Search results for "Alzheimer's"
showing 10 items of 308 documents
Central nicotinic receptors, neurotrophic factors and neuroprotection
2000
The multiple combinations of nAChR subunits identified in central nervous structures possess distinct pharmacological and physiological properties. A growing number of data have shown that compounds interacting with neuronal nAChRs have, both in vivo and in vitro, the potential to be neuroprotective and that treatment with nAChR agonists elicit long-lasting improving of cognitive performance in a variety of behavioural tests in rats, monkeys and humans. Epidemiological and clinical studies suggested also a potential neuroprotective/trophic role of (-)-nicotine in neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Taken together experimental and clinical data largely ind…
Can Alzheimer disease be a form of type 3 diabetes?
2012
Alzheimer disease (AD) and metabolic syndrome are two highly prevalent pathological conditions of Western society due to incorrect diet, lifestyle, and vascular risk factors. Recent data have suggested metabolic syndrome as an independent risk factor for AD and pre-AD syndrome. Furthermore, biological plausibility for this relationship has been framed within the “metabolic cognitive syndrome” concept. Due to the increasing aging of populations, prevalence of AD in Western industrialized countries will rise in the near future. Thus, new knowledge in the area of molecular biology and epigenetics will probably help to make an early molecular diagnosis of dementia. An association between metabo…
Molecular evidence for the inverse comorbidity between central nervous system disorders and cancers detected by transcriptomic meta-analyses.
2014
There is epidemiological evidence that patients with certain Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders have a lower than expected probability of developing some types of Cancer. We tested here the hypothesis that this inverse comorbidity is driven by molecular processes common to CNS disorders and Cancers, and that are deregulated in opposite directions. We conducted transcriptomic meta-analyses of three CNS disorders (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Schizophrenia) and three Cancer types (Lung, Prostate, Colorectal) previously described with inverse comorbidities. A significant overlap was observed between the genes upregulated in CNS disorders and downregulated in Cancers, as wel…
The Contribution of Microscopy to the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyloid Plaques and Aβ Fibrillogenesis
2006
A broad survey is presented in this chapter, dealing with the impact that microscopy has made to the study of Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid plaques and amyloid-β fibrillogenesis. This includes classical light microscopy and the modern immunolabelling and confocal microscopies, together with the contribution of transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Whilst usefully standing alone, the individual microscopies often contribute most effectively when they are integrated with cellular, biophysical and molecular approaches.
Changes in Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors Expression in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease
2018
The amyloid precursor protein plus presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) mice are a frequently-used model for Alzheimer's disease studies (AD). However, the data relevant to which proteins are involved in inflammatory mechanism are not sufficiently well-studied using the AD mouse model. Using behavioral studies, quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blot techniques, significant findings were determined by the expression of proteins involved in inflammation comparing APP/PS1 and Wild type mice. Increased GFAP expression could be associated with the elevation in number of reactive astrocytes. IL-3 is involved in inflammation and ABDF1 intervenes normally in the transport across cell membranes and both were found …
Carnosine Inhibits Aβ42Aggregation by Perturbing the H-Bond Network in and around the Central Hydrophobic Cluster
2013
Aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) into fibrillar structures is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Thus, preventing self-assembly of the Aβ peptide is an attractive therapeutic strategy. Here, we used experimental techniques and atomistic simulations to investigate the influence of carnosine, a dipeptide naturally occurring in the brain, on Aβ aggregation. Scanning force microscopy, circular dichroism and thioflavin T fluorescence experiments showed that carnosine does not modify the conformational features of Aβ42 but nonetheless inhibits amyloid growth. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that carnosine interacts transiently with monomeric Aβ42 by salt bridges with charge…
Aß(25-35) and its C-and/or N-blocked derivatives: copper driven structural features and neurotoxicity
2006
The toxic properties of beta-amyloid protein, Abeta(1-42), the major component of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease, depend on nucleation-dependent oligomerization and aggregation. In addition, Abeta(1-42) toxicity is favored by the presence of trace metals, which affect the secondary structure of the peptide. A peptide comprising 11 residues within Abeta(1-42) [Abeta(25-35)] aggregates and retains the neurotoxic activity of Abeta(1-42). We have used both Abeta(25-35) and its C-amidated or N-acetylated/C-amidated derivatives to investigate the role of copper(II) in modulating the conformation and aggregation state as well as the neurotoxic properties of amyloid peptides. Electrospray io…
Progressive effect of beta amyloid peptides accumulation on CA1 pyramidal neurons: a model study suggesting possible treatments
2012
Several independent studies show that accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, one of the characteristic hallmark of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), can affect normal neuronal activity in different ways. However, in spite of intense experimental work to explain the possible underlying mechanisms of action, a comprehensive and congruent understanding is still lacking. Part of the problem might be the opposite ways in which Aβ have been experimentally found to affect the normal activity of a neuron; for example, making a neuron more excitable (by reducing the A- or DR-type K(+) currents) or less excitable (by reducing synaptic transmission and Na(+) current). The overall picture is therefore confus…
Is pain sensitivity altered in people with Alzheimer's disease? A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental pain research
2016
Background Clinical studies suggest people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have altered pain sensitivity. Experimental pain research is equivocal. Objective Conduct a meta-analysis to investigate if people with AD have altered pain sensitivity compared to healthy controls (HCs). Methods Three authors searched electronic databases from inception till November 2015 for experimental pain studies in AD vs. HCs. Outcome measures were pain threshold, tolerance, pain ratings, heart rate response to noxious stimuli and the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Random effect meta-analysis calculating Hedges' g ± 95% confidence intervals (CI) was conducted. Results Thirteen studies were identified, inclu…
Intérêt en EHPAD du robot émotionnel Pepper dans les troubles neurocomportementaux de la maladie d’Alzheimer
2021
International audience; Can geriatric technologies really be effective among elderly people with Alzheimer's dementia and living in institutions? Our controlled, randomized, single-blind, comparative study attempted to answer this question. The study was conducted in two nursing homes among 31 subjects with an average age of 79.4 ± 6.9, and an average MMSE score of 12.2 ± 3.6. The results show that the Pepper robot, compared to a soft toy, is capable not only of entertaining, but above all of inducing qualitative and quantitative clinical effects. During the 20-minute sessions, a decrease in apathy was observed with Pepper (6.7 ± 6.5 min vs. 18.4 ± 3.8 min, P < 0.001), a decrease in ambulat…