Publications by authors named "A Santillo"
Background: The Markers in Neuropsychiatric Disorders Study (The MiND Study) is investigating the diagnostic and wider utility of blood based biomarkers such as neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau), as well as other markers, to improve timely and accurate diagnosis of dementia and distinction from non-neurodegenerative and primary psychiatric disorder (PPD). This in-progress study has expanded significantly, becoming a robust platform for Australian and international collaborations.
Methods: Participants have been recruited and blood samples collected across Australia.
Objective: Around 30% of people with schizophrenia are refractory to antipsychotic treatment (treatment-resistant schizophrenia). Abnormal structural neuroimaging findings, in particular volume and thickness reductions, are often described in schizophrenia. Novel biomarkers of active brain pathology such as neurofilament light chain protein are now expected to improve current understanding of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: We investigated diagnostic utility of phosphorylated tau 217 and 181 (ptau217, ptau181), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), amyloid beta 42 and 40 (Aβ42, Aβ40), and neurofilament light (NfL) to distinguish biomarker-defined Alzheimer disease (AD) from non-AD conditions, in a heterogenous clinical cohort of younger people.
Methods: Plasma biomarkers were analysed using ultrasensitive technology, and compared in patients with CSF Alzheimer disease profiles (A+T+) to other CSF profiles (Other).
Results: Seventy-nine patients were included, median age 60.
Article Synopsis
- Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) leads to significant changes in personality and behavior, but there’s a lack of consensus on effective drug treatments despite high symptom burden for patients and caregivers.
- A survey of 48 experts in dementia treatment identified that disinhibition and compulsive behaviors are the primary symptoms targeted, with suggested medications including atypical antipsychotics and SSRIs.
- The findings indicate varied treatment approaches among professionals, highlighting the need for more research to develop consensus on effective pharmacological strategies for managing bvFTD symptoms.