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Bibliography on: Alzheimer Disease — Current Literature

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Robert J. Robbins is a biologist, an educator, a science administrator, a publisher, an information technologist, and an IT leader and manager who specializes in advancing biomedical knowledge and supporting education through the application of information technology. More About:  RJR | OUR TEAM | OUR SERVICES | THIS WEBSITE

RJR: Recommended Bibliography 17 Jan 2026 at 01:36 Created: 

Alzheimer Disease — Current Literature

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer's, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person's functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of daily living. Scientists don't yet fully understand what causes Alzheimer's disease in most people. There is a genetic component to some cases of early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Late-onset Alzheimer's arises from a complex series of brain changes that occur over decades. The causes probably include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The importance of any one of these factors in increasing or decreasing the risk of developing Alzheimer's may differ from person to person. This bibliography runs a generic query on "Alzheimer" and then restricts the results to papers published in or after 2017.

Created with PubMed® Query: 2024:2026[dp] AND ( alzheimer*[TIAB] ) NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion

Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)

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RevDate: 2026-01-16

Ramezani N, Granberg S, Kihlgren A, et al (2026)

The use of care home environments to meet culture-specific needs of culturally and linguistically diverse residents with dementia: an integrative review using the ICF framework.

International journal for equity in health pii:10.1186/s12939-025-02748-0 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Increasing global migration creates new challenges for multicultural societies in providing equitable care. Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people who move into care homes find themselves in an environment where health professionals do not speak their language and the access to cultural activities is limited. This may increase loneliness and social isolation. When designing care home environments for CALD residents with dementia, culture is a key consideration. The aim of this integrative review is to highlight what elements of the care home environment are reported to meet culture-specific needs of CALD residents with dementia, and how.

METHODS: A search strategy which included terms for care homes, forms of dementia and CALD people was developed, and a systematic search was carried out in six databases. Eligible articles were original peer-reviewed studies published between 2013 and 2024 and contained examples of how care home environments have been used to meet culture-specific needs of CALD residents. All screenings and extractions were carried out by two independent researchers.

RESULTS: The search resulted in 4311 records. After the screening process, 27 articles met the eligibility criteria. The review findings are categorized according to components of the WHO's International classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF). Results linked to the ICF component Activities and participation stress the importance of communication in the resident's preferred language, social and supportive relationships and culturally relevant activities, while the component Environmental factors highlights the significance of ethnic food and support from culturally competent care professionals and family members.

CONCLUSIONS: This integrative review underlines the complexity of using environments to meet culture-specific needs of CALD residents with dementia. The findings highlight the importance of bilingual staff, culturally relevant activities and inclusive environments in enhancing communication, building interpersonal relationships and reducing frustration among CALD residents. Collaborations between culturally competent staff, family members and members of cultural communities also facilitate meeting social and cultural needs of these residents. This review offers suggestions on how environments in care homes can be adapted for CALD residents and encourages further research to find practical solutions for equitable care.

REGISTRATION: A study protocol is registered on Prospero (CRD42023492906).

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Sun W, Luan H, Li S, et al (2026)

Circulating adipokines level and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases: a two‑sample mendelian randomization study and proteomic analysis.

BMC neurology pii:10.1186/s12883-026-04636-8 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Singh SK, Antoine C, Tse C, et al (2026)

Therapeutic potential of acidic cannabinoids: an update.

Journal of cannabis research pii:10.1186/s42238-026-00387-y [Epub ahead of print].

Cannabis sativa yields a wide range of bioactive compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) are the acidic biosynthetic precursors of the neutral cannabinoids Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which have been the subject of much research. This review examines the biosynthesis, decarboxylation, molecular pharmacology, and therapeutic significance of acidic cannabinoids, intending to address a significant knowledge gap. Peer-reviewed literature from major scientific databases was used in a systematic narrative review with an emphasis on investigations of acidic cannabinoid chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and disease-specific applications. According to the reviewed data, acidic cannabinoids exhibit unique biological activities that distinguish them from their neutral counterparts. These include neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, and anti-proliferative actions, which are mediated by molecular targets such as serotonin 5-HT1A receptors, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). Acidic cannabinoids are more appealing for therapeutic usage in children and the elderly, considering that they are not intoxicating like THC; however, this distinction applies primarily to non‑heated consumption. Chemical instability, low bioavailability, and a dearth of controlled human trials impede clinical translation despite their potential. According to the findings, acidic cannabinoids are an underutilized yet potentially valuable class of precision medicines. In this study, we outline existing understanding on acidic cannabinoids, discuss their production and transformation, and identify research needs that could influence cannabis science research.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Wang L, Liu Y, Li F, et al (2026)

CX3CL1 in Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease: Plasma Dynamics Across Age and Disease Stages.

Annals of clinical and translational neurology [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUNDS: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-beta plaques, tau tangles, and neuroinflammation. C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CX3CL1, also known as fractalkine), a neuroimmune chemokine implicated in AD pathogenesis, shows inconsistent alterations in plasma/serum across studies. Specifically examining age-dependency and diagnostic utility, we investigated plasma CX3CL1 levels across the cognitive continuum (cognitively normal [CN], amnestic mild cognitive impairment [aMCI], AD) in a Chinese cohort.

METHODS: A total of 443 participants, including 130 patients with AD, 72 patients with aMCI, and 99 age-and sex-matched CN controls, as well as a cohort of 142 CN subjects of different ages, were enrolled from Chongqing General Hospital. Plasma CX3CL1 levels were determined using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Apolipoprotein E genotypes (APOE) were performed. The correlations between Plasma CX3CL1 levels and cognition test scores or age were analyzed. The optimal diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS: Plasma CX3CL1 levels significantly increased with age in CN individuals. No significant sex difference was found. Plasma CX3CL1 levels did not differ significantly between APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers. Stepwise elevation across continuum: CX3CL1 levels showed a significant stepwise increase: CN controls (1.73 ± 0.51 ng/mL) < aMCI (2.40 ± 1.06 ng/mL) < AD (4.15 ± 1.24 ng/mL) (p < 0.001 between all groups). This pattern persisted in both male and female subgroups, between the AD group and the aMCI group, between the AD group and the CN control group (p < 0.001), between the aMCI group and the CN control group, and between the male and female subgroups (p < 0.05). CX3CL1 levels negatively correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and positively correlated with age.

CONCLUSIONS: Plasma CX3CL1 levels exhibit a significant age-dependent increase in cognitively normal individuals, peak in midlife (40-49 years), and demonstrate a stepwise elevation across the AD continuum (CN → aMCI → AD). Strong inverse correlations with cognitive scores in disease groups and high diagnostic accuracy for AD, particularly against CN, support its role as a biomarker reflecting both physiological aging and AD-related pathological decline. Its regulation appears independent of APOE ε4 status. The midlife peak suggests potential relevance for preclinical processes, warranting further investigation of CX3CL1 as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Shivahare BD, Rajadurai H, K D, et al (2026)

An attention-augmented multimodal classification of alzheimer's disease and parkinson's disease vs healthy controls using MRI, EEG, and SNP data.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-025-32274-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Due to the late manifestation of structural symptoms and symptomatic overlap, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) remain difficult to diagnose accurately. In order to categorize AD and PD in comparison to Healthy Controls (HC), this study suggests a multimodal classification framework that combines genetic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data, structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and functional Electroencephalography (EEG). To improve the model's accuracy and interpretability, the method makes use of an uncertainty estimate module and a novel cross-modality attention mechanism. The framework strives for diagnosis, concentrating on detecting Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in individuals exhibiting modest motor symptoms or early cognitive impairments, which are indicative of the prodromal stage of both conditions. A dataset of 2,500 MRI images, 1,500 EEG recordings, and SNP data for 1,000 subjects drawn from OpenNeuro, PPMI, and the UK Biobank was utilized in extensive analyses. The developed model was contrasted with recent unimodal and multimodal techniques. Our findings exhibit statistically significant increases of 6-12% compared to similar methods, with 95.6% average classification accuracy on AD and 94.8% on PD. The importance of the attention mechanism and both modalities to overall performance is quantified using ablation studies. Quantification of uncertainty also improves interpretability for possible clinical use. These results demonstrate the proper neurodegenerative disease diagnosis when explainable AI elements are paired with stable multimodal fusion.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Renna M, Bonavita R, Dixon G, et al (2026)

The interplay between autophagy and unconventional secretion in neurodegeneration.

Cell chemical biology, 33(1):10-32.

Within neurons, the misfolding and aggregation of certain proteins has been identified as a common feature of many late-onset neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). These aggregate-prone proteins include tau (in both primary tauopathies and in Alzheimer's disease) and alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. There is strong experimental evidence that the upregulation of intracellular clearance pathways (autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways) can clear aggregate-prone proteins in experimental models. When the flux through these pathways is increased, the levels of aggregate-prone proteins are reduced, resulting in improved cell survival in both cell-based and animal models of ND. More recently, a third strategy for clearing proteins from cells has been identified, via the unconventional secretion of proteins out of the cell. However, secretion may also facilitate the spreading and propagation of disease through a prion-like process. This review explains how the autophagy and unconventional secretion pathways interact and how these impact ND.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Rosenberg A, Solomon A, Bonnard A, et al (2026)

Preparing for the implementation of anti-amyloid therapies in Europe: Assessing real-world eligibility for lecanemab and donanemab in a Swedish memory clinic.

The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease, 13(3):100476 pii:S2274-5807(25)00417-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Lecanemab and donanemab are the first anti-Aβ treatments to receive approval in Europe. Eligibility criteria are strict, eg., APOE ε4/4 carriers are excluded. Successful implementation in public healthcare hinges on accurate estimates of eligibility rates in settings which will be the first to roll out the treatments (specialized memory clinics with early disease stages). We applied the appropriate use recommendations (AUR) to assess treatment eligibility in a Swedish tertiary memory clinic where Aβ and APOE assessments are routinely performed. Of the full cohort (N = 410), 26 and 25 patients met the AUR criteria for lecanemab and donanemab, respectively (6 %; partial overlap between the groups). After excluding APOE ε4/4 carriers in line with the European guidelines, only 14 and 13 patients remained eligible (3 %). In clinics with younger populations, a significant percentage of potentially eligible patients are likely to have the APOE ε4/4 genotype. These findings are important to inform the implementation of anti-Aβ treatments.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Li Z, Han R, Fan Y, et al (2026)

Interaction effects of extreme temperature events and air pollutants on neurodegenerative disease mortality: A case-crossover study in a cold-winter, hot-summer region of China.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 309:119732 pii:S0147-6513(26)00061-8 [Epub ahead of print].

Extreme temperature events (ETEs) and air pollutants are both linked to neurodegenerative diseases, yet their interactions remain underexplored. This case-crossover study examined the effects of ETEs and six ambient air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, O3, SO2, NO2, and CO) on mortality due to neurodegenerative diseases in a cold-winter, hot-summer region of China (2014-2021). Using a conditional logistic regression model combined with a distributed lag non-linear model, we found that heat wave and cold spell significantly increased overall neurodegenerative disease mortality, with peak effects at lag 0-14 days for heat wave (OR=1.77[95 %CI: 1.58, 1.98]) and lag 0-8 days for cold spell (OR=1.25[95 %CI: 1.10, 1.42]). All six air pollutants were significantly associated with mortality during the warm season, with PM2.5 and SO2 posing higher risks. Positive interactions were observed between heat wave and four air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, CO), particularly with SO2 (interaction OR = 1.84[95 %CI: 1.68, 2.01]). The strongest interaction effects were found for Alzheimer's disease mortality across all subcategories. Vulnerable groups included females, individuals aged > 80 years, and those without a spouse. These findings highlight the compounded risks of ETEs and air pollution on neurodegenerative disease mortality, emphasizing the need for synergistic warning systems and targeted control measures. SYNOPSIS: This study provides evidence for the interaction between short-term exposure to extreme temperature events and air pollutants on neurodegenerative disease mortality.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Anonymous (2026)

GLP-1s surprise failure in Alzheimer's.

Nature biotechnology, 44(1):7.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Cucinotta L, Pavarino M, Cannizzaro F, et al (2026)

A novel "cut and sew" procedure for the natural reconstitution of essential oils prior to biological assays.

Analytica chimica acta, 1386:345045.

BACKGROUND: Given the increasing interest in natural compounds for therapeutic applications, understanding the contribution of individual components within complex essential oils (EOs) is crucial. The isolation is often achieved through bio-guided fractionation, typically using flash chromatography to target chemical classes. To refine this, some methods rely on customized reconstitution using reference standards, which is challenging due to issues with preserving natural abundances and enantiomeric ratios.

RESULTS: This study compares conventional flash chromatography with an advanced preparative multidimensional gas chromatography (prep-GC) system, equipped with a novel collection setup. This prep-GC approach enabled the isolation of sub-fractions at the milligram scale for biological assays. Critically, it preserved the natural distribution of chiral components, eliminating the need for standard-based reconstitution and its associated challenges. Mentha × piperita L. EO, known for its inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), an enzyme relevant to Alzheimer's disease, was chosen as a case study. The novel approach allowed for a comprehensive investigation by isolating the oxygenated fraction devoid of menthol. This facilitated a direct comparison of the biological activity of the whole EO against the total oxygenated fraction (from flash chromatography) and the menthol-devoid fraction (from prep-GC), as well as pure (-)-menthol, pure (-)-menthone, and their mixture.

SIGNIFICANCE: The results clearly indicate that (-)-menthol, (-)-menthone, and other terpenes within the oxygenated fraction jointly contribute to the overall BChE inhibitory activity. These findings highlight the complex interplay among Mentha × piperita L. EO constituents. Furthermore, this study underscores the potential of this new prep-GC technology for uncovering the biological roles of minor constituents in complex natural mixtures, by removing the contribution of the main representative components.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

van Rooij JRA, van den Berg M, Van Vosselen M, et al (2026)

Long-term dietary interventions fail to mitigate functional connectivity loss and cognitive decline in the TgF344-AD rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Experimental neurology pii:S0014-4886(26)00010-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Short-term caloric restriction (CR) and resveratrol (Rsv) supplementation have shown potential in preserving brain function in aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the potential benefits of long-term CR or Rsv on brain health in context of AD. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of short-term (1 month) CR and Rsv administration on resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), as well as the effect of long-term (8 months) CR or Rsv supplementation on rs-FC, spatial memory, amyloid burden, and neuroinflammation in male and female TgF344-AD (Tg) and wild-type (WT) rats. In Tg rats, short-term CR decreased rs-FC in female rats, while long-term CR decreased rs-FC and modestly improved spatial memory in male rats. Long-term CR and Rsv altered regional amyloid burden, and CR decreased IBA-1 in males without affecting GFAP. Overall, long-term CR and Rsv failed to mitigate FC loss and cognition, underscoring the potentially limited impact of these dietary interventions in AD.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Gu Y, Zhang B, Lei C, et al (2026)

The metabolic reprogramming of lactate in the nervous system.

Experimental neurology pii:S0014-4886(26)00006-3 [Epub ahead of print].

Lactate, a critical energetic substrate and signaling molecule in the central nervous system (CNS), plays a pivotal role in maintaining neurophysiological homeostasis and driving the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders through metabolic reprogramming. Herein, this review systematically summarizes recent progress in molecular mechanisms governing lactate metabolic reprogramming as well as its multiple biological functions in the central nervous system. Under physiological conditions, lactate regulates energy distribution via the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle, while mediates neural communication through receptors including G Protein-Coupled Receptor 81 and N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor, thereby modulating synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation. In neurodegenerative pathologies (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases), dysregulated lactate reprogramming is observed in the form of dynamic lactate imbalance, altered expression of monocarboxylate transporters and lactate dehydrogenase, and defective mitochondrial energy coupling. These perturbations further enhance neuronal damage by triggering neuroinflammation and perturbing epigenomic homeostasis (e.g., histone lactylation). Critical knowledge gaps remain unresolved: (1) The temporal dynamics of lactate flux during disease progression remain uncharacterized; (2) The spatial heterogeneity of lactate distribution across brain nuclei and its regulatory mechanisms are debated; (3) Consensus is lacking regarding functional alterations of core lactate metabolic components; and (4) The precise signaling cascades through which lactate modulates neurodegeneration require elucidation. By integrating contemporary research on central nervous system lactate reprogramming, this work provides novel perspectives on neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and establishes a theoretical framework for developing targeted therapeutic strategies that modulate lactate metabolism.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Hodgins ML, Maxwell SP, Howlett SE, et al (2026)

Blood biomarkers of frailty and cognition: A scoping review.

Neurobiology of aging, 161:14-30 pii:S0197-4580(26)00003-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Frailty increasingly is recognized as a factor that modifies the relationship between disease biomarkers, including neuropathology, and dementia expression. The mechanisms underlying the relationship between frailty and dementia remain unclear, but blood biomarkers can offer insight into these mechanisms. We completed a scoping review of research examining the associations between blood biomarkers, frailty, and cognition. Three online databases were searched to identify original research examining blood biomarkers in the context of frailty and/or cognitive decline that accounted for the other condition in the analysis through stratification or inclusion in the model. Five of the 76 unique biomarkers identified -A disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10), fibrinogen, interleukin (IL)-6, neurofilament light chain (NfL) and vitamin D- were significantly and independently associated with both frailty and cognition. All five biomarkers could contribute to aging mechanisms, including disrupted proteostasis, chronic inflammation, dysregulated metabolism and/or deregulated nutrient sensing. These biomarkers could thus be common pathways of frailty and cognitive decline. Despite the Alzheimer-defining roles of β-amyloid and phosphorylated tau, these biomarkers typically are reported without considering the degree of frailty. Future biomarker research in cognitive decline and frailty should seek a clearer understanding of their relationship.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Oludiran A, Lewis B, Pudwill C, et al (2026)

Investigation of a viable but non-culturable state in Porphyromonas gingivalis and host cell invasion.

PloS one, 21(1):e0340605 pii:PONE-D-25-23205.

