Decreased circulating branched-chain amino acids are associated with development of Alzheimer's disease in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment.

Background: Nutritional epidemiology has shown that inadequate dietary protein intake is associated with poor brain function in the elderly population. The plasma free amino acid (PFAA) profile reflects nutritional status and may have the potential to predict future changes in cognitive function. Here, we report the results of a 2-year interim analysis of a 3-year longitudinal study following mild cognitive impairment (MCI) participants.

Development of a Novel Nutrition-Related Multivariate Biomarker for Mild Cognitive Impairment Based on the Plasma Free Amino Acid Profile.

Nutritional epidemiology has shown the importance of protein intake for maintaining brain function in the elderly population. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may be associated with malnutrition, especially protein intake. We explored blood-based biomarkers linking protein nutritional status with MCI in a multicenter study.

Associations Between Regional Cerebral Blood Flow and Psychiatric Symptoms in Dementia With Lewy Bodies Without Parkinsonism.

Because dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) has various psychiatric symptoms, early diagnosis in patients without parkinsonism is difficult. To reveal associations between regional brain perfusion and psychiatric symptoms in DLB patients without parkinsonism, we quantified brain perfusion using an automated brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography analysis program, FineSRT. We statistically analyzed the differences in brain perfusion between groups, divided by the presence or absence of psychiatric symptoms.

Psychotic Features Among Patients in the Prodromal Stage of Dementia with Lewy Bodies During Longitudinal Observation.

Background: Many cases of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) present with various psychotic features, including hallucinations, depression, catatonia, and delusions before the onset of cognitive impairment. However, the characteristic features of these psychotic symptoms in prodromal DLB have not been sufficiently described.

Objective: To clarify and describe the psychotic features of prodromal DLB before overt cognitive impairment.

Effectiveness of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Patients With Advanced Parkinson Disease.

Objectives: In addition to motor symptoms, patients with Parkinson disease (PD) experience various psychiatric comorbidities, including impulse control disorders (ICDs). Moreover, antiparkinsonian drugs sometimes cause psychiatric symptoms. Antiparkinsonian and antipsychotic drugs are competitive in pharmacodynamics, and psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants, may worsen motor symptoms or induce adverse reactions.

Prevalence and subtype distribution of early-onset dementia in Japan.

Aim: People living with early-onset dementia (EOD) have specific social needs. Epidemiological studies are needed to obtain current information and provide appropriate service planning. This study aimed to clarify the current prevalence and subtype distribution of EOD, as well as the services frequently used by individuals with EOD.

Longitudinal observation of ten family members with idiopathic basal ganglia calcification: A case report.

Background: Familial idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (FIBGC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder that causes bilateral calcification of the basal ganglia and/or cerebellar dentate nucleus, among other locations.

Case Summary: The aim of this study is to report 10 cases of FIBGC observed in a single family. Seven patients showed calcification on their computed tomography scan, and all of these patients carried the mutation.

The usefulness of combined brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography, Dopamine-transporter single-photon emission computed tomography, and I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy for the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies.

Background: Current diagnostic criteria recommend neuroimaging as a diagnostic support tool for the clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Because DLB causes characteristic impairments and disabilities, such as neuroleptic hypersensitivity, which may significantly increase morbidity and mortality, its prompt and correct diagnosis is very important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which diagnostic accuracy can be increased by using different combinations of brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (bp-SPECT), I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy (MIBG scintigraphy), and DAT-SPECT.

Diagnostic accuracy of 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy in dementia with Lewy bodies: a multicenter study.

Background And Purpose: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) needs to be distinguished from Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of important differences in patient management and outcome. Severe cardiac sympathetic degeneration occurs in DLB, but not in AD, offering a potential system for a biological diagnostic marker. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy, in the ante-mortem differentiation of probable DLB from probable AD, of cardiac imaging with the ligand 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) which binds to the noradrenaline reuptake site, in the first multicenter study.

Evaluation of annexin A5 as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and dementia with lewy bodies.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) differs from other forms of dementia in its relation to amyloid beta peptide (Aβ42). Using a cell culture model we previously identified annexin A5, a Ca(2+), and phospholipid binding protein, as an AD biomarker. Plasma level of annexin A5 was significantly higher in AD patients compared to that in a control group.

Apolipoprotein E4 frequencies in a Japanese population with Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Background: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele has been reported to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Previous neuropathological studies have demonstrated similar frequencies of the APOE ε4 allele in AD and DLB. However, the few ante-mortem studies on APOE allele frequencies in DLB have shown lower frequencies than post-mortem studies.

Investigation of annexin A5 as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease using neuronal cell culture and mouse model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) differs from other forms of dementia in its relation to amyloid beta peptide (Abeta). Abeta, a proteolytic product of amyloid precursor proteins (APP), has a toxic effect on neuronal cells, which involves perturbation of their Ca(2+) homeostasis. This effect implies that changes of protein expression in neuronal cells with calcium stress should provide a molecular marker for this disease.

Two-layer appearance on brain perfusion SPECT in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a qualitative analysis by using easy Z-score imaging system, eZIS.

Background/aims: It is often difficult to distinguish idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) from other neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). To understand the characteristic pattern of blood flow in iNPH, we performed brain perfusion SPECT and analyzed the results by using the easy Z-score imaging system (eZIS).

Methods: Subjects were 12 patients with probable iNPH and 10 probable AD patients with prominent ventriculomegaly.

Decreased cardiac MIBG uptake, its correlation with clinical symptoms in dementia with Lewy bodies.

Recent studies have demonstrated the usefulness of 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy for the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In this study, we investigated the relationship between decreased cardiac MIBG uptake and clinical symptoms in DLB. Thirty-six patients with probable DLB and six normal controls underwent MIBG scintigraphy.

Comparison of the usefulness of brain perfusion SPECT and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy for the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies.

Background: Supportive features in the diagnostic criteria for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) include occipital hypoperfusion and decreased cardiac uptake of (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG). In this study, we performed both brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and MIBG myocardial scintigraphy in the same subjects and evaluated their sensitivity to detect the characteristic features of DLB.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with probable DLB (76.

Quantitative analysis of the effects of donepezil on regional cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer's disease by using an automated program, 3DSRT.

Introduction: Donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has been reported to have an effect that improves cerebral blood flow (CBF) alongside its primary effect on memory function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term, low-dose donepezil therapy on blood perfusion in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by using a fully automated regional CBF quantification program named 3DSRT.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen subjects with mild to moderate AD according to NINCDS/ADRDA criteria underwent 99mTc-ethylcysteinate dimer (ECD) brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) twice with an interval of 55.

Usefulness of a blood flow analyzing program 3DSRT to detect occipital hypoperfusion in dementia with Lewy bodies.

In the latest criteria for the clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), supportive features include generalized low uptake on SPECT/PET perfusion scan with reduced occipital activity. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of a cerebral blood flow (CBF) quantification program '3DSRT' in detecting occipital hypoperfusion in DLB. Twenty two patients with probable DLB, 38 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 16 normal controls underwent brain perfusion SPECT.