Activity

new factor associated with impaired cognition, which could be ameliorated by B vitamins.

These findings suggest that anti-N-Hcy-protein autoantibodies can impair functional (attention/processing speed and global cognition), but not structural (brain atrophy), aspects of cognition. Anti-N-Hcy-protein autoantibodies are a new factor associated with impaired cognition, which could be ameliorated by B vitamins.

There is increasing emphasis on the importance of optimizing and standardizing clinical trials of agitation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the risks of bias arising from published trials and the number and design of unpublished studies are poorly understood.

Using the ClinicalTrials.gov database, we systematically reviewed all registered investigational clinical trials for agitation in AD to describe the landscape of agitation drug treatment trials and to assess their quality and generalizability.

We included 52 clinical studies registered over the past 25 years. Within published randomized controlled trials (RCTs), there was a high rate of participant dropout, poor reporting of randomization procedures, and inconsistent definitions of the sample included for analysis. There was also evidence of publication and funder bias.

We discuss factors that limit the internal and external validity of published RCTs and make additional recommendations for the conduct and reporting of future clinical trials of agitation in AD.

We discuss factors that limit the internal and external validity of published RCTs and make additional recommendations for the conduct and reporting of future clinical trials of agitation in AD.

Subjects exhibiting subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are at an increased risk for mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Given the delay between risk exposure and disease onset, SCD individuals are increasingly considered a good target population for cost-effective lifestyle-based Alzheimer’s disease prevention trials.

The PENSA study is a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial that aims to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized multimodal intervention in lifestyle (diet counseling, physical activity, cognitive training, and social engagement) combined with the use of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) over 12 months, in slowing down cognitive decline and improving brain connectivity. The study population includes 200 individuals meeting SCD criteria and carrying the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele, who will be randomized into four treatment arms (multimodal intervention + EGCG/placebo, or lifestyle recommendations + EGCG/placebo). The primary efficacy outcome is change in the composite score forf future clinical trials involving preventive lifestyle multicomponent interventions.

The use of new technologies (i.e., mobile ecological momentary assessments [EMAs], activity tracker) in the PENSA study allows the collection of continuous data on lifestyle behaviors (diet and physical activity) and mood, enabling a personalized design as well as an intensive follow-up of participants. These data will be used to give feedback to participants about their own performance along the intervention, promoting their involvement and adherence. The results of the study may aid researchers on the design of future clinical trials involving preventive lifestyle multicomponent interventions.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are frequent in aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here we study the relationship between NPS and AD pathologies in vivo.

Two hundred and twenty-one individuals from the TRIAD cohort (143 cognitively unimpaired, 52 mild cognitive impairment, and 26 AD) underwent [

F]MK6240-tau-positron emission tomography (PET), [

F]AZD4694-amyloid-PET, magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropsychological evaluations. Spearman correlations and voxel-based regression models evaluated the relationship between Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) scores, and tau-PET, amyloid-PET, and voxel-based morphometry.

Fifty percent of individuals presented NPS; these correlated with tau, not amyloid beta or neurodegeneration. Associations between NPI-Q score and tau-PET were stronger in the parietal association area, superior frontal, temporal, and medial occipital lobes. NPI-Q domains associated with distinct patterns of tau uptake.

NPS are predominantly related to tau in aging and dementia. Regions affected are part of the behavioral circuits, and vulnerable to early AD pathology. Domain-specific analyses showed NPS are related to the AD pathophysiological processes in a symptom-specific manner.

NPS are predominantly related to tau in aging and dementia. Regions affected are part of the behavioral circuits, and vulnerable to early AD pathology. Domain-specific analyses showed NPS are related to the AD pathophysiological processes in a symptom-specific manner.

We recently discovered a short synthetic peptide derived from the ANA/BTG3 protein Box A region called ANA-TA9 (SKGQAYRMI), which possesses catalytic activity. Herein we demonstrated the proteolytic activity of ANA-TA9 against amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42).

The proteolytic activity of ANA-TA9 against both the authentic soluble form Aβ42 (

-Aβ42) and the solid insoluble form Aβ42 (

-Aβ42) was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Plasma clearance, brain uptake, and cell viability were examined.

ANA-TA9 cleaved not only

-Aβ42 but also

-Aβ42. Proteolytic activity was partially inhibited by 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride, a serine protease inhibitor. Plasma clearance was very rapid, and the brain concentration indicated efficient brain delivery of ANA-TA9 via nasal application. Cell viability analysis indicated that ANA-TA9 did not display toxicity.

ANA-TA9 is an attractive potential candidate for the development of novel peptide drugs in Alzheimer’s disease treatment.

ANA-TA9 is an attractive potential candidate for the development of novel peptide drugs in Alzheimer’s disease treatment.

Potentially modifiable dementia risk factors include diet and physical and cognitive activity. Phytochlorin However, there is a paucity of scales to quantify cognitive activities. To address this, we developed the Cognitive & Leisure Activity Scale (CLAS).

The CLAS was validated in 318 consecutive individuals with and without cognitive impairment. Psychometric properties were compared with sample characteristics, disease stage, and etiology.

The CLAS has very good data quality (Cronbach alpha 0.731; 95% confidence interval 0.67-0.78). CLAS scores correlated with gold standard measures of cognition, function, physical functionality, behavior, and caregiver burden. CLAS scores were positively correlated with other resilience factors (eg, diet, physical activity) and negatively correlated with vulnerability factors (eg, older age, frailty).

The CLAS is a brief inventory to estimate dosage of participation in cognitive activities. The CLAS could be used in clinical care to enhance cognitive activity or in research to estimate dosage of activities prior to an intervention.