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Fessel J. Special Issue "Pathophysiology and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease". Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6015. [PMID: 38892203 PMCID: PMC11173226 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of clinical trials, whose primary aims were to moderate Alzheimer's dementia (AD), have been based upon the prevailing paradigm, i [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Fessel
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 2069 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94123, USA
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2
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Grasso M, Fidilio A, L’Episcopo F, Recupero M, Barone C, Bacalini MG, Benatti C, Giambirtone MC, Caruso G, Greco D, Di Nuovo S, Romano C, Ferri R, Buono S, Cuello AC, Blom JMC, Tascedda F, Piazza PV, De La Torre R, Caraci F. Low TGF-β1 plasma levels are associated with cognitive decline in Down syndrome. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1379965. [PMID: 38576478 PMCID: PMC10991739 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1379965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Almost all individuals with Down's syndrome (DS) show the characteristic neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by the age of 40, yet not every individual with DS experiences symptoms of AD later in life. Similar to neurotypical developing subjects, AD in people with DS lasts for a long preclinical phase in which biomarkers follow a predictable order of changes. Hence, a prolonged asymptomatic period precedes the onset of dementia, underscoring the importance of identifying new biomarkers for the early detection and monitoring of cognitive decline in individuals with DS. Blood-based biomarkers may offer an alternative non-invasive strategy for the detection of peripheral biological alterations paralleling nervous system pathology in an early phase of the AD continuum. In the last few years, a strong neurobiological link has been demonstrated between the deficit of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels, an anti-inflammatory cytokine endowed with neuroprotective activity, and early pro-inflammatory processes in the AD brain. In this clinical prospective observational study, we found significant lower plasma TGF-β1 concentrations at the first neuropsychological evaluation (baseline = T0) both in young adult DS individuals (19-35 years) and older DS subjects without AD (35-60 years) compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Interestingly, we found that the lower TGF-β1 plasma concentrations at T0 were strongly correlated with the following cognitive decline at 12 months. In addition, in young individuals with DS, we found, for the first time, a negative correlation between low TGF-β1 concentrations and high TNF-α plasma concentrations, a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is known to be associated with cognitive impairment in DS individuals with AD. Finally, adopting an ex vivo approach, we found that TGF-β1 concentrations were reduced in parallel both in the plasma and in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of DS subjects, and interestingly, therapeutic concentrations of fluoxetine (FLX) applied to cultured PBMCs (1 µM for 24 h) were able to rescue TGF-β1 concentrations in the culture media from DS PBMCs, suggesting that FLX, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) endowed with neuroprotective activity, might rescue TGF-β1 concentrations in DS subjects at higher risk to develop cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Caruso
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Santo Di Nuovo
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Corrado Romano
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Johanna M. C. Blom
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Fabio Tascedda
- Department of Life Sciences and Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Rafael De La Torre
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Research Institute /HMRI, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Terao I, Kodama W. Comparative efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of donanemab, lecanemab, aducanumab and lithium on cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 94:102203. [PMID: 38253184 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The comparative clinical utility of the disease-modifying treatments for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease that are approved or under review by the Food and Drug Administration (i.e., donanemab, lecanemab and aducanumab), and lithium, which is a potential disease-modifying agent for this condition, remains elusive. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare the efficacy on cognitive decline, tolerability and acceptability of these drugs in this condition. METHODS We systematically searched in MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINHAL and ClinicalTrials,gov for randomized controlled trials from their inception to 7 November 2023, and then performed a random-effect network meta-analysis. RESULTS The analysis included 8 randomized placebo-controlled trials with 6547 participants. On the Mini-Mental State Examination, lithium significantly outperformed donanemab, aducanumab and placebo. On the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale, the efficacy of all active drugs was significantly higher than placebo. In addition, in the Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes, the efficacy of donanemab and lecanemab was significantly higher than placebo. Compared to placebo, donanemab and lecanemab were significantly less acceptable and tolerable. Aducanumab was also less well tolerated compared to placebo. There were no significant differences in the other comparisons. CONCLUSION Although it is yet to be determined which is more effective between lithium or lecanemab or donanemab, lithium may be more effective than aducanumab. Aducanumab, lecanemab and donanemab do not appear to differ in their effectiveness on cognitive function. Low-dose lithium may be safer than aducanumab, lecanemab and donanemab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itsuki Terao
- Department of Psychiatry, Ikokoro Clinic Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0012, Japan.
