Drug Development.

Background: Novel anti-amyloid therapies (AAT) for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have recently been approved in the United States, Japan and China, and are under regulatory review in Europe. Questions remain regarding the long-term effectiveness and value of these drugs when used in routine clinical practice. Data from follow-up studies will be important to inform their optimal use, including criteria for treatment initiation, monitoring strategies, stopping rules, pricing and reimbursement considerations.

Drug Development.

Background: Cilostazol, a selective type-3 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, ameliorates β-amyloid accumulation by facilitating intramural periarterial drainage.

Method: Patients with mild cognitive impairment were registered in the COMCID study, an investigator-initiated, double-blinded, multi-center, phase-II clinical trial. The primary endpoint was the Mini-Mental State Examination score.

Drug Development.

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.

Sex-related differences in the morphology of rectal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in C57BL/6NCrSlc mice.

Sex hormones regulate gut function and mucosal immunity; however, their specific effects on the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in the rectum of mammals remain unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the influence of sex on MALT in the rectum of mammals by focusing on the rectal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (RMALTs) of C57BL/6NCrSIc mice. Histological analysis revealed that RMALTs were predominantly located in the lamina propria and submucosa of the rectal mucosa, with a significant sex-related difference in the distance from the anorectal junction to the first appearance of the RMALT.

Photocurrent Generation by Plant Light-Harvesting Complexes is Enhanced by Lipid-Linked Chromophores in a Self-Assembled Lipid Membrane.

The light-harvesting pigment-protein complex II (LHCII) from plants can be used as a component for biohybrid photovoltaic devices, acting as a photosensitizer to increase the photocurrent generated when devices are illuminated with sunlight. LHCII is effective at photon absorption in the red and blue regions of the visible spectrum, however, it has low absorption in the green region (550-650 nm). Previous studies have shown that synthetic chromophores can be used to fill this spectral gap and transfer additional energy to LHCII, but it was uncertain whether this would translate into an improved performance for photovoltaics.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: The effectiveness of multimodal lifestyle interventions to prevent dementia is being validated. Since a relatively long period (∼2 years) is required for manifesting an impact on cognitive function, the exploration of an alternative marker that exhibits changes within a comparatively brief duration, thereby prognosticating future alterations in cognitive function, is needed. The decline in gait function is associated with cognitive impairment and is also a predictor of future cognitive decline.

Drug Development.

Background: One of the pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain is neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of highly phosphorylated tau protein. Clinical benefit of traditional Japanese Kampo Yokukansan for dementia patients, including AD was suggested. In this study, we investigated whether yokukansan participates in the degradation of phosphorylated tau and toxic oligomeric species of tau by using cell culture model of tauopathy, M1C cells.

Drug Development.

A 10 mg/kg every 2 week (Q2W) dose of the humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody lecanemab was approved after demonstrating significant clinical benefit in slowing cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) in two clinical studies (the phase 2 Study 201 and phase 3 Clarity AD). A less frequent every 4 weeks lecanemab 10 mg/kg maintenance dosing (Q4W) has been proposed after a sufficient initial Q2W treatment. To further understand long-term benefit of continued Q4W lecanemab treatment, a quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model was developed which mechanistically describes AD pathophysiology using multivariate data from clinical studies.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Loneliness has been linked to cognitive decline and an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies measured loneliness at a single point time, which may not accurately capture the longitudinal changes of different loneliness types (e.g.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: The progressive nature of dementia and the complex needs means that people living with dementia require tailored approaches to address their changing care needs over time. These include physical multimorbidity, psychological, behavioural, and cognitive symptoms and possible risks arising from these and helping family caregivers. However, provision of these interventions is highly variable between and within countries, partly due to uncertainty about their efficacy and scarce resources.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of people living with dementia (BPSD) are considered to reflect the person's quality of life and are also risk factors for increased burden on caregivers. Although symptoms of BPSD are known to be diverse and variable, it is unclear whether they show similar longitudinal patterns in different countries. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the trajectory patterns in BPSD and related factors using data from Japan and the US and compare the results of the two countries.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: As Japan experiences a super-ageing society and caregiver manpower decreases, interest in the use of communication robots for active dementia care rises. In the U.S.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Data from high-income countries (HICs) suggest a decline in age-specific incidence rates of dementia. However, this has happened primarily in HICs, with low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) facing two main challenges: a higher burden of risk factors and, in general, a faster ageing population. Most people with dementia live in LMICs, and this is set to increase, thus requiring urgent and robust action to prevent, treat and support people with dementia and their families.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Our authors from around the world met to summarise the available knowledge, decide which potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia have compelling evidence and create the most comprehensive analysis to date for potentially modifiable risk factors to inform policy, give individuals the opportunity to control their risks and generate research.

