Cochlear dysfunction as an early biomarker of cognitive decline in normal hearing and mild hearing loss.

Introduction: Age-related hearing loss is an important risk factor for cognitive decline. However, audiogram thresholds are not good estimators of dementia risk in subjects with normal hearing or mild hearing loss. Here we propose to use distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) as an objective and sensitive tool to estimate the risk of cognitive decline in older adults with normal hearing or mild hearing loss.

Biomarkers for dementia in Latin American countries: Gaps and opportunities.

Limited knowledge on dementia biomarkers in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries remains a serious barrier. Here, we reported a survey to explore the ongoing work, needs, interests, potential barriers, and opportunities for future studies related to biomarkers. The results show that neuroimaging is the most used biomarker (73%), followed by genetic studies (40%), peripheral fluids biomarkers (31%), and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (29%).

Interventional Study to Evaluate the Clinical Effects and Safety of the Nutraceutical Compound BrainUp-10® in a Cohort of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Clinically-evaluated nutraceuticals are candidates for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention and treatment. Phase I studies showed biological safety of the nutraceutical BrainUp-10®, while a pilot trial demonstrated efficacy for treatment. Cell studies demonstrated neuroprotection.

New Frontiers in the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

One of the major puzzles in medical research and public health systems worldwide is Alzheimer's disease (AD), reaching nowadays a prevalence near 50 million people. This is a multifactorial brain disorder characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, apathy, and mood and neuropsychiatric disorders. The main risk of AD is aging; a normal biological process associated with a continuum dynamic involving a gradual loss of people's physical capacities, but with a sound experienced view of life.

Prospective Assessment of No Evidence of Disease Activity-4 Status in Early Disease Stages of Multiple Sclerosis in Routine Clinical Practice.

In relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, no evidence of disease activity-3 (NEDA-3) is defined as no relapses, no disability progression and no MRI activity. NEDA-4 status is defined as meeting all NEDA-3 criteria plus having an annualized brain volume loss (a-BVL) of ≤0.4%.

Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer´s disease (AD) and related forms of dementia are increasingly affecting the aging population throughout the world, at an alarming rate. The World Alzheimer´s Report indicates a prevalence of 46.8 million people affected by AD worldwide.

The Alz-tau Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease: Study in a Caucasian Population.

The establishment of a molecular biomarker for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is critical for diagnosis and follow up of patients, and as a quantitative parameter in the evaluation of potential new drugs to control AD. A list of blood biomarkers has been reported but none has been validated for the Alzheimer's clinic. The changes in hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid peptide in the cerebrospinal fluid is currently used as a tool in the clinics and for research purposes, but this method is highly invasive.

Retrospective Diagnosis of Parkinsonian Syndromes Using Whole-Brain Atrophy Rates.

The absence of markers for diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) results in these disorders being commonly mistaken for each other, particularly in the initial stages. We aimed to investigate annualized whole-brain atrophy rates (a-WBAR) in these disorders to aid in the diagnosis between IPD vs. PSP and MSA.

Tau Platelets Correlate with Regional Brain Atrophy in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Intracellular neurofibrillary tangles are part of the core pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which are mainly composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine whether high molecular weight (HMW) or low molecular weight (LMW) tau protein levels, as well as the ratio HMW/LMW, present in platelets correlates with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural changes in normal and cognitively impaired subjects.

Methods: We examined 53 AD patients and 37 cognitively normal subjects recruited from two Memory Clinics at the Universidad de Chile.

Nutraceuticals: a novel concept in prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Alzheimer's disease is a growing health problem worldwide. The pharmaceutical industry has not recently developed any new drugs that have had a significant impact on the natural history of the disease, so considerable attention has been given to nutraceuticals and nutritional bioactive compounds that can be obtained directly from diet or supplementation. These compounds may be able to modify physiopathological processes responsible for neurodegeneration and/or to have pro-cognitive properties.

Neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. A rational framework for the search of novel therapeutic approaches.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in people over 60 years old. The molecular and cellular alterations that trigger this disease are still diffuse, one of the reasons for the delay in finding an effective treatment. In the search for new targets to search for novel therapeutic avenues, clinical studies in patients who used anti-inflammatory drugs indicating a lower incidence of AD have been of value to support the neuroinflammatory hypothesis of the neurodegenerative processes and the role of innate immunity in this disease.

Tau oligomers as potential targets for Alzheimer's diagnosis and novel drugs.

A cumulative number of approaches have been carried out to elucidate the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tangles formation has been identified as a major event involved in the neurodegenerative process, due to the conversion of either soluble peptides or oligomers into insoluble filaments. Most of recent studies share in common the observation that formation of tau oligomers and the subsequent pathological filaments arrays is a critical step in AD etiopathogenesis.

Emerging noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis still depends on the triad of clinical, imaging and neuropsychological testing. The development of accurate, easy to use and inexpensive biological markers for AD is a long-standing aspiration for researchers and the medical community. Here we describe some of the recent advances in the field of biomarkers, both in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in peripheral blood.

Can nutraceuticals prevent Alzheimer's disease? Potential therapeutic role of a formulation containing shilajit and complex B vitamins.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a brain disorder displaying a prevalence and impact in constant expansion. This expansive and epidemic behavior is concerning medical and public opinion while focusing efforts on its prevention and treatment. One important strategy to prevent this brain impairment is based on dietary changes and nutritional supplements, functional foods and nutraceuticals.