| | - Wakako Kodama
- Department of Psychiatry, Negishi Hospital, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0042, Japan
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Liu KY, Thambisetty M, Howard R. How can secondary dementia prevention trials of Alzheimer's disease be clinically meaningful? Alzheimers Dement 2022; 19:10.1002/alz.12788. [PMID: 36161763 PMCID: PMC10039957 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
After clinical trial failures in symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD), our field has moved to earlier intervention in cognitively normal individuals with biomarker evidence of AD. This offers potential for dementia prevention, but mainly low and variable rates of progression to AD dementia reduce the usefulness of trials' data in decision making by potential prescribers. With results from several Phase 3 secondary prevention studies anticipated within the next few years and the Food and Drug Administration's recent endorsement of amyloid beta as a surrogate outcome biomarker for AD clinical trials, it is time to question the clinical significance of changes in biomarkers, adequacy of current trial durations, and criteria for treatment success if cognitively unimpaired patients and their doctors are to meaningfully evaluate the potential value of new agents. We argue for a change of direction toward trial designs that can unambiguously inform clinical decision making about dementia risk and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy Y. Liu
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Madhav Thambisetty
- Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, USA
| | - Robert Howard
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
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Turknett J, Wood TR. Demand Coupling Drives Neurodegeneration: A Model of Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia. Cells 2022; 11:2789. [PMID: 36139364 PMCID: PMC9496827 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The societal burden of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other major forms of dementia continues to grow, and multiple pharmacological agents directed towards modifying the pathological "hallmarks" of AD have yielded disappointing results. Though efforts continue towards broadening and deepening our knowledge and understanding of the mechanistic and neuropathological underpinnings of AD, our previous failures motivate a re-examination of how we conceptualize AD pathology and progression. In addition to not yielding effective treatments, the phenotypically heterogeneous biological processes that have been the primary area of focus to date have not been adequately shown to be necessary or sufficient to explain the risk and progression of AD. On the other hand, a growing body of evidence indicates that lifestyle and environment represent the ultimate level of causation for AD and age-related cognitive decline. Specifically, the decline in cognitive demands over the lifespan plays a central role in driving the structural and functional deteriorations of the brain. In the absence of adequate cognitive stimulus, physiological demand-function coupling leads to downregulation of growth, repair, and homeostatic processes, resulting in deteriorating brain tissue health, function, and capacity. In this setting, the heterogeneity of associated neuropathological tissue hallmarks then occurs as a consequence of an individual's genetic and environmental background and are best considered downstream markers of the disease process rather than specific targets for direct intervention. In this manuscript we outline the evidence for a demand-driven model of age-related cognitive decline and dementia and why it mandates a holistic approach to dementia treatment and prevention that incorporates the primary upstream role of cognitive demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh Turknett
- Brainjo Center for Neurology and Cognitive Enhancement, Atlanta, GA 30076, USA
| | - Thomas R. Wood
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Pensacola, FL 32502, USA
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Fessel J. Reversing Alzheimer's disease dementia with clemastine, fingolimod, or rolipram, plus anti-amyloid therapy. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2022; 8:e12242. [PMID: 35128031 PMCID: PMC8804619 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A few anti-amyloid trials offer a slight possibility of preventing progression of cognitive loss, but none has reversed the process. A possible reason is that amyloid may be necessary but insufficient in the pathogenesis of AD, and other causal factors may need addressing in addition to amyloid. It is argued here that drugs addressing myelination and synaptogenesis are the optimum partners for anti-amyloid drugs, since there is much evidence that early in the process that leads to AD, both neural circuits and synaptic activity are dysfunctional. Evidence to support this argument is presented. Evidence is also presented that clemastine, fingolimod, and rolipram, benefit both myelination and synaptogenesis. It is suggested that a regimen that includes one of them plus an anti-amyloid drug, could reverse AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Fessel
