Amyloid beta induces cellular relocalization and production of agrin and glypican-1.

The major component of senile plaques and vascular amyloid in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains is the amyloid beta protein (Abeta). Besides Abeta, several other proteins have been identified in these lesions, in particular heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). However, it is still unclear, what causes the excessive accumulation of HSPG in AD brains.

Single versus multicomponent intervention in frail elderly: simplicity or complexity as precondition for success?

Research on geriatric syndromes has helped to clarify risk factors and established effective intervention strategies, yet the results based on this evidence have mostly failed to translate into clinical practice. The translation of geriatric syndrome research into practice faces unique challenges, which may heighten the barriers to evidence-based implementation. The British Medical Research Council framework (MRC) for development and evaluation of complex interventions, turns out to be very valuable in developing and evaluating interventions in the complex clinical reality of geriatrics.

Community occupational therapy for older patients with dementia and their care givers: cost effectiveness study.

Objective: To assess the cost effectiveness of community based occupational therapy compared with usual care in older patients with dementia and their care givers from a societal viewpoint.

Design: Cost effectiveness study alongside a single blind randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Memory clinic, day clinic of a geriatrics department, and participants' homes.

Development of quality indicators for memory clinics.

Objective: To develop and validate a set of relevant, feasible, and reliable quality indicators (QIs) for the Memory Clinics (MCs).

Background: MCs are important care providers for people with dementia and their caregivers. A set of valid QIs is needed to incorporate evidence-based guidelines into MC clinical practice, and measure adherence to guidelines.

Assessment of quality of life as outcome in dementia and MCI intervention trials: a systematic review.

We conducted a systematic review of the use of quality of life (QoL) measures as outcome in pharmacological and nonpharmacologic intervention trials in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or dementia, and their proxies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from a search of the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group in April 2006. We also checked references and systematic reviews.

Diagnostic accuracy of ELISA and xMAP technology for analysis of amyloid beta(42) and tau proteins.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of amyloid beta(42) (Abeta(42)) peptides and tau proteins may serve as biomarkers for Alzheimer disease (AD). Recently, the xMAP technology has been introduced as an alternative to ELISA for measurement of these markers.

Methods: We used xMAP assays and ELISA to analyze CSF concentrations of Abeta(42), total tau (t-tau), and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-tau(181)) in samples from 69 patients with Alzheimer disease, 26 patients with vascular dementia, and 55 controls without neurological disorders.

Evaluating the outcome of interventions on quality of life in dementia: selection of the appropriate scale.

Background: A literature study was conducted to contribute to an adequate use of quality of life (QoL) instruments for the evaluation of interventions in dementia care by providing an overview of properties of QoL measures that acknowledge domains important to dementia patients.

Methods: Domains important to patients, and domains that professional caregivers in different settings focus on, are compared to domains represented in nine QoL instruments. Data on psychometrics and applicability are generated.

Impact of diagnostic disclosure in dementia on patients and carers: qualitative case series analysis.

Adequate diagnostic information can be considered a basic intervention in dementia care. However, clear diagnostic disclosure in dementia is not yet regular practice and the evidence regarding patients' preferences for or against disclosure is scarce. The aim of this study was to give an in-depth description of the impact of receiving the diagnosis of dementia, both on patients and the patients' proxies.

The impact of diagnostic disclosure in dementia: a qualitative case analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to give an in-depth description of the impact of disclosure of the diagnosis of dementia on a patient and the patient's partner.

Methods: Grounded theory interview study.

Results: Analysis of the interviews revealed that disclosure had an impact on three key domains: awareness of dementia, interpersonal relationship and social relationships.

The practice of obtaining approval from medical research ethics committees: a comparison within 12 European countries for a descriptive study on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer's dementia.

Across Europe the protection of research subjects with dementia has to meet a variety of national legislation and ethical codes. This research project compared how in different EU countries one single descriptive multinational study on dementia treatment strategies was evaluated by medical ethical committees and how the issues of informed consent and capacity to consent were dealt with. The study that was evaluated is the ICTUS study, which studies the impact of treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE-I) on Europeans with mildly or moderately severe Alzheimer's disease (AD).