bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial and physiological effects of choir singing in people with dementia: A pilot study
Authors: Dawudi Milad , Schall Arthur , Tesky Valentina Antonia , Pantel Johannes 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundResearch suggests that music‐based interventions can improve emotional well‐being and quality of life in people with dementia. However, investigations are generally confined to specific music therapy settings. Complex music‐based interventions from day‐to‐day life, such as choir singing, have rarely been studied, not least because of the methodological challenges. Here we report on a pilot study examining the benefits of singing in persons with dementia that had joined a choir created especially for them.MethodIn preparation for a larger study on the impact of regular choir singing in dementia, we conducted a feasibility study to assess the expected effects on psychosocial and physiological outcomes. Emotional well‐being, depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms, physiological stress markers and quality of life were measured in the 19 choir members, all of whom had mild to moderate dementia (age: M = 76.95 [SD = 8.18]; f = 10 (52.6%); MMSE: M = 16.42 [SD = 5.79]) and were accompanied by their caregiving relatives. The weekly choir rehearsals took place over two months. Sessions were evaluated individually (situational measurements) and overall (pre/post‐tests).ResultOur data suggested significant increases in emotional well‐being during the choir sessions (p < .05; Cohen’s dRM between 0.5 and 0.9), as well as significant reductions in cortisol levels in saliva as an indicator of stress (p < .05; dRM between ‐0.2 and ‐0.76). A pre‐post evaluation (paired sample t‐tests) showed noticeable, but not significant improvements in neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, and quality of life. Caregivers’ observations confirmed the positive influence of choir singing on participants’ emotional and communication behavior.ConclusionThe results of the pilot study reveal the therapeutic potential of choir‐based music interventions in persons with dementia and show that these effects can be demonstrated under real‐world conditions. A large‐scale randomized controlled study should further investigate the effects of choir singing in dementia.
Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Stratification Biomarkers and Cross‐disease Mechanisms
Authors: Taylor Krystyna , Malinowski Andy 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by a high degree of heterogeneity in the patient population. GWAS have identified several disease‐associated genes, but these findings have not translated into progress in the clinic. This likely reflects the limitations of GWAS in only identifying single variants, while the key to understanding and treating complex diseases that are influenced by multiple genetic loci is to find combinations of variants that distinguish patient subgroups.MethodThe PrecisionLife platform utilises a hypothesis‐free method for the detection of combinations of features that together are strongly associated with variations in disease risk, symptoms, progression rates and therapy response.To explore the diversity within the AD population we analysed a genomic dataset from the UK Biobank, including 882 patients diagnosed with AD, compared against healthy controls. Subsequently, pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify biological mechanisms underlying the AD patient subgroups that are shared with other CNS indications.ResultOur analysis identified combinations of genetic variants which mapped to 113 genes that are significantly associated with AD pathology. These include known and novel genes. Clustering of these combinations, based upon the degree of patient overlap, revealed six distinct subgroups. Each patient subgroup reflected a specific biological function ‐ lipid metabolism, neuroinflammation, autophagy, serotonin signalling, metal ion homeostasis, and metabolic dysfunction.PrecisionLife’s patient stratification approach enables understanding of shared genetic aetiologies and underlying dysregulated biological processes across multiple diseases where there is evidence of overlapping symptomology. We performed a pathway enrichment analysis, using the patient stratification results from the AD study, to find commonalities identified in other patient datasets, including FTD, schizophrenia and long COVID. We were able to identify multiple AD‐associated pathways that are significantly enriched in at least one additional disease. These included processes associated with neurotransmission, cell death signalling and lipoprotein metabolism.ConclusionThe results demonstrate that combinatorial analysis can stratify heterogenous patient populations with complex pathologies to identify effective therapeutic strategies with accompanying biomarkers, improving the probability of success in AD drug development and opening an opportunity for identifying biological mechanisms and pathways relevant to treating multiple, related CNS diseases.
The diagnostic accuracy of cerebral amyloid angiopathy criteria between modified Boston criteria v1.5, Boston criteria v2.0, and simplified Edinburgh criteria – the first Thai cerebral amyloid angiopathy pathological confirmed cohort.