- Professor of Clinical Medicine, Emeritus, Department of MedicineUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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Fessel J. A vaccine to prevent initial loss of cognition and eventual Alzheimer's disease in elderly persons. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2021; 7:e12126. [PMID: 33598529 PMCID: PMC7864087 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Prevention is better than cure and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be possible. In elderly persons who are cognitively normal, synaptic hypometabolism as shown by reduced cerebral uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), provides a premonitory signal of potential, future loss of cognition if those individuals also have present evidence of amyloid deposition seen in the Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography (PIB-PET) scan for amyloid. Those are the persons who should be targeted if one aims to prevent AD. The synaptic hypometabolism implies that the brain's availability of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is inadequate for performance of all required synaptic functions. This review first describes the basis for asserting that reduced cerebral uptake of 18F-FDG accurately reflects synaptic hypometabolism; second, explains the basis for asserting that hypometabolism implies inadequate ATP; third, shows that amyloid beta (Aβ) itself, Aβ modified by pyroglutamate to become a molecule termed pE(3)Aβ, and cyclophilin-D, in concert are the main contributors to inadequate synaptic ATP and that, therefore, reducing all of their levels would neutralize their combined effect and correct the hypometabolism. pE(3)Aβ is more neurotoxic than unmodified Aβ; and cyclophilin D inhibits ATP synthase and reduces ATP formation. Finally, this review describes an mRNA self-replicating vaccine that will raise brain levels of ATP by reducing Aβ, pyroglutamate-modified Aβ, and cyclophilin-D, and thereby-in cognitively normal elderly persons who have synaptic hypometabolism-prevent initiation of the process that terminates in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Fessel
- Department of MedicineUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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EDR Peptide: Possible Mechanism of Gene Expression and Protein Synthesis Regulation Involved in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2020; 26:molecules26010159. [PMID: 33396470 PMCID: PMC7795577 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26010159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The EDR peptide (Glu-Asp-Arg) has been previously established to possess neuroprotective properties. It activates gene expression and synthesis of proteins, involved in maintaining the neuronal functional activity, and reduces the intensity of their apoptosis in in vitro and in vivo studies. The EDR peptide interferes with the elimination of dendritic spines in neuronal cultures obtained from mice with Alzheimer’s (AD) and Huntington’s diseases. The tripeptide promotes the activation of the antioxidant enzyme synthesis in the culture of cerebellum neurons in rats. The EDR peptide normalizes behavioral responses in animal studies and improves memory issues in elderly patients. The purpose of this review is to analyze the molecular and genetics aspects of the EDR peptide effect on gene expression and synthesis of proteins involved in the pathogenesis of AD. The EDR peptide is assumed to enter cells and bind to histone proteins and/or ribonucleic acids. Thus, the EDR peptide can change the activity of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, the synthesis of proapoptotic proteins (caspase-3, p53), proteins of the antioxidant system (SOD2, GPX1), transcription factors PPARA, PPARG, serotonin, calmodulin. The abovementioned signaling pathway and proteins are the components of pathogenesis in AD. The EDR peptide can be AD.
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Tarawneh R. Biomarkers: Our Path Towards a Cure for Alzheimer Disease. Biomark Insights 2020; 15:1177271920976367. [PMID: 33293784 PMCID: PMC7705771 DOI: 10.1177/1177271920976367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, biomarkers have significantly improved our understanding of
the pathophysiology of Alzheimer disease (AD) and provided valuable tools to
examine different disease mechanisms and their progression over time. While
several markers of amyloid, tau, neuronal, synaptic, and axonal injury,
inflammation, and immune dysregulation in AD have been identified, there is a
relative paucity of biomarkers which reflect other disease mechanisms such as
oxidative stress, mitochondrial injury, vascular or endothelial injury, and
calcium-mediated excitotoxicity. Importantly, there is an urgent need to
standardize methods for biomarker assessments across different centers, and to
identify dynamic biomarkers which can monitor disease progression over time
and/or response to potential disease-modifying treatments. The updated research
framework for AD, proposed by the National Institute of Aging- Alzheimer’s
Association (NIA-AA) Work Group, emphasizes the importance of incorporating
biomarkers in AD research and defines AD as a biological construct consisting of
amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration which spans pre-symptomatic and symptomatic
stages. As results of clinical trials of AD therapeutics have been
disappointing, it has become increasingly clear that the success of future AD
trials will require the incorporation of biomarkers in participant selection,
prognostication, monitoring disease progression, and assessing response to
treatments. We here review the current state of fluid AD biomarkers, and discuss
the advantages and limitations of the updated NIA-AA research framework.
