Category: Abstract (Page 1 of 3)

Abnormal P600 word repetition effect in elderly persons with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.

January 14, 2016 / rsoohoo

Abstract

We sought cognitive event-related potential (ERP) biomarkers of “Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease” (Pre-AD) using an incidental verbal learning paradigm with high sensitivity to prodromal AD. Seven elderly persons, with normal cognition at the time of ERP recordings, but who showed subsequent cognitive decline or AD pathology at autopsy (n = 5, mean Braak stage = 2.8), were compared to 12 “robust” normal elderly (RNE) persons who remained cognitively normal (Mfollow-up = 9.0 years). EEG was recorded during a word repetition paradigm (semantically congruous (50%) and incongruous target words repeat ~10-140 seconds later). The RNE P600 congruous word repetition ERP effects (New minus Old congruous words) were significantly larger than in Pre-AD (mean amplitudes = 3.28 vs. 0.10 μV, p = .04). High group discrimination (84%) was achieved (by a P600 amplitude cutoff of ~1.5 μV). Abnormal P600 word repetition effects in cognitively normal elderly persons may be an important sign of synaptic dysfunction and Preclinical AD.

Cognitive Event-Related Potentials: Biomarkers of Synaptic Dysfunction Across the Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease

January 14, 2016 / rsoohoo

Abstract

Cognitive event-related brain potential (ERP) studies of decision-making and attention, language, and memory impairments in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are reviewed. Circumscribed lesions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL), as may be the case in individuals with amnestic MCI, generally produce altered plasticity of the late positive P600 component, with relative sparing of earlier sensory ERP components. However, as the neuropathology of AD extends to neocortical association areas, abnormalities of the P300 and N400 (and perhaps even P50) become more common. Critically, ERP studies of individuals at risk for AD may reveal neurophysiological changes prior to clinical deficits, which could advance the early detection and diagnosis of “presymptomatic AD”.

fMRI congruous word repetition effects reflect memory variability in normal elderly.

January 14, 2016 / rsoohoo

Abstract

Neural circuits mediating repetition effect for semantically congruous words on functional MRI were investigated in seventeen normal elderly (mean age=70). Participants determined if written words were semantically congruent (50% probability) with spoken statements. Subsequent cued-recall revealed robust explicit memory only for congruous items (83% versus 8% for incongruous). Event-related BOLD responses to New>Old congruous words were found in the left>right cingulate and fusiform gyri, left parahippocampal cortex, middle and inferior frontal gyri (IFG). A group with above-median subsequent recall had markedly more widespread BOLD responses than a Low-Recall subgroup, with larger responses in the left medial temporal lobe (LMTL), IFG, and bilateral cingulate gyri. The magnitude of LMTL activation (New-Old) correlated with subsequent cued-recall, while the spatial extent of LMTL activation (New>Old) correlated with recall and recognition. Both magnitude and spatial extent of left fusiform activation correlated with subsequent recall/recognition. A neural circuit of left-hemisphere brain regions, many identified as P600 generators by invasive electrophysiological studies, was activated by New>Old congruous words, likely mediating successful verbal encoding.

fMRI responses to words repeated in a congruous semantic context are abnormal in mild Alzheimer’s disease

January 14, 2016 / rsoohoo

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We adapted an event-related brain potential word repetition paradigm, sensitive to early Alzheimer’s disease (AD), for functional MRI (fMRI). We hypothesized that AD would be associated with reduced differential response to New/Old congruous words.

METHODS:

Fifteen mild AD patients (mean age=72.9) and 15 normal elderly underwent 1.5T fMRI during a semantic category decision task.

RESULTS:

We found robust between-groups differences in BOLD response to congruous words. In controls, the New>Old contrast demonstrated larger responses in much of the left-hemisphere (including putative P600 generators: parahippocampal, cingulate, fusiform, perirhinal, middle temporal (MTG) and inferior frontal gyri (IFG)); the Old>New contrast showed modest activation, mainly in right parietal and prefrontal cortex. By contrast, there were relatively few regions of significant New>Old responses in AD patients, mainly in the right-hemisphere, and their Old>New contrast did not demonstrate a right-hemisphere predominance. Across subjects, the spatial extent of New>Old responses in left medial temporal lobe (MTL) correlated with subsequent recall and recognition (r’s>or=0.60). In controls, the magnitude of New-Old response in left MTL, fusiform, IFG, MTG, superior temporal and cingulate gyrus correlated with subsequent cued recall and/or recognition (0.51<or=r’s<or=0.78).

CONCLUSIONS:

A distributed network of mostly left-hemisphere structures, which are putative P600 generators, appears important for successful verbal encoding (with New>Old responses to congruous words in normal elderly). This network appears dysfunctional in mild AD patients, as reflected in decreased word repetition effects particularly in left association cortex, paralimbic and MTL structures.

Abnormal N400 word repetition effects in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.

January 14, 2016 / rsoohoo

Brain. 2010 May;133(Pt 5):1438-50. doi: 10.1093/brain/awq077. Epub 2010 Apr 21.