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a gram-negative, black-pigmented, anaerobic pathogen known for its biofilm formation and its central role in periodontal disease. More recently, P. gingivalis has been implicated in various systemic conditions, including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and certain types of cancer, such as pancreatic and oral cancer. This bacterium employs several mechanisms to evade environmental stress, thereby contributing to its pathogenicity. The viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state is characterized by bacteria that remain viable but have reduced metabolic activity and are unable to form colonies on conventional culture media. To induce the VBNC state in P. gingivalis, we subjected the bacterium to oxidative stress using H2O2 and subsequently resuscitated it from this state with sodium pyruvate. We utilized viability staining, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry (FC) to count live and dead bacteria, confirming the presence of significant numbers of viable P. gingivalis cells both before and after stress induction. Despite being viable, the stressed P. gingivalis failed to form colonies on blood agar plates after seven days of incubation, indicating it had entered the VBNC state. We were then able to resuscitate the VBNC P. gingivalis by adding sodium pyruvate, and the growth of the resuscitated bacteria on plates was comparable to that of control P. gingivalis. Investigation into the invasiveness of P. gingivalis in the VBNC state was conducted using human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). P. gingivalis in the VBNC state demonstrated the ability to invade and based on live/dead staining, showed that a substantial proportion of the VBNC P. gingivalis remained viable within the host cells for extended periods. In this study, we explore the VBNC survival strategy previously described in many aerobic bacteria but not previously reported in anaerobes such as P. gingivalis. The objectives of this study are to verify the VBNC state in P. gingivalis, determine whether this state can be reversed and assess the extent to which it impacts the ability of P. gingivalis to invade host cells. Understanding the VBNC and resuscitation states will be instrumental in guiding the development of more effective therapies for periodontitis and other diseases associated with P. gingivalis infection.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Zahedipour M, Saniee Abadeh M, S Shojaei (2026)

Alzheimer's disease prediction via an explainable CNN using genetic algorithm and SHAP values.

PloS one, 21(1):e0337800 pii:PONE-D-25-22679.

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are widely recognized for their high precision in image classification. Nevertheless, the lack of transparency in these black-box models raises concerns in sensitive domains such as healthcare, where understanding the knowledge acquired to derive outcomes can be challenging. To address this concern, several strategies within the field of explainable AI (XAI) have been developed to enhance model interpretability. This study introduces a novel XAI technique, GASHAP, which integrates a genetic algorithm (GA) with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to improve the explainability of our 3D convolutional neural network (3D-CNN) model. The model is designed to classify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and cognitively normal controls. Deep SHAP, a widely used XAI technique, facilitates the understanding of the influence exerted by various voxels on the final classification outcome (Lundberg SM, Lee SI. A unified approach to interpreting model predictions. In: Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems, 2017. 4765-74. https://doi.org/10.5555/3295222.3295230). However, voxel-level representation alone lacks interpretive clarity. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide findings at the level of anatomically defined brain regions. Critical regions are identified by leveraging their SHAP values, followed by the application of a genetic algorithm to generate a definitive mask highlighting the most significant regions for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis (Shahamat H, Saniee Abadeh M. Brain MRI analysis using a deep learning based evolutionary approach. Neural Netw. 2020;126:218-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neunet.2020.03.017 PMID: 32259762). The research commenced by implementing a 3D-CNN for MRI image classification. Subsequently, the GASHAP technique was applied to enhance model transparency. The final result is a brain mask that delineates the pertinent regions crucial for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. Finally, a comparative analysis is conducted between our findings and those of previous studies.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Yu L, Wang T, Du L, et al (2026)

Neuropathologic Profiles and Associated Cognitive Trajectories in Community-Living Older Adults.

JAMA network open, 9(1):e2554354 pii:2844035.

IMPORTANCE: Mixed neuropathologies are common, and yet the full extent to which these pathologies coexist is not entirely clear.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify distinct neuropathologic profiles in community-dwelling older adults and to examine associated cognitive trajectories over time.

This study included participants in 2 community-based cohort studies of aging and dementia. Participants were older adults without known dementia at enrollment who agreed to annual evaluations and brain donation. The Religious Orders Study started in 1994, and the Rush Memory and Aging Project started in 1997. Both studies are ongoing. Data were analyzed in May 2025.

EXPOSURES: Annual uniform detailed evaluations for up to 30 years and brain autopsy and neuropathologic evaluation after death.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Neuropathologic evaluations assessed Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC), Lewy bodies, limbic-predominant age-related transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC), hippocampal sclerosis, infarcts, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, atherosclerosis, and arteriolosclerosis. Annual cognitive scores were derived from a battery of 19 tests that assessed multiple cognitive domains. Latent neuropathologic profiles were identified using hierarchical clustering, and longitudinal cognitive trajectories associated with each profile were estimated using functional mixed-effects models.

RESULTS: A total of 1633 older adults were included in the study. The mean (SD) age at death was 90.4 (6.4) years, 1156 (70.8%) were female, and the mean (SD) years of education was 16.2 (3.6) years. A total of 46 participants (2.8%) self-reported as Black, 42 (2.6%) as Hispanic, and 1579 (96.6%) as White. More than 80% of individuals had mixed neuropathologies at autopsy, and 280 unique combinations of copathologies were identified. Hierarchical clustering revealed 5 distinct neuropathologic profiles: profile 1 (259 participants [15.9%]) was characterized by a high burden of infarcts and vessel diseases, profile 2 (201 participants [12.3%]) by high LATE-NC and hippocampal sclerosis, profile 3 (355 participants [21.7%]) by high Lewy bodies, profile 4 (159 participants [9.7%]) by high ADNC and amyloid angiopathy, and profile 5 (659 participants [40.4%]) by low pathology overall. Cognitive trajectories differed across profiles in terms of both the rate of decline and the timing of the onset of decline with fastest decline observed for profile 2 and 4.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study, mixed neuropathologies were extremely common and complex. Compared with vascular conditions, degenerative pathologies clustered into distinct profiles. Profiles characterized by high burdens of ADNC and separately, LATE-NC and hippocampal sclerosis, had the most potent associations with cognitive decline.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Konat GW (2026)

Dysfunctional respiration as a risk factor for Alzheimer disease: a hypothesis.

Metabolic brain disease, 41(1):21.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Li X, Zhang L, Xia J, et al (2026)

Multi-omics Mendelian randomization and machine learning identify candidate therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Mammalian genome : official journal of the International Mammalian Genome Society, 37(1):24.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are major public health challenges lacking effective therapies. To identify potential drug targets, we integrated large-scale genome-wide association studies with expression, methylation, protein, and splicing QTL datasets using Mendelian Randomization (MR) and summary-data-based MR (SMR). Colocalization analysis and machine learning were applied to prioritize candidate genes, followed by in silico druggability evaluation through molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In animal models, candidate genes identified by transcriptomic analysis were further validated using integrative molecular and functional experiments. We identified several genes with potential causal links to AD (e.g., IQCE, HDHD2, ALPP) and PD (e.g., IL15, STK3, CHRNB1). Transcriptomic analyses indicated a consistent downregulation of IL-15 in PD model mice, corroborated by subsequent Western blot and immunohistochemical validation. Among predicted compounds, Prednisolone (ALPP), Sirolimus (IL15), and CHEMBL379975 (STK3) showed favorable binding affinities and stable MD trajectories, suggesting promising therapeutic relevance. Collectively, these findings highlight 12 QTL-regulated genes as promising molecular targets for further investigation in the context of NDDs. While the computational results provide a useful basis for hypothesis generation, experimental validation will be essential to determine the biological relevance and therapeutic potential of these candidate genes and compounds.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Blandi L, M Del Riccio (2026)

From breath to brain: influenza vaccination as a pragmatic strategy for dementia prevention.

Aging clinical and experimental research pii:10.1007/s40520-026-03323-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Aging populations require scalable strategies to delay or prevent dementia. Beyond the prevention of neurological injury associated with seasonal influenza, vaccination may help mitigate vascular and neuroinflammatory injury underlying cognitive impairment. Influenza infection can cause a marked short‑term increase in myocardial infarction risk, and acute infections have also been associated with transient increases in stroke risk. Experimental models show prolonged microglial activation and synaptic loss even from non-neurotropic strains - processes likely modulated by vaccination. Epidemiologic data consistently support this evidence; a 2023 meta-analysis, including observational studies, of ~ 2.09 million adults identified a 31% lower risk of incident dementia; US matched cohorts demonstrated 40% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease (absolute decrease 3.4%); Veterans Health data showed a 0.86 hazard ratio for dementia; and UK Biobank data showed lower risk for all-cause (0.83 h), and vascular dementia (0.58 h) with a dose-response association by vaccination term. Randomized trials suggest fewer adverse cardiovascular events in vaccine recipients giving even more biological plausibility to this concept. Despite that, prevention through influenza vaccination is not fully realized in older adults due to low levels of perceived risk, vaccine confidence, and variations in clinical practice guidance. This public health perspective reviews the physiopathological and epidemiological evidence in support of influenza vaccination as a pragmatic, dementia risk-modifying intervention within healthy aging strategies and encourages the inclusion of vaccination status in hospital discharge and chronic-care pathways, integration of cognitive outcomes in monitoring, and equity-centered research to eliminate barriers to behavioral and implementation.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Dumoulin D, Ghrayeb M, Côté S, et al (2026)

Bidirectional relationship between the biofilm of Porphyromonas gingivalis and the amyloid-beta peptide.

Microbiology spectrum [Epub ahead of print].

UNLABELLED: Periodontitis and Porphyromonas gingivalis infections are significant risk factors for the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite the reliance of P. gingivalis on its biofilm for its survival and virulence, the impact of the extracellular matrix on AD's neuropathological hallmarks has never been examined. In this study, we report a bidirectional relationship between the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide, which plays a central role in AD, and the biofilm of P. gingivalis. Using multiple fluorescent markers for biofilm components, we observed that Aβ1-40 inhibited biofilm formation while Aβ1-42 increased extracellular matrix production. Also, using thioflavin T staining and atomic force microscopy, we observed co-aggregation of the biofilm and monomeric Aβ1-40, resulting in faster aggregation and significant changes in aggregate structure. Our findings propose mechanistic explanations for the role of P. gingivalis as a risk factor for AD and offer potential mechanisms for microbial involvement in AD etiology.

IMPORTANCE: While the etiology of Alzheimer's disease has been studied extensively for the past 50 years, its exact causes remain unknown. Our current understanding is that the accumulation of multiple genetic and environmental risk factors would lead to the onset of the disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a bacterium that produces biofilm and elicits periodontitis, a chronic infection of the gums that constitutes a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. While studies have looked at the effects of P. gingivalis in triggering Alzheimer's symptoms in animal models, none have explored the impact of the biofilm, which is essential in this bacterium. Our study seeks to bridge that gap by demonstrating a bidirectional relationship between P. gingivalis biofilm and amyloid beta, one of the brain lesions involved in Alzheimer's disease. By understanding the risk factors involved in Alzheimer's disease and their impact, we aim to provide valuable insights on prevention and treatment.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Bhagunde P, Penner N, Willis BA, et al (2026)

Brain Amyloid Plaque Levels Affect Clinical Progression in Alzheimer Disease: Assessment of Amyloid PET and Change in CDR-SB Utilizing Semi-Mechanistic Model.

CPT: pharmacometrics & systems pharmacology, 15(2):e70173.

Lecanemab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody binding with high affinity to protofibrils of amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein. In clinical studies, lecanemab has been shown to reduce amyloid markers in early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease and slow decline on clinical endpoints of cognition and function. Nonlinear mixed-effects modeling assessed the correlation between amyloid PET and change in CDR-SB using data from lecanemab phase 2 study (Study 201) and phase 3 study (Study 301; Clarity AD). Data from placebo-treated subjects were used to establish a disease-progression model; the effect of amyloid reduction on disease progression was defined using data from lecanemab-treated subjects. CDR-SB scores were used with beta regression to fit a Richard's function parameterized in terms of baseline CDR-SB, intrinsic rate of disease progression, shape, and precision of the beta distribution. Simulations were conducted to evaluate the impact of lecanemab treatment over 4 years. Baseline CDR-SB was predicted by diagnosis and baseline mini-mental state examination (BMMSE) score. Intrinsic rate of disease progression was predicted by amyloid PET and BMMSE. Amyloid PET was a better predictor of drug effect than lecanemab exposure, demonstrating amyloid reduction as a surrogate marker of efficacy. Simulations projected the difference in CDR-SB between lecanemab and placebo treated subjects continued increasing over 4 years. Patients with low baseline amyloid and less severe disease were projected to have slower disease progression and better outcomes with lecanemab treatment.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Thomas V, C Zurzolo (2026)

Organelle dysfunction and TNT-mediated aggregate spreading in neurodegeneration.

Physiology (Bethesda, Md.) [Epub ahead of print].

Organelle dysfunction is a central hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), which are characterized by the pathological accumulation of misfolded proteins capable of inducing aggregation in healthy cells. This process generates a self-perpetuating cycle of protein misfolding and spreading across interconnected neuronal networks. In this review, we provide an integrated overview of organelle alterations associated with major NDs, emphasizing the pivotal roles of lysosomes, mitochondria, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at the crossroads of proteostasis, metabolism, and stress signaling. We examine how defects in these organelles create conditions that favor aggregate formation and cellular vulnerability, with a focus on α-synuclein and Tau, the main aggregating proteins in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, respectively. We then explore mechanisms of intercellular protein transfer, highlighting the emerging role of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). We discuss how organelle status influences TNT formation and cargo selection, and how TNTs may act as conduits for the propagation of pathogenic aggregates. Finally, we summarize the downstream consequences of TNT-mediated transfer in recipient cells, including alterations in the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, TFEB-dependent transcription, mitochondrial stress responses, calcium homeostasis, and inflammatory or senescent signaling. Together, these insights underscore the intertwined roles of organelle dysfunction and TNT-mediated communication in driving the progression of NDs and suggest new therapeutic avenues aimed at restoring organelle function and limiting aggregate spread.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Beers S, de Groot LCPGM, van Loenen MR, et al (2026)

Association Between the Dutch Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND-NL) Diet Adherence and Systemic Tryptophan Metabolites in Older Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline: An Exploratory Study.

Molecular nutrition & food research, 70(1):e70377.

Tryptophan (TRP) metabolism is emerging as a focus of investigation in Alzheimer's disease research. In addition, diet might impact TRP's metabolic fate. The aim of this study was to explore the association between adherence to the Dutch Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND-NL) diet and systemic TRP metabolite levels and their related ratios in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Data of the HELI multidomain lifestyle intervention study (n = 82) were used. Dietary intake data (FFQ) and fasted plasma levels were collected at baseline and 26 weeks follow-up. Bivariate Latent Change Score Models (LCSMs) were applied to assess both level-level and change-change associations, adjusted for lifestyle factors. Changes in MIND-NL diet adherence were significantly inversely associated with changes in the kynurenine:large neutral amino acids ratio (path coefficient -0.457, SE:0.206, p = 0.03) and kynurenine:tryptophan ratio (path coefficient -0.558 SE:0.235, p = 0.02). In addition, MIND-NL diet adherence was associated with lower levels of the neurotoxic metabolite quinolinic acid (path coefficient -0.186, SE:0.0700, p = 0.008), but within the crude model only. Our findings suggest that greater adherence to the MIND-NL diet may contribute to decreased activation of the kynurenine pathway.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Durant A, Mukherjee S, Lee ML, et al (2026)

Evaluating the association of apolipoprotein E genotype and cognitive resilience in SuperAgers.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 22(1):e71024.

INTRODUCTION: "SuperAgers" are oldest-old adults (ages 80+) whose memory performance more closely resembles middle-aged adults. The present study examined apolipoprotein E (APOE) allele frequency in non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) SuperAgers compared to controls and Alzheimer's disease dementia cases.

METHODS: In 18,080 participants from eight cohorts, harmonized clinical diagnostics and memory, executive function, and language domain scores were used to identify SuperAgers, cases, and controls across age-defined bins.

RESULTS: NHW SuperAgers had significantly lower frequency of APOE-ε4 alleles and higher frequency of APOE-ε2 alleles compared to all cases and controls, including oldest-old controls. Similar patterns were found in a small yet substantial sample of NHB SuperAgers; however, not all comparisons with controls reached significance.

DISCUSSION: We demonstrated strong evidence that APOE allele frequency relates to SuperAger status. Further research is needed with a larger sample of NHB SuperAgers to determine if mechanisms conferring cognitive resilience differ across race groups.

HIGHLIGHTS: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) allele frequency differs between SuperAgers and cases APOE allele frequency differs between non-Hispanic White SuperAgers and controls The relationship of APOE and non-Hispanic Black SuperAger status is unclear.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Dewitte L, Cheung SC, Foxe D, et al (2026)

Understanding the multifaceted nature of quality of life in dementia using a transdiagnostic network analysis approach.

Aging & mental health [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVES: Efforts to improve quality of life (QOL) in dementia depend on its accurate conceptualization and assessment. We employed a data-driven network approach to examine the structure of relationships between individual QOL items. This approach allowed us to capture the complexity and multidimensional nature of QOL from the perspective of the person with dementia and their carer.

METHOD: Participants with dementia (n = 128) and carers completed the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease questionnaire (QOL-AD), and measures of depressive symptoms, cognition, and functional abilities of the person with dementia, and carer burden. Gaussian graphical models with regularized partial correlations of QOL-AD items were estimated and compared, and item communities were detected.

RESULTS: Central elements that emerged in both self and carer-reported networks included Ability to do Things for Fun, Energy, and Life as a Whole. Memory and Money were less central. Distinct differences were also evident between self- and carer-networks. Whilst Self as a Whole was relatively more central in the self-reported network, Ability to Do Chores and Family were more central in the carer-reported network. Moreover, different communities were detected in the networks, corresponding to domains including socioeconomic, daily, self-referential, and instrumental functioning, with differential correlations to key clinical outcome variables.

CONCLUSION: QOL in dementia is inherently multidimensional and differs when assessed from the viewpoint of the person living with dementia versus their carer. Network approaches offer the granularity required to ensure that targeted interventions can be tailored toward these complementary perspectives.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Chea EF (2026)

ATN Classification and Machine-Learned Plasma Biomarker Phenotypes Reveal Distinct Alzheimer's Pathology in a Population-Based Cohort.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences pii:2026.01.02.26343331.

BACKGROUND: The ATN (Amyloid/Tau/Neurodegeneration) framework provides a theory-driven approach to Alzheimer's disease (AD) classification using binary biomarker cutoffs, while unsupervised machine learning offers data-driven phenotyping. The concordance between these approaches in population-representative samples remains incompletely characterized.

OBJECTIVE: To compare plasma ATN classification with data-driven clustering methods and evaluate their associations with cognitive outcomes in a nationally representative cohort.

METHODS: We analyzed plasma biomarkers (Aβ42/40 ratio, p-tau181, NfL, GFAP) from 4,465 participants aged ≥51 years in the Health and Retirement Study 2016 Venous Blood Study. ATN profiles were classified using literature-based cutoffs. We applied k-means clustering, Gaussian mixture modeling, and variational autoencoder (VAE) dimensionality reduction to identify data-driven biomarker phenotypes. Agreement between ATN and clustering was quantified using adjusted Rand index (ARI) and normalized mutual information (NMI). Longitudinal analyses examined associations with cognitive decline over 4 years (2016-2020).

