| 1. |
- Norberg, Joakim, et al.
(författare)
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Regional Differences in Effects of APOE epsilon 4 on Cognitive Impairment in Non-Demented Subjects
- 2011
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Ingår i: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. - : S. Karger AG. - 1420-8008 .- 1421-9824. ; 32:2, s. 135-142
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The APOE epsilon 4 allele is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). APOE epsilon 4 is common in non-demented subjects with cognitive impairment. In both healthy people and people with AD, its prevalence has a north-south gradient across Europe. In the present study, we investigated whether the relation between the APOE epsilon 4 allele and cognitive impairment varied across Northern, Middle and Southern Europe. We also investigated whether a north-south gradient existed in subjects with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and non-amnestic MCI. Methods: Data from 16 centers across Europe were analyzed. Results: A north-south gradient in APOE epsilon 4 prevalence existed in the total sample (62.7% for APOE epsilon 4 carriers in the northern region, 42.1% in the middle region, and 31.5% in the southern region) and in subjects with SCI and amnestic MCI separately. Only in Middle Europe was the APOE epsilon 4 allele significantly associated with poor performance on tests of delayed recall and learning, as well as with the amnestic subtype of MCI. Conclusion: The APOE epsilon 4 allele frequencies in subjects with SCI and amnestic MCI have a north-south gradient. The relation between the APOE epsilon 4 allele and cognition is region dependent.
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| 2. |
- Csapo, A., et al.
(författare)
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Multimodal conversational interaction with a humanoid robot
- 2012
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Ingår i: 3rd IEEE International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications, CogInfoCom 2012 - Proceedings. - : IEEE. - 9781467351874 ; , s. 667-672
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper presents a multimodal conversational interaction system for the Nao humanoid robot. The system was developed at the 8th International Summer Workshop on Multimodal Interfaces, Metz, 2012. We implemented WikiTalk, an existing spoken dialogue system for open-domain conversations, on Nao. This greatly extended the robot's interaction capabilities by enabling Nao to talk about an unlimited range of topics. In addition to speech interaction, we developed a wide range of multimodal interactive behaviours by the robot, including face-tracking, nodding, communicative gesturing, proximity detection and tactile interrupts. We made video recordings of user interactions and used questionnaires to evaluate the system. We further extended the robot's capabilities by linking Nao with Kinect.
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| 3. |
- Csapo, A., et al.
(författare)
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Open-Domain Conversation with a NAO Robot
- 2012
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Ingår i: 3rd International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications (CogInfoCom 2012). - Kosice.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this demo, we present a multimodal conversationsystem, implemented using a Nao robot and Wikipedia. The system was developed at the 8th International Workshop on Multimodal Interfaces in Metz, France, 2012. The system is based on an interactive, open-domain spoken dialogue systemcalled WikiTalk, which guides the user through conversations based on the link structure of Wikipedia. In addition to speech interaction, the robot interacts with users by tracking their faces and nodding/gesturing at key points of interest within the Wikipedia text. The proximity detection capabilities of the Nao,as well as its tactile sensors were used to implement context-based interrupts in the dialogue system.
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| 4. |
- Damian, Marinella, et al.
(författare)
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Single-Domain Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Identified by Cluster Analysis Predicts Alzheimer's Disease in the European Prospective DESCRIPA Study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. - : S. Karger AG. - 1420-8008 .- 1421-9824. ; 36:1-2, s. 1-19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background/Aims: To identify prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects using a data-driven approach to determine cognitive profiles in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A total of 881 MCI subjects were recruited from 20 memory clinics and followed for up to 5 years. Outcome measures included cognitive variables, conversion to AD, and biomarkers (e. g. CSF, and MRI markers). Two hierarchical cluster analyses (HCA) were performed to identify clusters of subjects with distinct cognitive profiles. The first HCA included all subjects with complete cognitive data, whereas the second one selected subjects with very mild MCI (MMSE >= 28). ANOVAs and ANCOVAs were computed to examine whether the clusters differed with regard to conversion to AD, and to AD-specific biomarkers. Results: The HCAs identified 4-cluster solutions that best reflected the sample structure. One cluster (aMCIsingle) had a significantly higher conversion rate (19%), compared to subjective cognitive impairment (SCI, p < 0.0001), and non-amnestic MCI (naMCI, p = 0.012). This cluster was the only one showing a significantly different biomarker profile (A beta(42), t-tau, APOE epsilon 4, and medial temporal atrophy), compared to SCI or naMCI. Conclusion: In subjects with mild MCI, the single-domain amnestic MCI profile was associated with the highest risk of conversion, even if memory impairment did not necessarily cross specific cut-off points. A cognitive profile characterized by isolated memory deficits may be sufficient to warrant applying prevention strategies in MCI, whether or not memory performance lies below specific z-scores. This is supported by our preliminary biomarker analyses. However, further analyses with bigger samples are needed to corroborate these findings. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel
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| 5. |
- Norberg, J, et al.