Abstract

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, a neurodegenerative disorder associated with premutation alleles (55-200 CGG repeats) of the FMR1 gene, affects many carriers in late-life. Patients with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome typically have cerebellar ataxia, intranuclear inclusions in neurons and astrocytes, as well as cognitive impairment. Dementia can also be present with cognitive deficits that are as severe as in Alzheimer’s disease, however frontosubcortical type impairment is more pronounced in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. We sought to characterize the P600 and N400 word repetition effects in patients with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, using an event-related potential word repetition paradigm with demonstrated sensitivity to very early Alzheimer’s disease. We hypothesized that the fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome-affected participants with poor declarative verbal memory would have pronounced abnormalities in the P600 repetition effect. In the event-related potential experiment, subjects performed a category decision task whilst an electroencephalogram was recorded. Auditory category statements were each followed by an associated visual target word (50% ‘congruous’ category exemplars, 50% ‘incongruous’ nouns). Two-thirds of the stimuli (category statement-target word pairs) were repeated, either at short-lag (approximately 10-40 s) or long-lag (approximately 100-140 s). The N400 and P600 amplitude data were submitted to split-plot analyses of variance. These analyses of variance showed a highly significant reduction of the N400 repetition effect (F = 22.5, P < 0.001), but not of the P600 repetition effect, in mild fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (n = 32, mean age = 68.7, mean Mini-Mental State Examination score = 26.8). Patients with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome had significantly smaller late positive amplitude (550-800 ms post-stimulus onset) to congruous words (P = 0.04 for group effect). Reduced P600 repetition effect amplitude was associated with poorer recall within fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome patients (r = 0.66) and across all subjects (r = 0.52). Larger P600 amplitude to new congruous words also correlated significantly with higher free recall scores (r = 0.37, P < 0.01) across all subjects. We found a correlation between the amplitude of late positivity and CGG repeat length in those with fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (r = 0.47, P = 0.006). Higher levels of FMR1 mRNA were associated with smaller N400s to incongruous words and larger positive amplitudes (between 300 and 500 ms) to congruous words. In conclusion, event-related potential word repetition effects appear sensitive to the cognitive dysfunction present in patients with mild fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. Their more severe reduction in N400 repetition effect, than P600, is in contrast to the reverse pattern reported in amnestic mild cognitive impairment and incipient Alzheimer’s disease (Olichney et al., 2008).

Patients with MCI and N400 or P600 abnormalities are at very high risk for conversion to dementia.

January 14, 2016 / rsoohoo

Neurology. 2008 May 6;70(19 Pt 2):1763-70. Epub 2007 Dec 12.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
We sought cognitive event-related potential (ERP) biomarkers of disease progression and subsequent conversion to dementia in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

BACKGROUND:
Two ERP components, the P600 and N400, are sensitive to abnormal episodic/declarative memory and semantic processing. When congruous category-exemplars are repeated, smaller P600s (relative to initial presentation) are normally elicited. Repetitions of semantically incongruous words yield smaller N400 amplitude. In mild Alzheimer disease (AD), abnormalities of both the N400 and P600 repetition effects are present, suggesting a widespread failure of synaptic plasticity.

METHODS:
Patients with amnestic MCI (n = 32) were longitudinally studied annually with an ERP paradigm in which semantically congruous (50%) and incongruous target words are repeated 10 to 140 seconds after initial presentation. ERP data were analyzed to contrast MCI-to-AD converters (within 3 years) vs nonconverters, using split-plot analyses of variance.

RESULTS:
A statistically significant P600 congruous word repetition effect was found only in the nonconverter group (F = 9.9, p = 0.005 vs MCI converters). This effect correlated with verbal memory measures. Repetition of incongruous words produced a significant N400 amplitude attenuation (across right-hemisphere sites) in nonconverters, but not in converters. Patients with MCI with abnormal/reduced N400 or P600 word repetition effects had an 87 to 88% likelihood of dementia within 3 years while those with normal/spared N400 and P600 repetition effects had only an 11 to 27% likelihood.

CONCLUSIONS:
Abnormalities of the P600 or N400 in mild cognitive impairment are associated with an increased risk of subsequent conversion to Alzheimer disease (AD). These event-related potential components may offer useful biomarkers for the detection and staging of very early AD.

Cerebral infarction in Alzheimer’s disease is associated with severe amyloid angiopathy and hypertension

