Cognitive Archives | Misha Blagosklonny

Brain Aging Insights from Individuals Without Neurodegeneration

By Kathryn Atkins May 18, 2023 May 18, 2023 Blog

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging publications (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as “Aging (Albany NY)” and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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A healthy brain continuously produces new proteins to support synaptic plasticity, maintain neuronal health, facilitate signaling pathways, produce neurotransmitters, enable neuroplasticity and adaptation, and meet its metabolic demands. These processes are essential for normal brain function, learning, memory, and overall cognitive abilities. Researchers believe that the dysregulation of proteins is at the core of brain aging. However, the exact recipe for protein dysregulation that leads to accelerated brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders has yet to be brought to light.

Previous brain proteostasis (referring to the maintenance of protein homeostasis in brain cells) studies in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology and age-related neuropathological changes have shown protein dysregulation leading to a buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. While these studies have greatly enhanced our knowledge of brain aging, gaps in our understanding remain. What proteomic characteristics do healthy brain aging individuals—without neurodegenerative disorders—have in common?

“To our knowledge, whole phosphoproteomes centered on the human brain aging without AD pathology are unavailable.”

In a new study, researchers Pol Andrés-Benito, Ignacio Íñigo-Marco, Marta Brullas, Margarita Carmona, José Antonio del Rio, Joaquín Fernández-Irigoyen, Enrique Santamaría, Mónica Povedano, and Isidro Ferrer from Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, and University of Barcelona aimed to shed light on the mechanisms underlying brain aging in the absence of AD pathology and age-related neuropathological changes. Their research paper was published on May 13, 2023, in Aging’s Volume 15, Issue 9, and entitled, “Proteostatic modulation in brain aging without associated Alzheimer’s disease-and age-related neuropathological changes.”

The Study

The production of new proteins is crucial for maintaining protein homeostasis in the brain. A post-translational modification used to maintain this homeostasis is protein phosphorylation. In this study, the researchers conducted proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of frontal cortex samples from the donor brains of deceased individuals between the ages of 30 and 85. These individuals had passed away due to non-neurological complications and were reported to have had full cognitive function. Individuals were divided into four groups: young group one (30–44), middle-aged group two (45-52), early-elderly group three (64–70), and late-elderly group four (75–85).

“We chose the FC [frontal cortex] because of its role in cognition and emotion and the abundant molecular information that permits comparison with other studies.”

Conventional label-free- and SWATH- (sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra) mass spectrometry were used to assess the (phospho)proteomes of the frontal cortices from individuals in all four age groups. Immunohistochemistry and/or western blotting was/were also used to validate a subgroup of proteins. The researchers categorized deregulated proteins and phosphoproteins into eight clusters based on their age-dependent expression similarity (see paper for clusters). Interestingly, protein and phosphoprotein levels of the larger hierarchical clusters were stable until the age of 70 years. After 70, the late-elderly group showed significant decreased or increased expression of protein clusters one and seven, and major phosphorylation modifications occurred in clusters four and eight.

Results

The team then used multi-comparative analyses to categorize altered proteins and phosphoproteins as neuronal, astroglial, oligodendroglial, microglial, and endothelial. They observed a similar pattern among proteomic and phosphoproteomic alterations: major changes were related to neuronal cell populations across all four groups—and these changes were more pronounced with age. Cytoskeletal and membrane proteins accounted for the largest number of differentially-expressed proteins and phosphoproteins.

“Furthermore, main alterations in the proteome are associated with proteins specific to neuronal populations, rather than those found in other cell types in the brain.”

Their findings also revealed a decline in the expression of P20S α + β with aging, while the expression of P19S and immunoproteasome subunits LMP2 and LMP7 remained preserved. Notably, the expression levels of an autophagy component, ATG5, remained unchanged with age. Some mitochondrial membrane proteins showed altered levels at advanced ages, but key markers of mitochondrial function were preserved. These findings suggest a potential preservation of these pathways in advanced aging, contrasting with observations in neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, reduced levels of GSK3α/β were observed, and the researchers point out that this decrease in GSK3α/β with age may be understood as protective against different age-related brain diseases.

Summary & Conclusion

“Therefore, our results fill the gap between brain ageing without ADNC [AD neuropathological changes], and cases with early and advanced stages of AD pathology.”

The researchers are forthcoming about limitations of this study. Given it is rare for old-aged individuals not to have neurological deficits, AD or other neuropathological changes, their main limitation was that each of the four groups included merely four individuals. Despite limitations, these findings contribute to our understanding of brain aging in the absence of AD pathology and age-related neuropathological changes.

