of CSF biomarkers to identify sex-specific associations. Data came from a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) of CSF Aβ42 and tau (1527 males, 1509 females). We evaluated sex interactions at previous loci, performed sex-stratified GWAS to identify sex-specific associations, and evaluated sex interactions at sex-specific GWAS loci. We then evaluated sex-specific associations between prefrontal cortex (PFC) gene expression at relevant loci and autopsy measures of plaques and tangles using data from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project. In Aβ42, we observed sex interactions at one previous and one novel locus: rs316341 within SERPINB1 (p = 0.04) and rs13115400 near LINC00290 (p = 0.002). These loci showed stronger associations among females (β = − 0.03, p = 4.25 × 10−8; β = 0.03, p = 3.97 × 10−8) than males (β = − 0.02, p = 0.009; β = 0.01, p = 0.20). Higher levels of expression of SERPINB1, SERPINB6, and SERPINB9 in PFC was associated with higher levels of amyloidosis among females (corrected p values < 0.02) but not males (p > 0.38). In total tau, we observed a sex interaction at a previous locus, rs1393060 proximal to GMNC (p = 0.004), driven by a stronger association among females (β = 0.05, p = 4.57 × 10−10) compared to males (β = 0.02, p = 0.03). There was also a sex-specific association between rs1393060 and tangle density at autopsy (pfemale = 0.047; pmale = 0.96), and higher levels of expression of two genes within this locus were associated with lower tangle density among females (OSTN p = 0.006; CLDN16 p = 0.002) but not males (p ≥ 0.32). Results suggest a female-specific role for SERPINB1 in amyloidosis and for OSTN and CLDN16 in tau pathology. Sex-specific genetic analyses may improve understanding of AD’s genetic architecture.
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| 4. |
- Jefferson, A. L., et al.
(författare)
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The Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project: Study Design and Baseline Cohort Overview
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimers Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 52:2, s. 539-559
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Vascular health factors frequently co-occur with Alzheimer's disease (AD). A better understanding of how systemic vascular and cerebrovascular health intersects with clinical and pathological AD may inform prevention and treatment opportunities. Objective: To establish the Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project, a case-control longitudinal study investigating vascular health and brain aging, and describe baseline methodology and participant characteristics. Methods: From September 2012 to November 2014, 335 participants age 60-92 were enrolled, including 168 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, 73 +/- 8 years, 41% female) and 167 age-, sex-, and race-matched cognitively normal controls (NC, 72 +/- 7 years, 41% female). At baseline, participants completed a physical and frailty examination, fasting blood draw, neuropsychological assessment, echocardiogram, cardiac MRI, and brain MRI. A subset underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection. Results: As designed, participant groups were comparable for age (p = 0.31), sex (p = 0.95), and race (p = 0.65). MCI participants had greater Framingham Stroke Risk Profile scores (p = 0.008), systolic blood pressure values (p = 0.008), and history of left ventricular hypertrophy (p = 0.04) than NC participants. As expected, MCI participants performed worse on all neuropsychological measures (p-values <0.001), were more likely to be APOE epsilon 4 carriers (p = 0.02), and had enhanced CSF biomarkers, including lower A beta(42) (p = 0.02), higher total tau (p = 0.004), and higher p-tau (p = 0.02) compared to NC participants. Conclusion: Diverse sources of baseline and longitudinal data will provide rich opportunities to investigate pathways linking vascular and cerebrovascular health, clinical and pathological AD, and neurodegeneration contributing to novel strategies to delay or prevent cognitive decline.
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| 5. |
- Gifford, W. A., et al.
(författare)
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Managerial leadership for research use in nursing and allied health care professions: a systematic review
- 2018
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Ingår i: Implementation Science. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1748-5908. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Leadership by point-of-care and senior managers is increasingly recognized as critical to the acceptance and use of research evidence in practice. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the leadership behaviours of managers that are associated with research use by clinical staff in nursing and allied health professionals. Methods: A mixed methods systematic review was performed. Eight electronic bibliographic databases were searched. Studies examining the association between leadership behaviours and nurses and allied health professionals' use of research were eligible for inclusion. Studies were excluded if leadership could not be clearly attributed to someone in a management position. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts, reviewed full-text articles, extracted data and performed quality assessments. Narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: The search yielded 7019 unique titles and abstracts after duplicates were removed. Three hundred five full-text articles were reviewed, and 31 studies reported in 34 articles were included. Methods used were qualitative (n = 19), cross-sectional survey (n = 9), and mixed methods (n = 3). All studies included nurses, and six also included allied health professionals. Twelve leadership behaviours were extracted from the data for point-of-care managers and ten for senior managers. Findings indicated that managers performed a diverse range of leadership behaviours that encompassed change-oriented, relation-oriented and task-oriented behaviours. The most commonly described behavior was support for the change, which involved demonstrating conceptual and operational commitment to research-based practices. Conclusions: This systematic review adds to the growing body of evidence that indicates that manager-staff dyads are influential in translating research evidence into action. Findings also reveal that leadership for research use involves change and task-oriented behaviours that influence the environmental milieu and the organisational infrastructure that supports clinical care. While findings explain how managers enact leadership for research use, we now require robust methodological studies to determine which behaviours are effective in enabling research use with nurses and allied health professionals for high-quality evidence-based care.
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| 6. |
- Hohman, Timothy J, et al.
(författare)
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Sex-Specific Association of Apolipoprotein E With Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Tau.
