The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease
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J Prev Alzheimers Dis · Jan 2020
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffects of a Group-Based 8-Week Multicomponent Cognitive Training on Cognition, Mood and Activities of Daily Living among Healthy Older Adults: A One-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Cognitive interventions have the potential to enhance cognition among healthy older adults. However, little attention has been paid to the effect of cognitive training (CT) on mood and activities of daily living (ADL). ⋯ The TEAM-V Program was effective in reducing anxiety. Even though, the program did not significantly improve cognition, depression and ADL compared with the control group, global cognition, memory, attention and executive function improved in the intervention group compared with baseline. Further studies incorporating a larger sample size, longitudinal follow-up and higher-intensity CT should be conducted.
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J Prev Alzheimers Dis · Jan 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyClinical Effects of Tramiprosate in APOE4/4 Homozygous Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease Suggest Disease Modification Potential.
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients homozygous for the APOE4 allele (APOE4/4) have a distinct clinical and biological phenotype with high levels of beta amyloid (Aβ) pathology and toxic Aβ oligomers. Tramiprosate, an oral agent that inhibits Aβ monomer aggregation into toxic oligomers, was evaluated in two Phase 3 Mild to Moderate AD studies which did not show efficacy in the overall population. Re-analyses of these trials showed the most consistent clinical benefits in APOE4/4 patients. We analyzed efficacy in the APOE4/4 patients with Mild disease. ⋯ The Mild subgroup of APOE4/4 AD patients (MMSE 22-26) showed larger benefits on the high dose of tramiprosate than the overall Mild and Moderate group. Consistent with its preclinical effects on Aβ oligomers, tramiprosate seemed to stabilize cognitive performance, supporting its disease modification potential. Confirmatory studies using ALZ-801, an improved pro-drug formulation of tramiprosate, will target APOE4/4 patients with Mild AD.
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J Prev Alzheimers Dis · Jan 2017
Multicenter Study Observational StudyDependence Levels as Interim Clinical Milestones Along the Continuum of Alzheimer's Disease: 18-Month Results from the GERAS Observational Study.
While functional loss forms part of the current diagnostic criteria used to identify dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, the gradual and progressive nature of the disease makes it difficult to recognize clinically relevant signposts that could be helpful in making treatment and management decisions. Having previously observed a significant relationship between stages of functional dependence (the level of assistance patients require consequent to Alzheimer's disease deficits, derived from the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study - Activities of Daily Living Scale) and cognitive severity, we investigated whether measures of functional dependence could be utilized to identify clinical milestones of Alzheimer's disease progression. ⋯ In this large cohort, 42% of Alzheimer's disease dementia patients at all levels of cognitive severity became more dependent within 18 months of observation while 58% did not progress. Dependence levels may be considered as meaningful interim clinical milestones that reflect Alzheimer's disease-related functional deficits, although a time frame that extends beyond 18 months may be necessary to observe changes if used in clinical trials or other longitudinal studies. Recognition of predictors of greater dependence offers opportunities for intervention.