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Hussain A, Sheikh Z, Subramanian M. The Eye as a Diagnostic Tool for Alzheimer’s Disease. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030726. [PMID: 36983883 PMCID: PMC10052959 DOI: 10.3390/life13030726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impacting cognition, function, and behavior in the elderly population. While there are currently no disease-modifying agents capable of curing AD, early diagnosis and management in the preclinical stage can significantly improve patient morbidity and life expectancy. Currently, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is a clinical one, often supplemented by invasive and expensive biomarker testing. Over the last decade, significant advancements have been made in our understanding of AD and the role of ocular tissue as a potential biomarker. Ocular biomarkers hold the potential to provide noninvasive and easily accessible diagnostic and monitoring capabilities. This review summarizes current research for detecting biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease in ocular tissue.
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de Almeida Faria ACR, Dall'Agnol JF, Gouveia AM, De Paiva CI, Segalla VC, Ogata FE, Baena CP. Cognitive Performance and Diabetic Retinopathy: What Your Eyes Can Reveal About Your Brain. Curr Diabetes Rev 2023; 19:e050822207323. [PMID: 35929625 PMCID: PMC10617788 DOI: 10.2174/1573399819666220805154638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a chronic diabetes complication. People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) have two times the risk for dementia, suggesting it is a new chronic diabetes complication. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the association of DR with cognitive performance in a T2DM population. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 400 T2DM adults from whom socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory data were collected, and screening test for depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionaire- 9 (PHQ-9)), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Semantic Verbal Fluency Test, Trail Making Test A and B, Word Memory test were performed. All cognitive test scores were converted into Global Cognition z-Score (GCS(z)). The association between GCS(z) < 0 with DR was performed using a multivariate binary logistic regression model adjusted for age ≥ 65 years, school years ≤ 6 years, DM duration ≥ 10 years, depression symptoms score > 9 at PHQ-9, arterial hypertension, physical activity, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and cardiovascular disease. RESULTS After exclusions, the 251 eligible patients were 56.6% female, with a mean age of 61.1 (±9.8) years, DM duration of 12.6 (±8.9) years, and 7.6 (±4.2) years of school education. DR prevalence was 46.5%. Multivariate Logistic Regression Model showed an association between DR and GCS(z) < 0, with odds ratio (CI95%) of 2.50 (1.18-5.34), adjusted for age, low education level, arterial hypertension and depression symptoms (OD and CI95% respectively: 5.46(2.42-12.34); 12.19 (5.62-26.46); 2.55 (0.88-7.39); 3.53 (1.55-8.07)). CONCLUSION In this T2DM population, having DR increased the chance for worse cognitive performance even when adjusted for age, low education level, presence of arterial hypertension, and depression symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Ravazzani de Almeida Faria
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Department of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Joceline Franco Dall'Agnol
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Aline Maciel Gouveia
- Department of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Clara Inácio De Paiva
- Department of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | - Cristina Pellegrino Baena
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, (PUCPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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Ramírez AE, Gil-Jaramillo N, Tapias MA, González-Giraldo Y, Pinzón A, Puentes-Rozo PJ, Aristizábal-Pachón AF, González J. MicroRNA: A Linking between Astrocyte Dysfunction, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091439. [PMID: 36143475 PMCID: PMC9505027 DOI: 10.3390/life12091439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Neurodegenerative diseases are complex neurological disorders with a high incidence worldwide in older people, increasing hospital visits and requiring expensive treatments. As a precursor phase of neurodegenerative diseases, cognitive impairment needs to be studied to understand the factors that influence its development and improve patients’ quality of life. The present review compiles possible factors and biomarkers for diagnosing mild cognitive impairment based on the most recent studies involving miRNAs. These molecules can direct the gene expression in multiple cells, affecting their behavior under certain conditions, such as stressing factors. This review encourages further research into biomarkers that identify cognitive impairment in cellular models such as astrocytes, which are brain cells capable of maintaining the optimal conditions for the central nervous system functioning. Abstract The importance of miRNAs in cellular processes and their dysregulation has taken significant importance in understanding different pathologies. Due to the constant increase in the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases (ND) worldwide and their economic impact, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), considered a prodromal phase, is a logical starting point to study this public health problem. Multiple studies have established the importance of miRNAs in MCI, including astrocyte regulation during stressful conditions. Additionally, the protection mechanisms exerted by astrocytes against some damage in the central nervous system (CNS) lead to astrocytic reactivation, in which a differential expression of miRNAs has been shown. Nevertheless, excessive reactivation can cause neurodegeneration, and a clear pattern defining the equilibrium point between a neuroprotective or detrimental astrocytic phenotype is unknown. Therefore, the miRNA expression has gained significant attention to understand the maintenance of brain balance and improve the diagnosis and treatment at earlier stages in the ND. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the emerging role of miRNAs in cellular processes that contribute to the loss of cognitive function, including lipotoxicity, which can induce chronic inflammation, also considering the fundamental role of astrocytes in brain homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica E. Ramírez
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
| | - Natalia Gil-Jaramillo
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
| | - María Alejandra Tapias
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
| | - Yeimy González-Giraldo
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
| | - Andrés Pinzón
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Biología de Sistemas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Pedro J. Puentes-Rozo
- Grupo de Neurociencias del Caribe, Unidad de Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
- Grupo de Neurociencias del Caribe, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla 080007, Colombia