Importantly, the integration of biomarker data with clinical, cognitive, and
imaging domains through a systems biology approach will be essential to
adequately capture the molecular, genetic, and pathological heterogeneity of AD
and its spatiotemporal evolution over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawan Tarawneh
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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Allnutt MA, Johnson K, Bennett DA, Connor SM, Troncoso JC, Pletnikova O, Albert MS, Resnick SM, Scholz SW, De Jager PL, Jacobson S. Human Herpesvirus 6 Detection in Alzheimer's Disease Cases and Controls across Multiple Cohorts. Neuron 2020; 105:1027-1035.e2. [PMID: 31983538 PMCID: PMC7182308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The interplay between viral infection and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has long been an area of interest, but proving causality has been elusive. Several recent studies have renewed the debate concerning the role of herpesviruses, and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in particular, in AD. We screened for HHV-6 detection across three independent AD brain repositories using (1) RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) datasets and (2) DNA samples extracted from AD and non-AD control brains. The RNA-seq data were screened for pathogens against taxon references from over 25,000 microbes, including 118 human viruses, whereas DNA samples were probed for PCR reactivity to HHV-6A and HHV-6B. HHV-6 demonstrated little specificity to AD brains over controls by either method, whereas other viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV), were detected at comparable levels. These direct methods of viral detection do not suggest an association between HHV-6 and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Alice Allnutt
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Kory Johnson
- Bioinformatics Section, Information Technology & Bioinformatics Program, Division of Intramural Research (DIR), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Alzheimer Disease Center, RUSH University, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Sarah M Connor
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Olga Pletnikova
- Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Marilyn S Albert
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Susan M Resnick
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Sonja W Scholz
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Philip L De Jager
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Steven Jacobson
- Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
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Fessel J. Prevention of Alzheimer's disease by treating mild cognitive impairment with combinations chosen from eight available drugs. ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA-TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS 2019; 5:780-788. [PMID: 31763432 PMCID: PMC6861553 DOI: 10.1016/j.trci.2019.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Several hundred clinical trials of initially promising drugs have failed to produce meaningful clinical improvement of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is probably because there are at least 25 biochemical pathways known to be aberrant that underpin the disease, and unless there is a single drug that addresses all or most of them, even promising drugs if given alone are unlikely to succeed. Because so many pathways are potentially at fault, it is quite possible that no treatment might succeed. However, because amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) often precedes AD and, assuming that those with aMCI who progress to AD commence with insufficient risk factors for AD but accrue them later, then it is likely that fewer pathways need addressing in aMCI than in AD to either prevent progression of aMCI to AD or effect its reversion. Published reports show that eight drugs, that is, dantrolene, erythropoietin, lithium, memantine, minocycline, piracetam, riluzole, and silymarin, address many of the pathways underlying MCI and AD. Among those eight drugs, combinations between either two or three of them have combined nonoverlapping actions that benefit enough of the approximately 25 pathways at fault so that their convergent efficacy has the potential to prevent aMCI from progressing to AD. The combinations should be subjected to a clinical trial in persons with aMCI to establish their safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Fessel
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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12
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Sui Y, Zhang Y, Dong C, Xu B, Sun X. The small molecular CCR3 antagonist YM344031 attenuates neurodegenerative pathologies and improves learning and memory performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2019; 1719:1-10. [PMID: 31121157 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The chemokine C-C receptor 3 (CCR3) plays a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on our previous observations that deletion of CCR3 prevented neurodegenerative pathologies in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic mice, we hypothesize that CCR3 antagonists may provide therapeutic benefits to AD. To this end, we examined the effect of the brain-penetrable CCR3 antagonist, YM344031, on AD-related pathologies in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice. Treatment of 10-month-old APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice with YM344031 (50 mg/kg, b.i.d.) for two months resulted in dramatic decreases in β-amyloid deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation and synaptic loss in the forebrain, significant attenuation of microgliosis and astrogliosis, and marked improvement of spatial learning and memory performance compared with the vehicle-treated mice. These results support CCR3 antagonism as a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sui
