2. |
- Onofri, E, et al.
(author)
-
Dysgraphia in Relation to Cognitive Performance in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease
- 2013
-
In: Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment. - : Lifescience Global. - 2292-2598. ; 1:2, s. 113-124
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dysgraphia has been observed in patients presenting mild to moderate levels of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in several studies. In the present study, 30 AD patients and 30 matched healthy controls, originating from the Lazio region, Rome, Italy, were examined on tests of letter-writing ability and cognitive performance over a series of 10 test days that extended over 19 days (Test days: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19). Consistent deficits by the AD patients over the initial cognition test (PQ1), 2nd cognition test (PQ2) and the difference between them (D∆), expressing deterioration, and writing-time compared the group of healthy control subjects were obtained. Furthermore, the performances of the AD patients on the PQ1, D∆ and writing-time, but not the PQ2, tests deteriorated from the 1st five days of testing (Days 1-9) to the 2nd five days (11-19). Both AD patients’ and healthy controls’ MMSE scores were markedly and significantly correlated with performance of PQ1, writing-time and PQ2. The extent of dysgraphia and progressive deficits in the AD patients implicate multiple brain regions in the loss of functional integrity.
|
|
3. |
- Ricci, S., et al.
(author)
-
Altered Cytokine and BDNF Levels in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 2013
-
In: Neurotoxicity research. - : Springer. - 1029-8428 .- 1476-3524. ; 24:4, s. 491-501
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The contribution of neuroimmune functioning and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to functional dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder was assessed in 29 patients under treatment in two specialized centers of Basilicata (Chiaromonte and Matera), Southern Italy, through analysis of serum levels of cytokines and BDNF. Elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, including interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-12, interleukin-23, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and BDNF were observed, regardless of age and gender. Comparisons were made with age-and gender-related healthy controls. The present findings reinforce current notions regarding immunoexcitotoxic mechanisms contributing to the pathophysiology of autistic disorder.
|
|