Communication-related experiences of individuals in the early phase of semantic dementia and their families: an interview study.

Background: Semantic dementia (SD), a subtype of frontotemporal dementia, manifests as verbal symptoms, including social and behavioural deficits, associated with focal atrophy of the frontotemporal lobes. This study aimed to clarify the experiences of individuals with early-onset SD receiving speech and language rehabilitation (hereafter referred to as 'rehabilitation'), with the intent of making it routine, as well as the experiences of their families.

Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with nine families with members who had adopted rehabilitation.

Experiences of families of people living with frontotemporal dementia: a qualitative systematic review.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is characterised by atrophy of the frontal and/or temporal lobes. People with FTD show language and emotional disturbances from onset, and communication problems usually affect people with FTD and their families even before diagnosis. These unique characteristics of FTD are not well understood and create substantial problems for people living with FTD and their families.

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.

Differences of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Disease Severity in Four Major Dementias.

Background/aims: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) negatively impact the prognosis of dementia patients and increase caregiver distress. The aims of this study were to clarify the differences of trajectories of 12 kinds of BPSDs by disease severity in four major dementias and to develop charts showing the frequency, severity, and associated caregiver distress (ACD) of BPSDs using the data of a Japan multicenter study (J-BIRD).

Methods: We gathered Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) data of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD; n = 1091), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB; n = 249), vascular dementia (VaD; n = 156), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD; n = 102) collected during a 5-year period up to July 31, 2013 in seven centers for dementia in Japan.

Sleep disturbances are key symptoms of very early stage Alzheimer disease with behavioral and psychological symptoms: a Japan multi-center cross-sectional study (J-BIRD).

Background: Sleep disturbances in Alzheimer disease (AD) may affect behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Our aim was to elucidate the associations between sleep disturbances and other BPSD at different stages of AD.

Methods: This investigation was part of a multicenter-retrospective study in Japan (J-BIRD).

[A CLINICAL EXPERIENCE OF RIFAMPICIN SUPPOSITORY FOR THE TREATMENT OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS].

Purpose: The usefulness of a rifampicin (RFP) suppository for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis was examined in patients who had difficulty with oral consumption of medication.

Subjects And Methods: Among inpatients receiving first-time treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis susceptible to both isoniazid (INH) and RFP, and who underwent standard 3- or 4-drug treatments including INH and RFP, we compared the number of days required for obtaining two and three consecutive negative sputum smears and cultures, respectively, in patients who received hospital-made suppositories or standard oral RFP administration.

Results: There was no significant difference between groups in the number of days required for negative cultures and smears; although the times were equivalent, there were more number of elderly patients and those in generally poor condition in the RFP suppository group than the oral intake group.

Distribution of D-3-aminoisobutyrate-pyruvate aminotransferase in the rat brain.

Background: D-3-aminoisobutyrate, an intermediary product of thymine, is converted to 2-methyl-3-oxopropanoate using pyruvate as an amino acceptor by D-3-aminoisobutyrate-pyruvate aminotransferase (D-AIB AT; EC 2.6.1.

The nicotinic cholinergic system is affected in rats with delayed carbon monoxide encephalopathy.

Delayed carbon monoxide (CO) encephalopathy may occur following recovery from acute CO poisoning. However, the mechanism of delayed neuronal injury remains unknown. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been suggested to play a role in cognitive status in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.

Multicenter population-based study on the prevalence of early onset dementia in Japan: vascular dementia as its prominent cause.

Aim: In Japan, the government and media have become aware of the issues of early onset dementia (EOD), but policies for EOD have not yet been established and support systems are inadequate. To provide practical data about EOD, a two-step postal survey was performed.

Methods: A questionnaire requesting information on EOD cases was sent to target institutions in five catchment areas in Japan.

[A case report of early-onset Alzheimer's disease with multiple psychotic symptoms, finally diagnosed as APPV717I mutation by genetic testing].

It is difficult to confirm a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) because patients sometimes have non-specific cortical features, such as psychiatric symptoms, executive functional impairment, and pyramidal symptoms, along with typical symptoms, such as recent memory impairment and disorientation. We encountered a patient with multiple psychotic symptoms, finally diagnosed with EOAD on genetic testing. A right-handed sixty-year-old man, whose mother was suspected of having dementia, developed memory impairment at the age of fifty, disorientation at the age of fifty-six, and both visual hallucination and dressing apraxia at the age of fifty-nine.

Apathy correlates with prefrontal amyloid β deposition in Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: Neuropsychiatric symptoms affect many patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). ((11)C)Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB) positron emission tomography (PET) has enabled the in vivo visualisation of brain amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition. This study exploratively investigated the correlation between brain Aβ deposition measured by ((11)C)PIB PET and neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD.

Combination of antioxidant supplements improved cognitive function in the elderly.