- 2018
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Ingår i: JAMA neurology. - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 2168-6157 .- 2168-6149. ; 75:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer disease (AD), the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, has a stronger association among women compared with men. Yet limited work has evaluated the association between APOE alleles and markers of AD neuropathology in a sex-specific manner.To evaluate sex differences in the association between APOE and markers of AD neuropathology measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during life or in brain tissue at autopsy.This multicohort study selected data from 10 longitudinal cohort studies of normal aging and AD. Cohorts had variable recruitment criteria and follow-up intervals and included population-based and clinic-based samples. Inclusion in our analysis required APOE genotype data and either CSF data available for analysis. Analyses began on November 6, 2017, and were completed on December 20, 2017.Biomarker analyses included levels of β-amyloid 42, total tau, and phosphorylated tau measured in CSF. Autopsy analyses included Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease staging for neuritic plaques and Braak staging for neurofibrillary tangles.Of the 1798 patients in the CSF biomarker cohort, 862 were women, 226 had AD, 1690 were white, and the mean (SD) age was 70 [9] years. Of the 5109 patients in the autopsy cohort, 2813 were women, 4953 were white, and the mean (SD) age was 84 (9) years. After correcting for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni procedure, we observed a statistically significant interaction between APOE-ε4 and sex on CSF total tau (β=0.41; 95% CI, 0.27-0.55; P<.001) and phosphorylated tau (β=0.24; 95% CI, 0.09-0.38; P=.001), whereby APOE showed a stronger association among women compared with men. Post hoc analyses suggested this sex difference was present in amyloid-positive individuals (β=0.41; 95% CI, 0.20-0.62; P<.001) but not among amyloid-negative individuals (β=0.06; 95% CI, -0.18 to 0.31; P=.62). We did not observe sex differences in the association between APOE and β-amyloid 42, neuritic plaque burden, or neurofibrillary tangle burden.We provide robust evidence of a stronger association between APOE-ε4 and CSF tau levels among women compared with men across multiple independent data sets. Interestingly, APOE-ε4 is not differentially associated with autopsy measures of neurofibrillary tangles. Together, the sex difference in the association between APOE and CSF measures of tau and the lack of a sex difference in the association with neurofibrillary tangles at autopsy suggest that APOE may modulate risk for neurodegeneration in a sex-specific manner, particularly in the presence of amyloidosis.
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| 7. |
- Osborn, K. E., et al.
(författare)
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Cerebrospinal fluid beta-amyloid(42) and neurofilament light relate to white matter hyperintensities
- 2018
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Aging. - : Elsevier BV. - 0197-4580. ; 68, s. 18-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are associated with poorer brain health, but their pathophysiological substrates remain elusive. To better understand the mechanistic underpinnings of WMHs among older adults, this study examined in vivo cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of beta-amyloid(42) deposition (A beta(42)), hyperphosphorylated tau pathology, neurodegeneration (total tau), and axonal injury (neurofilament light [NFL]) in relation to log-transformed WMHs volume. Participants free of clinical stroke and dementia were drawn from the Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project (n = 148, 72 +/- 6 years). Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, intracranial volume, modified Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (excluding points assigned for age), cognitive diagnosis, and APOE-epsilon 4 carrier status. A beta(42) (beta = -0.001, p = 0.007) and NFL (beta = 0.0003, p = 0.01) concentrations related to WMHs but neither hyperphosphorylated tau nor total tau associations with WMHs reached statistical significance (p-values > 0.21). In a combined model, NFL accounted for 3.2% of unique variance in WMHs and A beta(42) accounted for an additional 4.3% beyond NFL, providing novel evidence of the co-occurrence of at least 2 distinct pathways for WMHs among older adults, including amyloid deposition and axonal injury. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Libby, J. B., et al.
(författare)
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Whole blood transcript and protein abundance of the vascular endothelial growth factor family relate to cognitive performance
- 2023
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of Aging. - : Elsevier BV. - 0197-4580. ; 124, s. 11-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of genes has been implicated in the clinical devel-opment of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). A previous study identified associations between gene expression of VEGF family members in the prefrontal cortex and cognitive performance and AD pathology. This study explored if those associations were also observed in the blood. Consistent with previous observations in brain tissue, higher blood gene expression of placental growth factor (PGF) was associated with a faster rate of memory decline (p= 0.04). Higher protein abundance of FMS-related receptor tyrosine kinase 4 (FLT4) in blood was associated with biomarker levels indicative of lower amyloid and tau pathology, op-posite the direction observed in brain. Also, higher gene expression of VEGFB in blood was associated with better baseline memory (p= 0.008). Notably, we observed that higher gene expression of VEGFB in blood was associated with lower expression of VEGFB in the brain (r =-0.19, p= 0.02). Together, these re-sults suggest that the VEGFB, FLT4, and PGF alterations in the AD brain may be detectable in the blood compartment.Published by Elsevier Inc.This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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| 9. |
- Milfont, T. L., et al.
(författare)
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On the Relation Between Social Dominance Orientation and Environmentalism: A 25-Nation Study
- 2018
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Ingår i: Social Psychological and Personality Science. - : SAGE Publications. - 1948-5506 .- 1948-5514. ; 9:7, s. 802-814
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Approval of hierarchy and inequality in society indexed by social dominance orientation (SDO) extends to support for human dominance over the natural world. We tested this negative association between SDO and environmentalism and the validity of the new Short Social Dominance Orientation Scale in two cross-cultural samples of students (N = 4,163, k = 25) and the general population (N = 1,237, k = 10). As expected, the higher people were on SDO, the less likely they were to engage in environmental citizenship actions, pro-environmental behaviors and to donate to an environmental organization. Multilevel moderation results showed that the SDO-environmentalism relation was stronger in societies with marked societal inequality, lack of societal development, and environmental standards. The results highlight the interplay between individual psychological orientations and social context, as well as the view of nature subscribed to by those high in SDO.
