1,107 results match your criteria: "Radboud Alzheimer Centre; Radboud University Medical Centre[Affiliation]"

The mechanism underlying the possible causal association between long-term sleep disruption and Alzheimer's disease remains unclear Musiek et al. 2015. A hypothesised pathway through increased brain amyloid load was not confirmed in previous work in our cohort of maritime pilots with long-term work-related sleep disruption Thomas et al.

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Evaluating the web-based 'Partner in Balance' program for informal caregivers of people with Huntington's disease: A pilot study.

Internet Interv

December 2024

Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology / Alzheimer Center Limburg, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) poses significant challenges for both affected individuals and their informal caregivers. With the progression of HD, caregivers frequently prioritize caring for the person with HD over their own well-being. 'Partner in Balance' (PiB) is an 8-week online self-management program guided by a personal coach, developed to help caregivers of people with HD cope with challenging situations and develop skills to increase resilience and prevent overburdening.

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A microglia-containing cerebral organoid model to study early life immune challenges.

Brain Behav Immun

January 2025

Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Human Genetics, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, Netherlands (the); Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands (the); Department of Psychiatry, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, Netherlands (the).

Prenatal infections and activation of the maternal immune system have been proposed to contribute to causing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), chronic conditions often linked to brain abnormalities. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play a key role in neurodevelopment. Disruption of microglial functions can lead to brain abnormalities and increase the risk of developing NDDs.

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Introduction: Delirium, a clinical manifestation of acute encephalopathy, is associated with extended hospitalisation, long-term cognitive dysfunction, increased mortality and high healthcare costs. Despite intensive research, there is still no targeted treatment. Delirium is characterised by electroencephalography (EEG) slowing, increased relative delta power and decreased functional connectivity.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examined the impact of cerebellar anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive performance among patients suffering from cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS), where no established treatment currently exists.
  • It involved 35 participants in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial with assessments of cognitive function, ataxia severity, mood, and quality of life over several months.
  • The results showed no significant improvement in cognitive performance from tDCS, but did indicate a noteworthy reduction in ataxia severity, suggesting tDCS may have potential benefits for motor-related symptoms in cerebellar disorders.
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Purpose: The loss of olfactory function is known to occur in patients suffering from (behavioral variant) frontotemporal dementia ((bv)FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), although different pathophysiological mechanisms underpin this clinical symptom in both disorders. This study assessed whether brain metabolism of the olfactory circuit as assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([F]-FDG) can distinguish these entities in different subsets of patients.

Methods: Patients presenting with cognitive decline were included from a prospectively kept database: (1) bvFTD patients, (2) AD patients and (3) patients with logopenic primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

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Autoimmune Encephalitis and Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes: A Nationwide Study on Epidemiology and Antibody Testing Performance.

Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm

November 2024

From the Department of Neurology (J.K., J.M.V., R.F.N., J.B., Y.C., R.W.v.S., M.A.A.M.d.B., M.H.v.C.-H., A.E.M.B., M.V., S.C.F., M.M.P.N., M.P., P.A.E.S.S., M.J.T.); Department of Immunology (M.S., S.B., S.V.), Laboratory Medical Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam; Department of Neurology (M.A.A.M.D.B.), Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg; Department of Neurology (A.v.S.), Haaglanden Medical Center, The Hague; Central Diagnostic Laboratory (J.D.), Maastricht University Medical Center; Central Diagnostic Laboratory (H.G.O.); Department of Neurology (C.J.M.F.), Utrecht University Medical Center; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology (B.M.), Saint Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein; Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Immunology (A.C.M.P.), Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Tilburg; Department of Neurology (A.M., C.C.D.); Clinical Laboratory (M.A.C.B.), Máxima Medical Center, Veldhoven; Departments of Neurology and Human Genetics (M.M.V.), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen; and Department of Neurology (E.I.H.), Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands.

