Public Health.

Background: Observational studies have reported cognitive domain alterations in individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), affecting cognitive domains of information-processing speed, memory, attention, and executive function. Epidemiological observational studies have shown an association between higher blood pressure [HBP], low processing speed, short-term memory and learning, and delayed recall. Within the US Hispanic/Latino population, specifically Mexican Americans, cognition remains insufficiently studied.

Public Health.

Background: The increasing number of natural disasters and wars will result in complex emergencies affecting how individuals age. Additionally, the continued complex crises in certain areas of the globe exacerbates risks for chronic health conditions and poverty. Implementing ethical and community-engaged research in these complex humanitarian settings requires tailored approaches.

Public Health.

Background: Previous research has predominantly examined life satisfaction in stroke patients as a singular variable, overlooking its multidimensional nature encompassing health, income, spouse, and child satisfaction. To address this research gap, our longitudinal study utilizes survival analysis to investigate how various aspects of life satisfaction are influenced by diverse lifestyle factors.

Method: We employed data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2010-2020), specifically focusing on stroke patients who survived from 2010 to 2020.

Biomarkers.

Background: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) pathology is becoming increasingly important in Alzheimer's disease (AD) because of its potential link to amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, a critical side effect observed during AD immunotherapy. Identification of CAA without typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers (MRI-negative CAA) is challenging, and novel detection biomarkers are needed.

Method: We included 69 participants with high neuritic plaques (NP) burden, with and without CAA pathology (NP with CAA vs.

Biomarkers.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is widely used in clinical practice as a marker for inflammatory condition. Previous studies have examined the association between CRP levels in peripheral blood and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, but have yielded mixed results. In this study, we investigated the association between serum CRP levels and in vivo cerebral beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in nondemented older adults.

Biomarkers.

Background: Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) positivity is usually determined using visual assessment or a cutoff for standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) based on cortical amyloid uptake. Our study aimed to develop and validate a machine-learning based method for classifying amyloid PET positivity utilizing amyloid uptake in cerebral normal-appearing white matter (NAWM).

Method: We analyzed Florbetaben (FBB) PET and MRI data from 813 participants aged 50 and over, recruited from dementia clinics of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia cohort.

Biomarkers.

Background: Brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) has been associated with improved neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity and long-term memory. Some human studies also reported the relationship between lower blood BDNF levels and poorer memory function and dementia. A prior longitudinal study also demonstrated higher serum BDNF levels were associated with lower risk of overall dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia.

Biomarkers.

Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-intrusive technique that provides comprehensive insights into the electrical activities of the brain's cerebral cortex. The brain signals obtained from EEGs can be used as a neuropsychological biomarker to detect different stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through quantitative EEG (qEEG) analysis. This paper investigates the difference in the abnormalities of resting state EEG (rEEG) signals between eyes-open (EOR) and eyes-closed (ECR) in AD by analyzing 19- scalp electrode EEG signals and making a comparison with healthy controls (HC).

Biomarkers.

Background: Although previous studies have demonstrated cognitive impairment in elderly individuals with sarcopenia and its neuronal substrates, there is no comprehensive model integrating multiple brain pathologies to predict cognitive impairment associated with sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to explore a comprehensive prediction model for cognitive impairment in sarcopenia using multimodal neuroimaging methods in non-demented older adults.

Method: This cross-sectional study used data from the Catholic Aging Brain Imaging Database study, a population-based cohort study with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and clinical data.

Biomarkers.

Background: Amyloid-β is widely known as a substantial biomarker in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. However, detection of amyloid-β through neuroimaging techniques requires huge amounts of resources. There is a growing demand to detect these pathologies based on digital biomarkers.

Biomarkers.

Background: Macro laser light-sheet illuminating microscopy (Macro-LSFM), allied with tissue clearing technologies, herald a transformative paradigm in biomedical imaging, allowing 3D visualization of neuropathologic networks in a transparent intact mouse brain. Moreover, although traditional focus of AD diagnostic has been on CNS pathology, emerging research points to peripheral amyloid-beta deposition, specifically in the eyeball, as an avenue for investigation. Coupled with conventional [F]flutemetamol PET/CT imaging, this study leverages the innovative imaging capabilities of Macro-LSFM with hydrophilic tissue-clearing technique to elucidate the 3D spatial distribution of AD-associated neuroinflammation and neuropathologic change both in the brain and eyeball of old transgenic AD mouse.

Biomarkers.

Background: To elucidate the biological mechanisms underpinning the association between macular Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness and cognitive function in older adults, this study investigates its correlation with brain volume and cortical thickness.

Method: From a community-dwelling prospective cohort, we included 166 non-demented participants aged over 65 years (mean age 75.2 ± 5.