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| 10. |
- Moore, E. E., et al.
(författare)
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Mild Cognitive Impairment Staging Yields Genetic Susceptibility, Biomarker, and Neuroimaging Differences
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1663-4365. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is divided into severity stages, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remains a solitary construct despite clinical and prognostic heterogeneity. This study aimed to characterize differences in genetic, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), neuroimaging, and neuropsychological markers across clinician-derived MCI stages. Methods Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project participants with MCI were categorized into 3 severity subtypes at screening based on neuropsychological assessment, functional assessment, and Clinical Dementia Rating interview, including mild (n= 18, 75 +/- 8 years), moderate (n= 89 72 +/- 7 years), and severe subtypes (n= 18, 78 +/- 8 years). At enrollment, participants underwent neuropsychological testing, 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optional fasting lumbar puncture to obtain CSF. Neuropsychological testing and MRI were repeated at 18-months, 3-years, and 5-years with a mean follow-up time of 3.3 years. Ordinary least square regressions examined cross-sectional associations between MCI severity and apolipoprotein E (APOE)-epsilon 4 status, CSF biomarkers of amyloid beta (A beta), phosphorylated tau, total tau, and synaptic dysfunction (neurogranin), baseline neuroimaging biomarkers, and baseline neuropsychological performance. Longitudinal associations between baseline MCI severity and neuroimaging and neuropsychological trajectory were assessed using linear mixed effects models with random intercepts and slopes and a follow-up time interaction. Analyses adjusted for baseline age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and intracranial volume for MRI models. Results Stages differed at baseline onAPOE-epsilon 4 status (early < middle = late;p-values < 0.03) and CSF A beta (early > middle = late), phosphorylated and total tau (early = middle < late;p-values < 0.05), and neurogranin concentrations (early = middle < late;p-values < 0.05). MCI stage related to greater longitudinal cognitive decline, hippocampal atrophy, and inferior lateral ventricle dilation (early < late;p-values < 0.03). Discussion Clinician staging of MCI severity yielded longitudinal cognitive trajectory and structural neuroimaging differences in regions susceptible to AD neuropathology and neurodegeneration. As expected, participants with more severe MCI symptoms at study entry had greater cognitive decline and gray matter atrophy over time. Differences are likely attributable to baseline differences in amyloidosis, tau, and synaptic dysfunction. MCI staging may provide insight into underlying pathology, prognosis, and therapeutic targets.
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Gifford, Katherine A, et al.
(författare)
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The 12-Word Philadelphia Verbal Learning Test Performances in Older Adults: Brain MRI and Cerebrospinal Fluid Correlates and Regression-Based Normative Data.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders extra. - : S. Karger AG. - 1664-5464. ; 8:3, s. 476-491
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study evaluated neuroimaging and biological correlates, psychometric properties, and regression-based normative data of the 12-word Philadelphia Verbal Learning Test (PVLT), a list-learning test.Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project participants free of clinical dementia and stroke (n = 230, aged 73 ± 7 years) completed a neuropsychological protocol and brain MRI. A subset (n = 111) underwent lumbar puncture for analysis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and axonal integrity cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. Regression models related PVLT indices to MRI and CSF biomarkers adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, APOE-ε4 carrier status, cognitive status, and intracranial volume (MRI models). Secondary analyses were restricted to participants with normal cognition (NC; n = 127), from which regression-based normative data were generated.Lower PVLT performances were associated with smaller medial temporal lobe volumes (p < 0.05) and higher CSF tau concentrations (p < 0.04). Among NC, PVLT indices were associated with white matter hyperintensities on MRI and an axonal injury biomarker (CSF neurofilament light; p < 0.03).The PVLT appears sensitive to markers of neurodegeneration, including temporal regions affected by AD. Conversely, in cognitively normal older adults, PVLT performance seems to relate to white matter disease and axonal injury, perhaps reflecting non-AD pathways to cognitive change. Enhanced normative data enrich the clinical utility of this tool.
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| 13. |
- Gupta, J., et al.
(författare)
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Reconciling safe planetary targets and planetary justice : Why should social scientists engage with planetary targets?
- 2021
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Ingår i: Earth System Governance. - : Elsevier BV. - 2589-8116. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As human activity threatens to make the planet unsafe for humanity and other life forms, scholars are identifying planetary targets set at a safe distance from biophysical thresholds beyond which critical Earth systems may collapse. Yet despite the profound implications that both meeting and transgressing such targets may have for human wellbeing, including the potential for negative trade-offs, there is limited social science analysis that systematically considers the justice dimensions of such targets. Here we assess a range of views on planetary justice and present three arguments associated with why social scientists should engage with the scholarship on safe targets. We argue that complementing safe targets with just targets offers a fruitful approach for considering synergies and trade-offs between environmental and social aspirations and can inform inclusive deliberation on these important issues.
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| 14. |
- Moore, E. E., et al.