RESULTS: The analytic sample included 4,465 individuals (mean age 69.7±10.4 years; 58.7% female; 75.8% non-Hispanic White). ATN classification yielded 14 profiles, with A+/T-/N- (27.4%) and A-/T-/N-(22.6%) most prevalent. K-means clustering identified 4 optimal clusters with distinct biomarker signatures. Agreement between ATN and clusters was modest (ARI=0.119, NMI=0.113). Sensitivity analysis excluding GFAP from clustering improved agreement to ARI=0.187 (+57% relative increase), indicating that GFAP's orthogonal biological information accounts for approximately one-third of discordance, while binary categorization versus continuous phenotyping accounts for two-thirds.[Table S12] Additional sensitivity analyses confirmed that k=4 provides superior biological resolution over k=3 by preserving extreme phenotypes,[Table S13] and that Cluster 4 represents a stable biological structure across distance metrics[Table S14] despite its small size. Cluster 1 (n=51, 1.2%) showed severe pathology; Cluster 3 (n=3,479, 78.6%) represented the largest and most heterogeneous group, encompassing the broad spectrum of minimal to moderate pathology across all ATN profiles; Cluster 4 (n=14, 0.3%) exhibited a non-AD neurodegeneration pattern with high stability (Jaccard=0.779). VAE revealed localized nonlinear structure, though PCA achieved higher global separation (silhouette: PCA=0.671 vs VAE=0.564). Both ATN and clusters predicted 4-year cognitive decline (ATN R [2] =0.024, p<0.001; Clusters R [2] =0.019, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Theory-driven ATN classification and data-driven biomarker phenotyping capture partially overlapping but largely distinct biological information. Modest concordance (ARI=0.119) reflects three primary factors: binary cutoffs discarding continuous information (dominant), GFAP's orthogonal inflammatory signature (contributing ~one-third), and fundamental differences in biological constructs targeted. Sensitivity analyses confirmed that k=4 provides superior biological resolution over k=3, and that rare Cluster 4 represents a stable non-AD phenotype. Both approaches predict cognitive decline with modest effect sizes (R [2] =1.9-2.4%) consistent with population-based studies. Integrating theory-driven and data-driven frameworks promises a more comprehensive characterization of AD-related pathology in population research.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Nashiro K, Min J, Yoo HJ, et al (2026)

Testing effects of paced breathing on plasma Aβ and brain perivascular spaces.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences pii:2026.01.08.26343624.

UNLABELLED: Aging is the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and elevated plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) levels in healthy adults are associated with increased AD risk. Aging is also associated with autonomic imbalance, characterized by increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic activity. In our previous randomized clinical trial, we found that four weeks of daily slow-paced breathing designed to enhance parasympathetic activity reduced plasma Aβ42 and Aβ40 levels in younger and older adults and showed a trend toward increasing Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio only in older adults. The primary goal of the current study was to extend these findings in 62 adults aged 50 to 70 years using randomized assignment to 10 weeks of slow-paced breathing or a random-paced breathing control with three assessment time points. Secondary objectives included examining the effects of slow-paced breathing on brain structure (i.e., perivascular space and hippocampal volumes) and cognitive performance. Consistent with prior findings, the slow-paced breathing group showed greater decreases in plasma Aβ42 than the control group. However, group differences were not significant for Aβ40 or Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios, and no significant effects were observed for the secondary outcomes. The non-significant findings may be due to changes we made to both intervention and control condition methods relative to our previous trial. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and potential effects of slow-paced breathing on Aβ accumulation in the brain.

HIGHLIGHTS: Participants were randomly assigned to slow-placed breathing or a breathing controlIndividualized protocols determined breathing pacesTen weeks of daily slow-paced breathing practice reduced plasma Aβ42 levels.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Ghanbarian E, Khorsand B, Zheng L, et al (2026)

Hippocampal Asymmetry Captures Non-Amyloid-Related Risk of Memory Decline and Clinical Progression.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences pii:2026.01.06.26343553.

BACKGROUND: Hippocampal atrophy is a key marker of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related neurodegeneration; however, hippocampal volume alone may not fully capture heterogeneity in cognitive decline. Hemispheric hippocampal asymmetry may provide complementary information, but its prognostic value for cognitive decline and clinical progression remains unclear.

METHODS: We studied 1,142 dementia-free participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) with available baseline structural MRI, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid-β (Aβ42) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau-181), and longitudinal cognitive follow-up. Total hippocampal volume (left + right) and hemispheric asymmetry (absolute left-right volumetric difference) were modeled simultaneously. Linear mixed-effects models examined associations with baseline performance and longitudinal change across memory, language, executive, and visuospatial domains. Cox proportional hazards models assessed risk of clinical progression to clinical dementia over up to 10 years of follow-up. All analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, APOE ε4 status, and CSF biomarkers, with stratification by amyloid status.

RESULTS: The study cohort included 546 women (47.8%), with a mean age of 72.54 ± 6.98 years. Larger total hippocampal volume was consistently associated with better baseline performance and slower decline across all four cognitive domains, independent of amyloid and tau biomarkers. In contrast, greater hippocampal asymmetry was selectively associated with worse baseline memory performance and faster memory decline, independent of total hippocampal volume. In amyloid-stratified analyses, total hippocampal volume showed broad associations with cognition across all four domains among amyloid-positive participants and more limited, domain-specific associations among amyloid-negative participants, whereas hippocampal asymmetry was associated with memory only in amyloid-negative individuals. Regarding clinical progression to dementia, smaller total hippocampal volume was associated with higher risk of progression in the overall cohort and within both amyloid groups. In contrast, hippocampal asymmetry was associated with progression risk only among amyloid-negative individuals (hazard ratio per SD increase = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.03-1.65).

CONCLUSIONS: Hippocampal total volume and asymmetry capture distinct aspects of neurodegeneration, with asymmetry providing additional prognostic information for memory decline and clinical progression in participants without detectable amyloid pathology.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Feng S, Coursey SE, Nolin SA, et al (2026)

Energetic implications of fMRI-based nodal complex network metrics: a complex picture unfolds across diverse brain states.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2026.01.08.694967.

Functional MRI-based graph theory has provided profound insights into the brain's functional organization, yet the neuroenergetic meaning of widely used graph-theoretical metrics remains poorly understood. Although resting-state research suggests a positive coupling between network topology and glucose metabolism, it remains unclear whether this relationship reflects a general principle of brain organization or a state-specific phenomenon. Here, we test the neuroenergetic interpretability of nodal graph-theoretical metrics by linking complex network topology to cerebral glucose consumption across diverse brain states. Leveraging simultaneous functional PET-MRI, we directly compare state-dependent fluctuations in glucose consumption and network topology during sensory, cognitive, and arousal conditions. We further assess metabolic-topological couplings in disease through a meta-analysis of resting-state FDG-PET and fMRI studies involving Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. Our results show that nodal graph-theoretical metrics exhibit state- and network-dependent metabolic associations, with coupling patterns diverging across experimental and disease contexts. Notably, frontoparietal and attentional networks show more conserved metabolic-topological coupling than other large-scale networks across states. These findings underscore a dynamic, complex interplay between metabolic demand and complex network organization, highlighting the need for a nuanced interpretation of the energetic underpinnings of nodal graph-theoretical metrics in health and disease.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Shkirkova K, Maria NSS, Anson H, et al (2026)

Induction of ferroptotic and amyloidogenic signatures linked to Alzheimer's disease by chemically distinct air pollutants.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2026.01.06.696601.

Air pollution (AirP) exposure is associated with increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk, yet AirP is chemically heterogeneous, complicating identification of shared pathogenic drivers. We examined acute cortical responses to two metal-rich AirP sources, diesel exhaust particles (DEP) and World Trade Center (WTC) dust, and compared them to woodsmoke (WS), a particulate exposure with low metal content. DEP and WTC elicited highly convergent transcriptional responses, sharing over 1200 differentially expressed genes linked to inflammation, ferroptosis, neuronal remodeling, and amyloid processing. These changes were accompanied by impaired antioxidant activity and increased lipid peroxidation within lipid rafts, a membrane microdomain critical for amyloid processing, resulting in increased Aβ generation. In contrast, WS produced a distinct transcriptional signature and failed to induce ferroptotic priming or lipid peroxidation, consistent with its low metal composition. Together, these findings implicate metals as a shared driver linking diverse AirP exposures to amyloidogenic vulnerability and elevated AD risk.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Pelletier A, Tuck T, J Tcw (2026)

Factorization of Alzheimer's disease genetic risk influences allow patient stratification, predicting disease onset, cognitive decline, and cell-type specific responses.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2026.01.02.697432.

Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex and heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease with significant genetic components implicated in at least 97 loci from AD genome-wide association studies. While various distinct AD subtypes have been identified based on brain or CSF molecular profiling, contribution of the genetic signatures in distinguishing the AD subtypes is lacking. Here, we leveraged large snRNA-seq postmortem brain data with an empirical Bayes matrix factorization (EBMF) approach to study common effects of 197 AD risk variants on neuronal and glial cell transcriptome, enabling factor-based polygenic score (fPGS) and patient clustering based on their functional genetic profiles. We confirmed that each factor captures specific AD risk variant influences on cell types and known AD-associated biological processes, such as mitochondrial activity, endo-lysosomal activity, mRNA processing, neuroinflammation, or calcium signaling. Further, we found that most fPGS were predicting a certain neuropathological or AD-associated molecular condition. Notably, fPGS3 predicts somatic mutation burden in excitatory neurons, and fPGS7 predicts epigenome erosion in excitatory neurons associated with lipid transport disorders, increased mitochondrial activity, and increased Tau pathology. Finally, unsupervised clustering analysis of individuals with mild cognitive impairment and AD based on their fPGS profiles enable us to identify seven clusters, which are differentiated by the APOE genotype. Among them, five groups were subdivided within APOE3 homozygotes, which remarkably predicted either the disease severity or the disease onset with up to 6 years differences among groups. Resilient groups were associated with reduced matrisome and reactivity in astrocytes and increased cholesterol metabolic pathways in oligodendrocytes and OPCs. Overall, the analyses confirmed the ability of EBMF to stratify AD risk variant influences into molecularly and clinically coherent factors that allow genetic predictions of particular cell types and alterations of biological processes impacting the disease.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Kana OZ, Postupna N, Agrawal A, et al (2026)

The Caudate Nucleus Exhibits Distinct Pathology and Cell Type-Specific Responses Across Alzheimer's Disease.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2026.01.10.694705.

Aβ presence in the caudate nucleus (Ca) partially defines Thal stage III in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but little is known about AD's cellular impact on the region. Leveraging a public basal ganglia taxonomy of cellular populations, we generated a cellular resolution atlas of AD-associated pathological changes in Ca. Unlike cortex, we found that Ca AD pathology is dominated by two key features: phosphorylated tau (pTau)-containing neuropil threads enriched near oligodendrocytes in white matter tracts and amyloid-β diffuse plaques enriched in gray matter. Although AD pathology in affected cortical regions results in neuronal loss, we find no AD-driven reductions in neuron proportions in Ca. However, there were observable changes in multiple cellular populations. Protoplasmic astrocytes and FLT1+/IL1B+ microglia increased in abundance with global pTau levels. We also observe gene expression changes in fast-spiking PTHLH-PVALB interneurons indicative of disrupted signaling pathways and altered intrinsic physiological properties. This work provides a cellular-resolution framework for understanding AD pathology in Ca.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Schickedanz H, Safaeipour C, Sherzai D, et al (2026)

Effects of Lifestyle Medicine on Alzheimer's Disease: Insights From Emerging Evidence and Multi-Domain Interventions.

American journal of lifestyle medicine [Epub ahead of print].

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and related dementias, encompassing primarily neurodegenerative but also mixed etiologies, represent a mounting public health concern expected to affect over 15 million Americans by 2060. This review synthesizes emerging evidence on how Lifestyle Medicine can meaningfully reduce risk and slow the progression of dementia. While genetic factors contribute to AD, mounting data highlight the central role that modifiable lifestyle factors, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep hygiene, stress management, social and cognitive engagement, and sensory health, play in its pathogenesis and trajectory. Mediterranean-type diets, regular exercise, robust sleep, stress mitigation, and social connectedness are associated with lower dementia risk, while smoking, excess alcohol, and chronic psychological stress elevate risk. Integrative strategies, such as mindfulness meditation and sensor-based digital monitoring, hold promise for individualized prevention and care. Culturally informed, holistic approaches addressing structural barriers and supporting caregivers are critical for equitable dementia prevention. This review presents compelling evidence that Lifestyle Medicine implemented in tandem with emerging technologies offers a scalable, cost-effective, and patient-centered framework for reducing the impact of AD and related dementias while enhancing well-being among patients, families, and communities.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Karim F, Biju AP, Liang C, et al (2026)

Evaluation of [18F]MK-6240 binding to tau protein in postmortem human brains of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease and assessment of off-target (non-tau) binding.

Research square pii:rs.3.rs-8463304.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down Syndrome (DS) are characterized by the aggregation of tau tangles. As a novel tau PET tracer in AD, [ [18] F]MK-6240 has the potential in DSAD to elucidate pathophysiology and advance diagnostic strategies. Autoradiography of frontal cortex (FCX) and temporal cortex (TCX) postmortem brain slices of DSAD (n = 5), AD (n = 5), and cognitively normal (CN) (n = 5) cases indicated similarly high [ [18] F]MK-6240 binding in DSAD and AD cases. Anti-tau immunostains confirmed total tau presence so there was alignment in anti-tau abundance with quantification of [ [18] F]MK-6240 binding. DSAD and AD cases exhibited higher gray matter (GM)/white matter (WM) ratios of 2.8 and 2.5 respectively. For drug effects on [ [18] F]MK-6240 binding, self-displacement of [ [18] F]MK-6240 was by 88% among DSAD cases and 85% among AD cases while IPPI displaced [ [18] F]MK-6240 by 81% and 74% in DSAD and AD cases respectively. KuFal194, a specific phosphokinase inhibitor, minimally displaced [ [18] F]MK-6240 binding. Harmine competed with [ [18] F]MK-6240 with an IC 50 value of 290 ± 218 nM and 92 ± 15 nM for DSAD and AD cases, respectively, suggesting unique tau binding. High meninges off-target (non-tau) binding of [ [18] F]MK-6240 was observed in a CN case, comparable to the GM in DSAD and AD. MK-6240 (10 µM) blocked 44% and T807 (10 µM) blocked 30% of meninges binding. Incubation of meninges in the presence of 0.2% polyethylenimine reduced 70% of [ [18] F]MK-6240 binding. The tau imaging agent, [ [125] I]IPPI, an analog of [ [18] F]MK-6240, exhibited minimal binding to CN meninges. Our findings suggest [ [18] F]MK-6240 to be selective tau imaging agent in DSAD and AD, harmine to be a weak tau drug, and off-target nonspecific meninges binding maybe due to the primary aromatic amine group in [ [18] F]MK-6240.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Lukacsovich D, Young J, Gomez L, et al (2026)

DNA methylation signature of cognitive reserve moderates CSF tau pathology in prodromal Alzheimer's disease.

Research square pii:rs.3.rs-8369919.

Background Cognitive reserve (CR) refers to differences in the adaptability of cognitive processes that modify the impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology on cognitive performance. Currently there are no established blood-based biomarkers of CR in prodromal AD. In this study, we operationalize CR as memory reserve, defined as moderation (attenuation) of the CSF pTau181-memory association. DNA methylation (DNAm) integrates genetic and environmental influences and may capture biological processes that mitigate the impact of AD pathology on memory. We aimed to identify blood DNAm loci that moderate the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) phosphorylated tau (pTau181) and memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We also sought to determine if a DNAm-based signature of memory reserve predicts future memory decline. Methods We analyzed 92 amyloid positive MCI participants from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) with blood DNAm, CSF pTau181, and memory scores (PHC_MEM) collected at the same visit. We first regressed memory scores on covariates (age, sex, number of APOE4 alleles, estimated major immune cell type proportions) and used the residuals as covariate-adjusted memory scores. At each CpG, we then fitted linear models of memory on DNAm, pTau181, and their interaction. Inflations were corrected using the bacon method. We identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs), assessed pathway enrichment, and performed integrative analyses incorporating external resources including expression quantitative trait methylation (eQTM), methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) databases, AD genome-wide association study summary statistics, and blood-brain DNAm correlations. A methylation score was constructed and evaluated in linear mixed-effects models of longitudinal memory in 88 participants with follow-up information. Results After removing CpGs with low variability, we identified 6 CpGs with suggestive significance for DNAm×pTau181 interaction (P- value < 1×10 [-5]) and 11 DMRs that passed multiple comparisons correction. These loci mapped to genes involved in synaptic function, vascular and blood-brain barrier integrity, amyloid clearance, immune and metabolic regulation. Almost all showed no strong marginal associations with pTau181 or memory, supporting a moderating rather than mediating role. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of adipocytokine signaling and adipose metabolic pathways, and a number of CpGs associated with mQTLs overlapped with AD genetic risk loci. A higher baseline MRS attenuated the pTau-memory association and significantly associated with slower future memory decline, independent of age, sex, education, APOE ε4, and baseline pTau181. Conclusions Blood DNAm patterns that moderate the pTau-memory relationship capture biology underlying memory reserve involving synaptic, vascular, immune, and metabolic pathways, and can be summarized into an MRS that predicts longitudinal memory trajectories in MCI. These findings support blood DNAm as a promising, non-invasive biomarker of cognitive resilience to AD pathology.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Jia A, Zhou Y, Xu X, et al (2025)

The Evolution of Patterns of Mortality and Disability Burden Among Older Adults - China, 1990-2023.

China CDC weekly, 7(52):1609-1614.

China's aging population has a heavy chronic disease burden. Existing research often overlooks health heterogeneity among older age groups, relies on mortality metrics, and lacks information on long-term disability trends.

WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: This study reveals that all-cause mortality declined substantially, whereas years lived with disability (YLDs) remained stable. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (ADOD) exhibited the fastest increase in mortality [average annual percent change (AAPC)=1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.63, 1.87]. Age-related hearing loss and falls dominated YLDs.

Public health strategies should shift from general approaches to age-tailored interventions. Integrating evidence-based stratified strategies is crucial for reducing disability and advancing Healthy China by 2030.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Cano Urrego B, Alsup A, Thompson JA, et al (2026)

A stochastic approach to k-nearest neighbors search using a fixed radius method.

Computational statistics, 41(1):27.