The study revealed that major changes in protein expression were primarily associated with neuronal cell populations and became more pronounced with age. The preservation of specific protein pathways, proteasome components, autophagy-related components, and mitochondrial markers in advanced aging individuals without neurodegenerative disorders suggests the presence of resilience mechanisms that protect against protein dysregulation and neurodegeneration. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the proteomic characteristics of healthy brain aging and highlights potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at promoting healthy brain aging and preventing age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying these proteomic alterations and their functional implications in brain aging.

“The present observations identify proteostatic changes, including different changes in the phosphoproteome in the human FC in brain aging in the rare subpopulation of old-aged individuals without neurological deficits, and not having ADNC and other neuropathological change in any region of the telencephalon.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.

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Aging is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that has been publishing high-impact papers in all fields of aging research since 2009. These papers are available to readers (at no cost and free of subscription barriers) in bi-monthly issues at Aging-US.com.

Click here to subscribe to Aging publication updates.

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The Brain Age Gap

By Kathryn Atkins May 4, 2023 May 18, 2023 Blog

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Aging is a risk factor for many diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While scientists have made some progress in understanding the physiology of aging and its relationship to AD and related disorders, our understanding remains incomplete (to say the least). It is possible that civilization is currently in the midst of an artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) “boom.” Researchers are now using AI and ML technologies to elevate our comprehension of aging and aging-related diseases.

“Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies can help us better understand these diseases and aging itself by using biological data from the brain or other sources to create a mapping between age and biological data.”

In a new editorial paper, researchers Jeyeon Lee, Leland R. Barnard and David T. Jones from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, discuss a recent study they conducted and explore the potential of AI to revolutionize the field of geriatrics. Their editorial was published in Aging’s Volume 15, Issue 8, on April 3, 2023, entitled, “Artificial intelligence a nd the aging mind.”

Their Study

In a recent 2022 study, Lee, Barnard, Jones, and the rest of their team developed convolutional neural network-based brain age prediction models using a large collection of data from brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and brain fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) in people aged from 26 to 98 years old. In a sample of cognitively normal individuals, the AI models showed accurate brain age estimation of which a mean absolute error (MAE; unit, years) was 3.08±0.14 for the FDG-based model and 3.49±0.16 for the MRI-based model.

The team found that higher brain age gaps (the difference between biological age and chronological age) were estimated in cohorts with neurodegenerative disorders—including mild cognitive impairment (MCI), AD, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)—than normal controls. The brain age gap was strongly associated with pathologic tau protein levels and cognitive test scores. This gap also showed longitudinal predictive ability for cognitive decline in AD-related disorders.

“Interestingly, the brain imaging patterns generating brain age gaps in AD showed higher similarity with normal aging than other neurodegenerative syndromes implying that AD might be more like an accelerated representation of biological aging than others.”

Summary & Conclusions

The study conducted by Lee, Barnard, Jones, and their team using neural network-based brain age prediction models has shown promising results in accurately estimating brain age and identifying differences between normal aging and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the authors of this editorial note that variations in data make creating a uniform language used to compare and contrast large sums of data very difficult.

“Although more research and optimization are needed to determine its clinical usefulness, the study of brain age has great potential as a tool for understanding brain aging and age-related diseases.”

In conclusion, aging is a complex process that increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and various diseases. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies offer new opportunities to better understand the underlying mechanisms of aging and aging-related disorders. This research opens up exciting possibilities for the future of geriatric care and improving the lives of aging populations. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will gain further insights into aging through the brain age gap, ultimately leading to better prevention, diagnosis and treatment options.

“The fact that the brain age gap is a comprehensive and intuitive measure of disease severity using biological data that is already being acquired in clinical practice, makes it an attractive biomarker for further development for clinical use [8].”

Click here to read the full editorial paper published by Aging.

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Aging is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal that has been publishing high-impact papers in all fields of aging research since 2009. These papers are available to readers (at no cost and free of subscription barriers) in bi-monthly issues at Aging-US.com.

Click here to subscribe to Aging publication updates.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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Fruit Flies Shed New Light on Memory and Aging

By Kathryn Atkins March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 Blog

In a recent study, researchers from Western University and Indiana University investigated the connection between aging, memory and lactate metabolism in flies.

Fruit Flies Shed New Light on Memory and Aging — Male common fruit fly (Drosophila Melanogaster) doing what fruit flies do best – enjoing its fruit (apple)

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The brain is a complex organ responsible for many critical functions, including the formation and retrieval of our memories. As we age, the brain undergoes changes that can affect cognitive abilities, including our memory. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie these changes is critical for developing therapies for age-related cognitive decline.

“Over the last two decades there has been growing recognition that lactate, the end product of glycolysis, serves many functions, including acting as a source of energy, a signaling molecule, and even as an epigenetic regulator.”