Background And Objectives: Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) and paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNSs) encompass a heterogeneous group of antibody-associated disorders. Both the number of syndromes and commercially available antibody tests have increased considerably over the past decade. High-quality population-based data on epidemiology of these disorders and real-world performance of antibody tests are needed.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disease with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to its etiology. Previous evidence has implicated disturbed insulin signaling as a key mechanism that plays a role in both neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and comorbid somatic diseases such as diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). In this study, we analysed available genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of AD and somatic insulin-related diseases and conditions (SID), i.

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Article Synopsis
  • Subcortical brain structures play a crucial role in various developmental and psychiatric disorders, and a study analyzed brain volumes in 74,898 individuals, identifying 254 genetic loci linked to these volumes, which accounted for up to 35% of variation.
  • The research included exploring gene expression in specific neural cell types, focusing on genes involved in intracellular signaling and processes related to brain aging.
  • The findings suggest that certain genetic variants not only influence brain volume but also have potential causal links to conditions like Parkinson’s disease and ADHD, highlighting the genetic basis for risks associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Background: Persons with dementia frequently experience mealtime behavioral problems that can result in reduced or lack of intake of food or fluids. Multiple underlying causes and expressions of mealtime behavioral problems complicate its interpretation and intervention, because problems originating from cognitive and functional decline and behavioral changes may interact. Healthcare professionals and family caregivers may encounter a variety of practical and moral dilemmas in dealing with these problems.

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Background: Digital mental health interventions could sustainably and scalably prevent and reduce loneliness in older adults. We designed an app containing 29 text-based games and a questionnaire-administering chatbot to stimulate intergenerational contact.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a social gaming app in reducing loneliness among older adults by evaluating recruitment strategies, data collection procedures, and gameplay activity.

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Characterizing tandem repeat complexities across long-read sequencing platforms with TREAT and .

Genome Res

November 2024

Section Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Aging, Department of Clinical Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Tandem repeats (TRs) play important roles in genomic variation and disease risk in humans. Long-read sequencing allows for the accurate characterization of TRs; however, the underlying bioinformatics perspectives remain challenging. We present and TREAT: is a fast targeted local assembler, cross-compatible across different sequencing platforms.

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Article Synopsis
  • Challenging behavior and pain are frequent issues for nursing home residents with dementia, and the STA OP! method aims to address these concerns through a structured protocol, though it initially lacked family caregiver involvement.
  • The STA OP! method was revised to actively include family caregivers by collaborating with them and healthcare professionals, discussing barriers to their involvement and potential solutions.
  • The modified protocol generated 38 ideas, with key suggestions like family-inclusive meetings and pain assessments together; ultimately, 21 ideas were incorporated into a training manual for healthcare professionals to enhance their practice with the revised STA OP! method.*
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Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease is associated with effects on cerebral perfusion and white matter integrity.

Heliyon

October 2024

Department of Metabolic Health Research, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Sylviusweg 71, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands.

It is unclear whether early metabolic and inflammatory aberrations in the liver are associated with detrimental changes in brain structure and cognitive function. This cross-sectional study examines putative associations between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and brain health in 36-55 year-old participants with obesity (n = 70) from the BARICO study (BAriatric surgery Rijnstate and Radboudumc neuroImaging and Cognition in Obesity). The participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to study brain volumes and cortical thickness (3T MRI including T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequence), cerebral blood perfusion (arterial spin labeling) and white matter integrity (diffusion weighted imaging to assess mean-skeletonized mean diffusivity and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery to detect the presence of white matter hyperintensities (WMH)).

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Article Synopsis
  • Subcortical brain structures play a crucial role in various disorders, and a study analyzed the genetic basis of brain volumes in nearly 75,000 individuals of European ancestry, revealing 254 loci linked to these volumes.
  • The research identified significant gene expression in neural cells, relating to brain aging and signaling, and found that polygenic scores could predict brain volumes across different ancestries.
  • The study highlights genetic connections between brain volumes and conditions like Parkinson's disease and ADHD, suggesting specific gene expression patterns could be involved in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Article Synopsis
  • Social health in dementia is gaining attention, highlighting the need for understanding social health markers that can aid in developing interventions and measures.
  • An international qualitative study across six countries (Australia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Poland, Netherlands) involved interviews with various stakeholders, including people with dementia and caregivers, to identify both known and new social health markers.
  • The study identified 67 participants and revealed social health markers such as loneliness and novel concepts like compliance with social norms and the role of social networks, emphasizing the importance of both individual and social environmental factors in dementia care.
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How international experts would define advance care planning: a content analysis.