This study aims to optimize the [Formula: see text]-nearest neighbors search (kNN search) by reducing the computational burden of the well-known Brute-force method while providing the same solution. While there exist rule-based approaches for reducing the computational burden of the kNN search, methods that use the stochastic patterns inherent to the data are lacking. Our method leverages data structures and probabilistic assumptions to enhance the scalability of the search. By focusing on the Training set where our neighbors reside, we define a sample space that limits the [Formula: see text]-nearest neighbors search to a smaller space. For each observation in the Query set (e.g., the set of observations for which a classification is desired), a fixed radius search is employed, with the radius stochastically linked to the desired number of neighbors. This approach allows us to find the [Formula: see text]-nearest neighbors using only a fraction of the entire Training set in contrast to the Brute-force method, which requires distances to be calculated between each observation in the Training set and each observation in the Query set. Through simulations and a theoretical computational complexity analysis, we demonstrate that our method outperforms the Brute-force approach, particularly when the Training and Query set sample sizes are large. In addition, a benchmarked comparison of our approach and the Brute-force method on an Alzheimer's disease data set further demonstrated this, showing a 27.57-fold improvement in total elapsed time. Overall, our stochastic approach significantly reduces the computational load of kNN search while maintaining accuracy, making it a viable alternative to traditional methods for large datasets.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Theisz AA, Bosco C, Torres JO, et al (2025)

Exploring Design Recommendations for Promoting Brain Health, ADRD Health Literacy, and Participation in clinical ADRD trials in Older African American/Black Adults.

Proceedings of the ACM on human-computer interaction, 9(2):.

Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia (ADRD) is prevalent in one in nine individuals age 65 or above, and it has a 65% higher risk of incidence for African American/Black adults. With an aging population in the United States and persisting healthcare inequities for African American/Black adults, our research aims to explore design requirements of a digital health platform for delivering culturally relevant content that informs African Americans/Black adults (45 years and older) about brain health and participation in clinical ADRD studies. We conducted seven focus groups (n = 44) to collect information on facilitators and barriers to brain health literacy and participation in clinical ADRD research, followed by seven participatory design workshops (n = 44) to collaboratively develop solutions for improving brain health literacy and participation in clinical ADRD research. Our findings provide insights into incorporating community into accessible, technological design for reducing brain health disparities for African American/Black adults.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Salah RS, El-Sayed NF, El-Hussieny M, et al (2026)

Design and synthesis of new phosphazine and triazole derivatives for treatment of Alzheimer's disease: modulating ROS/JNK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.

RSC advances, 16(4):3077-3100.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. In this study, a novel series of triazole and phosphazine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for neuroprotective activity in an aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced rat model of AD. Among the synthesized compounds, 3a, 6a, and 6c were structurally characterized and selected for in vivo biological evaluation. Behavioral, biochemical, molecular, and histopathological assessments were conducted to determine their efficacy, with Rivastigmine used as a reference drug. Compounds 3a and 6c significantly improved cognitive and memory performance, decreased Aβ1-42 production, and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, both compounds inhibited the activation of JNK and Puma, promoted Beclin-1 expression, and activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as evidenced by increased expression levels of Wnt7a, β-catenin, LRP6, and FZD4, alongside decreased expression levels of GSK-3β and BACE1. Molecular docking studies supported these findings, revealing strong binding affinities of the active compounds, particularly 3a, to the JNK3 active site. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed on the best docking pose of the most potent compound 3a to confirm the formation of a stable complex with JNK3. Compounds 3a, 6a, and 6c demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, with predicted good oral bioavailability, blood-brain barrier permeability, and non-substrate behavior toward P-glycoprotein. They are expected to maintain therapeutic availability in systemic circulation, as indicated by the predicted plasma protein binding below 90%, moderate to high steady-state volume of distribution, and lack of substrate affinity for cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2C9 and CYP2D6. These results suggest that compounds 3a and 6c may serve as promising multi-target therapeutic candidates for AD by modulating oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Wiebe E, Olayiwola Z, O Adebiyi (2026)

Tracing the threads: How toxic metals contribute to neurodegeneration.

IBRO neuroscience reports, 20:34-48.

Brain disorders affect more than one in three people globally, representing a leading cause of disability and morbidity. While the etiology of several of these disorders remains elusive, it is increasingly evident that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to their onset and progression. Given the persistent effects of environmental exposures on biological systems, this review highlights the role of heavy metals (particularly lead, mercury, vanadium, and chromium) in altering behaviour and contributing to the development of neurodegenerative and demyelinating diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. We discuss the sources of human and animal exposure to these metals, focusing on the underlying mechanisms by which they promote neurotoxicity, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, we explore how exposure affects genetic and epigenetic interactions and provide epidemiological data linking metal toxicity to brain disorders. By exploring evidence from animal models and human epidemiological studies, with public health relevance, we extend our discussion beyond descriptive neurotoxicology to highlight exposure to these metals as a unifying upstream driver of various brain disorders. Finally, considering gaps in current knowledge, particularly regarding the impact of transgenerational exposures, we propose directions for future research. These insights not only enhance our understanding of metal-induced neurodegeneration but also underscore the need for targeted public health interventions and policies to reduce exposure, especially in vulnerable populations and communities.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Ajith A, Tripathi SM, Jayasree P, et al (2026)

Selective detection of membrane-bound amyloid-β oligomers using SERS "hot-spots": toward early diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease.

Nanoscale [Epub ahead of print].

A key characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the build-up of amyloid-β (Aβ) fibrillar aggregates, commonly known as plaques, within the brain. Current diagnostic tools, such as MRI, CT, and PET, primarily detect neurodegeneration or plaque burden, limiting their utility to advanced stages of the disorder. Thus, there is a strong need for sensitive approaches that can enable detection at the earliest. Aβ aggregation begins with the formation of small, lipophilic oligomers characterized by antiparallel β-sheet structures. Emerging evidence suggests that these oligomers associated with exosomes can traverse the blood-brain barrier, with their peripheral blood levels reflecting disease progression. However, their low abundance poses a significant detection challenge. Sensitive and selective detection of these lipophilic oligomers could provide a powerful diagnostic tool for early AD detection. In this work, we introduce a highly sensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based platform for detecting membrane-bound Aβ oligomers. Monodisperse silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were functionalized with Rose Bengal (RB), a dye specific to amyloid oligomers. Separately, lipid-bilayer-coated AgNPs were used to capture lipophilic Aβ oligomers. The interaction between the oligomers and RB localized the dye molecules within SERS "hot spots" formed between the nanoparticles, leading to a robust, Aβ-concentration-dependent enhancement of the RB Raman signal. This dual-nanoconstruct system provides a promising route toward blood-based early-stage AD diagnostics.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Kanwal A, Azeem B, Nasir H, et al (2026)

Exploring Adjunctive Novel Therapeutic Approach of KarXT (Xanomeline-Trospium Chloride) for Managing Psychotic Symptoms in Patients With Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's Disease.

Brain and behavior, 16(1):e71182.

BACKGROUND: Acute psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations are of major concern while treating patients with schizophrenia and alzheimer's psychosis, primarily impacting their daily life functioning and quality of life. The traditional antipsychotic medications, commonly prescribed to manage these symptoms, cause significant side effects with limited efficacy, requiring novel therapeutic agents that can overcome this challenge. While there is no definitive cure, symptomatic treatment can help relieve some of the symptoms and improve the quality of life of people with alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHOD: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, scopus, google scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted to identify studies on xanomeline-trospium chloride (KarXT) in schizophrenia and AD psychosis. After screening 802 unique records, 39 studies-including preclinical, clinical, and observational investigations-were included in this narrative review. Only English-language publications up to February 2025 were considered.

RESULT: KarXT, with its dual action on the M1 and M4 receptors and mAChR antagonism, greatly helps reduce the severity of the positive and negative symptoms, as it resulted in an 8.4-point greater reduction on the PANSS scale. Side effects were minimal and did not account for the discontinuation of treatment.

CONCLUSION: Psychosis is a common feature of schizophrenia and AD, most often caused by high concentrations of dopamine in the brain, characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, resulting in markedly reduced quality of life for the patient and associated caregiver. Conventional treatments targeting dopamine receptors produce extrapyramidal symptoms and metabolic side effects, leading to noncompliance with medication. KarXT, with its dual action on M1 and M4 receptors and mAChR antagonism, greatly helps reduce the severity of the positive and negative symptoms. The side effects experienced were minimal and did not account for the discontinuation of treatment.An overview of the mechanism of action, clinical trials, and classical findings of KarXT for the management of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and alzheimer's disease.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Zhang S, Huang T, Yang C, et al (2026)

[Sulforaphane reduces reactive astrocyte-mediated neuron apoptosis in vitro by inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway in Aβ42 oligomer-activated astrocytes].

Nan fang yi ke da xue xue bao = Journal of Southern Medical University, 46(1):191-199.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of sulforaphane (SFN) on Aβ42-activated U87 astrocyte-mediated apoptosis of SH-SY5Y neurons in vitro.

METHODS: U87 cells treated with different concentrations of Aβ42, SFN or both were examined for changes in cell activity, IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expression, release of IL-6 and TNF-α proteins, and expressions of p-p38, p-p65 and GFAP using CCK-8 assay, RT-qPCR, ELISA and Western blotting. SH-SY5Y neurons were co-cultured with U87 astrocytes treated with Aβ42 alone or in combination with SFN or SB203580 for 24 h, and the changes in Bax protein expression levels and viability of SH-SY5Y cells were examined. The effects of Aβ42, SFN, and their combination were also observed in astrocytes isolated from mouse brain tissues, and the indirect effects of astrocyte treatmentt on viability of the co-cultured primary neurons were assessed.

RESULTS: The viability of U87 astrocytes increased significantly following treatment with 1.25 μmol/L Aβ42 but decreased after Aβ42 treatment above 5 μmol/L. SFN treatments for 24 h below 5 μmol/L did not significantly affect U87 cell viability. Aβ42 treatment significantly increased protein expressions of p-p38, p-p65 and GFAP, mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and IL-6 and TNF-α levels in culture supernatant of U87 cells. SH-SY5Y cells co-cultured with Aβ42-treated U87 cells showed significantly increased protein expressions of Bax, and exhibited lowered viability following co-culture with 5 μmol/L Aβ42-treated U87 cells. The isolated mouse astrocytes showed lowered viability following Aβ42 treatment above 10 μmol/L, but SFN treatment below 5 μmol/L for 24 did not obviously affect the cell viability. The primary neurons co-cultured with Aβ42-treated mouse astrocytes showed significantly lower cell viability than those co-cultured with the astrocytes treated with Aβ+SFN or Aβ+SB203580.

CONCLUSIONS: SFN attenuates astrocyte-mediated neuron apoptosis by inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway in Aβ42 oligomer-activated astrocytes.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Singh NK, Kumar Y, Chandra M, et al (2026)

Betanin: A Natural Phytomolecule for the Intervention of Neurological Disorders.

Current topics in medicinal chemistry pii:CTMC-EPUB-152418 [Epub ahead of print].

Betanin is widely consumed around the globe either as beetroot directly or as one of the key ingredients in food and pharmaceutical preparations. The health benefits of Betanin, including the treatment of numerous neurological diseases and brain cancer, have been reported extensively. Betanin has gained global attention due to notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities. Recently, there has been growing attention on the usage of Betanin to prevent or delay the onset of neurodegenerative disorders. This review recapitulates available information from various recent pre-clinical studies on Betanin in several neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, aging, brain stroke, anxiety, and neuropathic pain. Betanin exhibits remarkable neuroprotective effects via activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway, inhibition of the production and expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species, along with suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Taking betanin as part of a healthy diet may aid in the management of various brain-related disorders. This review focuses on the neurological conditions for which betanin has shown therapeutic potential, highlighting its beneficial properties, cellular and molecular mechanisms of action, and its relevance in light of current research. Based on the available evidence, betanin could be considered a promising candidate and lead compound in the drug development process for the prevention, treatment, and management of several neurological disorders in the future.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Puri BK, Lee GS, Preyer R, et al (2026)

Hippocampal Function and Markers of Citrullinated Proteins and Bacterial and Viral Infection in Fibromyalgia.

Current rheumatology reviews pii:CRR-EPUB-152388 [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia is associated with dyscognition or "fibro fog", of unknown aetiology. The hippocampus has major roles in memory and cognition. Certain bacterial and viral infections can cause hippocampal changes. Furthermore, citrullinated proteins may accumulate in the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that hippocampal functioning in fibromyalgia is associated with markers of bacterial and viral infection and serum anti-cyclic citrullinated pep-tide antibody (anti-CCP) levels.

METHODS: Hippocampal functioning was assessed in 26 female patients and one male patient with the Paired Associates Learning Total Errors (Adjusted) (PALTEA) in a cross-sectional study. Se-rum samples, for markers of bacterial and viral infections and anti-CCP, were taken within an hour of cognitive assessment.

RESULTS: Generalised linear modelling (p = 0.01) with PALTEA as the dependent variable showed significant coefficients for Borrelia outer surface protein peptide mix (p = 0.025), lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (p = 0.003), Ehrlichia chaffeensis plus Anaplasma phagocytophi-lum (p = 0.048), Mycoplasma pneumoniae immunoglobulin (Ig) G (p = 0.003), coxsackievirus B1 IgA (p = 0.010), echovirus IgG (p = 0.012), and anti-CCP IgG (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION: On the basis of this study, it is suggested that, in fibromyalgia patients complaining of dyscognition, there may be merit in assessing lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, anti-CCP IgG, and evidence of infection with Borrelia species, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, coxsackievirus B1, and echovirus.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Sundermann EE, Banks SJ, Bondi MW, et al (2026)

Sex differences in the relationship of biomarker change to memory decline in early Alzheimer's disease: an observational cohort study.

Biology of sex differences pii:10.1186/s13293-025-00820-6 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits sex differences in pathology and cognitive trajectories. Understanding how these differences manifest across the Alzheimer's continuum can improve early detection, diagnostics, and interventions. We examined sex differences in the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pTau181/Aβ42 ratio changes and verbal memory decline across the preclinical and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stages of AD.

METHODS: In this retrospective, longitudinal, observational study, data were extracted from 401 participants (age range: 55-87.8, 98% non-Hispanic White) of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort study who were classified as either preclinical AD (78 females, 73 males) or MCI (104 females, 146 males) at baseline and had CSF pTau181/Aβ42 ratio and cognitive assessment data at at-least two timepoints. Using regression models, we examined the relationship between changes in CSF pTau181/Aβ42 and verbal memory across all available time points and the moderating role of sex and AD stage over a mean follow-up period of 4 years. Verbal memory was represented by a composite z-score averaging Learning and Delayed Recall z-scores of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Covariates included baseline age, education, and apolipoprotein E genotype.

RESULTS: A significant sex * diagnostic group * biomarker change interaction (b=-17.47, 95%CI = 27.60 to -7.33, p = .001) indicated that sex differences in the relationship between changes in CSF pTau181/Aβ42 ratio and verbal memory differed by disease stage. While males in the preclinical AD stage showed steeper memory decline than females with increasing pTau181/Aβ42 ratios, this difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, in the MCI stage, a significant sex * biomarker change interaction (b = 10.17, 95% CI = 4.94 to 15.40, p < .001) indicated that females exhibited significantly steeper memory decline associated with increasing pTau181/Aβ42 ratios compared to males.

CONCLUSION: Sex differences in the relationship between AD biomarker levels and cognitive decline vary by disease stage. Although not statistically significant, females demonstrated resilience to memory decline in the preclinical stage, whereas, in the MCI stage, they experienced significantly steeper memory loss compared to males. Results suggest that accounting for sex in biomarker-based methods of disease detection and tracking can improve early detection and intervention in both sexes.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Si X, Tian S, Chen Y, et al (2026)

Investigating the molecular mechanisms of glutamine metabolism and mitochondria-related biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease through transcriptomics and experimental validation.

European journal of medical research pii:10.1186/s40001-025-03747-1 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. This study aims to identify biomarkers associated with glutamine metabolism-related genes (GRGs) and mitochondria-related genes (MRGs) in AD through bioinformatics analysis, offering insights for prevention and treatment strategies.

METHODS: Candidate genes were first picked out through differential gene expression profiling, construction of weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and interaction network analysis. Biomarkers were then filtered using machine learning algorithms. For these biomarkers, expression verification and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were carried out. These biomarkers underwent GeneMANIA analysis, subcellular and chromosomal localization, enrichment analysis, along with immune infiltration assessment, establishment of a multi-layered molecular regulatory network, and prediction of potential therapeutic agents by leveraging drug-gene interaction databases. Finally, the consistency was validated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

RESULTS: Initially, 10 candidate genes were identified through bioinformatics analysis. Machine learning, expression validation, and ROC analysis pinpointed SNCA and PPP2R1A as biomarkers (AUC > 0.7). These biomarkers were associated with 20 functionally similar genes and were active in the nucleus and cytoplasm. SNCA was located on chromosome 4, and PPP2R1A on chromosome 19. Enrichment analysis unveiled their involvement in pathways such as olfactory transduction. Additionally, these biomarkers influenced immune cells; for instance, there was a positive correlation between PPP2R1A and type 2 T helper cells (cor = 0.66, P = 1.03 × 10[-5]). A molecular regulatory network demonstrated that these biomarkers were regulated by 134 miRNAs, and 72 potential drugs targeting these biomarkers were identified. RT-qPCR confirmed the expression consistency with bioinformatics results.

CONCLUSION: This study ultimately identified SNCA and PPP2R1A as biomarkers for AD, providing a theoretical foundation and potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of AD.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Mee-Inta O, Chiang YY, Tsai SF, et al (2026)

Running exercise mitigates amyloidosis in 5xFAD mice by improving the structure and function of the meningeal lymphatic system.

Acta neuropathologica communications pii:10.1186/s40478-025-02218-2 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Zhang Y, Zhang F, Yin H, et al (2026)

hUC-MSC-derived exosomes ameliorate Alzheimer's disease pathology through lncRNA-9969-mediated multi-target protection involving neuronal autophagy and microglial modulation.

Alzheimer's research & therapy pii:10.1186/s13195-026-01954-4 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by intertwined pathologies including neuroinflammation, driven by microglial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances such as lipid dyshomeostasis. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) hold therapeutic promise, Still, it is unknown whether they can simultaneously address these co-occurring impairments via specific molecular cargos, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).