Lactate & LDH

Lactate is a molecule that is produced during the metabolism of glucose in the body. It is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, which occurs when there is insufficient oxygen supply to meet the energy demands of the body. Lactate can be used as an energy source by some cells, such as the heart and skeletal muscles, and it can also be transported to the liver where it can be converted back into glucose.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), on the other hand, is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to lactate (the reverse reaction of lactate production) and is also involved in other metabolic processes. This enzyme is found in many tissues of the body, including the heart, liver and skeletal muscles, and is released into the bloodstream when tissues are damaged. LDH is often used as a diagnostic marker for various medical conditions, such as heart attacks, liver disease and certain cancers. High levels of LDH in the blood may indicate tissue damage or cell death, while low levels may indicate a deficiency in the enzyme.

The Study

Recently, researchers investigated the role of LDH in memory formation and aging using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) as a model organism. In a new study, researchers Ariel K. Frame, J. Wesley Robinson, Nader H. Mahmoudzadeh, Jason M. Tennessen, Anne F. Simon, and Robert C. Cumming from Western University and Indiana University used genetic manipulation techniques to alter LDH expression in the neurons or glia of fruit flies to investigate its effects on aging and memory. Their research paper was published in Aging’s Volume 15, Issue 4, and entitled, “Aging and memory are altered by genetically manipulating lactate dehydrogenase in the neurons or glia of flies.”

“The astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle hypothesis posits that glial-generated lactate is transported to neurons to fuel metabolic processes required for long-term memory.”

Lactate shuttling is a process in which lactate is transported from one cell or tissue to another for use as an energy source or as a signaling molecule. Previous research has shown that LDH is expressed in both neurons and glia in the brain, and that it may play a role in regulating synaptic plasticity and memory formation. The authors of the current research paper aimed to test the hypothesis that alterations in LDH expression in the brain may contribute to age-related cognitive decline.

“D. melanogaster serves as a good model for understanding the role of glia-neuron lactate shuttling in central nervous system (CNS) function and cognitive behaviour.”

To test this hypothesis, the researchers genetically manipulated LDH expression in the neurons or glia of fruit flies (dLDH) and assessed the impact on memory formation and aging. Specifically, they used RNA interference (RNAi) to either knock down or overexpress dLDH in either neurons or glia. They then assessed the effects of these manipulations on two different memory tasks at different ages, courtship memory and aversive olfactory memory, and also assessed survival, negative geotaxis, brain neutral lipids (the core component of lipid droplets), and brain metabolites.

Results

Their results showed that dLDH manipulation had differential effects on fruit flies depending on the cell type in which it was altered. In neurons, both upregulation and downregulation of dLDH resulted in memory impairment and decreased survival with age. In contrast, downregulation of dLDH in glial cells caused age-related memory impairment, without altering survival. Upregulating dLDH expression in glial cells lowered survival without disrupting memory. Both neuronal and glial dLDH upregulation increased neutral lipid accumulation.

“We provide evidence that altered lactate metabolism with age affects the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), and neutral lipid accumulation.”

The results of this study may provide new insights into the role of LDH in memory formation and aging in humans. The findings suggest that LDH may be a potential target for developing therapies to combat age-related cognitive decline. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of considering cell-type specificity when investigating the role of genes and enzymes in complex biological processes. A limitation of the study is that it was conducted in fruit flies, which may not fully capture the complexity of memory formation and aging in humans. However, fruit flies have been shown to be a valuable model organism for studying many aspects of brain function, and the findings of this study may provide a foundation for future research in mammals.

“Collectively, our findings indicate that the direct alteration of lactate metabolism in either glia or neurons affects memory and survival but only in an age-dependent manner.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study provides new insights into the role of LDH in memory formation and aging. The findings suggest that LDH may play a critical role in regulating energy metabolism in the brain, which in turn affects synaptic plasticity and memory formation. The study also highlights the importance of considering cell-type specificity when investigating the role of genes and enzymes in complex biological processes. Future research in mammals may be needed to further explore the implications of these findings for human health and the potential for developing therapies for age-related cognitive decline. Nonetheless, this study provides an important step forward in understanding the complex interplay between lactate metabolism, memory and aging.

“In this study we demonstrate the importance of maintaining appropriate levels of dLdh in D. melanogaster glia and neurons for maintenance of long-term courtship memory and survival with age (Figure 6). In addition, our results implicate lipid metabolism, 2HG accumulation, and changes in TCA cycle activity as factors underlying the age-related impacts of perturbed dLdh expression, which likely modifies glia-neuron lactate shuttling in the fly brain.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.

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Is Estrogen Dysregulation Behind Alzheimer’s Pathology?