(författare)
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Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration, synaptic dysfunction, and axonal injury relate to atrophy in structural brain regions specific to Alzheimer's disease
- 2020
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's and Dementia. - : Wiley. - 1552-5260 .- 1552-5279. ; 16:6, s. 883-895
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Patterns of atrophy can distinguish normal cognition from Alzheimer's disease (AD), but neuropathological drivers of this pattern are unknown. This study examined associations between cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of AD pathology, synaptic dysfunction, and neuroaxonal injury with two AD imaging signatures. Methods: Signatures were calculated using published guidelines. Linear regressions related each biomarker to both signatures, adjusting for demographic factors. Bootstrapped analyses tested if associations were stronger with one signature versus the other. Results: Increased phosphorylated tau (p-tau), total tau, and neurofilament light (P-values <.045) related to smaller signatures (indicating greater atrophy). Diagnosis and sex modified associations between p-tau and neurogranin (P-values<.05) and signatures, such that associations were stronger among participants with mild cognitive impairment and female participants. The strength of associations did not differ between signatures. Discussion: Increased evidence of neurodegeneration, axonopathy, and tau phosphorylation relate to greater AD-related atrophy. Tau phosphorylation and synaptic dysfunction may be more prominent in AD-affected regions in females. © 2020 the Alzheimer's Association
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| 15. |
- Osborn, K. E., et al.
(författare)
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Adverse Vascular Risk Relates to Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarker Evidence of Axonal Injury in the Presence of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimers Disease. - : IOS Press. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 71:1, s. 281-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Vascular risk factors promote cerebral small vessel disease and neuropathological changes, particularly in white matter where large-caliber axons are located. How Alzheimer's disease pathology influences the brain's vulnerability in this regard is not well understood. Objective: Systemic vascular risk was assessed in relation to cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of neurofilament light, a biomarker of large-caliber axonal injury, evaluating for interactions by clinical and protein markers of Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Among Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants with normal cognition (n = 117), mild cognitive impairment (n = 190), and Alzheimer's disease (n = 95), linear regression related vascular risk (as measured by the modified Framingham Stroke Risk Profile) to neurofilament light, adjusting for age, sex, education, and cognitive diagnosis. Interactions were assessed by cognitive diagnosis, and by cerebrospinal fluid markers of A beta(42), hyperphosphorylated tau, and total tau. Results: Vascular risk and neurofilament light were not related in the main effect model (p = 0.08). However, interactions emerged for total tau (p = 0.01) and hyperphosphorylated tau (p = 0.002) reflecting vascular risk becoming more associated with cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light in the context of greater concentrations of tau biomarkers. An interaction also emerged for the Alzheimer's disease biomarker profiles (p = 0.046) where in comparison to the referent 'normal' biomarker group, individuals with abnormal levels of both A beta(42) and total tau showed stronger associations between vascular risk and neurofilament light. Conclusion: Older adults may be more vulnerable to axonal injury in response to higher vascular risk burdens in the context of concomitant Alzheimer's disease pathology.
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| 16. |
- Winfree, Rebecca L, et al.
(författare)
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Biological correlates of elevated soluble TREM2 in cerebrospinal fluid.
- 2022
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of aging. - : Elsevier BV. - 1558-1497 .- 0197-4580. ; 118, s. 88-98
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (sTREM2) is an emerging biomarker of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Yet, sTREM2 expression has not been systematically evaluated in relation to concomitant drivers of neuroinflammation. While associations between sTREM2 and tau in CSF are established, we sought to determine additional biological correlates of CSF sTREM2 during the prodromal stages of AD by evaluating CSF Aβ species (Aβx-40), a fluid biomarker of blood-brain barrier integrity (CSF/plasma albumin ratio), and CSF biomarkers of neurodegeneration measured in 155 participants from the Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project. A novel association between high CSF levels of both sTREM2 and Aβx-40 was observed and replicated in an independent dataset. Aβx-40 levels, as well as the CSF/plasma albumin ratio, explained additional and unique variance in sTREM2 levels above and beyond that of CSF biomarkers of neurodegeneration. The component of sTREM2 levels correlated with Aβx-40 levels best predicted future cognitive performance. We highlight potential contributions of Aβ homeostasis and blood-brain barrier integrity to elevated CSF sTREM2, underscoring novel biomarker associations relevant to disease progression and clinical outcome measures.
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| 17. |
- Winfree, Rebecca L., et al.
(författare)
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Variants in the MS4A cluster interact with soluble TREM2 expression on biomarkers of neuropathology
- 2024
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Ingår i: MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION. - 1750-1326. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease (AD) genetic risk variants (rs1582763 and rs6591561) of the MS4A locus are genome-wide significant regulators of soluble TREM2 levels such that the minor allele of the protective variant (rs1582763) is associated with higher sTREM2 and lower AD risk while the minor allele of (rs6591561) relates to lower sTREM2 and higher AD risk. Our group previously found that higher sTREM2 relates to higher A beta(40), worse blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity (measured with the CSF/plasma albumin ratio), and higher CSF tau, suggesting strong associations with amyloid abundance and both BBB and neurodegeneration complicate interpretation. We expand on this work by leveraging these common variants as genetic tools to tune the interpretation of high CSF sTREM2, and by exploring the potential modifying role of these variants on the well-established associations between CSF sTREM2 as well as TREM2 transcript levels in the brain with AD neuropathology. Biomarker analyses leveraged data from the Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project (n = 127, age = 72 +/- 6.43) and were replicated in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (n = 399, age = 73 +/- 7.39). Autopsy analyses were performed leveraging data from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (n = 577, age = 89 +/- 6.46). We found that the protective variant rs1582763 attenuated the association between CSF sTREM2 and A beta(40) (beta = -0.44, p-value = 0.017) and replicated this interaction in ADNI (beta = -0.27, p = 0.017). We did not observe this same interaction effect between TREM2 mRNA levels and A beta peptides in brain (A beta total beta = -0.14, p = 0.629; A beta(1-38), beta = 0.11, p = 0.200). In contrast to the effects on A beta, the minor allele of this same variant seemed to enhance the association with blood-brain barrier dysfunction (beta = 7.0e-4, p = 0.009), suggesting that elevated sTREM2 may carry a much different interpretation in carriers vs. non-carriers of this allele. When evaluating the risk variant (rs6591561) across datasets, we did not observe a statistically significant interaction against any outcome in VMAP and observed opposing directions of associations in ADNI and ROS/MAP on A beta levels. Together, our results suggest that the protective effect of rs1582763 may act by decoupling the associations between sTREM2 and amyloid abundance, providing important mechanistic insight into sTREM2 changes and highlighting the need to incorporate genetic context into the analysis of sTREM2 levels, particularly if leveraged as a clinical biomarker of disease in the future.
