Publications by authors named "James Minshull"
Article Synopsis
- The study introduces a method to predict protein expression in tissues using standard H&E stained images, aiming to enhance understanding of diseases like cancer and improve precision medicine outcomes.
- The authors develop a framework called Ouroboros that generates H&E images from protein profiles and vice versa, highlighting spatial changes in glioblastoma samples.
- Validation of this method with extensive data shows significant improvements over previous techniques in predicting protein expression and generating virtual images, suggesting potential for better diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.
Article Synopsis
- Depression in older adults is a significant global issue that affects their overall health and increases the risk of mortality, highlighting the need for effective interventions.
- The study analyzed data from a large cohort of older adults, revealing that depression rates drop until age 80 but then rise again, with a 10% increased mortality risk associated with depression.
- Findings show correlations between reduced sleep and depression, as well as a decline in synaptic density in the brain linked to depression, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention.
Article Synopsis
- Corticobasal syndrome is usually linked to common conditions like corticobasal degeneration and Alzheimer's, but this case highlights a rare cause.
- A 78-year-old woman initially diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease developed symptoms that led to a revised diagnosis of probable corticobasal syndrome after an MRI showed specific brain atrophy.
- After her death, post-mortem findings confirmed Pick's disease, demonstrating that it can mimic corticobasal syndrome symptoms, which is important for differential diagnosis.
Article Synopsis
- Myeloid cells are abundant in glioblastoma (GBM) and exist in various forms with different activation states, but there’s limited understanding of how the tumor microenvironment (TME) affects their behavior.
- Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to analyze and map these myeloid cell populations within the GBM TME, revealing that their distribution is influenced by factors like tissue hypoxia and specific signaling molecules.
- The study found that the organization of these myeloid cells in certain tumor areas corresponds to patient survival rates, providing important insights into how these cells may impact clinical outcomes in GBM patients.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to explore the relationship between late-life hypertension and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, focusing on individuals over 65 and the effects of antihypertensive medication.
- - Researchers used self-reported hypertension data and brain assessments from 108 deceased participants, discovering that those with hypertension had lower levels of AD pathology despite no significant cognitive impairment.
- - The findings imply that late-life hypertension may actually correlate with milder AD pathology, potentially due to factors like reduced blood flow affecting the brain.
Article Synopsis
- FFPE brain tissue in tissue banks is a valuable resource for research, especially with clinical data and psychological testing available.
- APOE genotyping is crucial for understanding this tissue, but older FFPE samples may not provide reliable results.
- The study found that DNA from FFPE brain tissue stored for more than three years may degrade, affecting APOE genotyping effectiveness.
Article Synopsis
- Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through cognitive testing can lead to early intervention, and the Telephone Assessment for Cognitive Screening (TICS) is effective in screening for cognitive impairment, though its ability to signal future AD risk is still being explored.
- The study investigates the relationship between TICS scores collected over 13 years and the cognitive status of participants at death, alongside their neuropathological indices of AD.
- Results show that lower TICS scores correlate with cognitive impairment and AD pathology in participants, suggesting that TICS could be a useful tool for identifying those at risk of developing AD long before symptoms appear, potentially allowing for early intervention strategies.
Article Synopsis
- The term "Primary age-related tauopathy" (PART) refers to a condition characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles without associated beta-amyloid pathology, affecting both cognitively normal and impaired individuals.
- Research indicates that the genetic factor Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 is less common in PART compared to Alzheimer's disease (AD), with APOE ε2 being more prevalent in cases of PART.
- Findings suggest that individuals with definite PART tend to experience less cognitive impairment than those diagnosed with AD, potentially due to the differing effects of APOE genotypes on Aβ pathology and cognition in older adults.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the link between early depression symptoms and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), focusing on how mood changes might indicate a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment later in life.
- - Researchers analyzed data from a long-term study involving assessments on depression and cognitive status, revealing that higher depression scores were associated with greater cognitive impairment and AD pathology at death.
- - Findings suggest that early depression symptoms could serve as a potential early diagnostic marker for Alzheimer's by indicating underlying neurological changes related to the disease, even occurring decades before death.
Article Synopsis
- A study explored the connection between genotype and lifespan using data from cognitive health research.
- The research found that individuals with the 4 allele had a lower chance of reaching 80+ years while remaining cognitively healthy, while 2 allele carriers generally lived longer and stayed cognitively normal.
- These findings suggest that genotype does impact longevity, particularly in those who are cognitively impaired.
Article Synopsis
- FXTAS is a neurodegenerative disorder triggered by an expansion of CGG repeats in the FMR1 gene, leading to symptoms like cognitive decline, tremors, and gait issues.
- A study reports neuropathological findings in a case who experienced cognitive impairment without tremor, confirming the presence of p62-positive inclusions and other cellular changes across various brain regions.
- Results indicate that factors such as age and disease duration can influence the severity of FXTAS pathology, and suggest using p62 staining as a diagnostic tool for atypical cases.
Background: The pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are well described but little is known as to how both neurodegeneration and vascular changes might interact in causing cognitive impairment.
Objective: The present study aims to investigate relationships between vascular and AD pathology in cognitively healthy and cognitively impaired individuals with a particular emphasis on those at intermediate Braak tau stages.
Methods: We investigated the interplay between Braak tau stage and measures of vascular pathology as described by the vascular cognitive impairment neuropathology guidelines (VCING) in 185 brains from the Brains for Dementia Research programme and The University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Healthy Old Age.
A Comparative Study of Pathological Outcomes in The University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age and Brains for Dementia Research Cohorts.
Andrew C Robinson Stephen Chew-Graham Yvonne S Davidson Michael A Horan Federico Roncaroli James Minshull
J Alzheimers Dis
November 2020
In the present study, we have characterized and compared individuals whose brains were donated as part of The University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age (UoM) with those donated through the Manchester arm of the UK Brains for Dementia Research (BDR) program. The aim of this study was to investigate how differences in study recruitment may affect final pathological composition of cohort studies. The UoM cohort was established as a longitudinal study of aging and cognition whereas the BDR program was established, prima facie, to collect brains from both demented and non-demented individuals for the purpose of building a tissue research resource.
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