Publications by authors named "C R Pasqualucci"

Hypertension, a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, is linked to late-life neurocognitive disorders such as vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study explores the associations between hypertension, intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), and Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) in a large community-based autopsy study. This cross-sectional study used data from the Biobank for Aging Studies of the University of São Paulo Medical School.

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Background: The association of moderate and severe dementia with low body mass index (BMI) is well described, but weight decline seems to also occur in individuals with preclinical neuropathologies. Considering that up to one-fifth of individuals with normal cognition meet the criteria for a dementia-related neuropathological diagnosis, autopsy studies are key to detecting preclinical neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases that could be underlying weight changes.

Objective: We investigated the association between dementia-related brain lesions and BMI and evaluated whether the cognitive function was a mediator of this association.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates racial differences in dementia by comparing neuropathological lesions and cognitive abilities between Black and White Brazilian adults who underwent autopsy.
  • Results show that certain neurodegenerative conditions, like small vessel disease and siderocalcinosis, are more prevalent in Black participants, while White participants had more neuritic plaques and a higher diagnosis rate for Alzheimer’s disease.
  • This cross-sectional autopsy study involved 1,815 participants and highlights the need for diverse research in understanding dementia's causes across different racial groups.
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Background: Depression can be associated with increased mortality and morbidity, but no studies have investigated the specific causes of death based on autopsy reports. Autopsy studies can yield valuable and detailed information on pathological ailments or underreported conditions. This study aimed to compare autopsy-confirmed causes of death (CoD) between individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and matched controls.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the early sleep-wake dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by examining the loss patterns of two types of neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area: orexinergic neurons (OrxN) and melanin-concentrating hormone neurons (MCHN).
  • A significant decline in OrxN was observed (58% decrease at Braak stage 1-2 and 81% by stage 5-6), while MCHN showed a less pronounced, non-significant decline (27% by stage 6).
  • The research highlights changes in gene expression linked to neuroinflammation, suggesting that understanding these neuronal changes could aid in developing therapies to slow AD progression and improve sleep-related issues.
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