Although nutrients or agents with antioxidant properties were reported to show a preventive effect on cognitive decline in animal studies, epidemiologic data on select antioxidants have shown conflicting results. We investigated whether a combination of antioxidants from supplements is effective for the improvement of cognitive function of elderly. Forty-one subjects from a community dwelling aged 65 years and older took supplements containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), lycopene, and Ginkgo biloba extracts (GE) daily for 3 years.

Phenotypical difference of amyloid precursor protein (APP) V717L mutation in Japanese family.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Mutations in genes such as those encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 and presenilin 2, are responsible for early-onset familial AD.

Case Presentation: In this study, we report a 275341 G > C (Val717Leu) mutation in the APP gene in a Japanese family with early onset AD by genetic screening.

Effect of plasma lipids, hypertension and APOE genotype on cognitive decline.

We examined the combined effect of plasma lipids/hypertension and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype on cognitive function in elderly individuals. Plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), APOE, and history of hypertension were evaluated in 622 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older. We investigated the associations between plasma lipids/hypertension and cognitive function in apolipoprotein E4 allele (APOE4) carrier (E4+) and APOE4 noncarrier (E4-) groups using 3-year longitudinal data.

Prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms among older Japanese people: comorbidity of mild cognitive impairment and depression.

Background: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of DSM-III-R major depressive episodes (MDEs), depressive symptoms cases (DSCs) (defined as a score of ≥6 on the Geriatric Depression Scale but falling short of MDE), and coexisting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among Japanese community-dwelling older people.

Methods: Prevalence was estimated based on screening evaluation, individual interviews, and door-to-door visits. MDE and DSC were diagnosed, and the cognitive status of the participants was determined to be dementia, MCI, or normal.

Clinical profiles of late-onset semantic dementia, compared with early-onset semantic dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Semantic dementia (SD) has been recognized as a representative of dementia with presenile onset; however, recent epidemiological studies have shown that SD also occurs in the elderly. There have been few studies about the differences of clinical profiles between early-onset SD (EO-SD) and late-onset SD (LO-SD). Age-associated changes in the brain might cause some additional cognitive and behavioural profiles of LO-SD in contrast to the typical EO-SD cases.

Association between cognitive function and plasma lipids of the elderly after controlling for apolipoprotein E genotype.

Objective: Although the relationship between cognitive function and plasma lipids has attracted attention, previous studies have shown conflicting results. One possible confounding factor is due to the influence of gene-related modulator. We investigated the relationship between cognitive function and lipid plasma levels of old age after controlling for apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype.

Risk of progression from mild memory impairment to clinically diagnosable Alzheimer's disease in a Japanese community (from the Nakayama Study).

Background: Memory impairment has been proposed as the most common early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aims of this work were to evaluate the risk of progression from mild memory impairment/no dementia (MMI/ND) to clinically diagnosable AD in a community-based prospective cohort and to establish the risk factors for progression from MMI/ND to AD in the elderly.

Methods: Elderly subjects aged over 65 years were selected from the participants in the first Nakayama study.

Transition of distinctive symptoms of semantic dementia during longitudinal clinical observation.

Background/aims: The aim of this study is to examine the clinical symptoms in a number of semantic dementia (SD) patients and to reveal the longitudinal progression and clinical course of these distinctive symptoms of SD.

Methods: 19 consecutive SD patients were examined. Symptoms were classified into 23 distinct categories: behavioral symptoms, language and cognitive symptoms and symptoms concerning the impairment of activities of daily living (ADL).

Prevalence and causes of early-onset dementia in Japan: a population-based study.

Background And Purpose: Few studies are available that have addressed the prevalence of early-onset dementia (EOD), including early-onset Alzheimer disease and other forms of dementia in Japan.

Methods: A 2-step postal survey was sent to all of the 2475 institutions providing medical or care services for individuals with dementia in Japan's Ibaraki prefecture (population, 2 966 000) requesting information on EOD cases. Data were then reviewed and collated.

Cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms in early- and late-onset frontotemporal dementia.

Background/aim: Some recent studies mentioned that late-onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is more common than previously assumed. Although much research has been done in the field, there are no systematic studies which have compared clinical characteristics of early- and late-onset FTD. The aim of this study was to compare cognitive function and psychiatric symptoms in patients with early- and late-onset FTD.

[A case of Brugada syndrome with convulsive seizure during antidepressant administration: relation of antidepressant agents and arrhythmia leading to sudden death].

Brugada syndrome is an arrhythmogenetic disease characterized by electrocardiographic ST segment elevation in right precordial leads, which is called "coved type", and an increased risk of sudden death as the result of ventricular fibrillation. We presented a case of Brugada syndrome with a convulsive seizure, during administration of a tricyclic antidepressant for the treatment of a depressive state. A 43-year-old man with bipolar II disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of a depressive state.