Authors: Pongpitakmetha Thanakit , Thanprasertsuk Sekh 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe gold standard of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) diagnosis are surgical pathology or postmortem examination, which are scarcely done in clinical practice. Thus, the current diagnostic criteria are mainly based on clinic‐radiological characteristics, including modified Boston criteria v1.5 [Linn J, et al. 2010] and Boston criteria v2.0 [Charidimou A, et al. 2022], which are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based, as well as simplified [Sembill JA, et al. 2022] and full [Rodrigues MA, et al. 2018] Edinburg criteria, which are computerized topography (CT)‐based. These criteria had been developed based on patients in western countries. Therefore, the application of these criteria in Asian population, especially in South‐East Asian, is limited. This study aimed to explore the clinico‐radiological characteristics and the accuracy of the current diagnostic criteria among Thai CAA patients.MethodCongo Red staining brain histopathological specimens in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand during 2011‐2021 were reviewed. Patients’ characteristics were gathered from the best available data in electronic medical records. Each clinical event was analyzed separately. Radiological biomarkers in brain CT and MRI which had been done closet to the pathological confirmed date were systematically rated by trained investigators. Level of diagnosis was assessed based on the modified Boston criteria v1.5, Boston criteria v2.0, and simplified Edinburg criteria.ResultEight patients had pathological‐confirmed CAA and 11 clinical events from these patients were reviewed. The clinico‐radiological characteristics are shown in Table 1. Comparisons of the level of diagnosis between the criteria are shown in Table 2 and the diagnostic accuracy of the criteria using the Boston criteria v1.5 and v2.0 as reference standards are summarized in Table 3. The Boston criteria v2.0 revealed the better sensitivity compared with v1.5 (probable CAA, 63.6% vs 54.4%), likely due to an inclusion of non‐hemorrhagic biomarkers; whereas the simplified Edinburgh criteria showed lower sensitivity compared with Boston criteria. The AUC of probable CAA in Boston criteria v1.5 using v2.0 as a reference standard was 0.93 (95%CI[0.76‐1.00], sensitivity 85.7%, and specificity 100%).ConclusionWe performed the application of most recent current diagnostic criteria in CAA Thai population. The larger and well‐designed confirmatory study in Asian cohort is needed.
Dysfunctional mitochondria during accelerated senescence and their impact on Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology
Authors: Caballol Nuria Suelves , Saleki Shirine , Palomares Debora , Ibrahim Tasha , Kienlen‐Campard Pascal 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundAlthough aging is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the exact mechanisms through which aging becomes pathogenic and triggers neurodegeneration have not yet been identified. Recent evidence suggests that AD is tightly correlated with the appearance of senescent cells and that mitochondrial dysfunction is a pathological feature occurring during senescence and AD. Additionally, studies have suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction and altered mitophagy might lead to Aβ accumulation. Our goal was to explore if a reduced removal of dysfunctional mitochondria during aging is a key contributor to amyloid pathology and neurodegeneration in AD.MethodSince telomere shortening is a known trigger of cellular senescence, a telomerase‐deficient mouse model was used: Terc−/−. The brain proteome of Terc−/− mice was evaluated to validate classical and novel markers of senescence and investigate the alteration of key cellular pathways. Primary cultures and brain tissue from Terc−/− mice were evaluated for mitochondrial function/content and mitophagy alterations. Then, we explored the relationship between amyloid pathology and mitochondrial dysfunction by crossing the Terc−/− mice with an AD‐related amyloid mouse model (5xFAD) and exploring mitophagy alterations and amyloid‐β (Aβ) accumulation in disease‐vulnerable regions.ResultProteomic analysis revealed changes in proteins related to autophagy and mitochondrial functions during accelerated senescence. The mitophagy modulator BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa protein‐interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) was found downregulated in Terc−/− mice. We evidenced the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction and accumulation in senescent neurons. Additionally, we observed that senescence induces intraneuronal Aβ accumulation in specific brain regions (e.g., the subiculum) of an AD mouse model and we suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and altered mitophagy might lead to Aβ accumulation.ConclusionOur results indicate that dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate during pathological aging due to a mitophagy impairment, which might contribute to AD neuropathology.
Cardiac remodeling, amyloidosis, neurotrophic signaling and innervation impairment in the Tg2576 model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Elia Andrea , Parodi‐Rullan Rebecca M , Vazquez‐Torres Rafael , Carey Ashley M , Fossati Silvia 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the characteristic cerebral amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation and tau pathology, are accompanied by a gradual loss of the two main neuromodulators, NGF and BDNF. This AD‐mediated derangement of the brain’s neuro‐signaling pathways may extend to the periphery and, along with potential peripheral amyloid deposition, induce peripheral nervous system impairment, thus affecting other organs, including the heart. However, whether and how AD pathology affects cardiac physiology, neurotrophins, innervation, and heart amyloidosis is still undefined.MethodHere, we describe for the first‐time that cardiac remodeling and neuro‐signaling dysregulation are present in the hearts of Tg2576 mice, a widely used model of AD and cerebral amyloidosis.ResultsEchocardiographic analysis showed significant deterioration of left ventricle function, as demonstrated by a decline of both ejection fraction and fraction shortening in 12‐month‐old Tg2576 mice compared to age‐matched WT littermates. The transgenic mice hearts presented an increase in interstitial fibrosis, with an accumulation of amyloid aggregates, including Aβ, associated with severe cardiac nervous system dysfunction. Tg2576 mice exhibited a depletion in cardiac nerve fiber density, both adrenergic (stained with tyrosine hydroxylase‐ TH) and regenerating nerve terminals (labeled with GAP‐43) compared to the WT mice. This myocardial denervation was accompanied by a decline in NGF and BDNF protein expression as well as GAP‐43 expression in both the brain and heart of Tg2576 mice. Likewise, both human neuroblastoma cells (SH‐SY5Y) and human cardiomyocytes (AC16) challenged with human Aβ‐40 or Aβ‐42 oligomers showed significant downregulation of both BDNF and GAP‐43 activity.ConclusionOverall, this study highlights the deleterious impact of cerebral amyloidosis on the cardiac nervous system and heart physiology, providing potential therapeutic targets, such as neurotrophic factors, to prevent or limit the AD‐mediated degenerative mechanisms on the cardiovascular system.
