Convergence between brain aging and Alzheimer's disease: Focus on mitochondria.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for the majority of dementia cases, with aging being the primary risk factor for developing this neurodegenerative condition. Aging and AD share several characteristics, including the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic loss, and neuroinflammation. This overlap suggests that mechanisms driving the aging process might also promote AD; however, the underlying processes are not yet fully understood.

Association of Inflammatory Mediators with Mitochondrial DNA Variants in Geriatric COVID-19 Patients.

COVID-19 remains a serious concern for elderly individuals with underlying comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 can target and damage mitochondria, potentially leading to mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This study aimed to evaluate single nucleotide substitutions in mtDNA and analyze their correlation with inflammatory biomarkers in elderly COVID-19 patients.

Mitochondrial genome study in blood of maternally inherited ALS cases.

Background: ALS is a heterogeneous disease in which different factors such as mitochondrial phenotypes act in combination with a genetic predisposition. This study addresses the question of whether homoplasmic (total mitochondrial genome of a sample is affected) and/or heteroplasmic mutations (wildtype and mutant mitochondrial DNA molecules coexist) might play a role in familial ALS. Blood was drawn from familial ALS patients with a possible maternal pattern of inheritance according to their pedigrees, which was compared to blood of ALS patients without maternal association as well as age-matched controls.

Generation and Characterization of the First Murine Model of Alzheimer's Disease with Mutated AβPP Inserted in a BALB/c Background (C.B6/J-APPswe).

Background: Numerous mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are available, but all suffer from certain limitations, thus prompting further attempts. To date, no one model exists with amyloidopathy in a BALB/c strain.

Objective: To generate and characterize the C.

Effect of Cytomegalovirus Reactivation on Inflammatory Status and Mortality of Older COVID-19 Patients.

Herpesviridae reactivation such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been described in severe COVID-19 (COronaVIrusDisease-2019). This study aimed to understand if CMV reactivation in older COVID-19 patients is associated with increased inflammation and in-hospital mortality. In an observational single-center cohort study, 156 geriatric COVID-19 patients were screened for CMV reactivation by RT-PCR.

Sensibility and Specificity of the VitaPCR™ SARS-CoV-2 Assay for the Rapid Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Older Adults in the Emergency Department.

(1) Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid and reliable diagnostic tools are needed for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection in urgent cases at admission to the hospital. We aimed to assess the performances of the rapid molecular VitaPCR™ test (Menarini Diagnostics) in a sample of older adults admitted to the Emergency Department of two Italian hospitals (2) Methods: The comparison between the rapid VitaPCR™ and the RT-PCR was performed in 1695 samples. Two naso-pharyngeal swab samplings from each individual were obtained and processed using the VitaPCR™ and the RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 (3) Results: VitaPCR™ exhibited good precision (<3% CV) and an almost perfect overall agreement (Cohen’s K = 0.

Biomarkers of cell damage, neutrophil and macrophage activation associated with in-hospital mortality in geriatric COVID-19 patients.

Background: The risk for symptomatic COVID-19 requiring hospitalization is higher in the older population. The course of the disease in hospitalised older patients may show significant variation, from mild to severe illness, ultimately leading to death in the most critical cases. The analysis of circulating biomolecules involved in mechanisms of inflammation, cell damage and innate immunity could lead to identify new biomarkers of COVID-19 severity, aimed to improve the clinical management of subjects at higher risk of severe outcomes.

SARS-CoV-2 Morbidity in the CNS and the Aged Brain Specific Vulnerability.

The infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be the cause of a fatal disease known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affecting the lungs and other organs. Particular attention has been given to the effects of the infection on the brain due to recurring neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, encephalitis and myelitis, which are far more severe in the elderly compared to younger patients. The specific vulnerability of the aged brain could derive from the impaired immune defenses, from any of the altered homeostatic mechanisms that contribute to the aging phenotype, and from particular changes in the aged brain involving neurons and glia.

Platelet Total PLA Activity, Serum Oxidative Level, and Plasma Cu/Zn Ratio: A Vicious Cycle with a Potential Role to Monitor MCI and Alzheimer's Disease Progression.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has no cure, mainly because of late diagnosis. Early diagnostic biomarkers are crucial. Phospholipases A (PLA) are hydrolases with several functions in the brain, nevertheless their deregulation contributes to neurodegeneration.

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid ABeta42 for the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease dementia in participants diagnosed with any dementia subtype in a specialist care setting.

Background: Dementia is a syndrome that comprises many differing pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD), vascular dementia (VaD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). People may benefit from knowing the type of dementia they live with, as this could inform prognosis and may allow for tailored treatment. Beta-amyloid (1-42) (ABeta42) is a protein which decreases in both the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of people living with ADD, when compared to people with no dementia.

Effect of a Cognitive Training Program on the Platelet APP Ratio in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

In patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), synaptic plasticity seems to be involved in cognitive improvement induced by cognitive training. The platelet amyloid precursor protein (APP) ratio (APPr), i.e.

