Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: With a rapidly aging population, South Korea anticipates a surge in Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the genetic basis of AD in Koreans is not well understood.

Method: We sequenced the genomes of 3,540 Koreans (1,583 AD cases and 1,957 controls) older than age 60 and performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of AD using logistic regression models that included covariates for age, sex, five ancestry principal components, and an empirical genetic relationship matrix.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Women's elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to men remains unclear, with gonadal hormones proposed as potential contributors. This study aimed to explore the association between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), neuropsychological AD stages, and cerebral Aβ deposition.

Methods: A total of 679 subjects were included in the study (N = 198 for cognitively normal (CN), N = 373 for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and N = 108 for AD dementia groups).

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Preclinical animal models are essential for the development of effective treatments. For instance, the 5xFAD mouse model successfully represents the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Expression of humanized APP (K670N/M671L - Swedish, I716V - Florida, V717I - London) and PSEN1 (M146L and L286V), found in early onset AD patients, induces the production of amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) and amyloid deposition, gliosis, and progressive neuronal loss.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Obesity is caused by the buildup of excess body fat, which upsets homeostasis. Genetic, epigenetic, and behavioural variables all have a role in the pathophysiology of obesity. In turn, obesity throws off the sleep cycle, leading to sleep problems.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Old adults' sleep patterns change during the aging process. Among old adults, 40% of individuals experience insufficient sleep and complain of sleeping disorder, including a decline in the quality of sleep. Patients with dementia also experience sleep disorders, and the most common intervention for this is pharmacotherapy.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Clusterin, a multifunctional glycoprotein, is implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis due to its roles in Aβ aggregation and clearance. Hence, understanding the specific interactions between Clusterin and Aβ would be a crucial for unraveling AD mechanisms and exploring therapeutic avenues. Previous study reported that clusterin bound with Aβ directly.

sp. nov., a novel basidiomycetous yeast species isolated from pine tree bark in Gyeongju, South Korea.

A novel yeast species, isolated from the bark of pine trees in Gyeongju, South Korea, and designated as KCTC 37304 (ex-type KACC 410729), is characterized by its genetic, morphological and physiological properties. Molecular phylogenetic analysis involving the D1/D2 domain of the 26S LSU rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region confirms that it belongs to the genus . In comparison to CBS:10065, the type strain of its closest relative, KCTC 37304 exhibits 8 nucleotide substitutions (~2.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Vascular cognitive impairment/dementia (VD) is the second most prevalent cause of dementia following Alzheimer's disease (AD). VD is characterized by the progression of white matter hyperintensity burden (WMH) and associated neurodegeneration. GFAP, a biomarker for reactive astrogliosis, is associated with Aβ pathology and mediates tau-pathology in preclinical AD.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Assessing tau accumulation in early affected areas like the lateral entorhinal cortex (EC) and inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) enables early prediction of disease progression and cognitive decline. However, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging poses radiation exposure and cost concerns. This research aims to develop a deep learning model predicting tau positivity in these regions using MRI.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: TBI is the 3rd greatest risk factor for developing AD, behind genetics and aging. TBI is associated with a 3-4 year earlier onset of cognitive impairment, and increased cortical thinning and amyloid plaques in people with AD. The underlying mechanisms of this relationship are not understood, and as a result there are no treatments that protect patients from accelerated AD after TBI.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Because of clinically overlapping parkinsonian motor symptoms, it is hard to diagnose a specific disease in atypical parkinsonism or differentiate Parkinson's disease (PD) from atypical parkinsonism. Herein, we report the clinicopathological mismatching of an autopsy-confirmed PSP in a patient clinically diagnosed with PD.