- Department of Neurology, Shenyang First People's Hospital, Shenyang Brain Institute, Shenyang Medical College Affiliated Shenyang Brain Hospital, Shenyang 110047, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shenyang First People's Hospital, Shenyang Brain Institute, Shenyang Medical College Affiliated Shenyang Brain Hospital, Shenyang 110047, China
| | - Chunyao Dong
- Department of Neurology, Shenyang First People's Hospital, Shenyang Brain Institute, Shenyang Medical College Affiliated Shenyang Brain Hospital, Shenyang 110047, China
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Neurology, Shenyang First People's Hospital, Shenyang Brain Institute, Shenyang Medical College Affiliated Shenyang Brain Hospital, Shenyang 110047, China
| | - Xiaohong Sun
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
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Lois C, Gonzalez I, Johnson KA, Price JC. PET imaging of tau protein targets: a methodology perspective. Brain Imaging Behav 2019; 13:333-344. [PMID: 29497982 PMCID: PMC6119534 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-018-9847-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The two neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are amyloid-[Formula: see text] plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein. Fifteen years ago, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Pittsburgh Compound B (11C-PiB) enabled selective in-vivo visualization of amyloid-[Formula: see text] plaque deposits and has since provided valuable information about the role of amyloid-[Formula: see text] deposition in AD. The progression of tau deposition has been shown to be highly associated with neuronal loss, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline. Until recently it was not possible to visualize tau deposition in-vivo, but several tau PET tracers are now available in different stages of clinical development. To date, no tau tracer has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the evaluation of AD or other tauopathies, despite very active research efforts. In this paper we review the recent developments in tau PET imaging with a focus on in-vivo findings in AD and discuss the challenges associated with tau tracer development, the status of development and validation of different tau tracers, and the clinical information these provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Lois
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ivan Gonzalez
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keith A Johnson
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julie C Price
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Gu YH, Bai JB, Chen XL, Wu WW, Liu XX, Tan XD. Healthy aging: A bibliometric analysis of the literature. Exp Gerontol 2018; 116:93-105. [PMID: 30590123 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Due to dramatic growth of the aging population worldwide, there has been an urgent call for a public health strategy to manage healthy aging, with the ultimate goal being advancement of aging research. Considerable progress has been made in uncovering the mystery of aging process using multidisciplinary methods. There is a growing consensus in the field that aging traits which were originally thought to be disparate are likely to be interconnected. Thus, emerging research is needed to incorporate current findings of aging by building multiscale network models. This study reported the network of healthy aging research using bibliometric approaches. Based on the results, aging of the brain and muscle is a primary research focus which is a critical part of the multiscale network regulating the aging process. Among aging-associated diseases, Alzheimer's disease and frailty are among the main research focuses, and emerging work has focused on developing diagnostic tools for these diseases. For research on anti-aging interventions, calorie restriction, physical activity, and anti-aging pharmacology are the main interventions, of which the underlying mechanisms have been comprehensively studied in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Hua Gu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 115, Dong Hu Street, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.
| | - Jin-Bing Bai
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Xiao-Li Chen
- Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 115, Dong Hu Street, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Wen-Wen Wu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 115, Dong Hu Street, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Xiang-Xiang Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 115, Dong Hu Street, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Tan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, No. 115, Dong Hu Street, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.
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