| | | | - Janneth González
- Departamento de Nutrición y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
- Correspondence:
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Ponirakis G, Hamad HA, Khan A, Petropoulos IN, Gad H, Chandran M, Elsotouhy A, Ramadan M, Gawhale PV, Elorrabi M, Gadelseed M, Tosino R, Arasn A, Manikoth P, Abdelrahim YH, Refaee MA, Thodi N, Vattoth S, Almuhannadi H, Mahfoud ZR, Bhat H, Own A, Shuaib A, Malik RA. Loss of corneal nerves and brain volume in mild cognitive impairment and dementia. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2022; 8:e12269. [PMID: 35415208 PMCID: PMC8983001 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduction This study compared the capability of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain volumetry for the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Methods In this cross-sectional study, participants with no cognitive impairment (NCI), MCI, and dementia underwent assessment of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), MRI brain volumetry, and CCM. Results Two hundred eight participants with NCI (n = 42), MCI (n = 98), and dementia (n = 68) of comparable age and gender were studied. For MCI, the area under the curve (AUC) of CCM (76% to 81%), was higher than brain volumetry (52% to 70%). For dementia, the AUC of CCM (77% to 85%), was comparable to brain volumetry (69% to 93%). Corneal nerve fiber density, length, branch density, whole brain, hippocampus, cortical gray matter, thalamus, amygdala, and ventricle volumes were associated with cognitive impairment after adjustment for confounders (All P's < .01). Discussion The diagnostic capability of CCM compared to brain volumetry is higher for identifying MCI and comparable for dementia, and abnormalities in both modalities are associated with cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Ponirakis
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
| | - Hanadi Al Hamad
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Adnan Khan
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
| | | | - Hoda Gad
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
| | - Mani Chandran
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Ahmed Elsotouhy
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
- NeuroradiologyHamad General HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Marwan Ramadan
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Priya V. Gawhale
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Marwa Elorrabi
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Masharig Gadelseed
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Rhia Tosino
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Anjum Arasn
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Pravija Manikoth
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | | | - Mahmoud A Refaee
- Geriatric & Memory ClinicRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Noushad Thodi
- MRI UnitRumailah HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Surjith Vattoth
- RadiologyUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesArkansasUSA
| | - Hamad Almuhannadi
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
| | - Ziyad R. Mahfoud
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
| | - Harun Bhat
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
| | - Ahmed Own
- NeuroradiologyHamad General HospitalHamad Medical CorporationDohaQatar
| | - Ashfaq Shuaib
- Department of MedicineUniversity of AlbertaAlbertaCanada
| | - Rayaz A. Malik
- Department of MedicineWeill Cornell Medicine‐QatarQatar FoundationDohaQatar
- Faculty of BiologyMedicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Faculty of Science and EngineeringManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
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Malik RA, Efron N. Corneal Confocal Microscopy and the Nervous System: Introduction to the Special Issue. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11061475. [PMID: 35329801 PMCID: PMC8953792 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11061475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rayaz A. Malik
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Research Division, Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha 24144, Qatar;
| | - Nathan Efron
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Bitirgen G, Kucuk A, Ergun MC, Baloglu R, Gharib MH, Al Emadi S, Ponirakis G, Malik RA. Subclinical Corneal Nerve Fiber Damage and Immune Cell Activation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Corneal Confocal Microscopy Study. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021; 10:10. [PMID: 34905000 PMCID: PMC8684301 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.10.14.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) in identifying small nerve fiber damage and immune cell activation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods This cross-sectional comparative study included 39 consecutive patients with SLE and 30 healthy control participants. Central corneal sensitivity was assessed using a Cochet-Bonnet contact corneal esthesiometer and a laser scanning CCM (Heidelberg, Germany) was used to quantify corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), nerve branch density (CNBD), nerve fiber length (CNFL), and Langerhans cell (LC) density. Results Age was comparable among patients with SLE (33.7 ± 12.7) and controls (35.0 ± 13.7 years, P = 0.670) and the median duration of disease was 3.0 years (2.0–10.0 years). CNBD (P = 0.003) and CNFL (P = 0.019) were lower and mature LC density (P = 0.002) was higher, but corneal sensitivity (P = 0.178) and CNFD (P = 0.198) were comparable in patients with SLE compared with controls. The SELENA-SLEDAI score correlated with CNFD (ρ = −0.319, P = 0.048) and CNFL (ρ = −0.373, P = 0.019), and the total and immature LC densities correlated with CNBD (ρ = −0.319. P = 0.048, and ρ = −0.328, P = 0.041, respectively). Immature LC density was higher (P = 0.025), but corneal sensitivity and nerve fiber parameters were comparable between patients with (33%) and without neuropsychiatric symptoms and SLE. Conclusions Corneal confocal microscopy identifies distal corneal nerve fiber loss and increased immune cell density in patients with SLE and corneal nerve loss was associated with disease activity. Translational Relevance Corneal confocal microscopy may enable the detection of subclinical corneal nerve loss and immune cell activation in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulfidan Bitirgen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Adem Kucuk
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Cagri Ergun
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Ruveyda Baloglu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Miral H Gharib
- Rheumatology Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Samar Al Emadi
- Rheumatology Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Georgios Ponirakis
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Research Division, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rayaz A Malik
- Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Research Division, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.,Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester and NIHR Clinical Research Facility, Manchester, UK
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