Method Clinical History: We reviewed the brief clinical history of a 70-year-old man and neurologic examination.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Beta-2 microglobulin (β2m) is a component of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) playing a crucial role in the immune system on cell surface, but it can be separated from the MHC-I and exist in biological fluid independently. Numerous reports have shown that β2m is a systemic pro-aging factor impairing cognitive function, and that it is increased in the blood and CSF of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). While β2m in the body fluid has been recognized as a potential factor in AD and aging, the development of therapeutic agents, especially those directly targeting β2m using antibodies, may face challenges.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: In contemporary society, essential for quality of life and professional success, is impacted by voice problems affecting 3∼9% of the population. These issues, leading to significant health and economic burdens, can alter voice frequency and tone, impacting self-esteem, social interactions, and professional outcomes. Voice problems are linked to social isolation and depression, a major emotional disorder causing lethargy and loss of hope.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Dysphagia can increase fear of swallowing, reduce self-esteem, and hinder social relationships. Such factors can also increase anxiety and degrade the quality of life. This study aimed to elucidate the association between dysphagia and depressive symptoms.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism contributes to the increase of cerebral vascular diseases, favoring the development of dementia. In this sense, high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are considered protective against the outcomes associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the effect of plasma HDL levels to alterations of cerebral volume in non-vascular AD and vascular AD individuals.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: We herein introduce a case that was pathologically confirmed as an advanced stage of LATE.

Method: (case presentation) An 81-year-old woman visited a memory clinic complaining of memory impairment in the past few years. She had no psychiatric history and a history of significant hyperlipidemia and hypertension.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between amyloid-β oligomerization tendency (OAβ) in plasma and cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and further determine whether plasma OAβ could predict the outcomes of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Method: The plasma from 727 subjects in a case registry was tested; these subjects included 286 AD patients, 260 MCI patients and 181 normal controls. The multimer detection system (MDS) was used to measure the plasma oligomeric form of Aβ levels.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) from European ancestry identified many genetic variants associated with clinical diagnosis of AD dementia. However, it remains unclear whether these AD-related variants are associated with AD biomarkers, particularly hippocampal atrophy, a well-known neurodegeneration biomarker of AD in a Korean population. In this study, we investigated the association between known AD risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and hippocampal atrophy along the AD continuum in older Korean adults.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Previous Alzheimer's disease GWAS studies were mostly based on the European population, and the β-amyloid (Aβ) status was not considered. We performed a meta-GWAS using East Asian and European genomics data and performed prediction of Aβ status using the identified variant. We utilized single-cell transcriptome data to identify the differentially expressed gene that is affected by the variant.

Rewritable wavelength-selective hydrogel actuators grafted with fluorophores.

Recent efforts have focused on developing stimuli-responsive soft actuators that mimic the adaptive, complex, and reversible movements found in natural species. However, most hydrogel actuators are limited by their inability to combine wavelength-selectivity with reprogrammable shape changes, thereby reducing their degree of freedom in motion. To address this challenge, we present a novel strategy that integrates these capabilities by grafting fluorophores onto temperature-responsive hydrogels.

Emerging devices based on chiral nanomaterials.

As advanced materials, chiral nanomaterials have recently gained vast attention due to their special geometry-based physical and chemical properties. The fast development of the related science and technology means that various devices involving polarization-based information encryption, photoelectronic and spintronic devices, 3D displays, biomedical sensors and measurement, photonic engineering, electronic engineering, solar devices, , been explored extensively. These fields are at their beginning, and much effort needs to be made, including improving the optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of advanced chiral nanomaterials, precisely designing materials, and developing more efficient construction methods.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: In Alzheimer's disease research, subjective report of cognitive and functional decline from participant-study partner (SP) dyads is an efficient method of assessing cognitive impairment and risk of clinical progression. The extent to which discordance (disagreement) between self- and SP-report is associated with diagnosis of cognitive impairment is not known.

Method: We tested the hypothesis that discordance between baseline self- and SP-report Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog) scores was associated with greater probability of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Research on hemodynamic responses in the prefrontal cortex during working memory tasks has mainly been performed in cognitive neuroscience research. However, the specific stimuli contributing to working memory deficits in major depressive disorder (MDD) are currently lacking. This study aims to compare working memory performance and prefrontal cortex activation in individuals with MDD and healthy controls during working memory tasks involving textual, visual, and emotional stimuli.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Recent studies have shown that the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) is useful for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While RCFT is known as a test for visuoconstruction and memory, it demands executive components during copying and recalling of the complex figure. This study aims to explore which features of executive function are involved in RCFT performance and which of them are clinically significant indicators in older adults.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: The Everyday Cognition questionnaire is a sensitive tool for measuring decline in activities of daily living and can differentiate dementia from normal cognition. There is limited data on comparing the ECog-12 performance by raters (self vs. informant/study-partner) and scoring systems (continuous average score vs.