November 5, 2015 / jbcosca

Arch Neurol, 52(7):702-8.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy (AA) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with an increased prevalence of cerebral infarction diagnosed at autopsy. Amyloid angiopathy is increasingly recognized as a cause of ischemic infarcts, as well as cerebral hemorrhages. However, the relationship of AA to cerebral infarction in patients with AD is uncertain. DESIGN: Retrospective clinicopathological study of autopsy-confirmed cases of AD. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-five deceased patients with AD confirmed at autopsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Semiquantitative scores of AA severity were done in four brain regions: midfrontal, inferior parietal, superior temporal, and hippocampal. The finding of cerebral infarction at autopsy was modeled as a function of AA severity, hypertension, age at death, AD severity, and sex in chi 2 and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Severe AA was significantly associated with cerebral infarction at autopsy in patients with AD (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 8.9). None of the other independent variables in the multiple logistic regression analysis were significant predictors. While hypertension was equally common in the severe and mild AA subgroups, the combination of both severe AA and hypertension interacted to increase the risk of infarction (OR, 14.2; 95% CI, 3.2 to 63.4) beyond that observed with hypertension (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.4 to 3.2) or severe AA (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.3 to 5.3) alone. CONCLUSIONS: Severe AA is associated with an increased frequency of cerebral infarction in patients with AD. This appears to be largely due to an interaction between severe AA and hypertension that may produce multiplicative injuries on the vasculature. Further study with regard as to how AA may cause ischemia and its role in the neuropathologic and clinical progression of AD is needed.

The apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele is associated with increased neuritic plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body variant

November 5, 2015 / jbcosca

Neurology, 47(1):190-6.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and neuropathologic lesions in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Lewy body variant (LBV). DESIGN: Retrospective genetic-neuropathologic study of AD and LBV cases. The main neuropathologic outcome measures were modeled as a function of apoE genotype, neuropathologic diagnosis, and gender. Age at death and duration of symptom effects were controlled for by ANCOVA. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-seven cases with neuropathologically diagnosed AD (n = 84) or LBV (n = 43). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantitative scores of neuritic plaques (NPs), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) severity, and CAA prevalence were averaged across four brain regions: midfrontal, inferior parietal, superior temporal, and hippocampal. RESULTS: The apoE epsilon 4 allele was associated with increased NPs within both AD and LBV. The epsilon 4 allele was associated with an increased frequency of CAA in the AD and LBV groups combined groups combined and in and in LBV alone. While CAA severity and NETs were increased in the epsilon 4/4 homozygous case when AD and LBV were combined, there were no significant effects within AD or LBV alone. CONCLUSIONS: The apoE epsilon 4 allele is strongly associated with increased NPs, but not neocortical NFTs, in both AD and LBV.

Neurological Symptoms, Not Signs,Are Common in Early HIV Infection

November 5, 2015 / jbcosca

J NeuroAIDS, 1(2):67-85.

Abstract

Objective. To examine the cross-sectional prevalence of neurological symptoms and signs in a large cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive men, and determine the relationship of the symptoms to disease stage, immunologic markers, and independent variables from neuropsychological (NP) testing and psychiatric interview. Methods: One hundred-nine controls and 386 HIV-infected volunteers enrolled in the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC) longitudinal study. The majority, without acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), were screened for alcohol/substance abuse; previous diagnosis of HIV-associated dementia; and HIV-unrelated developmental, neurological, medical, and neurobehavioral conditions which potentially impair cognition; and underwent a structured neurological interview and examination, standardized NP testing, and psychiatric interview as part of a more extensive battery. A large subset (N = 377) underwent lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) examination. We examined the relationship of sixteen select but independent variables, using stepwise multiple regressions, from demographic/staging, immunological, NP, and psychiatric domains to neurological symptoms in an effort to identify possible predictors of subclinical nervous systems involvement. Results. All categories of neurological symptoms were significantly more prevalent among medically asymptomatic (CDC stage A) subjects than controls, with a further rise in prevalence in those with more advanced stages of infection. The most marked rise was seen in cognitive and sensorimotor complaints. In contrast, significant findings on neurological examination were evident in only the sicker (stage C) subjects. Stage of illness, serum β2-microglobulin, psychiatric indices of depressed mood or anxiety, and NP “motor” performance were the most significant independent variables associated with the presence of neurological symptoms. CSF pleocytosis was seen early (CDC stage A), and may reflect the presence of HIV in the central nervous system (CNS) at the least stages of infection. We also confirmed the value of CSF β2m and neopterin as important markers of advancing disease stage. Whether they predict subclinical CNS involvement is to be determined by longitudinal observations. Conclusion. Neurological complains are common in medically asymptomatic HIV subjects whereas signs are not. The symptoms correlate with commonly determined independent measures of depression, anxiety, NP tests of fine motor speed and strength, as well as indices of disease worsening (CDC stage, serum β2m).

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease: the CERAD experience, Part XV

November 5, 2015 / jbcosca

Neurology, 46(6):1592-6.

Abstract

We studied the frequency, severity, and clinical correlations of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in 117 CERAD subjects with autopsy-confirmed AD. Eighty-three percent showed at least a mild degree of amyloid angiopathy. Thirty of 117 brains (25.6%) showed moderate to severe CAA affecting the cerebral vessels in one or more cortical regions. These brains also showed a significantly higher frequency of hemorrhages or ischemic lesions than those of subjects with little or no amyloid angiopathy (43.3% versus 23.0%; odds ratio = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.1 to 6.2) High CAA scores also correlated with the presence of cerebral arteriosclerosis and with older age at onset of dementia. Our findings suggest that factors contributing to non-AD-related vascular pathology (e.g., atherosclerosis) may play a role in amyloid deposition in cerebral vessels in AD.