MicroRNA expression changes in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients' leukocytes prior to and following deep brain stimulation (DBS).

The second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide in the elderly is Parkinson's disease (PD). It is a major risk factor for aging. Currently the involvement of miRNAs in the disease is mainly unclear.

Effects of pre-analytical procedures on blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's pathophysiology, glial activation, and neurodegeneration.

Introduction: We tested how tube types (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA], serum, lithium heparin [LiHep], and citrate) and freeze-thaw cycles affect levels of blood biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology, glial activation, and neuronal injury.

Methods: Amyloid beta (Aβ)42, Aβ40, phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181), glial fibrillary acidic protein, total tau (t-tau), neurofilament light, and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy protein were measured using single molecule arrays.

Results: LiHep demonstrated the highest mean value for all biomarkers.

Measurement batch differences and between-batch conversion of Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid biomarker values.

Introduction: Batch differences in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker measurement can introduce bias into analyses for Alzheimer's disease studies. We evaluated and adjusted for batch differences using statistical methods.

Methods: A total of 792 CSF samples from 528 participants were assayed in three batches for 12 biomarkers and 3 biomarker ratios.

A Western-style dietary pattern is associated with cerebrospinal fluid biomarker levels for preclinical Alzheimer's disease-A population-based cross-sectional study among 70-year-olds.

Background: Diet may be a modifiable factor for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Western-style dietary patterns are considered to increase the risk, whereas Mediterranean-style dietary patterns are considered to reduce the risk. An association between diet and AD-related biomarkers have been suggested, but studies are limited.

Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker panel for synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Synaptic dysfunction and degeneration is one of the earliest events in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the best correlate of cognitive decline. Thus, identification and validation of biomarkers reflecting synaptic degeneration to be used as prognostic biomarkers are greatly needed.

Method: Solid-phase extraction and parallel reaction monitoring mass spectrometry were used to quantify 17 synaptic proteins in CSF, in two cross-sectional studies including AD (n = 52) and controls (n = 37).

CSF metabolites associate with CSF tau and improve prediction of Alzheimer's disease status.

Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) are biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet much is unknown about AD-associated changes in tau metabolism and tau tangle etiology.

Methods: We assessed the variation of t-tau and p-tau explained by 38 previously identified CSF metabolites using linear regression models in middle-age controls from the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and predicted AD/mild cognitive impairment (MCI) versus an independent set of older controls using metabolites selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO).

Results: The 38 CSF metabolites explained 70.

Periodontal dysbiosis associates with reduced CSF Aβ42 in cognitively normal elderly.

Introduction: Periodontal disease is a chronic, inflammatory bacterial dysbiosis that is associated with both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down syndrome.

Methods: A total of 48 elderly cognitively normal subjects were evaluated for differences in subgingival periodontal bacteria (assayed by 16S rRNA sequencing) between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker groups of amyloid and neurofibrillary pathology. A dysbiotic index (DI) was defined at the genus level as the abundance ratio of known periodontal bacteria to healthy bacteria.

Association of neurogranin gene expression with Alzheimer's disease pathology in the perirhinal cortex.

Introduction: Synaptic damage is a key pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mechanism underlying synaptic vulnerability in AD remains elusive.

Methods: Using a large-scale transcriptomic dataset, we analyzed the neurogranin-centered integrative gene network and assessed the correlation of neurogranin () gene expression with AD pathology in brains.

Laboratory-Supported Multiple System Atrophy beyond Autonomic Function Testing and Imaging: A Systematic Review by the MoDiMSA Study Group.

Background: Neuroimaging has been used to support a diagnosis of possible multiple system atrophy (MSA). Only blood pressure changes upon standing are included in the second consensus criteria but other autonomic function tests (AFT) are also useful to diagnose widespread and progressive autonomic failure typical of MSA. Additional diagnostic tools are of interest to improve accuracy of MSA diagnosis.

Sex differences in CSF biomarkers for neurodegeneration and blood-brain barrier integrity.

Introduction: As cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light protein (NfL) and the CSF/serum albumin ratio (Q) are used in the clinical routine, the impact of demographic factors on these biomarkers is important to understand.

Methods: Participants were derived from two Swedish samples: the population-based H70 Study (n = 308, age 70) and a clinical routine cohort (CSF NfL, n = 8995, Q, n = 39252, age 0 to 95). In the population-based study, Q and NfL were examined in relation to sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs).

Polygenic risk scores for Alzheimer's disease are related to dementia risk in APOE ɛ4 negatives.

