Publications by authors named "Rodriguez-Gomez O"
Article Synopsis
- The study addresses the challenges of comparing self-perceived cognitive functioning across various aging studies by linking item-level data from international research.
- The researchers harmonized data from 24 different studies and found that certain items related to memory and executive functions provided the best measurement precision.
- This work allows for better comparison and analysis of cognitive functioning in older adults globally, potentially paving the way for improved self-report questionnaires based on the identified key items.
Article Synopsis
- The MOPEAD project aims to improve the detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through various patient-engagement strategies across five European countries.
- Four screening methods were tested: a web approach, Open-House initiatives, screenings in primary care, and by diabetes specialists, with results showing different costs per true-positive (TP) diagnosis for each method.
- Primary care and diabetes specialists were the most cost-effective methods for diagnosing AD, but their ability to identify at-risk patients effectively raises questions, suggesting a potential need for refined web and Open-House strategies.
Background: To explore whether the combination of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition is associated with worse cognitive performance on cognitive composites (CCs) domain scores in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD).
Methods: Two hundred participants from the FACEHBI cohort underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), F-florbetaben positron emission tomography (FBB-PET), and neuropsychological assessment. WMHs were addressed through the Fazekas scale, the Age-Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) scale, and the FreeSurfer pipeline.
Article Synopsis
- The MOPEAD project aimed to find new ways to detect early stages of Alzheimer's disease and raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis.
- Four different strategies were employed for early detection: a web-based prescreening tool, an open house initiative, a primary care protocol, and pre-screening in diabetes clinics.
- Out of 2,847 people screened, 1,129 were identified as high-risk for Alzheimer's, showing varying success rates among the different strategies used.
Article Synopsis
- General practitioners (GPs) are crucial for early dementia detection, but often fail to diagnose it on time, prompting a study on their attitudes and barriers in five European countries.
- Out of 343 GPs surveyed, 74% believe early diagnosis is important, but opinions vary by country regarding reimbursement and consultation time for patients.
- If an effective drug for slowing Alzheimer’s progression were available, 59% of GPs indicated they would change how they approach early diagnosis, highlighting the impact of treatment options on diagnostic practices.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the link between executive function deficits and brain changes in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) related to Alzheimer's disease.
- It involves 195 SCD participants who completed various executive function tests and underwent brain imaging to assess amyloid beta deposition and brain volume.
- Findings indicate that reduced performance on the Automatic Inhibition test correlates with higher amyloid levels and reduced brain volume in critical areas like the hippocampus, suggesting a potential early detection method for Alzheimer’s in those with SCD.
Article Synopsis
- The Diabetes Specific Dementia Risk Score (DSDRS) was evaluated to see if it effectively screens for cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients aged over 65.
- A study involved 112 T2D patients, leading to 82 being referred for further assessment; however, many declined due to comorbidities or lack of interest.
- The results showed that the DSDRS is a valuable tool for identifying cognitive impairment, as a significant portion of referred patients were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
Article Synopsis
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been used to measure retinal thickness in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), revealing that these individuals may show retinal layer thinning, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- The study involved 129 SCD participants who underwent OCT and PET scans to examine the link between retinal thickness and amyloid-β accumulation over two years.
- Results indicated that greater thickness in the inner nasal macular region correlates with higher likelihood of amyloid-β positivity, yet no retinal measurements predicted conversion to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) during the study period.
Article Synopsis
- Individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) perceive memory issues without showing actual impairment on cognitive tests, and are at a higher risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- The study examined personality traits using the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ) to differentiate SCD individuals from the general population (GP), focusing on dimensions like Neuroticism and Activity.
- Results showed SCD participants had lower scores in Neuroticism-Anxiety and Activity, suggesting they may prefer a less active lifestyle, highlighting the need for promoting physical activity to potentially delay cognitive decline.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be a reliable biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by examining macular volume and thickness in 930 participants.
- Despite some previous studies suggesting thinning of the macula in AD and MCI patients, this research found no significant differences in macular thickness or volume across the groups when adjusted for various factors.
- The only notable differences were in specific regions of the inner macular ring, but these were not significant after further statistical adjustments, indicating that OCT may not serve as a valid biomarker for cognitive impairment at this time.
Article Synopsis
- A growing awareness of brain health has led many cognitively unimpaired individuals to seek medical help out of concern for their cognitive functions, a phenomenon termed subjective cognitive decline (SCD) since 2014.
- Epidemiological studies suggest that while those with SCD have an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, most will not experience significant decline over time.
- Research is expanding on the relationship between SCD and the early stages of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, indicating a need for tailored diagnostic approaches for those who seek assistance.
Article Synopsis
- An amendment to the paper has been released.
- The amendment can be found via a link provided at the top of the original paper.
- Readers can access the updated information for further context or changes.
Article Synopsis
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents significant variability among cases, complicating genetic research and understanding biological mechanisms.
- The GR@ACE study categorized known AD genetic loci into three groups based on clinical certainty and vascular influence, using gene coexpression and pathway analysis.
- Meta-analysis identified new genetic signals associated with AD, highlighting the importance of vascular regulation and the impact of clinical heterogeneity on genetic findings.
Article Synopsis
- Visual impairment is prevalent among individuals with dementia, and regular eye exams can enhance their quality of life.