Method: We incorporated all risk factors for which we judged there was strong enough evidence. We used the largest recent worldwide meta-analyses for risk factor prevalence and relative risk and if not available the best data.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: While symptomatic treatment for Alzheimer's disease has been available for three decades disease modifying treatment does not exist. New drug treatments, known as immunotherapies, which remove amyloid from the brain offer hope, but the clinical significance remains uncertain.

Method: Systematic reviews of the literature, expert consensus, and information from clinical environments.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: The 2020 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care estimated that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented by tackling 12 potentially modifiable risk factors, namely less education, hearing loss, hypertension, physical inactivity, diabetes, social isolation, excessive alcohol consumption, air pollution, smoking, obesity, traumatic brain injury, depression. As more evidence on risk factors emerges, the Lancet standing commission on dementia met to update evidence on established dementia risk factors and to consider the evidence for other risk factors.

Method: We used a lifecourse approach to understand how to reduce risk or prevent dementia, as many risks operate at different timepoints in the lifespan.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Psychotropic drug prescriptions are commonly used to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in elderly patients in long-term care facilities. The prevalence of psychotropic drug use in this population raises concerns due to potential side effects, polypharmacy and quality of life of the patients.

Aim: To assess the trends in psychotropic drug prescriptions for elderly patients with dementia following the continuous implementation of multimodal comprehensive care communication skills training for staff in a long-term care hospital.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Day care services provide various activities, including rehabilitation, to maintain and improve physical function and social participation of older people. However, the relationship between rehabilitation participation and emotional changes in older adults with dementia who use day care services is not well understood.

Method: The participants were 157 older adults living in the community who used day-care services.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: To enhance the well-being of individuals with dementia, it is crucial to minimize the risk of deterioration in long-term care needs. This study aimed to identify factors and construct predictive models for deterioration in long-term care (LTC) levels in Japanese older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Method: This retrospective cohort study utilized the data from a memory clinic-based cohort study (NCGG-STORIES) and individual LTC insurance data provided by three municipalities.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Day care services provide not only physical exercise to improve physical function, but also a variety of activities. These activities are expected to enhance leisure activities of users and improve their QOL. However, the relationship between QOL and the presence of leisure activities in day care service users with dementia has not been clarified.

Ectopic Salivary Duct Cyst in the Median Mandible: A Case Report with Radiological, Immunohistochemical and Genetic Studies.

Median mandibular cyst is defined as an odontogenic cyst in a rare midline location. In spite of this definition, there have been two reports of a peculiar lesion, so-called "ciliated" median mandibular cyst associated with vital teeth, the origin of which cannot be explained in terms of odontogenic epithelium multipotentiality. We describe a thorough profile of an additional example.

Dementia Care Practice.

Background: In Japan, the number of patients with dementia is increasing and there is a shortage of human resources who can conduct detailed psychological examinations, and the development and implementation of new tools is essential for improving dementia care. Japan is one of seven sites across the globe focusing on healthcare system preparedness as part of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative Early Detection flagship program. As part of this program, Japan implemented new tools including a digital cognitive assessment (DCA) and blood-based biomarker (BBM) to increase rates of early detection of cognitive impairment.

Dementia Care Practice.

Background: Cognitive impairment is frequently undetected or undiagnosed in the early stages. To increase the rates of detecting cognitive impairment, the Early Detection program of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative System Preparedness (DAC-SP) implemented digital cognitive assessments (DCA) in primary care and other non-specialty settings.

Methods: The DAC-SP Early Detection program was initiated in 2021 in seven healthcare systems across six countries.

Dementia Care Practice.

Background: Early symptoms of cognitive impairment are frequently undetected. The Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative System Preparedness (DAC-SP) Early Detection program implemented a digital cognitive assessment (DCA) in primary care and other non-specialty settings to increase the rate of detection of cognitive impairment.

Methods: The DAC-SP Early Detection program was initiated in 2021 in seven healthcare systems across six countries.

Dementia Care Practice.

Japan's aging demographic is witnessing a sharp rise in dementia cases, projected to reach 7.3 million by 2025 and 9.66 million by 2045.