Biomarkers.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that low body mass index (BMI) or BMI decline from midlife is related to the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related cognitive decline in later life. However, limited information is yet available regarding the underlying brain change that could explain such relationship. This study aims to investigate whether BMI and BMI change after midlife are associated with cerebral metabolism in late life.

Biomarkers.

Background: Changes in brain network organization are influenced by aging. Accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and neurodegeneration in the neocortex are also expected to alter neuronal networks. Therefore, we examined the relationship between aging and brain functional connectivity (FC), as well as the effect of brain Aβ on this relationship.

Biomarkers.

Background: This study delves into the relationship between gait disturbances and the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), focusing on how these changes correlate with cognitive impairments and key neuropathological indicators.

Method: We prospectively enrolled 48 patients with AD dementia (ADD), 27 patients with prodromal AD (proAD), and 41 cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals between January 2022 and May 2023. Participants underwent brain T1-weighted MRI, F-florbetaben PET, neuropsychiatric tests, and APOE genotyping, and quantified gait analysis was assessed using a 5.

Biomarkers.

Background: The assessment of cortical thickness through structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals various cortical atrophy patterns, delivering crucial insights into the extent of neurodegeneration. Numerous studies have focused on these thickness values to construct models for diverse neurodegeneration-related tasks, such as classifying disease groups, staging progression, or predicting progression speed. However, these tasks require substantial training datasets tailored to each specific task, necessitating the development of new task-specific models.

Biomarkers.

Background: Ethnic differences in amyloid-β (Aβ) characteristics and cognitive trajectories should be considered, when designing Aβ-targeted therapies. The clinical effects of co-pathologies of Aβ have not been evaluated extensively across various dementias. We investigated the prevalence of Aβ+ and cognitive trajectories in Koreans and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) with Alzheimer's clinical syndrome (ACS) and the clinical effects of Aβ+ in other dementias.

Biomarkers.

Background: Understanding the relationship between AβPET and AβCSF biomarkers will define their potential utility in Aβ treatment. Few longitudinal or neuropathological comparisons have been reported. We assessed the relationship of AβPET and AβCSF biomarkers in a large community cohort.

Biomarkers.

Background: Aβ plaques are the first detectable signs of AD pathology. Our group recently demonstrated that the astrocyte activation marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), has a pivotal role in the association between Aβ burden and tau phosphorylation. However, the role of astrocyte activation in individuals that do not present detectable Aβ pathology using biomarkers is still underexplored.

Biomarkers.

Background: We aimed to clarify the role of physical activity patterns on cognitive function decline caused by white matter structure alteration following the progression of Alzheimer's disease(AD). Physical activity has been reported as having a close association with various pathological factor of dementia, especially it has been proved as a protective factor of disease advancement. Comparing the mediating models between Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD, we aspire to elucidate how activity patterns, as a biomarker, undergo progression in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Biomarkers.

Background: The myelin sheath around axons is of fundamental importance for signal transduction. Myelin is reduced in white matter hyperintensities (WMH), which occur in both small vessel disease (SVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), giving rise to the question to what extent myelin is reduced in these diseases. Here, we employed an advanced MRI based method to assess myelin independently from a major confounding factor, i.

Biomarkers.

Background: Blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are increasingly prevalent and accessible beyond research environments. Consequently, it is crucial to determine whether confounding factors, particularly highly prevalent comorbidities, influence the levels of these blood biomarkers, thereby refining their clinical interpretation. In this study, we examined the impact of comorbidities on plasma AD biomarker levels within a memory-clinic cohort.

Biomarkers.

Background: Blood GFAP levels have the potential to reflect and predict worsening disability in individuals with degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD). Recently published research suggests that blood GFAP levels can be used to detect even subtle damage to the degenerative disease. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the KDS2010 (MAO-B inhibitor) drug targeting AD by measuring blood glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels in APP/PS1 mice using a magnetic bead-based electrochemical sensor.

Can guilt enhance sensitivity to other's suffering? An EEG investigation into moral emotions and pain empathy.

As a unique form of empathy, pain empathy often has a close relationship with society and morality. Research has revealed that moral emotions can influence pain empathy. The underlying physiological mechanism still needs to be further examined to understand how moral emotions affect pain empathy.

Developing Topics.

Background: Vascular contributions to dementia & Alzheimer's disease are increasing recognized. Recent studies have suggested that blood-brain barrier breakdown is an early biomarker of human cognitive dysfunction, including the early clinical stages of AD. Apolipoprotein E4(APOE4), the major AD susceptibility gene, leads to accelerated blood-brain barrier breakdown & degeneration of brain capillary pericyte that maintain blood-brain barrier integrity.