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| 18. |
- Archer, D. B., et al.
(författare)
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The relationship between white matter microstructure and self-perceived cognitive decline
- 2021
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Ingår i: Neuroimage-Clinical. - : Elsevier BV. - 2213-1582. ; 32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a perceived cognitive change prior to objective cognitive deficits, and although it is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, it likely results from multiple underlying pathologies. We investigated the association of white matter microstructure to SCD as a sensitive and early marker of cognitive decline and quantified the contribution of white matter microstructure separate from amyloidosis. Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project participants with diffusion MRI data and a 45-item measure of SCD were included [n = 236, 137 cognitively unimpaired (CU), 99 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 73 +/- 7 years, 37% female]. A subset of participants (64 CU, 40 MCI) underwent a fasting lumbar puncture for quantification of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid-beta(CSF A beta(42)), total tau (CSF t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (CSF p-tau). Diffusion MRI data was post-processed using the free-water (FW) elimination technique, which allowed quantification of extracellular (FW) and intracellular compartment (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity) microstructure. Microstructural values were quantified within 11 cognitive-related white matter tracts, including medial temporal lobe, frontal transcallosal, and fronto-parietal tracts using a region of interest approach. General linear modeling related each tract to SCD scores adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, Framingham Stroke Risk Profile scores, APOE epsilon 4 carrier status, diagnosis, Geriatric Depression Scale scores, hippocampal volume, and total white matter volume. Competitive models were analyzed to determine if white matter microstructural values have a unique role in SCD scores separate from CSF A1342. FW-corrected radial diffusivity (RDT) was related to SCD scores in 8 tracts: cingulum bundle, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, as well as inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) pars opercularis, IFG orbitalis, IFG pars triangularis, tapetum, medial frontal gyrus, and middle frontal gyrus transcallosal tracts. While CSF A beta(42) was related to SCD scores in our cohort (R-adj(2) = 39.03%; beta =-0.231; p = 0.020), competitive models revealed that fornix and IFG pars triangularis transcallosal tract RDT contributed unique variance to SCD scores beyond CSF A beta(42) (R-adj(2) = 44.35% and R-adj(2) = 43.09%, respectively), with several other tract measures demonstrating nominal significance. All tracts which demonstrated nominal significance (in addition to covariates) were input into a backwards stepwise regression analysis. ILF RDT, fornix RDT, and UF FW were best associated with SCD scores (R-adj(2) = 46.69%; p = 6.37 x 10(-12)). Ultimately, we found that medial temporal lobe and frontal transcallosal tract microstructure is an important driver of SCD scores independent of early amyloid deposition. Our results highlight the potential importance of abnormal white matter diffusivity as an early contributor to cognitive decline. These results also highlight the value of incorporating multiple biomarkers to help disentangle the mechanistic heterogeneity of SCD as an early stage of cognitive decline.
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| 19. |
- Bolton, Corey J, et al.
(författare)
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Sex and Education Modify the Association Between Subjective Cognitive Decline and Amyloid Pathology.
- 2023
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Ingår i: medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences.
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be an early risk factor for dementia, particularly in highly educated individuals and women. This study examined the effect of education and sex on the association between SCD and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in non-demented older adults.Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project participants free of clinical dementia or stroke (n=156, 72±6 years, 37% mild cognitive impairment, 33% female) completed fasting lumbar puncture, SCD assessment, and Wide Range Achievement Test-III Reading subtest to assess reading level at baseline as a a proxy for educational quality. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for AD (β-amyloid 42 (Aβ42), Aβ42/40 ratio, phosphorylated tau (p-tau), tau, and neurofilament light (NfL)) were analyzed in batch. Linear mixed effects models related SCD to CSF AD biomarkers and follow-up models assessed SCD x sex, SCD x reading level , and SCD x education interactions on AD biomarkers.In main effect models, higher SCD was associated with lower Aβ42 and Aβ42/40 ratio (p-values<0.004). SCD was not associated with tau, p-tau, or NfL levels ( p- values>0.38). SCD score interacted with sex on Aβ42/40 ratio ( p =0.03) but no other biomarkers ( p -values>0.10). In stratified models, higher SCD was associated with lower Aβ42/40 ratio in men ( p =0.0003) but not in women ( p =0.48). SCD score interacted with education on Aβ42 ( p =0.005) and Aβ42/40 ratio ( p =0.001) such that higher education was associated with a stronger negative association between SCD and amyloid levels. No SCD score x reading level interaction was found (p-values> 0.51) though significant associations between SCD and amyloid markers were seen in the higher reading level group (p-values<0.004) but not the lower reading level group (p-values>0.12) when stratified by a median split in reading level.Among community-dwelling older adults free of clinical dementia, higher SCD was associated with greater cerebral amyloid accumulation, one of the earliest pathological AD changes. SCD appears most useful in detecting early AD-related brain changes in men and individuals with higher quantity and quality of education. SCD was not associated with CSF markers of tau pathology or neurodegeneration. These findings suggest that considering sex and education is important when assessing SCD in older adults.
