Cognitive Assessment Test: Validation of a Short Cognitive Test for the Detection of Mild Cognitive Disorder

A Systematic Study into the Effects of Long-Term Multicomponent Training on the Cognitive Abilities of Older Adults with Neurodegenerative Disorders

Cognition includes all processes through which a person becomes aware of their situation, needs, goals, and necessary actions. Regular specialized cognitive and neuromotor simulation exercises have improved various cognitive processes, including memory, speed of reasoning, and problem-solving skills. This review focuses on understanding the efficacy of long-term multicomponent exercise interventions to mitigate and delay the effects on cognitive abilities in older adults with neurodegenerative disorders. The main criteria for final studies were randomised controlled trials with a minimum of a 24-week intervention. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, SCOPUS, B-On, Sport Discus, Scielo, APA PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Academic Search Complete, Medline (PubMed), ERIC, and Google Scholar databases were checked. The search occurred between April 2022 and July 2022. A total of 19 studies were used in this review. The initial search identified 6.835 studies. In the first screening, a total of 6474 studies were excluded. After this, 361 studies were analysed by co-authors and did not meet the specific final criteria and were excluded. In total, 19 studies were included in the final analysis, and 14 papers met all requirements previously defined.

Differential Methylation Levels in CpGs of the BIN1 Gene in Individuals With Alzheimer Disease

INTRODUCTION

Late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) is the most common dementia worldwide. APOE-[Latin Small Letter Open E]4 and BIN1 (Bridging Integrator 1) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease, but, although DNA methylation of dinucleotide CpGs in the BIN1 gene influences alterations, it has not been studied in Hispanics.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the BIN1 3' intergenic region DNA methylation patterns in a Colombian sample of LOAD patients.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted in 50 individuals with LOAD and 50 age-sex matched controls to determine associations of LOAD with DNA methylation. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood, and methylation levels of 8 CpGs were estimated by bisulfite conversion followed by Sanger sequencing with direct PCR analysis. Logistic regression models adjusted by age, sex, and APOE were used to calculate risk associations between methylation levels and LOAD.

RESULTS

Overall, participants with LOAD had significantly lower methylation levels on CpG26 (0.86±0.11 vs. 0.95±0.05; P>0.001), CpG44 (0.84±0.09 vs. 0.94±0.06; P=0.001), and CpG87 (0.64±0.12 vs. 0.82±0.10; P>0.001). Adjusted regression models showed that decreased methylation levels of these CpGs remained as risk factors for LOAD (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypomethylation of CpGs in BIN1 might play an important role in the expression of BIN1 and may be a biomarker for identifying individuals at high risk of developing LOAD.

Differential Methylation in APOE (Chr19; Exon Four; from 44,909,188 to 44,909,373/hg38) and Increased Apolipoprotein E Plasma Levels in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND

Biomarkers are essential for identification of individuals at high risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for potential prevention of dementia. We investigated DNA methylation in the APOE gene and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plasma levels as MCI biomarkers in Colombian subjects with MCI and controls.

METHODS

In total, 100 participants were included (71% women; average age, 70 years; range, 43⁻91 years). MCI was diagnosed by neuropsychological testing, medical and social history, activities of daily living, cognitive symptoms and neuroimaging. Using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted by age and gender, we examined the risk association of MCI with plasma ApoE and APOE methylation.

RESULTS

MCI was diagnosed in 41 subjects (average age, 66.5 ± 9.6 years) and compared with 59 controls. Elevated plasma ApoE and APOE methylation of CpGs 165, 190, and 198 were risk factors for MCI (p < 0.05). Higher CpG-227 methylation correlated with lower risk for MCI (p = 0.002). Only CpG-227 was significantly correlated with plasma ApoE levels (correlation coefficient = -0.665; p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Differential APOE methylation and increased plasma ApoE levels were correlated with MCI. These epigenetic patterns require confirmation in larger samples but could potentially be used as biomarkers to identify early stages of MCI.