METHODS: Transcriptome sequencing of exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) revealed high expression of the long noncoding RNA ENST00000629969 (hereinafter referred to as lncRNA-9969). We isolated exosomes from hUC-MSCs (WT-Exo) and established human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells stably knocked down for lncRNA-9969 via siRNA, from which corresponding exosomes (KD-Exo) were isolated. Cross-species analysis identified the mouse homolog of lncRNA-9969 as ENSMUST00000200021 (hereinafter referred to as lncRNA-0021). Cellular experiments employed an Aβ₂₅₋₃₅-induced SH-SY5Y cell model to evaluate the protective effects of exosomes. In animal experiments, 6-month-old APP/PS1 mice received biweekly tail vein injections of WT-Exo or KD-Exo for 4 weeks. Phenotypic and mechanistic analyses were subsequently conducted using the Morris water maze, Western blot, immunofluorescence, qPCR, and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS: In Aβ-injured SH-SY5Y cells, WT-Exo significantly attenuated cellular damage and promoted Aβ clearance, whereas the protective effect of KD-Exo was markedly reduced. In APP/PS1 mice, WT-Exo treatment significantly improved spatial memory deficits and upregulated hippocampal expression of synaptic proteins synaptophysin (Syn) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Molecular mechanism studies demonstrated that lncRNA-0021 directly binds mmu-miR-6361. Through this ceRNA mechanism, exosome-delivered lncRNA activated the mTOR/p70S6K autophagy pathway, regulated lipid metabolism-related genes, promoted microglial polarization toward the protective M2 phenotype, and suppressed pyroptosis. These beneficial changes were not observed in the KD-Exo-treated group.

CONCLUSIONS: hUC-MSC-derived exosomes exert neuroprotective effects by delivering functional lncRNA-9969. Its highly conserved homolog in mice, lncRNA-0021, achieves coordinated multi-target regulation of neuroinflammation, pyroptosis, and metabolic disturbances by sequestering miR-6361 and activating downstream signaling pathways. This study elucidates the central role of exosomal lncRNAs in AD pathology and provides new insights for developing RNA-based multi-target therapeutic strategies.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Shukla S, Kadam AA, Goyani S, et al (2026)

Correction: Cell-type-specific dysregulation of mitochondrial calcium signalingin Alzheimer's disease.

Cell communication and signaling : CCS, 24(1):28.

RevDate: 2026-01-16
CmpDate: 2026-01-16

Abd El-Fattah MA (2026)

Challenges and Opportunities of Drug Delivery for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

AAPS PharmSciTech, 27(1):78.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive deterioration in cognitive functions. It represents a global health concern with increasing prevalence and devastating outcomes for the quality of life that could ultimately lead to death. AD is associated with deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and intracellular buildup of tau proteins forming neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which are the main characteristics for AD brain tissues. Approved AD therapy is based mainly on symptomatic relief, and conventional medicaments often fail due to either low bioavailability, limited solubility, or failure to cross blood-brain barrier (BBB). The complexity in AD pathophysiology opens windows for many therapeutic options. So, lecanemab was recently approved by FDA as the first disease-modifying therapy. However, drug delivery to the brain remains challenging due to the nature of BBB. Hence, more extensive research is essential to develop disease-modifying therapies and also to find drug delivery strategies to ensure simplified administration and successful brain delivery. This review article summarizes AD pathogenesis with the corresponding treatment targets. It emphasizes innovative drug delivery strategies and novel formulation approaches to deliver medicines across BBB. The use of recent advancements in drug delivery to deliver medicaments across BBB are highlighted, with focus given to novel drug delivery systems and formulation of nanoparticles for brain targeting. The use of nutraceuticals, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy are is covered.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Vanderlinden G, Vandenbulcke M, K Van Laere (2026)

High-resolution [[18]F]MK-6240 PET in Alzheimer's disease.

European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Zhao S, Toniolo S, Tang QY, et al (2026)

Remote digital cognitive assessment for aging and dementia using the Oxford Cognitive Testing Portal OCTAL.

NPJ digital medicine pii:10.1038/s41746-026-02346-6 [Epub ahead of print].

The global rise in dementia necessitates scalable cognitive assessments that can evolve to serve both clinical and research applications. We present the Oxford Cognitive Testing Portal (OCTAL), a remote, browser-based platform providing performance metrics for memory, attention, visuospatial and executive function domains. Four validation studies (N = 1664) confirmed cross-cultural applicability, lifespan sensitivity and clinical utility. Task performance was equivalent in English- and Chinese-speaking younger adults and mapped domain-specific ageing trajectories in mid- to late-adulthood. In a memory-clinic cohort (N = 194), 5-minute OCTAL screen distinguished patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia from subjective cognitive decline (AUC = 0.92), matching a standard paper-based test, while a 20-minute subset surpassed this (AUC = 0.97; p = 0.04). Test-retest reliability was very good (ICC ≥ 0.79; N = 118). OCTAL enables remote assessment for large-scale research and screening, with an open, modular architecture that makes it a uniquely sustainable and evolvable tool for the research community.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Vervliet T, Loncke J, Sever M, et al (2026)

Inactive ryanodine receptors sustain lysosomal availability for autophagy by promoting ER-lysosomal contact site formation.

Nature communications pii:10.1038/s41467-025-68054-z [Epub ahead of print].

Lysosomal and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca[2+] release mutually influence each other's functions. Recent work revealed that ER-located ryanodine receptor(s) (RyR(s)) Ca[2+] release channels suppress autophagosome turnover by the lysosomes. In familial Alzheimer's disease, inhibiting RyR hyperactivity restored autophagic flux by normalizing lysosomal vacuolar H[+]-ATPase (vATPase) levels. However, the mechanisms by which RyRs control lysosomal function and how this involves the vATPase remain unknown. Here, we show that RyRs interact with the ATP6v0a1 subunit of the vATPase, contributing to ER-lysosomal contact site formation. This interaction suppresses RyR-mediated Ca[2+] release, leading to reduced lysosomal exocytosis. Pharmacological inhibition of RyR activity mimics these effects on lysosomal exocytosis. Retaining lysosomes inside cells via RyR inhibition increases ER-lysosomal contact site formation, rendering lysosomes more available for autophagic flux. In summary, these findings establish RyR/ATP6v0a1 complexes as ER-lysosomal tethers that dynamically and Ca[2+] dependently regulate the intracellular availability of lysosomes to participate in autophagic flux.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Luo A, Zhao Q, Zhang X, et al (2026)

Delivery systems for betalains: from stabilization strategies to precision nutrition applications.

Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.), 226:118095.

Betalains are natural, water-soluble, nitrogen-containing pigments that have attracted widespread attention due to their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other beneficial physiological properties. However, their poor environmental stability and low bioavailability pose considerable challenges to their broader application in the food industry. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop effective strategies to protect betalains from degradation under environmental stressess while simultaneously enhancing their bioavailability to maximize their health benefits in nutrition intervention. This review focuses on the design and fabrication of various betalain-based delivery systems, including emulsions, liposomes, nanoparticles, microcapsules, and hydrogels. Additionally, it highlights the potential benefits of betalains-based delivery systems in precision nutrition, which include recognizing individual-specific signals to achieve targeted release and nutritional interventions for cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Finally, the future prospects and challenges of betalains-based delivery systems in the field of precision nutrition are discussed. In conclusion, these technological advancements enable targeted delivery to specific patient populations, thereby maximizing the therapeutic efficacy of betalains through precisely engineered delivery systems. This approach support tailored nutritional interventions for a variety of diseases and address the various requirements of precision nutrition for special populations.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Jing L, Zhang Z, Zhang Z, et al (2026)

Hydroxysafflor yellow A from safflower enhances stress resilience and proteostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.), 226:118100.

Dietary bioactive compounds from edible plants are increasingly recognized for their roles in promoting healthy aging and protecting against stress-induced cellular damage. Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a water-soluble chalcone glycoside abundant in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), is widely used as a natural pigment and has emerging potential as a functional food ingredient. Here, we investigated the effects of HSYA on lifespan and stress resistance using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). HSYA significantly extended lifespan by up to 78 % under heat stress, 29.03 % under oxidative stress, and also 8.49 % under normal conditions. Mechanistic studies showed that HSYA enhanced DAF-16 nuclear translocation, upregulated HSF-1 and heat shock proteins (HSP), and activated unfolded protein response and autophagy pathways, thereby preserving proteostasis. In addition, HSYA strengthened defenses, reduced reactive oxygen species, and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) activities, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Importantly, HSYA alleviated toxic protein aggregation in Alzheimer's- and Parkinson's-like worm models, delaying paralysis and supporting neuronal health. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that HSYA exerts dual antioxidant and proteostasis-regulating activities in vivo, highlighting its promise as a plant-derived dietary bioactive with potential applications in functional foods targeting aging and age-related disorders.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Pravin V, Vellapandian C, V Naveen Kumar (2026)

The oral-gut-brain axis in periodontitis: microbial signaling in systemic and neuroinflammatory disease.

Brain research pii:S0006-8993(26)00026-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral cavity, has been identified as a modifiable risk factor of the development of systemic and neurological disorders via a complicated interplay of microbiological, immunological, and neural interactions. Periodontal pathogens breach local immune homeostasis, are translocated to the gut and brain, and trigger a cascade of immune deregulation, leaky gut, and blood-brain barrier, thereby forming a tri-directional communication network that links local oral inflammation to systemic and neurovascular conditions. This review synthesizes existing evidence on how oral dysbiosis, can spread to the gut and trigger systemic inflammation, leading to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Mechanistically, the OGB axis acts through various processes, such as hematogenous spread, retrograde axonal transport, immune cell trafficking (Trojan horse mechanism), and extracellular vesicle-based signaling corresponding to the causes of neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and the pathology of tau and amyloid. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the OGB axis provide new pathways toward early intervention with precision medicine, microbiome remodeling, immune-based therapy, and neuroprotective approaches. Emerging technologies, including AI-based diagnostics and biosensing technologies, offers noninvasive tools to track host-microbial interactions and inflammatory biomarkers. This integrative view underscores the central importance of oral health in systemic homeostasis and the development of neurodegenerative conditions, necessitating collaborative approaches between dentistry, neurology, and immunology to cooperate to deliver efficacy in disease elimination and mitigation.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Yin Q, Hu M, Li W, et al (2026)

Alkaloids and flavonoids of Solanaceae: Mechanisms of action in neurodegenerative diseases.

Brain research bulletin, 235:111716 pii:S0361-9230(26)00002-X [Epub ahead of print].

Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease [AD], Parkinson's disease [PD], Huntington's disease [HD]) pose a serious threat to human health. Current therapeutic approaches have limitations such as significant side effects and limited efficacy, making natural plant active ingredients an emerging research focus in this field. Solanaceae plants are widely distributed worldwide, rich in secondary metabolites such as alkaloids and flavonoids, and have long been used in traditional medicine. This review systematically summarizes the structural characteristics of Solanaceae-derived alkaloids (e.g., nicotine[NI], atropine[ATP], scopolamine[SCO]) and flavonoids (e.g., quercetin[QR], luteolin[LUT], kaempferol[KAE], anthocyanidin[ACN]), as well as their therapeutic potential and core mechanisms of action against the three major neurodegenerative diseases - including multi-target regulatory pathways such as antioxidative stress, inhibiting neuroinflammation, regulating neurotransmitter balance, preventing abnormal protein aggregation, and suppressing neuronal apoptosis. Additionally, this review analyzes the challenges faced by these natural products in extraction and purification, bioavailability, target selectivity, and clinical translation, and prospects the potential of promoting their clinical application through technological breakthroughs such as synthetic biology and nanodelivery systems. This review indicates that Solanaceae-derived secondary metabolites provide an important resource for the development of safe and effective therapeutic drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, with broad application value.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Xu H, Zheng Y, Bai G, et al (2026)

Differential conformational selections of three therapeutic antibodies binding to polymorphic Aβ oligomers.

International journal of biological macromolecules pii:S0141-8130(26)00148-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates, which play a central role in disease pathogenesis according to the amyloid cascade hypothesis. While soluble Aβ oligomers and protofibrils have been identified as the most neurotoxic species, their structural heterogeneity has posed significant challenges for therapeutic development. Current antibody therapies targeting Aβ show differential clinical efficacy, but the molecular basis for their selective recognition of various Aβ polymorphs remains unclear. This critical knowledge gap stems from the lack of experimental structures of antibody-oligomer complexes, which hinders rational drug design. In this study, we thoroughly simulated possible interactions between Aβ oligomer and three antibodies recently approved for targeting Aβ as AD therapy. Our results reveal fundamental differences in their recognition mechanisms. Aducanumab shows polymorph-dependent binding, targeting N-terminal epitopes in full-length Aβ but maintaining non-specific contacts to cross-β structures. Lecanemab uniquely engages multiple N-termini simultaneously through an extended flat-binding interface. Donanemab employs a conserved CDRL1-dominated mode to recognize F4-H13 aggregates, with the pE3 modification acting as a structural anchor that reinforces binding stability. These structural insights provide a molecular basis for observed clinical outcomes and establish design principles for improved therapeutics targeting specific pathological aggregates.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Huang J, Rehman H, Doan C, et al (2026)

Circulating C-reactive protein influences polygenic risk of inflammatory genes expressed in brain endothelia for Alzheimer's disease.

Neurobiology of disease pii:S0969-9961(26)00001-X [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key marker of systemic inflammation that affects blood vessel endothelial function, including in the brain. Since endothelial dysfunction is linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), we investigated whether elevated CRP level interacts with genetic pathways in brain endothelial cells to influence AD risk.

METHODS: Using AD genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we developed multiple polygenic risk scores (PRSs) including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes expressed in brain endothelial cells, excluding the APOE region, that are involved in inflammation, synaptic transmission, and other pathways.

RESULTS: Analysis across three independent cohorts revealed that individuals with low inflammatory PRSs (<50%) and elevated blood CRP level were associated with an increased risk of AD; in contrast, those with high inflammatory PRSs (≥50%) did not exhibit this CRP-related AD risk increase. Further examination of individuals with a low inflammatory PRS showed that elevated CRP was associated with lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ42 level and temporal lobe atrophy. Among individuals with a high inflammatory PRS, elevated CRP level was negatively correlated with CSF pTau181 and brain tauopathy, suggesting a potential protective mechanism against tau pathology. Key inflammatory PRS genes, which were impacted by circulating CRP for AD, included APP, IL6ST, and FN1, are involved in amyloid pathology, wound healing, and coagulation.

CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight two distinct genetic-dose dependent backgrounds: "vulnerable" (<50% inflammatory PRS) and "resilient" (≥50% inflammatory PRS), and support a Genome-Internal Environment (G×IE) interaction model, linking peripheral inflammation to AD risk.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Hector A, Leduc T, Caiado MJDC, et al (2026)

Electrocorticographic, Astrocytic and Transcriptomic Signatures in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease submitted to Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Inhibition.

Neuropharmacology pii:S0028-3908(26)00008-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with cognitive deficits and sleep disturbances. Research suggests the involvement of dysfunctions in lipid metabolism in the brain of AD patients and animal models. The inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), a lipid-converting enzyme, was shown to restore memory in triple transgenic (3xTg)-AD mice. In the brain, astrocytes regulate the synthesis of specific lipids. This project tested whether the inhibition of SCD restores sleep in 3xTg-AD mice, and whether this associates with modifications in lipids, astrocytic function and the transcriptome. Wild-type (WT) and 3xTg-AD female mice received a SCD inhibitor (SCDi) or vehicle, which was followed by an electrocorticographic (ECoG) recording. Brain slices were stained for lipid droplets, astrocytic markers or processed for spatial transcriptomics. The reduced time spent awake (increased time spent in slow wave sleep) in 3xTg-AD mice was not restored by SCDi treatment. Rhythmic and scale-free ECoG activities were markedly altered in 3xTg-AD mice for all wake/sleep states, and SCDi changed these ECoG signatures differently in mutant in comparison to WT mice. GFAP-positive cell density and lipid droplet count were elevated in hippocampal CA1, and rescued by SCDi. The treatment also rescued the expression of several genes in a manner mainly overlapping between brain regions. The findings suggest that the multiple wake/sleep alterations in 3xTg-AD mice are not mitigated by SCD inhibition, but that this treatment can revert changes in hippocampal astrocytes, lipids and in the brain transcriptome. This work will benefit the understanding of the AD pathophysiology and associated sleep disturbances.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Li Y, Lagier RJ, Racke MK, et al (2026)

Cost-effectiveness analysis of blood-based biomarker testing in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease pathology.

The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease, 13(3):100474 pii:S2274-5807(25)00415-7 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of blood-based biomarker (BBM) testing vs amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with signs and symptoms of cognitive decline in a neurologist/specialist care setting.

METHODS: We constructed a decision-tree model to compare diagnostic outcomes and costs of two testing strategies: BBM testing with confirmatory PET scan vs PET scan alone. Their cost-effectiveness was evaluated from a payer perspective with test performance taken from a clinical study and costs including testing/imaging and physician fees.

RESULTS: When access to PET scans is unlimited, BBM triage testing would identify 98.2 % of PET+ patients with a lower average cost per diagnosis compared with PET scan alone ($8868 vs 10,345 per PET+ diagnosis). In terms of incremental cost-effectiveness, BBM triage testing would save $93,984 for each loss of PET+ diagnosis (9.1 times the average cost per PET+ diagnosis by PET scan). Under limited capacity of PET scans, more test-positive patients could be identified using BBM testing than PET scan alone. When access to PET scans is limited to 50 % of the patients, BBM testing would identify 90.6 % more test-positive patients (at 93 % sensitivity) at an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $3484 per gain of positive diagnosis, lower than the average cost of a PET+ diagnosis by PET scan ($10,938).

CONCLUSION: BBM testing, compared with PET scan alone, is more efficient in the utilization of available amyloid PET scans and is cost-effective for assessment of Alzheimer's disease pathology in patients with signs and symptoms of cognitive decline.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Zhang S, Jiao B, Zeng Y, et al (2026)

Plasma p-tau species are elevated in presymptomatic and symptomatic neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease.

EBioMedicine, 124:106127 pii:S2352-3964(26)00008-3 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID), caused by GGC repeat expansions in NOTCH2NLC, is a neurodegenerative disease frequently involved with cognitive impairment. Limited studies have focused on the biomarkers alteration in patients with NIID and presymptomatic NIID (preNIID) individuals. The clinical overlap between NIID and AD drives the exploration of plasma biomarker alterations in NIID and preNIID.

METHODS: Cohorts 1 (87 patients with NIID, 147 individuals with Alzheimer's disease [AD], and 110 healthy controls [HCs]) and 2 (26 individuals with preNIID and 26 HCs) were included. Eight plasma biomarkers including amyloid-β (Aβ) 40, Aβ42, neurofilament light (NfL), α-synuclein (α-syn), phosphorylated tau protein 181 (p-tau181), p-tau217, p-tau231, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected. Neuropsychological scores, magnetic resonance imaging measures, Aβ positron emission tomography (Aβ-PET), and tau-PET were analysed.

