In the period 2005-2006 a survey on natural radioactivity in about 500 schools located in south-east Italy (the Salento peninsula, province of Lecce) was carried out. In particular average radon concentration and average absorbed dose rate in air due to gamma radiation have been assessed by using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) and electret ionization chambers (EIC), as well as thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD), respectively. SSNTD dosimeters were placed in every school, while electrets and TLD have been employed in a pilot study performed in a selected sample of 56 schools in order to achieve preliminary information. Moreover the study foresaw a quality control on electret dosimeters' perfomances in terms of homogeneity and reliability. The results of this check have been taken into account in the data analysis. In this paper final results concerning the pilot study are reported. The indoor radon levels measured in the schools ranged from 65Bq/m(3) to 1808Bq/m(3), and only six schools (corresponding to 13% of the sample) showed radon annual average above 500Bq/m(3), Italian action level for workplaces. For the average absorbed dose rate in air due to gamma radiation, the recorded values ranged between 47 and 83nGy/h with an average value of 61nGy/h.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2009.12.008 | DOI Listing |
Background: Abnormal glucose metabolism in AD brains correlates with cognitive deficits. The glucose changes are consistent with brain thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. In animals, thiamine deficiency causes multiple AD-like changes including memory loss, neuron loss, brain inflammation, enhanced phosphorylation of tau, exaggerated plaque formation and elevated advanced glycation end products (AGE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
University of Southern California, San Diego, USA.
Background: Recruitment of demographically diverse participants into Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials, encompassing both screening and randomization, remains a consistent and persistent challenge contributing to underrepresentation of certain groups. Despite the exciting prospects of identifying therapeutic interventions for biomarker-eligible, cognitively unimpaired individuals, these studies grapple with the inherent complexities of AD trials coupled with intricate and time-consuming screening processes. Addressing this the issue of underrepresentation necessitates concerted and intentional efforts that prioritize inclusivity and equitable access to enroll adults meeting study criteria, reflecting the demographic and social diversity of North America.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
In Japan, the regulatory authority approved the drug in September 2023, and on December 20, it became available for prescription country-wide under the health insurance system. However, there are strict patient, physician, and facility requirements for the prescription of Lecanemab, and various problems are anticipated in its future implementation and widespread use in society. Lecanemab is the first anti-Aβ antibody in Japan, and even dementia specialists do not have sufficient knowledge and experience in its introduction, evaluation of efficacy, and evaluation and handling of side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Reliable treatment approaches for addressing early cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are currently lacking. Given the multifactorial nature of AD, therapeutic strategies need to focus on disease-specific biochemical pathways. Given the significance of metabolic pathways in cognitive impairment, it is essential to investigate alternative disease modifiers capable of targeting multiple metabolic pathways, such as phytochemicals.
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December 2024
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Background: Hearing rehabilitation has been a promising approach to improve cognitive outcomes. An ongoing study identified some barriers to engage patients in counseling sessions and using their hearing devices. Here we present the results from the first stage of a Sense-Cog Brazil pilot study, the recruitment phase.
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