Ann Palliat Med

November 2024

Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Advance care planning (ACP) has shifted towards focusing on broad conversations about values and preferences regarding future medical treatment, especially in the context of dementia care.
  • An explorative study surveyed 87 international experts and analyzed how they defined ACP, with nearly half providing definitions from a patient perspective, indicating a shared emphasis on individualized care.
  • Key themes identified in definitions included 'Choosing between options', 'Care and treatment', and 'Having conversations', suggesting that expert consensus favors person-centered approaches rather than concentrating solely on end-of-life issues or documentation.
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Documentation of shared decision-making in diagnostic testing for dementia in Dutch general practice: A retrospective study in electronic patient records.

Patient Educ Couns

January 2025

Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute (MHeNS), Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location VU, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Objective: To explore (1) documentation of shared decision-making (SDM) in diagnostic testing for dementia in electronic patient records (EPR) in general practice and (2) study whether documentation of SDM is related to specific patient characteristics.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, EPRs of 228 patients in three Dutch general practices were explored for the documentation of SDM elements using Elwyn's model (team talk, option talk, decision talk). Patient characteristics (gender, age, comorbidities, chronic polypharmacy, the number of consultations on memory complaints) and decision outcome (wait-and-see, GP diagnostics, referral) were also extracted.

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Germline mutations in a G protein identify signaling cross-talk in T cells.

Science

September 2024

Human Immunological Diseases Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research (DIR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.

Article Synopsis
  • Researchers studied mutations in a gene that affects a key protein involved in cell signaling, which is linked to severe health issues like impaired immunity in patients.
  • The mutations were found to disrupt normal cell behavior by promoting excessive cell growth and responses to immune signals, specifically T cell receptor stimulation.
  • The mutant protein was shown to interfere with a regulatory protein, leading to heightened activity of important signaling pathways that contribute to cell growth and survival.
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No replicating evidence for anti-amyloid-β autoantibodies in cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation.

Ann Clin Transl Neurol

October 2024

Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Objective: Elevated levels of anti-amyloid-β (anti-Aβ) autoantibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been proposed as a diagnostic biomarker for cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-RI). We aimed to independently validate the immunoassay for quantifying these antibodies and evaluate its diagnostic value for CAA-RI.

Methods: We replicated the immunoassay to detect CSF anti-Aβ autoantibodies using CSF from CAA-RI patients and non-CAA controls with unrelated disorders and further characterized its performance.

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Validity and reliability of the Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition 15 (PAIC15) observation scale in persons with aphasia.

BMC Neurol

September 2024

Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, Hippocratespad 21, Zone V0-P, Leiden, 2300 RC, the Netherlands.

Background: The use of self-report pain scales in persons with aphasia can be challenging due to communication and cognitive problems, while for assessing pain self-report pain is considered the gold standard (Harrison RA, Field TS. Post stroke pain: identification, assessment, and therapy. Cerebrovasc Dis.

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Introduction: Neuroanatomical normative modeling captures individual variability in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we used normative modeling to track individuals' disease progression in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and patients with AD.

Methods: Cortical and subcortical normative models were generated using healthy controls (n ≈ 58k).

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Objectives: Timely detection and diagnosis of dementia are beneficial for providing appropriate, anticipatory care and preventing acute situations. However, initiating diagnostic testing is a complex and dynamic process that requires general practitioners (GPs) to balance competing priorities. Previously identified barriers, such as a lack of time, knowledge, and resources, may not fully represent the challenges involved in this process.

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