FINDINGS: P-tau217, p-tau231, p-tau181, α-syn, NfL, and GFAP levels were elevated in patients with NIID compared with HCs; p-tau species and GFAP were also upregulated in preNIID. P-tau species, particularly p-tau217, effectively distinguished NIID/preNIID from HCs (AUC 0.814/0.848), but failed to differentiate NIID from AD. The level of p-tau217 was associated with MMSE and FAB scores in dementia-dominant subtype, and the level of GFAP correlated to white matter volume. A tau-PET study revealed distinct tau deposition on the occipital lobe and temporal pole in NIID without Aβ pathology.

INTERPRETATION: The significant changes of p-tau levels and prominent tau deposition highlight tau pathology involvement in NIID. Elevated plasma p-tau species in preNIID/NIID indicate their potential as biomarkers for NIID.

FUNDING: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82394421, 82394420, 82371866, 82371434); the National Key R&D Program of China (2022ZD0213700); Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2023JJ10097, 2025JJ40089, 2023JJ40948).

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Öztürk NK, C Akünal (2025)

The role of the MIND diet in Alzheimer's disease patients: A case-control study on malnutrition and depression.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 144:113077 pii:S0899-9007(25)00394-6 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between depression, malnutrition, and the Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet in Alzheimer's disease patients.

METHODS: This study included 30 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 30 healthy controls. A questionnaire form including sociodemographic characteristics was applied to the individuals. In addition, anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, nutritional status (Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and MIND diet scores) and mental health status [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)].

RESULTS: BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in the AD group compared to the control group. MIND diet score was found to be significantly lower in the AD group compared to the control group (independent t-tests, P < 0.05). Higher adherence to the MIND diet was significantly associated with lower malnutrition and depression scores among Alzheimer's disease patients (correlation analyses, P < 0.05). The risk of developing AD was found to be 2.034 times higher in those with high malnutrition status (logistic regression analysis, 95% CI; 1.143-3.621; P = 0.016, R[2]: 44.2%). Those with a high MIND diet score had an approximately 2.879-fold increased chance of being healthy (logistic regression analysis, 95% CI; 1.506-5.503; P = 0.001, R[2]: 44.2%). According to ROC analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for the depression score was 0.946 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that adherence to the MIND diet may support nutrition and psychological well-being in AD and highlight the value of integrating nutrition-based approaches into dementia care.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Shrivastav K, Pandey M, Gor H, et al (2026)

Gut virome plays an extended role with bacteriome in neurological health and disease.

Journal of the neurological sciences, 481:125754 pii:S0022-510X(26)00035-3 [Epub ahead of print].

The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a complex two-way communication system that links the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system (CNS) through neural, immune, hormonal, and microbial pathways. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA), a more specific concept, focuses on how gut microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and other microbes, modulate this communication and influence neurological health. This comprehensive review examines the intricate mechanisms through which gut microorganisms modulate neural function and contribute to neurological health and disease pathogenesis. The gut microbiota, comprising bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacteriophages, produces essential neuroactive compounds including neurotransmitters- Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and metabolites that directly influence brain physiology through vagal, hormonal, and immunological pathways. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been implicated in various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia. In healthy conditions, beneficial bacterial strains such as Lactobacillus species synthesize GABA and regulate mood, while SCFA-producing bacteria like Fecalibacterium prausnitzii maintain blood-brain barrier integrity and exert neuroprotective effects. Conversely, pathological states demonstrate altered microbial compositions, reduced bacterial diversity, and compromised production of beneficial metabolites. Emerging evidence highlights the previously underexplored role of the gut virome, particularly bacteriophages, in regulating bacterial populations and influencing neurodevelopment. Viral dysbiosis correlates with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative processes through modulation of bacterial metabolism and inflammatory responses. Understanding these complex host-microbiome-virome interactions provides novel therapeutic opportunities for neurological disorders through targeted interventions including probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and phage-based therapies, representing a paradigm shift toward microbiome-centered approaches in neurological medicine.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Shi R, Li Y, Mou L, et al (2026)

Unraveling the Anti-Alzheimer's mechanisms of optimal constituent from Arisaema heterophyllum Blume through multi-model and phytochemical analysis.

Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 151:157813 pii:S0944-7113(26)00050-4 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most significant health threats globally, with limited therapeutic options currently available. Arisaema heterophyllum Blume (AhBl), a traditional Chinese herb, has been used as a medicine for centuries, yet its neuroprotective effects toward AD have not been systematically studied.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-AD effects and pharmacological mechanisms of AhBl ethanol extracts (EE), as well as to identify the optimal active constituent.

METHODS AND RESULTS: AhBl EE significantly alleviated AD-like symptoms. The 2:1 MeOH/DCM elution fraction showed the most potent activity, improving dyskinesia, reducing cerebral amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and neuronal apoptosis, inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity, and mitigating blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage. Through integrated phytochemical characterization, bioinformatic prediction, and pharmacological evaluation, the linoleic acid was identified as the optimal active constituent. In addition to alleviating AD-like symptoms in zebrafish larvae, the linoleic acid exhibited similar effects in the AD model in adult zebrafish, improving preference, learning and memory, and exploratory abilities. Furthermore, it significantly restored abnormal gene expression in the regulation of learning and memory, as well as in BBB and cholinergic system functions. In cellular AD models, the linoleic acid enhanced Aβ clearance and promoted a shift from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 microglial polarization, confirming its anti-AD action. These findings suggest that the mechanism of the linoleic acid action involves reversing BBB disruption, thereby preventing the effect of neurotoxins such as Aβ from damaging cholinergic neurons and subsequently slowing AD progression.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated for the first time that the linoleic acid is an optimal anti-AD active constituent of AhBl. Its basic mechanisms involve reversing BBB disruption and protecting cholinergic neurons from damage, thereby supporting its potential as a promising candidate for AD therapy.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Cheng Y, Santucci K, Gao Y, et al (2026)

Utilisation of Machine Learning Approaches Improves RNA-Seq Transcriptome Analyses in Alzheimer's Disease Brain.

Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN, 76(1):9.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Wang C, Zhang H, Jiao F, et al (2026)

Stratifying amyloid burden in early Alzheimer's disease using cascaded attention-guided vision transformer using [[18]F]Florbetapir PET.

European radiology [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to develop a deep learning model to assist physicians in accurately classifying negative, equivocal, and positive β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition stages in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1327 subjects from two cohorts underwent [¹⁸F]Florbetapir PET and were grouped by Aβ deposition. A cascaded attention-guided vision transformer (CA-ViT) framework was proposed to extract biologically significant regional information for fine-grained classification. To evaluate clinical utility, we assessed the diagnostic performance of physicians with and without the assistance of our proposed method.

RESULTS: The CA-ViT model demonstrated outstanding cross-center performance, achieving accuracies of 82.8% [79.1%, 86.5%] (96% confidence interval, CI) and 78.0% [75.1%, 80.9%] in three-class classification tasks in the two cohorts, respectively. Our proposed model-assisted physicians exhibited significant improvements in diagnostic accuracy (from 56% to 66% and from 50% to 77%).

CONCLUSION: The CA-ViT model effectively decodes fine-grained pathological information from [¹⁸F]Florbetapir PET imaging, enabling accurate stratification of Aβ deposition to assist physicians in early monitoring of AD.

KEY POINTS: Question Deep learning has the potential to assist physicians in accurately classifying β-amyloid deposition stages in early Alzheimer's disease. Findings The proposed diagnostic model is a promising computer-aided tool for early assessment of amyloid deposition and demonstrates improved physician performance. Clinical relevance Equivocal amyloid deposition often complicates early Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and may delay optimal interventions. Our model, validated on PET scans from multiple centers, enhances the identification of these equivocal cases and improves diagnostic accuracy among less-experienced physicians.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Anonymous (2026)

Correction to "Exosomes Derived from M2 Microglial Cells Modulated by 1070-nm Light Improve Cognition in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model".

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Wang N, Sun Z, Chen F, et al (2026)

Mangiferin Alleviates Formaldehyde-Induced Tau Hyperphosphorylation and Cognitive Impairment in Mice via the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β Pathway: Insights From Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 40(2):e71346.

Studies have demonstrated that accumulation of formaldehyde (FA) in the body can result in Alzheimer's disease (AD) like changes including cognitive impairment, Aβ deposition, and Tau hyperphosphorylation. Mangiferin (MGF), a natural flavonoid compound, has been suggested in previous reports to have potential in the treatment of AD. This study integrated network pharmacology and in vivo experiments to elucidate the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of MGF in mitigating FA-induced neurotoxicity. Potential overlapping targets between MGF and AD were identified using jvenn. Functional enrichment analysis of these targets was performed with DAVID. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING and visualized in Cytoscape to identify hub genes. Molecular docking simulations with AutoDock were then employed to assess binding affinity. Subsequently, for experimental validation, a mouse model of FA-induced neurotoxicity was established. Spatial memory and cognitive function in mice were evaluated using the Y-maze and novel object recognition tests. The expression levels of key pathway-related proteins in the cortex and hippocampus were analyzed via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting (WB). Network analysis identified AKT1 and GSK3β as key targets, and molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinity between MGF and these proteins. Experimental validation demonstrated that MGF dose-dependently improved spatial memory and cognitive performance in FA-exposed mice, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and suppressed Tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr181, Ser396, and Ser404. Mechanistically, MGF activated the PI3K/AKT pathway, leading to GSK3β inactivation through Ser9 phosphorylation. These findings highlight MGF as a promising therapeutic candidate for AD by targeting the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β axis.

Tirado LAR, Cohen AD, Shaaban CE, et al (2025)

Synergistic effects of GFAP with TNFR1 and TNFR2 on conversion to AD dementia and overall survival across the Alzheimer's disease spectrum.

Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(Suppl 2):.

BACKGROUND: We recently reported synergistic effects of TNFR1 and TNFR2 with astrogliosis resulting in greater vascular burden and neurodegeneration, particularly in Aβ+ participants. Here, we aimed to assess the interactions of peripheral inflammation and astrogliosis on incidence of AD dementia and mortality. We hypothesized synergistic effects with astrogliosis resulting in increased incidence of dementia, and mortality, particularly in Aβ+ participants.

METHODS: Participants of the Gingko evaluation of memory (GEM) study underwent PiB‐PET scans between 2009‐2018. GFAP and peripheral inflammatory markers were measured in 2009 by immunoassay. We evaluated the relationship of peripheral markers of inflammation (TNFR1, TNFR2) and astrogliosis (GFAP
RESULTS: We included 190 participants (mean age:86±2.8 yrs., 40.8% women, 96.9% White); 53% developed AD dementia over a median time of 15.78 years (95% CI:12.16–19.26). After full adjustment, Aβ+ status was associated with greater hazards for dementia HR:1.73(95%CI:1.10–2.70);p=.016. High levels of TNFR1 HR:1.41(95%CI:0.88–2.27);p=.145 or TNFR2 HR:1.04(95%CI:0.65–1.65);p=.855 were not associated with higher hazards for dementia after full adjustment. Likewise, among Aβ+ participants, high levels of TNFR1 and TNFR2 were also not associated with greater hazards for AD dementia. However, among Aβ+ participants, fully adjusted models showed greater hazards of dementia and significant additive and multiplicative interactions for the joint effects of GFAP with TNFR1 HR:4.55(95%CI:1.14–18.19);p=.032 and with TNFR2 HR:4.07(95%CI:1.35–12.24);p=.012. Regarding mortality, median survival was 16 years(95%CI:13.39‐18.58). We found no difference in mortality by amyloid status HR:1.18(95%CI:0.79–1.75);p=.405, GFAP or NfL status. High levels of TNFR1 HR:1.50(95%CI:1.00‐2.24);p=.046, but not TNFR2 HR:1.20(95%CI:0.80–1.80);p=.365, were associated with greater hazards of death after adjustment. Among Aβ+ participants high levels of TNFR1 were also associated with worse survival. Fully adjusted models also showed greater hazards of death for the joint effects of GFAP with TNFR1 and TNFR2, and a synergistic effect on the additive scale was found between GFAP and TNFR2 (Excess relative risk due to interaction:1.43;95%CI:‐.09–2.76;p=0.036).

CONCLUSION: Interaction of GFAP with TNFR1 and TNFR2 seems to be clinically relevant for progression to AD dementia and mortality in Aβ+ participants.

RevDate: 2026-01-16

Fidder H, de Groot E, de Boer ME, et al (2025)

Unraveling impaired awareness: experiences of people with dementia, Huntington's disease and Korsakoff's syndrome, and their informal caregivers.

BMC geriatrics, 26(1):55.

BACKGROUND: Impaired awareness occurs in people with dementia (DEM; Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including mixed AD/vascular), Huntington’s disease (HD) and Korsakoff’s syndrome (KS). We explored the experiences of these people and their informal caregivers, to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon.

METHODS: We conducted 28 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 14 dyads, consisting of people with DEM, HD, or KS who had impaired awareness, and their informal caregivers. Topics discussed included impaired awareness of diagnosis and functioning, as well as the consequences of impaired awareness. We applied inductive thematic content analysis.

RESULTS: We identified four interconnected themes: (1) how impaired awareness is expressed by people with DEM, HD, or KS; (2) how caregivers perceive impaired awareness; (3) how caregivers respond to it; and (4) its consequences. These themes applied to four domains of awareness (diagnosis, physical and cognitive functioning, social and behavioral functioning, and risks in daily activities). Generally, people with DEM, HD or KS experienced no problems arising from impaired awareness, whereas caregivers described substantial challenges. Despite heterogeneity within individuals and domains of functioning, we observed no experiences specific to any disease group (DEM, HD or KS).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings offer insight into the diverging experiences of people with impaired awareness and their caregivers. Education about impaired awareness and managing its consequences may benefit caregivers and improve care.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-025-06680-4.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Liao YS, Wai T, Liao TY, et al (2026)

Mild Cognitive Impairment Detection System Based on Unstructured Spontaneous Speech: Longitudinal Dual-Modal Framework.

JMIR medical informatics, 14:e80883 pii:v14i1e80883.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of cognitive diseases has also risen with the significant increase in population aging. Among these diseases, Alzheimer disease constitutes a substantial proportion, placing a high-cost burden on health care systems. To give early treatment and slow the progression of patient deterioration, it is crucial to diagnose mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional stage.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we use autobiographical memory (AM) test speech data to establish a dual-modal longitudinal cognitive detection system for MCI. The AM test is a psychological assessment method that evaluates the cognitive status of subjects as they freely narrate important life experiences.

METHODS: Identifying hidden disease-related information in unstructured, spontaneous speech is more difficult than in structured speech. To improve this process, we use both speech and text data, which provide more clues about a person's cognitive state. In addition, to track how cognition changes over time in spontaneous speech, we introduce an aging trajectory module. This module uses local and global alignment loss functions to better learn time-related features by aligning cognitive changes across different time points.

RESULTS: In our experiments on the Chinese dataset, the longitudinal model incorporating the aging trajectory module achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 and 0.89 on 2 datasets, respectively, showing significant improvement over cross-sectional, single time point models. We also conducted ablation studies to verify the necessity of the proposed aging trajectory module. To confirm that the model not only applies to AM test data, we used part of the model to evaluate the performance on the ADReSSo dataset, a single time point semistructured data for validation, with results showing an accuracy exceeding 0.88.

CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a noninvasive and scalable approach for early MCI detection by leveraging AM speech data across multiple time points. Through dual-modal analysis and the introduction of an aging trajectory module, our system effectively captures cognitive decline trends over time. Experimental results demonstrate the method's robustness and generalizability, highlighting its potential for real-world, long-term cognitive monitoring.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Khan M, Saeed U, Piracha ZZ, et al (2026)

Innovative public-health strategies for neurodegenerative disease: leveraging diversified ultraviolet irradiation as a next-generation therapy.

Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia, 85:e297765 pii:S1519-69842025000100465.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are escalating worldwide, straining healthcare systems and leaving patients with therapies that are largely palliative. Emerging evidence positions diversified ultraviolet (UV) irradiation as a groundbreaking, non-invasive strategy to counter these disorders. Beyond its traditional use in sterilization, specific UV spectra, UV-B (280-320 nm), UV-C (200-280 nm), and far-UV (207-222 nm), are now recognized for modulating oxidative stress, restoring mitochondrial function, correcting apoptotic dysregulation, and enhancing DNA repair. Innovative approaches such as riboflavin-mediated phototherapy and photobiomodulation (PBM) show the capacity to disaggregate toxic protein aggregates like β-amyloid and α-synuclein, boost antioxidant defenses, stimulate neurotrophic factors, and quell neuroinflammation. Preclinical models and early clinical trials reveal preserved cognition, enhanced neurogenesis, and reduced disease biomarkers, suggesting real translational promise. From a public-health perspective, UV-based interventions offer a cost-effective, scalable option for aging populations and resource-limited settings, especially when integrated with community-level health technologies and remote delivery platforms. Continued investigation of optimal dosing, long-term safety, and mechanistic pathways will be pivotal to unlock the full therapeutic and population-wide impact of this novel modality.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Dunn LN, Niemeyer BF, Eduthan NP, et al (2026)

Altered hepatic metabolism in Down syndrome.

Cell reports, 45(1):116835 pii:S2211-1247(25)01607-9 [Epub ahead of print].

Trisomy 21 (T21) gives rise to Down syndrome (DS), the most commonly occurring chromosomal abnormality in humans. T21 affects nearly every organ and tissue system in the body, predisposing individuals with DS to congenital heart defects, autoimmunity, and Alzheimer's disease, among other co-occurring conditions. Here, using multi-omic analysis of plasma from more than 400 people, we report broad metabolic changes in the population with DS typified by increased bile acid levels and protein signatures of liver dysfunction. In a mouse model of DS, we demonstrate conservation of perturbed bile acid metabolism accompanied by liver pathology. Bulk RNA sequencing revealed widespread impacts of the Dp16 model on hepatic metabolism and inflammation, while single-cell transcriptomics highlighted cell types associated with these observations. Modulation of dietary fat profoundly impacted gene expression, bile acids, and liver pathology. Overall, these data represent evidence for altered hepatic metabolism in DS that could be modulated by diet.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

McGoldrick KE (2025)

Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's.

Anesthesiology, 143(6):1672-1673.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Choi KY, Kang S, Cook S, et al (2026)

The Gwangju Alzheimer's & Related Dementias (GARD) cohort: Over a decade of Asia's largest longitudinal multimodal study.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 22(1):e70981.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major public health concern in Korea, with a high prevalence among older adults. A community-based longitudinal study is essential for tracking disease progression, identifying biomarkers, and developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies. The Gwangju Alzheimer's & Related Dementias (GARD) cohort was established to address these needs through a multimodal approach.