BrainFM ‐ Tuning into the Modifiable Risk Factors of Dementia
Authors: Kaczmarska Magda , Yasoda‐Mohan Anusha 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundDespite increasing research focus on 12 modifiable risk factors (MRF) reducing dementia risk by 40% across the life course, translation from bench to the broader society is limited thereby rampaging fear and stigmatisation. Furthermore, an Irish study showed that dementia awareness in Ireland was lower in younger than older people. Therefore, identifying methods that support community education about MRF in an accessible and engaging manner are paramount. To this end, BrainFM, is an educational tool that combines multisensory didactic learning with embodied co‐creative experience to deliver content around the brain and brain health. The current project describes one particular session around MRF delivered to an intergenerational population during Brain Awareness Week at the Creative Brain Week Conference (CBW) at the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin in March 2022.MethodsFour days of events highlighting the neuroscience behind three MRFs (hearing loss, social isolation and physical health) were co‐facilitated by Magda Kaczmarska, dancer and senior Atlantic Fellow and Dr. Anusha Yasoda‐Mohan, neuroscientist and current Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at GBHI (Photo1). While Dr. Yasoda‐Mohan explained the didactic content, Ms. Kaczmarska facilitated creative dance and movement activities tailored to reinforce the content (Photo2). These sessions were delivered both online and in‐person to (i) multidisciplinary, international attendees of CBW; (ii) people living with dementia and care partners; (iii) first grade class at St. Paul’s primary school, Navan, Ireland and (iv) general public of the Dublin Docklands community (Photo3).ResultsThe program was attended by 60 participants. Participant testimonials indicated heightened awareness and interest in proactive brain health and a feeling of community with fellow participants. Prominent clinical professionals engaging in co‐creative experience with artists and peers commented on how their understanding of an embodied connection was growing and influencing how they perceived other events of the week. Therefore, fostering interdisciplinary understanding supports innovation and solidarity around brain health in the community.ConclusionBrainFM was key in not only increasing mindfulness about the MRF and social connection but was also an advocate for the alliance between the arts and sciences as a powerful tool for expanding brain health literacy.
MIND diet consumption pattern in a cohort of cognitively healthy Mexican older adults. LatAm FINGERS Mexico
Authors: Salinas‐Contreras Rosa Maria , Martínez‐Galindo Joyce Graciela , Vigil‐Martinez Ana , Casildo‐Vasquez Tomas , Galindo Isabel Cristina , Sosa‐Ortiz Ana Luisa ,   LatAm FINGERS
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundMIND diet is a hybrid diet designed from Mediterranean and DASH which emphasizes natural, plant‐based foods, promoting increased consumption of foods have been shown a positive impact on brain health and cognitive performance. Thus, understanding the food consumption habits is important.MethodWe analyzed elders cognitively healthy who were administered POINTER food habits questionnaire that evaluates the intake of 10 recommended foods and 5 limited foods from the MIND diet at basal evaluation. MIND score is 1 if the participant consumes the recommended portions, 0.5 if the intake is moderate, and zero if the intake is less than or equal to the recommendations. It was considered a good intake of MIND diet if the total score was ≥8 points. Descriptive analyses of both sociodemographic variables and food intake were performed.ResultAnalyzed 66 older adults between 60 and 77 years of age (mean 70 SD 5.14), 70% are women, with a mean of 9.9 years schooling (SD 3.9). 72% of the subjects evaluated did not meet the recommended MIND food intake (score ≤ 8). Among the recommended foods, the subjects ingested little or no olive oil, green leafy vegetables, red fruits, fish, and other vegetables, but they ingested large amounts of foods that should be limited, such as fried foods, pastries and sweets, cheese, fats, and margarines (table 1).ConclusionThe recommended foods that the participants do not ingest in adequate quantities are those of high cost in our country (olive oil, red fruits, and fish), but the sample have a high intake of fast food and processed foods, some ones that should limit. Our sample consume adequately foods that are easily accessible and common in our country (legumes, poultry, red meat). It is necessary to make adaptations of the MIND diet according to access and regional characteristics, this could facilitate its adherence.