Is Blood Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor a Useful Biomarker to Monitor Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients?

Availability of reliable prognostic biomarkers that are also able to monitor preventive/therapeutic interventions in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is crucial. Cerebral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) alterations were evidenced in Alzheimer's disease, but the value of blood BDNF in MCI is unclear, especially because of the incomplete/incorrect management of the numerous confounding factors unrelated to the disease. This study, applying a multidisciplinary methodological approach, aimed at clarifying whether blood BDNF can really mirror the cognitive symptoms of MCI, thus supporting the evaluation of clinical protocols' effectiveness as well as the definition of the conversion rate to dementia.

Biocomplexity and Fractality in the Search of Biomarkers of Aging and Pathology: Mitochondrial DNA Profiling of Parkinson's Disease.

Increasing evidence implicates mitochondrial dysfunction in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are considered a possible cause and this mechanism might be shared with the aging process and with other age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have recently proposed a computerized method for mutated mtDNA characterization able to discriminate between AD and aging.

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and cognitive status in differential diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the most appropriate cognitive and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker setting to distinguish frontotemporal dementia (FTD) from Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Method: Patients with FTD, those with AD, and those without dementia were enrolled in this study. CSF amyloid-ß 42 (Aß42), total (t)-tau, and phosphorylated (p)-tau concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease influence Zinc and Copper homeostasis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disease. An altered homeostasis of Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu), as well as a dysregulated expression of Zn-regulatory proteins have been previously described in AD. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) are commonly used as AD treatment to improve cognitive function, but their effect on Zn homeostasis is still unexplored.

Diagnostic performance of new and classic CSF biomarkers in age-related dementias.

The identification of diagnostic-prognostic biomarkers of dementia has become a global priority due to the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in aging populations. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers across patients affected by either Alzheimer's disease (AD), tauopathies other than AD (TP), or vascular dementia (VD), and cognitively normal subjects (CNS). One hundred fifty-three patients were recruited and tested for classical AD CSF biomarkers- Amyloid-ß42 and tau proteins - and novel candidate biomarkers - neurofilament (NF-) light and microRNA (miR) -21, -125b, -146a, and -222.

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA allelic changes in Parkinson's disease: a preliminary study.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are considered as a possible primary cause of age-associated neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD).

Aims: To analyze, along the whole mtDNA sequence of PD patients, the presence of non-reference alleles compared to reference alleles, as defined in the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS).

Methods: mtDNA was extracted from whole blood of PD and control groups, and was sequenced using a chip-based resequencing system.

Biocomplexity and Fractality in the Search of Biomarkers of Aging and Pathology: Focus on Mitochondrial DNA and Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one major health concern for our growing elderly population. It accounts for increasing impairment of cognitive capacity followed by loss of executive function in late stage. AD pathogenesis is multifaceted and difficult to pinpoint, and understanding AD etiology will be critical to effectively diagnose and treat the disease.

My Mind Project: the effects of cognitive training for elderly-the study protocol of a prospective randomized intervention study.

Background: Cognitive decline and dementia represent a key problem for public health as they heavily impair social functioning and independent living. The development of new strategies to support recommendations for patients and their caregivers may represent an outstanding step forward.

Aims: To describe the study protocol and methods of "My Mind Project: the effect of cognitive training for elderly" (Grant No.

Role of diffuse low-level heteroplasmy of mitochondrial DNA in Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. The vast majority of cases are not linked to a known genetic defect and the molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis are still elusive. Evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction is a prominent feature of the disease, and that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations may represent a possible starting point of the pathophysiological cascade.

The effect of astaxanthin on the aging rat brain: gender-related differences in modulating inflammation.

Background: Astaxanthin (Ax) is a ketocarotenoid of the xanthophyll family with activities such as antioxidation, preservation of the integrity of cell membranes and protection of the redox state and functional integrity of mitochondria. The aim of this study was to investigate potential gender-related differences in the effect of Ax on the aging rat brain.

Results: In females, interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) was significantly lower in treated rats in both cerebral areas, and in the cerebellum, treated animals also had significantly higher IL10.

Contribution of non-reference alleles in mtDNA of Alzheimer's disease patients.

Many observations suggest that mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could be responsible for the neurodegenerative changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we examined the signal intensity of the four alleles of each mtDNA nucleotide position (np) in whole blood of AD patients and age-matched controls using MitoChip v2.0 array.

One-month strawberry-rich anthocyanin supplementation ameliorates cardiovascular risk, oxidative stress markers and platelet activation in humans.

Strawberries are an important fruit in the Mediterranean diet because of their high content of essential nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals, which seem to exert beneficial effects in human health. Healthy volunteers were supplemented daily with 500 g of strawberries for 1 month. Plasma lipid profile, circulating and cellular markers of antioxidant status, oxidative stress and platelet function were evaluated at baseline, after 30 days of strawberry consumption and 15 days after the end of the study.