METHODS: Participants aged ≥60 years undergo comprehensive clinical evaluations, neuroimaging, and biospecimen collection for multi-omics analyses (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metagenomics) at baseline and systematic follow-up visits.

RESULTS: From over 17,000 screened individuals, 12,877 were enrolled. Baseline diagnoses include 5,123 cognitively unimpaired (CU), 3,250 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 2,125 AD dementia. The resource includes magnetic resonance imaging scans (n = 10,843) and extensive multi-omics data: genomic (n = 10,775), proteomic (n = 116), and microbiome (n = 595).

DISCUSSION: The integrated GARD dataset provides a powerful and scalable resource for identifying novel biomarkers, understanding disease heterogeneity, and advancing precision medicine for AD.

HIGHLIGHTS: Gwangju Alzheimer's & Related Dementias (GARD) is a large-scale, longitudinal, community-based cohort study in South Korea. The study focuses on early detection and monitoring of dementia progression. GARD includes cognitive testing, imaging, biospecimens, and multi-omics data. We aim to identify Korean-specific biomarkers predictive of cognitive decline. Supports East Asian insights and fills gaps in global Alzheimer's research.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Ren J, W Pan (2026)

Large-Scale Genotype-Based Trait Imputation With Multi-Ancestry GWAS Data.

Genetic epidemiology, 50(1):e70030.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been instrumental in identifying genetic variants associated with complex traits and diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, traditional GWAS approaches often focus on European populations, which may lead to loss of power and limit the generalizability of findings across diverse ancestries. On the other hand, LS-Imputation, a nonparametric trait imputation method, leverages GWAS summary statistics and genotype data to impute missing traits, which can then be used for GWAS and other downstream analyses. Although LS-Imputation has been applied successfully to European populations, its performance in non-European populations would be hindered by smaller sample sizes, leading to reduced imputation accuracy. To address these limitations, we propose two novel variants of LS-Imputation-LS-Imputation-Combined and LS-Imputation-Transfer-designed to integrate multi-ancestry GWAS data and enhance imputation performance. LS-Imputation-Combined optimally combines GWAS summary statistics from multiple ancestries, while LS-Imputation-Transfer sequentially refines imputed trait values across ancestries using stochastic gradient descent. We evaluate these methods using data from the UK Biobank and the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP), first applying them to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels as a proof-of-concept before focusing on imputing AD status in Black individuals for genetic association analysis. Our results demonstrate that integrating multi-ancestry GWAS data improves trait imputation accuracy, with LS-Imputation-Transfer achieving the highest performance.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Herd P, Sicinski K, Williams V, et al (2026)

Early-life influences on the risk for later-life Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementia: A nearly full life course prospective cohort study.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 22(1):e70967.

BACKGROUND: Dementia prevention research has largely used educational attainment as a proxy for early-life. Given the known influence of early-life exposures on brain development, more attention to early-life exposures is warranted.

METHODS: We employ the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a nearly full life course cohort study, to examine the influence of prospectively measured early-life risk factors for dementia in later life.

RESULTS: We find that early-life risk factors that precede high school completion, rather than early adulthood post-secondary schooling, exert influence on later-life dementia. Household parental resources influence non-Alzheimer's disease (AD), but not AD, dementia risk. In contrast, markers for adolescent cognitive reserve (cognitive and academic performance measures) influence AD dementia risk, in part, by modifying genetic risk.

DISCUSSION: Using education as a proxy for early-life exposures conceals specific mechanisms that influence distinct dementia etiologies and are separately intervenable. Education's influence may be confined to the early-life and adolescent period, where brain development is especially malleable.

HIGHLIGHTS: Educational attainment is commonly used as a proxy for early-life risk factors for dementia. Given known early-life influences on brain development, more attention to the period is warranted. Early-life parental income influences non-AD dementia risk. Early-life cognition and academic performance influence AD dementia risk. Using educational attainment as a proxy for early-life exposures conceals separate intervenable risk factors.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Zhang S, A Liesz (2026)

Trained immunity in acute and chronic neurological diseases.

eLife, 15: pii:106037.

Trained immunity, the long-term reprogramming of innate immune cells to elicit an enhanced response upon subsequent challenges, has become a key concept in understanding a wide range of pathologies, including both acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. Recent evidence suggests that trained immunity also plays a significant role in the development and progression of various neurological disorders and related comorbidities, in which brain pathology can lead to trained immunity. This review summarizes the current understanding of trained immunity within both brain-resident immune cells and myeloid-derived innate immune cells, focusing on their roles in neurological disorders, such as ischemic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, we explore the heterogeneity of trained immunity across different conditions and its potential applications in clinical neurology.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Hibar DP, Bauer A, Rabe C, et al (2026)

Elecsys pTau217 plasma immunoassay detection of amyloid pathology in clinical cohorts.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 22(1):e71009.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the clinical performance of the fully automated, high-throughput, prototype Elecsys[®] Phospho-Tau (217P) plasma immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics) for detecting amyloid pathology.

METHODS: Plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (pTau217) levels were determined in samples from cognitively impaired and unimpaired individuals from five cohorts (N = 2148) using the pTau217 plasma immunoassay. Clinical performance was evaluated against amyloid positron emission tomography.

RESULTS: For cognitively impaired, mean plasma pTau217 levels for amyloid-positive (A+) individuals were higher (n = 394; 0.835 pg/mL) than amyloid-negative (A-) individuals (n = 144; 0.361 pg/mL); similarly, for cognitively unimpaired, A+ (n = 224; 0.516 pg/mL) and A- individuals (n = 1386; 0.220 pg/mL). Area under the curve was 0.878 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.840, 0.915; impaired) and 0.907 (95% CI 0.885, 0.929; unimpaired). A cutoff < 0.189 pg/mL reliably ruled out individuals without amyloid pathology. High negative predictive values (92.51% [impaired]; 98.60% [unimpaired]) were observed with sensitivity/specificity of 98.98%/29.17% and 95.54%/50.72%, respectively.

DISCUSSION: The pTau217 plasma immunoassay accurately detects amyloid pathology, irrespective of cognitive status.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: A4, NCT02008357; SKYLINE, NCT05256134; AIBL, SAGE Project ID Number: 2022/PID06188; SVHM Local Ref ID: HREC 028/06; CREAD, NCT02670083; CREAD2, NCT03114657 HIGHLIGHTS: The Elecsys[®] pTau217 plasma immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics) was evaluated across five cohorts. The pTau217 plasma immunoassay demonstrated high performance in detecting amyloid pathology in both cognitively impaired and unimpaired individuals. The pTau217 plasma immunoassay had a high negative predictive value which supports its utility as a pre-screening tool for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The pTau217 plasma immunoassay cutoffs identified are suitable for use as rule-out pre-screener tools in clinical trials. These findings reinforce the value of the high-throughput pTau217 plasma immunoassay measurements to aid AD diagnosis.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Yao M, Tian P, Li X, et al (2026)

CoxMDS: multiple data splitting for high-dimensional mediation analysis with survival outcomes in epigenome-wide studies.

Briefings in bioinformatics, 27(1):.

Causal mediation analysis investigates whether the effect of an exposure on an outcome operates through intermediate variables known as mediators. Although progress has been made in high-dimensional mediation analysis, current methods do not reliably control the false discovery rate (FDR) in finite samples, especially when mediators are moderately to highly correlated or follow non-Gaussian distributions. These challenges frequently arise in DNA methylation studies. We introduce CoxMDS, a multiple data splitting method that uses Cox proportional hazards models to identify putative causal mediators for survival outcomes. CoxMDS ensures finite-sample FDR control even in the presence of correlated or non-Gaussian mediators. Through simulations, CoxMDS is shown to maintain FDR control and achieve higher statistical power compared with existing approaches. In applications to DNA methylation data with survival outcomes, CoxMDS identified eight CpG sites in The Cancer Genome Atlas that are consistent with the hypothesis that DNA methylation may mediate the effect of smoking on lung cancer survival, and two CpG sites in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative that are consistent with the hypothesis that DNA methylation may mediate the effect of smoking on time to Alzheimer's disease conversion.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Okhravi HR, Fang F, Hunter MP, et al (2026)

Effect of antipsychotic medication use and type on mortality and cardiovascular risks in nursing home patients with dementia.

Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 18(1):e70247 pii:DAD270247.

INTRODUCTION: Antipsychotic medication (APM) use in nursing home (NH) patients with dementia is common but carries risks. This study assessed the association between APM use and mortality, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) compared to non-use, as well as differences between first- and second-generation APMs.

METHODS: A serial cross-sectional study using Medicare data examined outcomes from 2012 to 2015 in a national sample of 328,138 US NH residents aged 50 and older with dementia. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze risk.

RESULTS: APM use was associated with increased mortality in all years (odds ratio [OR] range: 2.39 to 1.23, all p < 0.001) and stroke risk from 2012 to 2014 (OR range: 1.17 to 1.10, p < 0.01) but not MI. First-generation APMs posed a higher mortality risk than second-generation APMs, with no significant stroke or MI differences.

DISCUSSION: Findings highlight the need for cautious APM use in dementia patients in NHs due to elevated mortality and stroke risks.

HIGHLIGHTS: Study provides insights into APM risks in underrepresented nursing home (NH) dementia population.APM use in NH dementia patients is linked to higher death risk.First-generation APMs showed higher mortality risk than second-generation APMs.Overall, APM use is associated with increased stroke risk.No association was found between APM use and MI risk overall.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Nakashima S, Sato K, Niimi Y, et al (2026)

Characterizing Japanese older adults without dementia by amyloid PET status: A comparative study of amyloid-positive and amyloid-negative groups from Japanese trial-ready cohort study.

Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 18(1):e70242 pii:DAD270242.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to identify demographic and cognitive differences based on amyloid status in older Japanese adults without dementia, addressing the lack of data in East Asian populations for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) detection.

METHODS: Analyzed baseline data from 630 participants from the Japanese Trial-Ready Cohort (J-TRC) study, all with a Clinical Dementia Rating-Global Score (CDR-GS) of 0 or 0.5. Amyloid status (Aβ+ or Aβ-) was determined by amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

RESULTS: Among participants, 24.8% were Aβ+. In the cognitively unimpaired (CDR-GS 0) group, Aβ+ individuals reported slightly greater self-perceived cognitive concerns (Cognitive Function Instrument [CFI-self]). For those with mild impairment (CDR-GS 0.5), Aβ+ status was associated with worse clinical scores, greater cognitive complaints, more depressive symptoms, and poorer memory and global cognition.

DISCUSSION: These findings align with major Western studies, emphasizing that CFI-self is a valuable tool for identifying early AD pathology across diverse populations.

HIGHLIGHTS: Comparing characteristics by amyloid status in Japanese non-demented older adults.Positron emission tomography-positive (PET+) scans in cognitively unimpaired individuals were associated with Cognitive Function Instrument-negative (CFI-) participants.PET+ in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was linked to functional, cognitive, and affective decline.CFI- participants will aid early Alzheimer's pathology detection in diverse groups.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

He C, Zhou Y, Chen Y, et al (2025)

Research on interpretable machine learning models for diagnosis and staging of mild cognitive impairment.

Frontiers in neurology, 16:1708525.

BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a critical prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), further categorized into early MCI (EMCI) and late MCI (LMCI). Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective prevention and intervention of AD. This study aims to develop an accessible and interpretable machine learning model to facilitate early diagnosis and subtype staging of MCI.

METHODS: A total of 268 participants were recruited from the ADNI, including cognitively normal individuals (CN, n = 132), EMCI (n = 95), and LMCI (n = 41). Participants were randomly divided into training (80%) and testing (20%) cohorts. Multimodal data encompassing whole-brain T1-WI MRI radiomics, clinical neuropsychological scales and plasma protein biomarkers were collected. Logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) algorithms were employed to construct six unimodal models based on above three categories of features, as well as a combined model combining all features. Diagnostic performance for the three-class classification task (CN, EMCI, LMCI) was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Furthermore, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were applied to quantify the contribution of individual features within the integrated model.

RESULTS: The combined model significantly outperformed unimodal models across all metrics, achieving macro_AUC = 0.92, micro_AUC = 0.91, and ACC = 0.81 in the training set, and macro_AUC = 0.87, micro_AUC = 0.87, and ACC = 0.76 in the testing set. The LR-based radiomics model ranked second. Models based solely on clinical neuropsychological scales or plasma protein biomarkers demonstrated comparatively lower classification performance. SHAP analysis highlighted neuropsychological scales (ADAS-Cog, MoCA) and radiomic features from critical brain regions (hippocampus, middle temporal gyrus, entorhinal cortex) as pivotal contributors to model efficacy.

CONCLUSION: The integration of whole-brain structural MRI (sMRI) radiomics, neuropsychological scales, and plasma protein biomarkers significantly improves the precision of diagnosing and staging mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Radiomic characteristics derived from critical cerebral regions yield valuable pathological information that facilitates clinical interpretation. This methodology presents a promising strategy for the early identification and individualized management of MCI.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Thaliath A, JA Pillai (2025)

Non-Cognitive Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease and Their Likely Impact on Patient Outcomes. A Scoping Review.

Current treatment options in neurology, 27:.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Increased understanding of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has led to development of disease modifying therapies. The therapies primarily target measures of cognitive decline since AD has been thought of as a cognitive disorder. However, the non-cognitive symptoms seen in AD contribute to overall quality-of-life. This scoping review was undertaken to further our understanding of the non-cognitive features of AD.

RECENT FINDINGS: The non-cognitive symptoms in AD range from changes in sensory perception, systemic changes, and neuropsychiatric manifestations. We targeted the following non-cognitive domains: vision, olfaction, GI, muscle, sleep, circadian rhythm, immune and behavioral symptoms as it relates to AD for this review. Non-cognitive features impact the ability of individuals to perform their activities of daily living, have safety implications and lead to increased caregiver burden. The review explores non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures targeted at the non-cognitive changes in AD.

SUMMARY: Non-cognitive symptoms contribute to significant disease burden in Alzheimer's disease. It is important to screen for and provide supportive care for these symptoms to help improve clinical care. Incorporation of non-cognitive features of AD in clinical trials will help ascertain the true societal and economic impact of AD and that of potential therapeutics.

OPINION STATEMENT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is primarily recognized as a disorder of cognition; however, non-cognitive symptoms significantly contribute to disease burden and clinical presentation. These manifestations particularly behavioral symptoms and systemic changes beyond the central nervous system impact patients' quality of life and increase caregiver stress. Often, such symptoms necessitate a transition from home-based care to more intensive settings, such as memory care facilities. As AD prevalence rises alongside an aging population, the shortage of dedicated memory care providers in community settings challenges access and quality of care. Improved awareness and early recognition of non-cognitive features among healthcare professionals can aid identification of modifiable systemic issues and allow timely behavioral management during clinical encounters. Treatment of these symptoms requires a multifaceted approach, incorporating pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. Non-pharmacological interventions, including tailored behavioral approaches and environmental modifications, can enhance quality of life for individuals with AD and reduce caregiver burden especially where specialized medical resources are limited.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Yaskolka Meir A, Wang X, Tasaki S, et al (2026)

Brain-peripheral proteome crosstalk in Alzheimer's disease with and without diabetes mellitus.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 22(1):e70959.

BACKGROUND: Although considerable research has investigated diabetes mellitus (DM) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, the mechanistic understanding of the associations between peripheral and central biological processes in AD and AD within DM remains limited.

METHODS: We performed tandem mass tag-based phosphoproteome profiling on postmortem prefrontal cortex (n = 191), deltoid muscle (n = 191), and antemortem serum (n = 96) from older adults with/without pathologic AD and with/without DM (DM/NDM).

RESULTS: We observed significant brain-muscle and brain-serum correlations in phosphorylated and unphosphorylated peptides. Among individuals with DM, 59 were with AD and 36 were without. Among NDM, 63 were with AD and 33 were without. In a differential expression analysis, muscle phosphorylated seryl-tRNA synthetase 2 (SARS2)-S126 was significantly expressed in pathologic AD, whereas relative abundance of serum alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG)-S346 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2)-S142 showed marginal expression for AD within the DM strata.

CONCLUSIONS: Elucidating central and peripheral proteome crosstalk is valuable for uncovering potential AD biomarkers in accessible (peripheral) biospecimens.

HIGHLIGHTS: We profiled peptides in brain, muscle, and serum biosamples. The study design allowed discovery of diabetes-associated peptides in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Strong brain-muscle, but weaker brain-serum peptide correlations were identified. Muscle seryl-tRNA synthetase 2-S126 was linked to AD pathology. Serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2-S142 and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein-S346 were linked to AD in persons with diabetes.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Ali A, DeLong A, Williams LA, et al (2026)

Lessons learned in the recruitment and retention of Black males in informal dementia caregiving research.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 22(1):e70939.

INTRODUCTION: Black American men are underrepresented in Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (AD/ADRD) research. This article aims to provide a framework for recruiting Black men in biomedical research, particularly for AD/ADRD caregiver studies.

METHODS: We combined multiple recruitment strategies, both virtual, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in-person, that focused on a culturally informed community engagement approach. Through partnerships with local organizations, including faith-based groups, we developed recruitment strategies based on their expert recommendations.

RESULTS: Of the n = 180 participants recruited, n = 77 participated in this study, n = 37 caregivers and n = 40 non-caregivers. The mean age of participants was 58.17 years, and the average participant had earned a master's degree.

DISCUSSION: This pilot study encompassed a synergistic strategy approach that combined three methods to recruit, engage, and retain Black men in biomedical research. By recruiting underrepresented groups, we can gain insights into the unique needs these populations may face, leading to the development of more tailored interventions.

HIGHLIGHTS: To address barriers to participation, a culturally informed, community-based, relationship-guided approach guided by the health belief model was utilized. Focused recruitment, engagement, and retention efforts in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area attracted n = 180 Black male adults for an AD/ADRD informal caregiver research project. Through partnerships with local organizations, including faith-based organizations, we curated recruitment strategies based on their expert recommendations. We continuously foster cross-collaboration with participants to educate the public and ensure that vital information is included in the interpretation of results from a layman's perspective.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Wu J, Su B, Fan Z, et al (2026)

Genetically Predicted HDL Traits and Pan-Disease Risk: A Systematic Review.

Epidemiologic reviews pii:8426106 [Epub ahead of print].