- A study involving 1,746 elderly participants found that those with dementia had significantly poorer visual acuity and used fewer visual correction treatments than those with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- The quality of optical coherence tomography (OCT) images also declined with cognitive impairment, indicating the need for consistent eye care in dementia patients to address visual issues.
Article Synopsis
- Dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, is often diagnosed too late, missing the benefits of early detection for patients and society.
- A new initiative, the Models of Patient Engagement for Alzheimer's Disease project, aims to improve early diagnosis by comparing four innovative patient engagement strategies across five European countries.
- Strategies include an online citizen science platform, open house events at memory clinics, and engagement methods in primary care and diabetes clinics to identify individuals with early stages of Alzheimer's typically overlooked.
Article Synopsis
- A polymorphism in the BDNF gene worsens the impact of beta-amyloid on neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, highlighting BDNF's role in cognitive impairment.
- Using fMRI, researchers found that individuals carrying the BDNF polymorphism showed significantly reduced connectivity between the hippocampus and medial-frontal regions compared to non-carriers.
- This decreased connectivity was also linked to poorer cognitive performance in various groups, suggesting that BDNF may influence how AD pathology affects brain networks related to cognition.
Background: Peripheral biomarkers that identify individuals at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) or predicting high amyloid beta (Aβ) brain burden would be highly valuable. To facilitate clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies, plasma concentrations of Aβ species are good candidates for peripheral AD biomarkers, but studies to date have generated conflicting results.
Methods: The Fundació ACE Healthy Brain Initiative (FACEHBI) study uses a convenience sample of 200 individuals diagnosed with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) at the Fundació ACE (Barcelona, Spain) who underwent amyloid florbetaben(F) (FBB) positron emission tomography (PET) brain imaging.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated how genetic markers linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) relate to cognitive traits (neurocognitive endophenotypes) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), focusing on various types of MCI, including amnestic and non-amnestic forms.
- - Researchers analyzed genetic data from 1,245 MCI patients and adjusted for factors like age, gender, and education to find significant associations between the ε4 allele and memory functions like delayed recall and learning.
- - Validation was conducted using data from additional studies, confirming that the ε4 allele and other specific genetic variants are linked to cognitive performance in MCI patients, highlighting potential genetic influences on the cognitive decline associated with early Alzheimer's disease.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the potential of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in measuring retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as a biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
- Researchers evaluated 930 individuals, finding a non-significant decrease in RNFL thickness across control, MCI, and AD groups, with no significant differences in any measured quadrant.
- The findings suggest that RNFL thickness may not be a reliable marker for cognitive impairment, indicating a need to explore other OCT measurements in different retinal areas as potential biomarkers for AD.
Article Synopsis
- The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is the primary genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, with additional associated genes located on chromosome 19.
- A study evaluated the impact of specific genetic variants (rs4147929:G>A and rs3865444:C>A) on AD risk within a large Spanish population, finding that rs4147929:G>A showed a significant association while rs3865444:C>A did not.
- The research indicates that long range linkage disequilibrium (LRLD) may influence the genetic interactions related to AD risk, potentially explaining discrepancies in findings across various populations.
Article Synopsis
- Alzheimer's disease research is facing a critical moment as there is a growing recognition of its increasing human and financial impact, highlighting the need for urgent action to find effective treatments.
- The review emphasizes the importance of patient engagement, recruitment, and retention in clinical trials, identifying specific challenges such as participant scarcity, retention difficulties, and ensuring a representative sample of the AD population.
- To address these issues, the Models of Patient Engagement for Alzheimer's Disease (MOPEAD) project aims to analyze different recruitment strategies across various settings, with a focus on promoting comprehensive care centers that integrate clinical and social support while engaging in research efforts.
Article Synopsis
- The Face-Name Associative Memory Exam (FNAME) is designed to identify memory issues in people with early signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Research found that worse performance on the Spanish version (S-FNAME) correlates with higher amyloid beta (Aβ) levels, indicating potential memory decline.
- In a study of 200 individuals with subjective cognitive decline, those who performed poorly on the face-name memory task showed significant links between their performance and Aβ levels, particularly in the Posterior Cingulate Cortex, suggesting its usefulness in early detection of AD.
Article Synopsis
- VF is being studied as a potential tool for neuropsychological assessment, particularly in identifying deficits in verb fluency among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia.
- Research suggests that lower VF performance is linked to a higher likelihood of progression from cognitively healthy (CH) states to MCI and from MCI to dementia.
- The study established VF cut-off scores for different age and education groups, indicating that VF testing could improve early detection and diagnosis of cognitive decline in the elderly population.
Article Synopsis
- A new active vaccine, ABvac40, targeting the amyloid-β peptide was developed for Alzheimer's disease and tested in a phase I clinical trial for safety and tolerability.
- The trial involved 24 patients with mild to moderate AD, who were randomly assigned to receive either the vaccine or a placebo, with a focus on documenting any adverse effects and measuring immune response.
- Initial results showed that both groups experienced similar rates of adverse events, suggesting that the vaccine was generally safe and tolerated, but no significant differences were found in the occurrence of specific imaging abnormalities related to amyloid treatment.
Background: Long-term longitudinal studies with multimodal biomarkers are needed to delve into the knowledge of preclinical AD. Subjective cognitive decline has been proposed as a risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment. Thus, including individuals with SCD in observational studies may be a cost-effective strategy to increase the prevalence of preclinical AD in the sample.
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