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| 20. |
- Elkabets, Moshe, et al.
(författare)
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Human tumors instigate granulin-expressing hematopoietic cells that promote malignancy by activating stromal fibroblasts in mice
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 121:2, s. 784-799
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systemic instigation is a process by which endocrine signals sent from certain tumors (instigators) stimulate BM cells (BMCs), which are mobilized into the circulation and subsequently foster the growth of otherwise indolent carcinoma cells (responders) residing at distant anatomical sites. The identity of the BMCs and their specific contribution or contributions to responder tumor growth have been elusive. Here, we have demonstrated that Scal(+)cKit(-) hematopoietic BMCs of mouse hosts bearing instigating tumors promote the growth of responding tumors that form with a myofibroblast-rich, desmoplastic stroma. Such stroma is almost always observed in malignant human adenocarcinomas and is an indicator of poor prognosis. We then identified granulin (GRN) as the most upregulated gene in instigating Scal(+)cKit(-) BMCs relative to counterpart control cells. The GRN(+) BMCs that were recruited to the responding tumors induced resident tissue fibroblasts to express genes that promoted malignant tumor progression; indeed, treatment with recombinant GRN alone was sufficient to promote desmoplastic responding tumor growth. Further, analysis of tumor tissues from a cohort of breast cancer patients revealed that high GRN expression correlated with the most aggressive triple-negative, basal-like tumor subtype and reduced patient survival. Our data suggest that GRN and the unique hematopoietic BMCs that produce it might serve as novel therapeutic targets.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Gifford, Katherine A, et al.
(författare)
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Validity and Normative Data for the Biber Figure Learning Test: A Visual Supraspan Memory Measure.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Assessment. - : SAGE Publications. - 1552-3489 .- 1073-1911. ; 27:6, s. 1320-1334
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Biber Figure Learning Test (BFLT), a visuospatial serial figure learning test, was evaluated for biological correlates and psychometric properties, and normative data were generated. Nondemented individuals ( n = 332, 73 ± 7, 41% female) from the Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project completed a comprehensive neuropsychological protocol. Adjusted regression models related BFLT indices to structural brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of brain health. Regression-based normative data were generated. Lower BFLT performances (Total Learning, Delayed Recall, Recognition) related to smaller medial temporal lobe volumes and higher CSF tau concentrations but not CSF amyloid. BFLT indices were most strongly correlated with other measures of verbal and nonverbal memory and visuospatial skills. The BFLT provides a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of visuospatial learning and memory and is sensitive to biomarkers of unhealthy brain aging. Enhanced normative data enriches the clinical utility of this visual serial figure learning test for use with older adults.
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| 23. |
- Kitson, A. L., et al.
(författare)
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How nursing leaders promote evidence-based practice implementation at point-of-care: A four-country exploratory study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 77:5, s. 2447-2457
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims To describe strategies nursing leaders use to promote evidence-based practice implementation at point-of-care using data from health systems in Australia, Canada, England and Sweden. Design A descriptive, exploratory case-study design based on individual interviews using deductive and inductive thematic analysis and interpretation. Methods Fifty-five nursing leaders from Australia, Canada, England and Sweden were recruited to participate in the study. Data were collected between September 2015 and April 2016. Results Nursing leaders both in formal managerial roles and enabling roles across four country jurisdictions used similar strategies to promote evidence-based practice implementation. Nursing leaders actively promote evidence-based practice implementation, work to influence evidence-based practice implementation processes and integrate evidence-based practice implementation into everyday policy and practices. Conclusion The deliberative, conscious strategies nursing leaders used were consistent across country setting, context and clinical area. These strategies were based on a series of activities and interventions around promoting, influencing and integrating evidence-based practice implementation. We conjecture that these three key strategies may be linked to two overarching ways of demonstrating effective evidence-based practice implementation leadership. The two overarching modes are described as mediating and adapting modes, which reflect complex, dynamic, relationship-focused approaches nursing leaders take towards promoting evidence-based practice implementation. Impact This study explored how nursing leaders promote evidence-based practice implementation. Acknowledging and respecting the complex work of nursing leaders in promoting evidence-based practice implementation through mediating and adapting modes of activity is necessary to improve patient outcomes and system effectiveness.
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| 24. |
- Kresge, Hailey A, et al.
