0000000000135918
AUTHOR
Delia Azzarello
Double Negative (IgG+IgD-CD27-) B Cells are Increased in a Cohort of Moderate-Severe Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and Show a Pro-Inflammatory Trafficking Receptor Phenotype
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, irreversible, and debilitating disease for which no effective preventive or disease modifying therapies or treatments have so far been detected. The crucial step in AD pathogenesis is the production of amyloid-42 peptide, which causes chronic inflammation. Activated cells in the central nervous system (CNS) produce pro- inflammatory mediators that lead to the recruitment of myeloid or lymphocytic cells. As a consequence, the communication between the CNS and peripheral blood of AD subjects could influence the lymphocyte distribution and/or the expression of phenotypic markers. In the present paper, we show a significant decrease in total CD19 + B l…
Nociceptive Primitive Reflexes in Neurologically and Cognitively Healthy Aging Subjects
ABSTRACT:Background:To assess the prevalence of three nociceptive primitive reflexes (nPR), i.e., glabellar tap, snout reflex, and palmomental reflex, in neurologically and cognitively healthy (NCH) aging subjects.Objective:To investigate whether nPR are cross-sectionally associated with white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, atrophy of the caudate nuclei, and global brain atrophy.Methods:A total of 1246 NCH subjects aged 45–91 years were included in the study and underwent standard brain MRI. Atrophy of the caudate nuclei and global brain atrophy were assessed through the bicaudate ratio (BCr) and lateral ventricles to brain ratio (LVBr), respectively. WMH were assessed through visu…
Isolated, Subtle Neurological Abnormalities in Mild Cognitive Impairment Types.
Isolated, subtle neurological abnormalities (ISNA) are commonly seen in aging and have been related to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and subcortical atrophy in neurologically and cognitively healthy aging subjects.To investigate the frequency of ISNA in different mild cognitive impairment (MCI) types and to evaluate for each MCI type, the cross-sectional relation between ISNA and white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, caudate atrophy, and ventricular enlargement.One thousand two hundred fifty subjects with different MCI types were included in the analysis and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. WMHs were assessed through two visual rating scales. Lacunes were also rated…
Association Between Atrophy of the Caudate Nuclei, Global Brain Atrophy, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Mild Parkinsonian Signs in Neurologically and Cognitively Healthy Subjects Aged 45-84 Years: A Crosssectional Study
Background: Mild Parkinsonian signs (MPS) are commonly seen in aging, and have been related to cerebral Small Vessel Diseases (SVD) with no univocal results. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relation between MPS and White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, caudate atrophy, and global cerebral atrophy in a large cohort of Neurologically and Cognitively Healthy (NCH) aging individuals. Method: 1,219 NCH individuals were included in the analysis, and underwent standard brain MRI. The items of the motor section of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale were used to evaluate tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and gait/balance/axial dysfunction. Cau…
Double Negative (CD19+IgG+IgD-CD27-) B Lymphocytes: A New Insight from Telomerase in Healthy Elderly, in Centenarian Offspring, and in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Background: We have previously reported the increase of IgD-CD27- (Double Negative, DN) B cell population in the aged. These memory B cells have short telomeres and poor abilities to proliferate in vitro. Here, we investigated whether the low ability of DN B cells to proliferate depends on the expression levels of the CD307d and CD22 inhibitory receptors or whether DN B cells can proliferate and reactivate telomerase by the engagement of both innate and adaptive immune receptors. Methods: Phenotypic analyses were made by using flow cytometry. Quantitative analysis of telomerase activity was made by using a TRAP and a photometric enzyme immunoassay in young, healthy elderly, centenarian offs…
Vascular Risk Factors, Vascular Diseases, and Imaging Findings in a Hospital-based Cohort of Mild Cognitive Impairment Types
Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a transitional state between normal cognition and dementia. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the role of vascular risk factors, vascular diseases, cerebrovascular disease and brain atrophy in a large hospital-based cohort of MCI types including 471 amnestic MCI (a-MCI), 693 amnestic MCI multiple domain (a-MCImd), 322 single non-memory MCI (snm-MCI), and 202 non amnestic MCI multiple domain (na-MCImd). For comparison, 1,005 neurologically and cognitively healthy subjects were also evaluated. Method: Several vascular risk factors and vascular diseases were assessed. All participants underwent neurological, neuropsychological an…
Mild Parkinsonian Signs in a Hospital-based Cohort of Mild Cognitive Impairment Types: A Cross-sectional Study
Background:Mild Parkinsonian Signs (MPS) have been associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) types with conflicting results.Objective:To investigate the association of individual MPS with different MCI types using logistic ridge regression analysis, and to evaluate for each MCI type, the association of MPS with caudate atrophy, global cerebral atrophy, and the topographical location of White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH), and lacunes.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed among 1,168 subjects with different types of MCI aged 45-97 (70,52 ± 9,41) years, who underwent brain MRI. WMH were assessed through two visual rating scales. The number and location of lacunes were also rated…