Assessment of the Correlation and Diagnostic Accuracy between Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers: A Comparison of the Lumipulse and Simoa Platforms.

We compared the clinical and analytical performance of Alzheimer's disease (AD) plasma biomarkers measured using the single-molecule array (Simoa) and Lumipulse platforms. We quantified the plasma levels of amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), Aβ40, phosphorylated tau (Ptau181), and total tau biomarkers in 81 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 30 with AD, and 16 with non-AD dementia. We found a strong correlation between the Simoa and Lumipulse methods.

Silent brain infarcts, peripheral vascular disease and the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension.

Background And Aims: We aimed to study the relationship between cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) lesions, as markers of subclinical target organ damage (TOD) in the brain, and incident cardiovascular events (CVE).

Methods: Data from the ISSYS (Investigating Silent Strokes in hYpertensives Study), which is a longitudinal and observational study conducted in patients with hypertension aged 50-70 years, and stroke-free at the inclusion. At the baseline visit, participants underwent a clinical interview, a brain MRI, urine and blood sampling collection and vascular testing studies.

New candidate blood biomarkers potentially associated with white matter hyperintensities progression.

We aimed to discover blood biomarkers associated with longitudinal changes in white matter hyperintensities (WMH). This study was divided into a discovery phase and a replication phase. Subjects in both studies were patients with hypertension, aged 50-70, who underwent two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sessions and blood extractions over a 4-year follow-up period.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Levels in the Prediction of Progression of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Objectives: We aimed to study the value of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in predicting the global progression of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD).

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Data from the population-based Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives study.

Nighttime hypoxia affects global cognition, memory, and executive function in community-dwelling individuals with hypertension.

Study Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine which respiratory and architectural sleep parameters are related to cognitive function and cognitive status (mild cognitive impairment [MCI] versus normal cognitive aging [NCA]) in community-dwelling individuals with hypertension. Additionally, it aimed to determine whether the results changed in the presence or absence of vascular brain lesions (silent brain infarcts and extensive white matter hyperintensities [WMHs]).

Methods: In a cohort of individuals with hypertension and without previous stroke or dementia, we conducted in-hospital polysomnography including electroencephalography, electro-oculography, electromyography, and magnetic resonance imaging to assess silent brain infarcts and WMHs.

Kidney function changes and their relation with the progression of cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive decline.

Aims: We aimed to study whether worsening in markers of kidney function parallels the progression in cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and cognitive decline.

Methods: Data from the ISSYS (Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives Study), a longitudinal population-based study in hypertensives aged 50-70 and dementia and stroke-free at baseline. At both visits, patients underwent a brain MRI, a cognitive diagnosis (normal aging or mild cognitive impairment, [MCI]) and urine and blood sampling collection.

Cognitive Impact of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Changes in Patients With Hypertension.

Hypertension is one of the principal risk factors for cerebral small vessel disease progression and cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate how changes in cerebral small vessel disease lesions relate to cognitive decline and incident mild cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients. Data were obtained from the ISSYS cohort (Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives: a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study)-a longitudinal population-based study on hypertensive patients aged 50 to 70 years without dementia and stroke at baseline.

Arterial Stiffness Is Associated With Basal Ganglia Enlarged Perivascular Spaces and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Load.

Background And Purpose: We assessed whether the load of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and its individual markers, including lacunes, white matter hyperintensities, microbleeds, and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), are associated with arterial stiffness.

Methods: We evaluated cSVD markers in a cohort of 782 hypertensive individuals without history of stroke or dementia. The load of the disease was calculated using an ordinal scale ranging from 0 to 4 (1 point was given for each of the 4 markers examined).

Prevalence of hippocampal enlarged perivascular spaces in a sample of patients with hypertension and their relation with vascular risk factors and cognitive function.

Objectives: The clinical importance of hippocampal enlarged perivascular spaces (H-EPVS) remains uncertain. We aimed to study their association with vascular risk factors, cognitive function and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Data were obtained from the ISSYS (Investigating Silent Strokes in hYpertensives, a magnetic resonance imaging Study) cohort, which is a prospective study of patients with hypertension aged 50-70 with no prior stroke or dementia.

Obstructive sleep apnea and silent cerebral infarction in hypertensive individuals.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is very prevalent in hypertensive subjects. Moreover, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome activates multiple processes that might be associated with silent cerebral infarct independently of established risk factors. Our aim is to estimate the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in hypertensive patients with and without silent cerebral infarct, and to determine whether obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is an independent risk factor of silent cerebral infarct and/or lacunar silent cerebral infarct in patients with hypertension.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and subclinical brain small vessel disease.

Objective: To study the association of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with several brain MRI markers of brain vascular disease in a sample of participants free of stroke and dementia.