(författare)
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Lower Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Relates to Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarker Evidence of Neurodegeneration in Older Adults.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. - 1875-8908. ; 74:3, s. 965-974
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Subclinical cardiac dysfunction is associated with decreased cerebral blood flow, placing the aging brain at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and neurodegeneration.This study investigates the association between subclinical cardiac dysfunction, measured by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of AD and neurodegeneration.Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project participants free of dementia, stroke, and heart failure (n=152, 72±6 years, 68% male) underwent echocardiogram to quantify LVEF and lumbar puncture to measure CSF levels of amyloid-β42 (Aβ42), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau). Linear regressions related LVEF to CSF biomarkers, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, cognitive diagnosis, and apolipoprotein E ɛ4 status. Secondary models tested an LVEF x cognitive diagnosis interaction and then stratified by diagnosis (normal cognitive (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI)).Higher LVEF related to decreased CSF Aβ42 levels (β=-6.50, p=0.04) reflecting greater cerebral amyloid accumulation, but this counterintuitive result was attenuated after excluding participants with cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation (p=0.07). We observed an interaction between LVEF and cognitive diagnosis on CSF t-tau (p=0.004) and p-tau levels (p=0.002), whereas lower LVEF was associated with increased CSF t-tau (β=-9.74, p=0.01) and p-tau in the NC (β=-1.41, p=0.003) but not MCI participants (p-values>0.13).Among cognitively normal older adults, subclinically lower LVEF relates to greater molecular evidence of tau phosphorylation and neurodegeneration. Modest age-related changes in cardiovascular function may have implications for pathophysiological changes in the brain later in life.
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| 25. |
- Moore, E. E., et al.
(författare)
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Association of Aortic Stiffness With Biomarkers of Neuroinflammation, Synaptic Dysfunction, and Neurodegeneration
- 2021
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Ingår i: Neurology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0028-3878 .- 1526-632X. ; 97:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To test the hypothesis that increased aortic stiffening is associated with greater CSF evidence of core Alzheimer disease pathology (beta-amyloid [A beta], phosphorylated tau [p-tau]), neurodegeneration (total tau [t-tau]), synaptic dysfunction (neurogranin), neuroaxonal injury (neurofilament light [NFL]), and neuroinflammation (YKL-40, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 [sTREM2]), we analyzed pulse wave velocity (PWV) data and CSF data among older adults. Methods Participants free of stroke and dementia from the Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project, an observational community-based study, underwent cardiac magnetic resonance to assess aortic PWV (meters per second) and lumbar puncture to obtain CSF. Linear regressions related aortic PWV to CSF A beta, p-tau, t-tau, neurogranin, NFL, YKL-40, and sTREM2 concentrations after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein (APOE) epsilon 4 status, Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, and cognitive diagnosis. Models were repeated testing PWV interactions with age, diagnosis, APOE epsilon 4, and hypertension on each biomarker. Results One hundred forty-six participants were examined (age 72 +/- 6 years). Aortic PWV interacted with age on p-tau (beta = 0.31, p = 0.04), t-tau, (beta = 2.67, p = 0.05), neurogranin (beta = 0.94, p = 0.04), and sTREM2 (beta = 20.4, p = 0.05). Among participants >73 years of age, higher aortic PWV related to higher p-tau (beta = 2.4, p = 0.03), t-tau (beta = 19.3, p = 0.05), neurogranin (beta = 8.4, p = 0.01), and YKL-40 concentrations (beta = 7,880, p = 0.005). Aortic PWV had modest interactions with diagnosis on neurogranin (beta = -10.76, p = 0.03) and hypertension status on YKL-40 (beta = 18,020, p < 0.001). Conclusions Among our oldest participants, >= 74 years of age, greater aortic stiffening is associated with in vivo biomarker evidence of neuroinflammation, tau phosphorylation, synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration, but not amyloidosis. Central arterial stiffening may lead to cumulative cerebral microcirculatory damage and reduced blood flow delivery to tissue, resulting in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in more advanced age.
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| 26. |
- Moore, Elizabeth E, et al.
(författare)
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Axonal Injury Partially Mediates Associations Between Increased Left Ventricular Mass Index and White Matter Damage.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Stroke. - 1524-4628. ; 53:3, s. 808-816
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Left ventricular (LV) mass index is a marker of subclinical LV remodeling that relates to white matter damage in aging, but molecular pathways underlying this association are unknown. This study assessed if LV mass index related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of microglial activation (sTREM2 [soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2]), axonal injury (NFL [neurofilament light]), neurodegeneration (total-tau), and amyloid-β, and whether these biomarkers partially accounted for associations between increased LV mass index and white matter damage. We hypothesized higher LV mass index would relate to greater CSF biomarker levels, and these pathologies would partially mediate associations with cerebral white matter microstructure.Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project participants who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance, lumbar puncture, and diffusion tensor imaging (n=142, 72±6 years, 37% mild cognitive impairment [MCI], 32% APOE-ε4 positive, LV mass index 51.4±8.1 g/m2, NFL 1070±588 pg/mL) were included. Linear regressions and voxel-wise analyses related LV mass index to each biomarker and diffusion tensor imaging metrics, respectively. Follow-up models assessed interactions with MCI and APOE-ε4. In models where LV mass index significantly related to a biomarker and white matter microstructure, we assessed if the biomarker mediated white matter associations.Among all participants, LV mass index was unrelated to CSF biomarkers (P>0.33). LV mass index interacted with MCI (P=0.01), such that higher LV mass index related to increased NFL among MCI participants. Associations were also present among APOE-ε4 carriers (P=0.02). NFL partially mediated up to 13% of the effect of increased LV mass index on white matter damage.Subclinical cardiovascular remodeling, measured as an increase in LV mass index, is associated with neuroaxonal degeneration among individuals with MCI and APOE-ɛ4. Neuroaxonal degeneration partially reflects associations between higher LV mass index and white matter damage. Findings highlight neuroaxonal degeneration, rather than amyloidosis or microglia, may be more relevant in pathways between structural cardiovascular remodeling and white matter damage.