High-density lipoprotein nHDL) is a highly heterogeneous lipoprotein with multiple physiological functions. However, observational studies present conflicting evidence regarding its association with various diseases. This study systematically summarizes evidence from Mendelian randomization (MR) studies to investigate the causal relationships between HDL-related biomarkers and a wide spectrum of disease outcomes. We systematically searched multiple databases up to November 2024. The causal relationship between HDL and 158 diseases was studied. Findings reveal that the role of HDL is highly disease-specific. Genetically predicted higher HDL levels are protective against the majority of circulatory and digestive system diseases. Conversely, they are associated with an increased risk of certain conditions, including breast cancer, intracerebral hemorrhage, and age-related macular degeneration. MR analyses revealed inconsistent and sometimes conflicting findings for several disease outcomes, notably including Alzheimer's disease. This review underscores the context-dependent nature of HDL's effects, which may be driven by factors like HDL particle heterogeneity and functional transformation into a pro-inflammatory state. Future research should move beyond concentration-based metrics to focus on HDL functionality and precise subtyping to fully understand its role in disease etiology.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Dong J, Xu L, Xu X, et al (2026)

Chiral Spindle-like Nanorods Reprogram Neuroinflammation by Catalyzing α-Ketoglutarate Biosynthesis.

Journal of the American Chemical Society [Epub ahead of print].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of dementia worldwide, and breakthroughs in effective intervention strategies are urgently needed. Here, we report that chiral spindle-like Fe7Se8 nanorods (NRs) promote α-ketoglutarate (AKG) biosynthesis, providing a new potential route for AD intervention through modulation of neuroimmune homeostasis. Oral administration of L-NRs significantly restored intestinal microbiota homeostasis in 3 × Tg AD model mice, markedly enriched Lactobacillus johnsonii, and enhanced biosynthesis of the metabolite AKG, which reversed cognitive impairment and neuronal degeneration in 5 × FAD mice. Moreover, AKG levels in the clinical serum and cerebrospinal fluids were found to be significantly lower in patients with AD than in healthy controls. Mechanistic studies revealed that L-NRs efficiently promoted AKG biosynthesis through scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) to restore the activities of three enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway. Crucially, these NRs are broken down by gastric juice into smaller nanoparticles and subsequently into ions in the intestines. Further studies explored that AKG crossed the blood-brain barrier via cooperatively mediated transport proteins, targeted microglial phenotypic switching, reprogrammed the neuroinflammatory microenvironment, and ultimately ameliorated cognitive deficits and neuronal pathological alterations. Our findings suggest that AKG might serve as a therapeutic drug for the precise treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

RevDate: 2026-01-15
CmpDate: 2026-01-15

Zhang JY, Dregni AJ, M Hong (2026)

Heterogeneous Dynamics of the Fuzzy Coat of Full-Length Phospho-Mimetic Tau Fibrils.

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 148(1):1623-1637.

The β-sheet core of many amyloid proteins in neurodegenerative diseases is surrounded by dynamically disordered segments that contact cellular species. Recent data suggest that this "fuzzy coat" may also regulate the prion-like propagation of amyloid proteins. Here we report the site-specific dynamics of the fuzzy coat of a full-length tau fibril, assembled without anionic cofactors in the presence of four phospho-mimetic glutamate mutations at the PHF1 epitope of Alzheimer's disease tau. The rigid core structure of this 4E tau was recently determined to consist of three β-strands, resembling the structure of three-layered tau aggregates in certain tauopathies. Using solid-state and solution NMR, we measured chemical shifts, peak intensities, and motional amplitudes of the dynamic residues in this 4E tau fibril and investigated the polarization transfer between the dynamic and the rigid segments. These data indicate that the 4E tau fuzzy coat contains three types of dynamic residues: type-1 residues undergo fast large-amplitude motion, type-2 residues undergo fast but intermediate-amplitude motion, and type-3 residues undergo microsecond motion. We estimate the number of residues in each category and propose the likely model for the packing of this fuzzy coat around the rigid core. A truncated tau fibril with the same rigid-core structure as 4E tau shows different fuzzy coat dynamics, indicating that the rigid-core structure is insufficient for defining all the properties of the fibrils. Our fuzzy coat model provides insight into the potential mechanism of prion-like propagation of tau aggregates and suggests how cellular species bind pathological tau aggregates.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Ang K, Chiu FY, Lim GZ, et al (2026)

Adoption, scale-up, and sustainability of a neuropalliative care model: qualitative exploration of pre-implementation barriers and enablers.

BMC health services research pii:10.1186/s12913-025-13835-x [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: People with long-term neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's disease live with these increasingly debilitating conditions for years. However, palliative care is provided only towards the end of life. To address the gap between patient needs and services provided, we piloted an early neuro-palliative model of care - Neurosupport. In this study, we explored pre-implementation barriers and enablers for the adoption, scale-up, and sustainability of Neurosupport.

METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews using an interview guide based on the Theoretical Domains Framework. Participants were neurologists and healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with long-term neurological conditions. Interviews were conducted between May and December 2021. We used deductive and inductive coding followed by code-mapping to arrive at themes.

RESULTS: Twenty-one participants were interviewed, comprising 12 neurologists, four neurology nurses, and five allied healthcare professionals (two speech therapists, one physiotherapist, one medical social worker, and one psychologist). Five themes were generated: (I) build rapport and support patients and families/caregivers; (II) current challenges, foreseeable barriers, and mitigation strategies; (III) unclear value-add of Neurosupport; (IV) integration of health and social services; and (V) implementing and sustaining Neurosupport.

CONCLUSION: This study elicited critical gaps and issues regarding the value proposition, workflows, and resources relevant to the implementation of Neurosupport. Future scale-up and sustainability of Neurosupport depend on these short-comings being addressed.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

RevDate: 2026-01-14

Silva-Spínola A, Durães J, de Oliveira JPG, et al (2026)

Plasma p-tau217, quantified by the fully automated LUMIPULSE G platform, outperforms p-tau181 in predicting amyloid pathology in cognitive complaints patients.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-025-34241-7 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-01-14

Yu MJ, Xiong RQ, Wu JW, et al (2026)

β-Hydroxybutyrate improves glymphatic system function and alleviates cerebral edema in mice after ischemic stroke.

Acta pharmacologica Sinica [Epub ahead of print].

Cerebral edema is a severe complication following ischemic stroke. Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of the glymphatic system (GS) in the clearance of water and macromolecules. GS dysfunction involving the disorders of AQP4 polarization may be crucial in the pathophysiology of cerebral edema. β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB), the main component of the ketone body, has been shown to alleviate neurological deficits by restoring GS function in subarachnoid hemorrhage models and to reduce Aβ deposition in Alzheimer's disease models. In this study we investigated the effects of BHB on cerebral edema following ischemic stroke and its mechanisms. The mice were fed a ketogenic diet (KD) or a normal diet for 4 weeks before transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Alternatively, the mice received BHB (5 g·kg[-1]·d[-1]) or vehicle post-MCAO. By using brain section analysis, transcranial macroimaging, two-photon in vivo imaging and MRI, we demonstrated that both KD and BHB treatment significantly enhanced GS function under normal and MCAO conditions. BHB reduced cerebral edema and infarct volume post-MCAO. Notably, delayed BHB treatment initiated 10 h post-MCAO still improved GS function, but did not influence infarct volume. Furthermore, we revealed that BHB increased α1-syntrophin expression and H3K27ac levels in α1-syntrophin (Snta1) enhancer, restoring AQP4 polarization. In addition, BHB also reduced HDAC3 expression and elevated p300 expression. These results suggest that a KD and BHB treatment enhance GS function in mice and that BHB also mitigates brain edema after MCAO. The potentiation of GS function by BHB is likely mediated by the inhibition of HDAC3 activity and the increase in p300 activity, which upregulate α1-syntrophin expression and restore AQP4 polarization.

RevDate: 2026-01-14

Tognoni CM, Ghosh Biswas R, Suar ZM, et al (2026)

Protection of multiple aspects of Alzheimer's disease pathology using dietary supplementation with taurine.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-025-32797-y [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-01-14

Schnieder M, CAF von Arnim (2026)

[Polypharmacy in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms].

Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany) [Epub ahead of print].

Dementia, delirium, and depression are the main geriatric psychiatric syndromes, and their prevalence is increasing significantly due to demographic aging. At the same time, multimorbidity and polypharmacy lead to increased interaction rates and a higher frequency of side effects, as well as reduced adherence. In Germany, the number of dementia cases is projected to rise from the current 1.8 million to 2.8 million by 2050. The most common etiologies are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Progressive cognitive and motor function loss often results in apraxia and dysphagia, which complicate pharmacotherapy. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and memantine are used therapeutically. Newly approved amyloid antibodies (lecanemab, donanemab) show efficacy in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, but carry the risk of amyloid-associated imaging abnormalities (ARIA). Dementia is considered a predisposing risk factor for delirium, which is characterized by fluctuations in attention and consciousness. Delirogenic factors include polypharmacy as well as other medications such as opioids and benzodiazepines. Due to the increased risk of mortality and stroke, neuroleptics should only be administered to geriatric patients when strictly indicated, in minimal doses, and for a limited duration. Non-pharmacological interventions take precedence. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered the first-line treatment for depressive disorders in older adults, while tricyclic antidepressants should be avoided. Regular medication reviews, reduction of anticholinergic burden, and technical aids to facilitate medication intake are essential for optimizing treatment adherence.

RevDate: 2026-01-14

Mon F, JE Straub (2026)

Structural and mechanistic characterization of heparin interactions with tau fibrils.

The Journal of biological chemistry pii:S0021-9258(26)00023-2 [Epub ahead of print].

Soluble microtubule-associated tau protein can misfold and assemble into stable, insoluble amyloid fibrils. The accumulation of tau amyloid fibrils within neurons is a primary feature in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Tau fibrils have been observed to colocalize with glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate in vivo. Heparin is a highly sulfated analogue of heparan sulfate that has been commonly used in vitro to accelerate tau aggregation. Binding of heparin to tau fibrils inhibits fibril uptake by neighboring cells, whereas heparan sulfate on the cell surface modulates this uptake. Understanding the molecular interactions of heparin and heparan sulfate with tau fibrils is important in developing therapeutic targets that can slow the progression of neurodegeneration. In this multiscale computational study, we employ a combination of Brownian dynamics and molecular dynamics to simulate heparin binding to two tau fibril polymorphic structures. Our simulations lead to the de novo prediction of heparin binding to basic residue ladders organized along the tau fibril axis. The mechanism of binding is facilitated by long-range electrostatic steering of the polyanionic heparin to the tau fibril surface, followed by the refinement of favorable short-range heparin-tau interactions. The identified binding sites are located in regions of excess densities in cryo-EM maps of the tau fibrils, providing support for the computational predictions. Our findings provide a structural and mechanistic framework for a better understanding of fibril-glycan interactions and how they influence the overall mechanism of tau fibril propagation.

RevDate: 2026-01-14

Han L, Galizia S, Pan J, et al (2026)

O-GlcNAcase promotes dendritic spine morphogenesis while downregulating their GluA2-containing AMPA receptors.

The Journal of biological chemistry pii:S0021-9258(26)00027-X [Epub ahead of print].

Dendritic spines are essential for synaptic transmission, neural circuit organization, and cognitive function. Their morphology and density influence synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Many proteins in dendritic spines are modified with O-GlcNAc, a monosaccharide that can be attached and removed from serines and threonines. O-GlcNAc has been implicated in multiple brain disorders, yet the role of O-GlcNAcase (OGA), the enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc modification from proteins, in dendritic spine regulation remains unclear. This study examines the role of OGA in spine and synapse morphogenesis. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses reveal that OGA is present in dendritic spines. Functional assays show that OGA promotes spine maturation, increases spine density, and alters synapse size. Additionally, OGA modulates the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR), down-regulating GluA2-containing receptors in developing and mature neurons. These findings highlight OGA as a key regulator of excitatory synaptic remodeling and a therapeutic target for synapse-related pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease and autism.

RevDate: 2026-01-14

Cadaxo AS, Cotrin JC, Valente AP, et al (2026)

Multi-biofluid metabolomics coupled with gene network reveals stage-specific alterations in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease in an ethnically mixed cohort.

Brain research pii:S0006-8993(26)00025-9 [Epub ahead of print].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. A prodromal stage, often manifested as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), can precede dementia onset. Metabolomics provides a powerful approach to detect metabolic alterations capturing combined genetic, epigenetic, dietary, gut microbiota, and environmental influences on AD pathogenesis and progression from MCI to AD. In this study, we analysed plasma, urine, and saliva metabolomes of 94 ethnically diverse Brazilian individuals (30 AD, 16 MCI and 48 healthy controls), all comorbidity-free, using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics. Cross-sectional analysis employed multivariate modelling (PLS-DA) and univariate Mann-Whitney U tests. We identified distinct group-specific metabolic signatures involving amino acids (phenylalanine, glutamine, asparagine, valine, alanine), energy-related metabolites (pyruvate, citrate, glucose), compounds linked to lipid/redox pathways (acetate, glutamate, aspartate), epigenetic regulation (betaine), neuroinflammation, immune fitness, and gut microbiome-influenced metabolites (scyllo-inositol). Valine increased progressively (controls < MCI < AD), while alanine showed a biphasic pattern (reduced in MCI, elevated in AD). These consistent, biofluid-spanning alterations highlight their potential as minimally invasive biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring. Integration of metabolite data with AD-associated genes from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed six genes (CYCS, NFAT5, GRIN2B, SLC43A2, MAPT, and SLC38A1) common to all biofluids, reinforcing convergent systemic pathways. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of integrating metabolomics with genetic networks to enhance understanding of AD pathophysiology, identify potential therapeutic targets, and guide future clinical validation and precision medicine strategies for dementia in ethnically mixed populations.

RevDate: 2026-01-15

Yadav V, Das S, Murmu A, et al (2026)

Therapeutic potential of Oxalis corniculata in circumventing Alzheimer's disease through in vitro and in silico investigations.

Journal of ethnopharmacology, 360:121178 pii:S0378-8741(26)00029-2 [Epub ahead of print].

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease wherein loss of memory and cognition is very common. Oxidative stress, lack of acetylcholine, and inflammation in brain tissues are characteristics of AD. Development of natural remedies such as medicinal plants for management of AD is a viable strategy.

AIM OF THE STUDY: In the present study, methanolic extract of Oxalis corniculata (MEOC) was examined for its beneficial role in management of AD by integrating in vitro and in silico experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEOC was prepared from the leaves of O. corniculata, analyzed for total phenolic and flavonoid content, and subjected to GCMS and LC/MS-MS analyses for identification of various chemical compounds. The identified compounds were screened for antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibition potential by molecular docking analysis. In vitro antioxidant activity by free radical scavenging assay (DPPH assay), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, and cytotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells by MTT assay, of MEOC was evaluated. Furthermore, measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), NF-kB inhibition, level of glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA) and catalase in MEOC treated Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated SHSY-5Y cells was also determined.

RESULTS: MEOC contained 41.22 mg of GAE/g and 82.12 mg of QE/g of MEOC of total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. GCMS analysis revealed the presence of 48 compounds in MEOC, and LC/MS-MS analysis confirmed the presence of 18 phenolic acids and 15 flavonoids. MEOC did not show significant neurotoxicity in SHSY-5Y cells up to a dose of 1200 μg/mL but possessed prominent antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition property. MEOC significantly reduced the level of ROS, NF-kB and MDA, however, the level of glutathione, SOD and catalase increased significantly in LPS-stimulated SHSY-5Y cells. Molecular docking studies were performed against the targets 4EY7 (AChE receptor), 4TPK (butyrylcholinesterase, BuChE receptor), and 2BXK (antioxidant receptor). Among the compounds identified through GC-MS analysis, squalene exhibited the highest docking scores across all targeted proteins. In contrast, among the flavonoids identified by LC-MS, rutin showed the strongest binding affinities toward the active sites of 4EY7 and 4TPK, with LibDock scores of 144.525 and 148.499, respectively, whereas myricetin recorded the highest docking score (125.097) against 2BXK. Among the phenolic acids identified by LC-MS, chlorogenic acid exhibited the highest binding affinities for AChE and BuChE, with docking scores of 130.868 (4EY7) and 125.387 (4TPK), respectively, while ferulic acid showed the strongest binding affinity toward the antioxidant receptor 2BXK.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that MEOC is a rich source of phytoconstituents having antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory properties and may be useful in circumventing AD. It can be concluded that the leafy vegetable, O. corniculata is beneficial in AD and may be explored in the future for its mechanism of action through in vivo studies.

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RJR Experience and Expertise

Researcher

Robbins holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in the life sciences. He served as a tenured faculty member in the Zoology and Biological Science departments at Michigan State University. He is currently exploring the intersection between genomics, microbial ecology, and biodiversity — an area that promises to transform our understanding of the biosphere.

Educator

Robbins has extensive experience in college-level education: At MSU he taught introductory biology, genetics, and population genetics. At JHU, he was an instructor for a special course on biological database design. At FHCRC, he team-taught a graduate-level course on the history of genetics. At Bellevue College he taught medical informatics.

Administrator

Robbins has been involved in science administration at both the federal and the institutional levels. At NSF he was a program officer for database activities in the life sciences, at DOE he was a program officer for information infrastructure in the human genome project. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, he served as a vice president for fifteen years.

Technologist

Robbins has been involved with information technology since writing his first Fortran program as a college student. At NSF he was the first program officer for database activities in the life sciences. At JHU he held an appointment in the CS department and served as director of the informatics core for the Genome Data Base. At the FHCRC he was VP for Information Technology.

Publisher

While still at Michigan State, Robbins started his first publishing venture, founding a small company that addressed the short-run publishing needs of instructors in very large undergraduate classes. For more than 20 years, Robbins has been operating The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project, a web site dedicated to the digital publishing of critical works in science, especially classical genetics.

Speaker

Robbins is well-known for his speaking abilities and is often called upon to provide keynote or plenary addresses at international meetings. For example, in July, 2012, he gave a well-received keynote address at the Global Biodiversity Informatics Congress, sponsored by GBIF and held in Copenhagen. The slides from that talk can be seen HERE.

Facilitator

Robbins is a skilled meeting facilitator. He prefers a participatory approach, with part of the meeting involving dynamic breakout groups, created by the participants in real time: (1) individuals propose breakout groups; (2) everyone signs up for one (or more) groups; (3) the groups with the most interested parties then meet, with reports from each group presented and discussed in a subsequent plenary session.

Designer

Robbins has been engaged with photography and design since the 1960s, when he worked for a professional photography laboratory. He now prefers digital photography and tools for their precision and reproducibility. He designed his first web site more than 20 years ago and he personally designed and implemented this web site. He engages in graphic design as a hobby.

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Collection of publications by R J Robbins

Reprints and preprints of publications, slide presentations, instructional materials, and data compilations written or prepared by Robert Robbins. Most papers deal with computational biology, genome informatics, using information technology to support biomedical research, and related matters.

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Curriculum Vitae for R J Robbins

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