(författare)
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Regional differences in effects of APOE ε4 on cognitive impairment in non-demented subjects
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9824 .- 1420-8008. ; 32:2, s. 135-142
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <i>Background:</i> The <i>APOE</i> ε4 allele is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). <i>APOE</i> ε4 is common in non-demented subjects with cognitive impairment. In both healthy people and people with AD, its prevalence has a north-south gradient across Europe. In the present study, we investigated whether the relation between the <i>APOE</i> ε4 allele and cognitive impairment varied across Northern, Middle and Southern Europe. We also investigated whether a north-south gradient existed in subjects with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and non-amnestic MCI. <i>Methods:</i> Data from 16 centers across Europe were analyzed. <i>Results:</i> A north-south gradient in <i>APOE</i> ε4 prevalence existed in the total sample (62.7% for <i>APOE</i> ε4 carriers in the northern region, 42.1% in the middle region, and 31.5% in the southern region) and in subjects with SCI and amnestic MCI separately. Only in Middle Europe was the <i>APOE</i> ε4 allele significantly associated with poor performance on tests of delayed recall and learning, as well as with the amnestic subtype of MCI. <i>Conclusion:</i> The <i>APOE</i> ε4 allele frequencies in subjects with SCI and amnestic MCI have a north-south gradient. The relation between the <i>APOE</i> ε4 allele and cognition is region dependent.
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| 6. |
- O'Brien, John T, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical practice with anti-dementia drugs: a revised (second) consensus statement from the British Association for Psychopharmacology.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England). - : SAGE Publications. - 1461-7285 .- 0269-8811. ; 25:8, s. 997-1019
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) coordinated a meeting of experts to review and revise its first (2006) Guidelines for clinical practice with anti-dementia drugs. As before, levels of evidence were rated using accepted standards which were then translated into grades of recommendation A to D, with A having the strongest evidence base (from randomized controlled trials) and D the weakest (case studies or expert opinion). Current clinical diagnostic criteria for dementia have sufficient accuracy to be applied in clinical practice (B) and brain imaging can improve diagnostic accuracy (B). Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine) are effective for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (A) and memantine for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease (A). Until further evidence is available other drugs, including statins, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin E and Ginkgo biloba, cannot be recommended either for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's disease (A). Neither cholinesterase inhibitors nor memantine are effective in those with mild cognitive impairment (A). Cholinesterase inhibitors are not effective in frontotemporal dementia and may cause agitation (A), though selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help behavioural (but not cognitive) features (B). Cholinesterase inhibitors should be used for the treatment of people with Lewy body dementias (Parkinson's disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)), especially for neuropsychiatric symptoms (A). Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine can produce cognitive improvements in DLB (A). There is no clear evidence that any intervention can prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Although the consensus statement focuses on medication, psychological interventions can be effective in addition to pharmacotherapy, both for cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms. Many novel pharmacological approaches involving strategies to reduce amyloid and/or tau deposition are in progress. Although results of pivotal studies are awaited, results to date have been equivocal and no disease-modifying agents are either licensed or can be currently recommended for clinical use.
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| 7. |
- Vermeiren, Angelique P. A., et al.
(författare)
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The Association Between APOE epsilon 4 and Alzheimer-type Dementia Among Memory Clinic Patients is Confined to those with a Higher Education. The DESCRIPA Study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. - 1387-2877 .- 1875-8908. ; 35:2, s. 241-246
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We assessed the interaction between the APOE epsilon 4 allele and education level in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) among memory clinic patients from the multicenter DESCRIPA study. Subjects (n = 544) were followed for 1 to 5 years. We used Cox's stratified survival modeling, adjusted for age, gender, and center. APOE epsilon 4 predicted the onset of AD-type dementia in middle (HR 3.45 95% CI 1.79-6.65, n = 222) and high (HR 3.67 95% CI 1.36-9.89, n = 139) but not in low educated subjects (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.38-1.72, n = 183). This suggests that mechanisms in developing Alzheimer-type dementia may differ between educational groups that raises questions related to Alzheimer-type dementia prevention.
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