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| 27. |
- Moore, Elizabeth E, et al.
(författare)
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Neurofilament relates to white matter microstructure in older adults.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Neurobiology of aging. - : Elsevier BV. - 1558-1497 .- 0197-4580. ; 70, s. 233-241
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light (NFL) is a protein biomarker of axonal injury. To study whether NFL is associated with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements of white matter (WM) microstructure, Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project participants with normal cognition (n= 77), early mild cognitive impairment (n= 15), and MCI (n= 55) underwent lumbar puncture to obtain CSF and 3T brain MRI. Voxel-wise analyses cross-sectionally related NFL to DTI metrics, adjusting for demographic and vascular risk factors. Increased NFL correlated with multiple DTI metrics (p-values < 0.05). An NFL× diagnosis interaction (excluding early mild cognitive impairment) on WM microstructure (p-values < 0.05) was detected, with associations strongest among MCI. Multiple NFL× CSF biomarker interactions were detected. Associations between NFL and worse WM metrics were strongest among amyloid-β42-negative, tau-positive, and suspected nonamyloid pathology participants. Findings suggest increased NFL, a biomarker of axonal injury, is correlated with compromised WM microstructure. Results highlight the role of elevated NFL in predicting WM damage in cognitively impaired older adults who are amyloid-negative, tau-positive, or meet suspected nonamyloid pathology criteria.
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| 28. |
- Obura, David O., et al.
(författare)
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Achieving a nature- and people-positive future
- 2023
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Ingår i: One Earth. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 6:2, s. 105-117
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite decades of increasing investment in conservation, we have not succeeded in “bending the curve” of biodiversity decline. Efforts to meet new targets and goals for the next three decades risk repeating this outcome due to three factors: neglect of increasing drivers of decline; unrealistic expectations and time frames of biodiversity recovery; and insufficient attention to justice within and between generations and across countries. Our Earth system justice approach identifies six sets of actions that when tackled simultaneously address these failings: (1) reduce and reverse direct and indirect drivers causing decline; (2) halt and reverse biodiversity loss; (3) restore and regenerate biodiversity to a safe state; (4) raise minimum wellbeing for all; (5) eliminate over-consumption and excesses associated with accumulation of capital; and (6) uphold and respect the rights and responsibilities of all communities, present and future. Current conservation campaigns primarily address actions 2 and 3, with urgent upscaling of actions 1, 4, 5, and 6 needed to help deliver the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
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| 29. |
- Osborn, Katie E, et al.
(författare)
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Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma neurofilament light relate to abnormal cognition.
- 2019
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Ingår i: Alzheimer's & dementia. - : Wiley. - 2352-8729. ; 11:C, s. 700-709
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neuroaxonal damage may contribute to cognitive changes preceding clinical dementia. Accessible biomarkers are critical for detecting such damage.Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light (NFL) were related to neuropsychological performance among Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project participants (plasma n=333, 73±7years; CSF n=149, 72±6years) ranging from normal cognition (NC) to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein E ε4 carriership,and Framingham Stroke Risk Profile.Plasma NFL was related to all domains (P values ≤ .008) except processing speed (P values ≥ .09). CSF NFL was related to memory and language (P values ≤ .04). Interactions with cognitive diagnosis revealed widespread plasma associations, particularly in MCI participants, which were further supported in head-to-head comparison models.Plasma and CSF NFL (reflecting neuroaxonal injury) relate to cognition among non-demented older adults albeit with small to medium effects. Plasma NFL shows particular promise as an accessible biomarker with relevance to cognition in MCI.
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| 30. |
- Tistad, Malin, et al.
(författare)
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Developing Leadership in Managers to Facilitate the Implementation of National Guideline Recommendations: A Process Evaluation of Feasibility and Usefulness
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Health Policy and Management-Ijhpm. - : Maad Rayan Publishing Company. - 2322-5939. ; 5:8, s. 477-486
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Previous research supports the claim that managers are vital players in the implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), yet little is known about interventions aiming to develop managers' leadership in facilitating implementation. In this pilot study, process evaluation was employed to study the feasibility and usefulness of a leadership intervention by exploring the intervention's potential to support managers in the implementation of national guideline recommendations for stroke care in outpatient rehabilitation. Methods: Eleven senior and frontline managers from five outpatient stroke rehabilitation centers participated in a four-month leadership intervention that included workshops, seminars, and teleconferences. The focus was on developing knowledge and skills to enhance the implementation of CPG recommendations, with a particular focus on leadership behaviors. Each dyad of managers was assigned to develop a leadership plan with specific goals and leadership behaviors for implementing three rehabilitation recommendations. Feasibility and usefulness were explored through observations and interviews with the managers and staff members prior to the intervention, and then one month and one year after the intervention. Results: Managers considered the intervention beneficial, particularly the participation of both senior and frontline managers and the focus on leadership knowledge and skills for implementing CPG recommendations. All the managers developed a leadership plan, but only two units identified goals specific to implementing the three stroke rehabilitation recommendations. Of these, only one identified leadership behaviors that support implementation. Conclusion: Managers found that the intervention was delivered in a feasible way and appreciated the focus on leadership to facilitate implementation. However, the intervention appeared to have limited impact on managers' behaviors or clinical practice at the units. Future interventions directed towards managers should have a stronger focus on developing leadership skills and behaviors to tailor implementation plans and support implementation of CPG recommendations.
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