Statistical analysis to identify MRI markers for Alzheimer’s Disease: why moving towards AI?
Authors: Ruyter Swann , FIRAT Hüseyin , Racoceanu Daniel 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration of some brain structures and cognitive function decline. To evaluate the anatomical changes, structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) is a non‐invasive examination and allows the quantification of brain atrophy. Some of the affected structures could be common with other dementia types such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The objective of this work is to identify specific affected structures in patients with AD to healthy individuals, and to patients suffering from FTD and DLB. This is a part of a larger effort to develop methods to better diagnose AD and to find specific markers of this dementia type.MethodThe ADDIA clinical study (EU‐H2020 project led by Firalis company) enrolled 800 participants and was designed to obtain high‐quality samples for the discovery of novel biomarkers for early and differential diagnosis of AD. The sMRI of 623 participants with the above‐mentioned pathologies and healthy individuals were analyzed and the volume of different areas measured with the software FreeSurfer. Statistics were performed to define significant differences in brain volumes between groups.ResultOne hundred and twelve brain areas were analyzed for volume by study participant. Compared with a healthy population, the atrophy of structures observed in AD patients almost completely overlaps with the one observed in DLB and FTD patients. When the DLB and FTD groups are compared to a healthy population, one brain area is specific in DLB patients and fifty‐eight in FTD patients. However, on these fifty‐eight affected brain areas, forty‐seven overlap with the mild AD patient group.ConclusionThe measurement from imaging modality is not enough precise to report biomarkers as affected areas specific to the type of dementia. However, a promising framework lies in the application of machine and deep learning algorithms on a set of modalities: imaging, clinical and omics. These new tools allow for a finer understanding of data and a personalized approach to diagnosis. In preparation for this multimodal integration framework, the above categories of algorithms will be applied on MRI images. This will permit to discriminate AD from other dementia types at the individual level.
Identification of mild cognitive impairment with digital biomarkers in individuals presenting with cognitive complaints
Authors: Iulita M. Florencia , Ferrari Alberto , Harms Robbert , Quevenco Frances‐Catherine , Sánchez‐Benavides Gonzalo , Minguillón Carolina , Balasa Mircea , Bügler Maximilian , Santuccione Antonella , Tarnanas Ioannis 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundOne of the major challenges in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the identification of individuals at the earliest stages, who might benefit from disease‐modifying therapies. People presenting with clinical syndromes such as subjective cognitive decline (SCD), or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) harboring AD pathology are at high risk of cognitive worsening over time. Digital biomarkers could enable early, accurate and accessible diagnoses, and thus, streamline the patient journey to specialized care.MethodsWe included 102 participants from the β‐AARC cohort, established at the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), consisting of individuals seeking medical advice on their cognitive performance, mostly in primary care settings. Participants were classified as SCD (n = 94; age 66.4 [6.2] years; MMSE score 28.5 [1.3]) or MCI (n = 8; age 70.1 [4.6] years; MMSE score 26.3 [2.8]) after objective cognitive testing (Table 1). All had core CSF biomarkers (Aβ42/40, ptau‐181, t‐tau) determined with the Lumipulse automated platform (Fujirebio). Participants completed a digital cognitive assessment with Altoida’s research medical device. The device evaluates cognitive and functional impairment based on motoric and augmented reality tasks that simulate activities of daily living. These tasks evaluate multi‐modal features, including micro‐movements, micro‐errors, speed, reaction times, or navigation trajectories, which are used to train specific machine‐learning models, termed Digital Neuro Signature (DNS). The DNS‐MCI algorithm identifies cognitively normal individuals from those presenting with cognitive impairment. We compared DNS‐MCI scores across study groups and explored correlations with core AD biomarkers.ResultDNS‐MCI scores were significantly lower in individuals presenting with MCI compared with SCD (p<0.05; Figure 1A). Participants who were Aβ+ based on the Aβ42/40 ratio (cut‐off ≤0.062) showed significantly lower DNS‐MCI scores compared with those who were Aβ‐ (p<0.001 for the whole sample; and p<0.05 for the SCD subsample (Figure 1B)). DNS‐MCI scores showed significant modest correlations with Aβ42/40, ptau‐181/Aβ42, ptau‐181 and t‐tau biomarkers (Figure 2).ConclusionDigital biomarkers identified differences in cognitive performance between MCI/SCD and Aβ+/Aβ‐ participants in a cohort with cognitive complaints seeking medical advice. DNS‐MCI scores correlated with core CSF AD biomarkers.
This work has received support from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (grant #GDADB‐201906‐2018897) to Ioannis Tarnanas.