Methods: NT-proBNP plasma level was determined by means of a sandwich immunoassay method in a cohort study comprising 278 hypertensive patients. The presence of silent brain infarcts, brain microbleeds, enlarged perivascular spaces, and white matter hyperintensity volumes was assessed by brain MRI.

Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinases in Patients With Stroke During Intensive Rehabilitation Therapy.

Objective: To study plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as potential markers of recovery during intensive rehabilitation therapy (IRT) after stroke.

Design: Prospective and descriptive 3-month follow-up study.

Setting: Rehabilitation unit and research center.

Dementia Rating Scale-2 normative data for middle-and older-aged Castilian speaking Spaniards.

Objectives: The Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS-2) is frequently used as a dementia screening tool in clinical and research settings in Spain. The present study describes DRS-2 Total and subscale scores in community-dwelling Spaniards, aged 50-71, and provides normative data for its use in Castilian Spanish-speaking individuals.

Methods: The sample consisted of 798 individuals who participated in an observational study on essential hypertension.

Microalbuminuria and the Combination of MRI Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Background: Kidney function has been related to the presence of individual markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), as lacunes, white matter hyperintensities (WMH) or microbleeds. We aimed at studying the relationship of kidney dysfunction with the combination of several markers of CSVD.

Methods: Subjects are those included in the ISSYS cohort (Investigating Silent Strokes in hypertensives: a magnetic resonance imaging study).

N-glycome Profile Levels Relate to Silent Brain Infarcts in a Cohort of Hypertensives.

Background: Silent brain infarcts (SBIs) are highly prevalent in the aged population and relate to the occurrence of further stroke and dementia. Serum N-glycome levels have been previously associated with aging and they might be related as well to the presence of SBIs and age-related white matter hyperintensities.

Methods And Results: We determined the serum N-glycome profile in a cohort study comprising 972 subjects and evaluated the relationship between N-glycome levels and the presence and number of SBIs and with age-related white matter hyperintensities grades, assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Short-Term Blood Pressure Variability Relates to the Presence of Subclinical Brain Small Vessel Disease in Primary Hypertension.

Blood pressure (BP) variability is associated with stroke risk, but less is known about subclinical cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). We aimed to determine whether CSVD relates to short-term BP variability independently of BP levels and also, whether they improve CSVD discrimination beyond clinical variables and office BP levels. This was a cohort study on asymptomatic hypertensives who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring.

Small cortical infarcts: prevalence, determinants, and cognitive correlates in the general population.

Background: Cortical brain infarcts are defined as infarcts involving cortical gray matter, but may differ considerably in size. It is unknown whether small cortical infarcts have a similar clinical phenotype as larger counterparts. We investigated prevalence, determinants, and cognitive correlates of small cortical infarcts in the general population and compared these with large cortical infarcts and lacunar infarcts.

High daytime and nighttime ambulatory pulse pressure predict poor cognitive function and mild cognitive impairment in hypertensive individuals.

High blood pressure accelerates normal aging stiffness process. Arterial stiffness (AS) has been previously associated with impaired cognitive function and dementia. Our aims are to study how cognitive function and status (mild cognitive impairment, MCI and normal cognitive aging, NCA) relate to AS in a community-based population of hypertensive participants assessed with office and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements.

Role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity for the prediction of silent brain infarcts in women.

Objectives: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), predicts risk of coronary events and stroke and might be associated with cerebral small vessel disease. We aimed to determine whether silent brain infarcts relate to Lp-PLA2 activity and also, whether the addition of Lp-PLA2 activity to prognostic clinical models improves silent brain infarcts' discrimination.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in 921 stroke-free individuals.

Prevalence and associated factors of silent brain infarcts in a Mediterranean cohort of hypertensives.

Silent brain infarcts (SBIs) are detected by neuroimaging in approximately 20% of elderly patients in population-based studies. Limited evidence is available for hypertensives at low cardiovascular risk countries. Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives: a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study (ISSYS) is aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of SBIs in a hypertensive Mediterranean population.

Investigating silent strokes in hypertensives: a magnetic resonance imaging study (ISSYS): rationale and protocol design.

Background: Silent brain infarcts are detected by neuroimaging in up to 20% of asymptomatic patients based on population studies. They are five times more frequent than stroke in general population, and increase significantly both with advancing age and hypertension. Moreover, they are independently associated with the risk of future stroke and cognitive decline.

Altered levels of acetylcholinesterase in Alzheimer plasma.

Background: Many studies have been conducted in an extensive effort to identify alterations in blood cholinesterase levels as a consequence of disease, including the analysis of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in plasma. Conventional assays using selective cholinesterase inhibitors have not been particularly successful as excess amounts of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) pose a major problem.

Principal Findings: Here we have estimated the levels of AChE activity in human plasma by first immunoprecipitating BuChE and measuring AChE activity in the immunodepleted plasma.