Pathological correlates of white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging.

Background/aims: We investigated the histopathological correlates of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or cerebrovascular disease, and in aged controls.

Methods: We reviewed 57 participants who had neuropathology and in whom neuroimaging was done. In addition to AD pathology, cortical microinfarcts, lacunes, and cerebral hemorrhages were assessed.

The influence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers on clinical dementia evaluations.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins have become accepted biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in research settings. The extent of their use, perceived utility, and influence on decision making in clinical settings, however, are less well studied.

Methods: Clinicians who evaluate older adults (N = 193) were randomized to view normal, borderline, AD-consistent, or no CSF information in two vignettes portraying patients with borderline and mild AD symptoms.

Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-Motor Exam: inter-rater reliability of advanced practice nurse and neurologist assessments.

Aim: This paper is a report of a study to establish the inter-rater reliability of advanced practice nurse and neurologist neurological assessments which included ratings with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-Motor Exam.

Background: Around the world, advanced practice nurses are performing tasks once completed only by physicians. To promote consumer and provider confidence, it is important to establish that nurse and physician ratings using assessment tools are similar.

Informant-based dementia screening in a population-based sample of African Americans.

Background: An informant-based screening tool for dementia may be useful in population-based studies of minority populations.

Objective: Investigate the feasibility of screening for very mild dementia in a community sample of African Americans using an informant-based screening tool (AD8).

Design: Cohort study.

The "portable" CDR: translating the clinical dementia rating interview into a PDA format.

The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) is a common rating system used in clinical trials and longitudinal research projects to rate the presence and severity of cognitive problems in Alzheimer disease and related disorders. The interview process requires training and can be time-consuming. Here, we describe the validity, reliability, and discriminative ability of a computer-generated CDR using a personal digital assistant format.

Patient's rating of cognitive ability: using the AD8, a brief informant interview, as a self-rating tool to detect dementia.

Objective: To test the ability of patients to rate their own cognitive ability using the AD8 compared with informant and clinician ratings of cognitive status.

Design, Setting, And Patients: The AD8 was administered to 325 consecutive participant-informant dyads enrolled in a longitudinal study at Washington University School of Medicine between April 4, 2005, and December 15, 2005. The number of AD8 items endorsed by the participant was compared with informant answers and an independently derived Clinical Dementia Rating.

Novel presenilin 1 mutation (S170F) causing Alzheimer disease with Lewy bodies in the third decade of life.

Background: Cases of early-onset Alzheimer disease (AD) with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern (familial AD [FAD]) are rare but have greatly advanced our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of AD. We describe herein a kindred with very early-onset FAD (age, <40 years) with unusual pathological features and a novel mutation in the presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene (S170F) and review the existing literature on very early-onset FAD.

Objective: To analyze the neuropathological and genetic features of a family with onset of AD in the third decade of life.