Introduction: Studies examining the effect of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and apolipoprotein E () genotype on incident dementia in very old individuals are lacking.

Methods: A population-based sample of 2052 individuals ages 70 to 111, from Sweden, was followed in relation to dementia. AD-PRSs including 39, 57, 1333, and 13,942 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used.

Pre-analytical protocol for measuring Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in fresh CSF.

Introduction: We aimed to establish a standardized, routine-use pre-analytical protocol for measuring Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Methods: The effect of pre-analytical factors (sample collection/handling/storage/transportation) on biomarker levels was assessed using freshly collected CSF. Tube type/sterilization was assessed using previously frozen samples.

Association between neurite metrics and tau/inflammatory pathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: The molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration, including tau and neurite complexity, is an important topic in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research.

Methods: We recruited 27 amyloid-positive individuals identified through C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography (PET) and 31 amyloid-negative individuals with normal cognition. All participants underwent C-PiB and F-THK5351 PET and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) protocol.

Utility of plasma neurofilament light and total tau for clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Several blood-based biomarkers are associated with neuronal injury, but their utility in interventional clinical trials is unclear. This study retrospectively evaluated the utility of plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and total tau (t-tau) in an 18-month trial in mild Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Correlation and conditional independence analyses and Gaussian graphical models were used to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between NfL, t-tau, and clinical scales.

Genetic and polygenic risk score analysis for Alzheimer's disease in the Chinese population.

Introduction: Dozens of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated loci have been identified in European-descent populations, but their effects have not been thoroughly investigated in the Hong Kong Chinese population.

Methods: TaqMan array genotyping was performed for known AD-associated variants in a Hong Kong Chinese cohort. Regression analysis was conducted to study the associations of variants with AD-associated traits and biomarkers.

Elevated plasma neurofilament light in aging reflects brain white-matter alterations but does not predict cognitive decline or Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: We investigated neurofilament light (NFL) accumulation in normal aging as well as in preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) and assessed individual differences in NFL load in relation to cognition and brain white-matter integrity.

Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data covering 30 years (1988-2017). Cognitive testing was done up to six times.

High blood pressure predicts hippocampal atrophy rate in cognitively impaired elders.

Introduction: Understanding relationships among blood pressure (BP), cognition, and brain volume could inform Alzheimer's disease (AD) management.

Methods: We investigated Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants: 200 controls, 346 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 154 AD. National Alzheimer's Co-ordinating Center (NACC) participants were separately analyzed: 1098 controls, 2297 MCI, and 4845 AD.

Natural history of limb girdle muscular dystrophy R9 over 6 years: searching for trial endpoints.

Objective: Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type R9 (LGMD R9) is an autosomal recessive muscle disease for which there is currently no causative treatment. The development of putative therapies requires sensitive outcome measures for clinical trials in this slowly progressing condition. This study extends functional assessments and MRI muscle fat fraction measurements in an LGMD R9 cohort across 6 years.

Cervical Dystonia Following Injury to the Cerebellar Pontine Angle: An Instructive Case.

A 38-year-old woman presented with cervical dystonia in the context of a recent surgery to remove a vestibular schwannoma. She initially presented to neurology with pain in the right arm, and MRI of the brain showed an incidental right-sided vestibular schwannoma (Video 1, Segment 1). An elective gamma-knife procedure was performed, which failed.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and White Matter Hyperintensities: Difference in Susceptibility in South Asians Compared With Europeans.

Background Cardiovascular risk factors vary between ethnicities but little is known about their differential effects on white matter hyperintensities ( WMH ), an indicator of brain aging and burden of cerebrovascular disease. Methods and Results Brain magnetic resonance imaging scans from 213 people of South Asian and 256 of European ethnicity (total=469) were analyzed for global and regional WMH load. Associations with cardiovascular risk factors and a composite cardiovascular risk score (National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III) were compared by ethnicity, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and hypertension status.

Reduced acquisition time PET pharmacokinetic modelling using simultaneous ASL-MRI: proof of concept.

Pharmacokinetic modelling on dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) data is a quantitative technique. However, the long acquisition time is prohibitive for routine clinical use. Instead, the semi-quantitative standardised uptake value ratio (SUVR) from a shorter static acquisition is used, despite its sensitivity to blood flow confounding longitudinal analysis.

Brain atrophy and disability worsening in primary progressive multiple sclerosis: insights from the INFORMS study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between brain volume and disability worsening over ≥3 years in the natural history of primary progressive multiple sclerosis using data from the placebo group of the INFORMS trial ( = 487; clinicaltrials.gov NCT00731692).

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging scans were collected annually.