By Kathryn Atkins November 18, 2022 November 22, 2022 Blog

In a new study, researchers explored Alzheimer’s disease and its potential relationship with the estrogen receptor-α gene (ESR1).

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging publications (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by Medline/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science) that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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The United States government currently has a mind-blowing annual budget of $3.5 billion designated for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia research funding. Therapeutics pushed forward thus far have been largely based on the amyloid-beta (Aβ) cascade hypothesis of AD. Surprisingly, despite decades and billions, these interventions have yielded little to no benefits for AD patients. This lack of efficacy has encouraged some researchers to rethink AD pathology and focus on discovering key triggers and mechanisms of neuroinflammation.

“There has been a lengthy and ongoing scientific debate around the causative factors of AD, and the relative importance of both senile Aβ plaques and tau tangles has been largely informed by postmortem investigations of the AD brain. For several decades, the amyloid hypothesis has dominated the field, which has brought forth many high-profile therapeutic attempts that have produced side effects but no real benefits [5].”

Women & Alzheimer’s Disease

Women compose two-thirds of the United States Alzheimer’s population. Is this gender-specific risk a result of living longer or is it due to other causes, perhaps related to hormonal differences or gender-associated differential gene expression? Previous studies have found that estrogen may protect neurons from the damaging effects of amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles. However, in women, estrogen levels tend to decline with age, which could be one reason why aging women are more susceptible to AD.

In a new study, researchers Junying Liu, Shouli Yuan, Xinhui Niu, Robbie Kelleher, and Helen Sheridan from Trinity College Dublin, Peking University and Jilin University examined the potential relationship between the estrogen receptor-α gene (ESR1) and neuroinflammation. Their research paper was published on November 1, 2022, in Aging’s Volume 14, Issue 21, and entitled, “ESR1 dysfunction triggers neuroinflammation as a critical upstream causative factor of the Alzheimer’s disease process.”

“AD is characterized by three major questions: Why is age the primary risk factor? Why are women more sensitive to the onset of this form of dementia? And why are neurons in areas of the brain that are essential for memory selectively targeted?”

The Study

Originally, the researchers in this study had been in the process of investigating ESR1-knockdown in breast cancer when they stumbled upon another discovery. (ESR1 is a gene that codes for the estrogen receptor, a protein that helps to regulate cell division and differentiation.) To their surprise, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that ESR1 may also be related to axonal guidance, inflammation-related gene markers and Notch signaling pathways. Upon further validation using a dataset of in vivo AD inflammatory samples, the team found that the ESR1 gene was altered in AD patients and was associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory markers.

“ESR dysfunction likely plays a role in AD pathology – especially in women – although the specific mechanisms remain unclear. In vivo and ex vivo studies demonstrate that neuroinflammatory brain states overlap with ESR signaling pathways and that these two systems interact closely.”

In the current study, the researchers used an animal model to explore the potential role of ESR1 in modulating inflammation-related AD pathology. Using a macrophage cell line, they identified ESR1 as a key modulator of inflammation in the context of AD. They then showed that when the ESR1 gene was absent or mutated, neuroinflammation occurred. This finding offers a potential mechanism for understanding the gender-specific risk of AD in women.

“Our results suggest that ESR1 is modulated by apolipoprotein E (APOE) through CEBPB/ATF4, mir-155-5p, or mir-1-3p. Moreover, sea hare-hydrolysates (SHH), as one of the axonal guidance molecules, could regulate the STAT3/PRDM1/CEBPB pathway and consequently induce cell death through pyroptosis signaling pathways, trigger the secretion of IL1β, leading to neuroinflammation and worsening AD pathogenesis. Molecular docking verification demonstrated that the predicted natural products scoulerine and genistein displayed strong binding affinities for BACE1 and ESR1, respectively. This strategy can be used to design novel, personalized therapeutic approaches to treatment and a first-in-class clinical lead for the personalized treatment of AD.”

Conclusion

The research team concluded that further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms through which ESR1 modulates inflammation and its role in Alzheimer’s disease. These findings may offer a novel therapeutic direction for treating AD. Therapeutics targeting ESR1 could potentially be used to reduce inflammation in the brain and prevent AD progression. This may be beneficial for both men and women afflicted with this devastating disease.

“Unfortunately, despite enormous efforts, there remains no cure for this terrible illness, and current treatments merely alleviate its devastating symptoms for a short time. This study performed several bioinformatics-based analyses, concluding that ESR1 dysfunction might mediate axonal guidance, induce neuroinflammation or pyroptosis in the brain, and subsequently worsen AD conditions.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.

AGING (AGING-US) VIDEOS: YouTube | LabTube | Aging-US.com

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Aging is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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Can microRNAs in the Bloodstream Signal Cognitive Decline?

By Kathryn Atkins September 21, 2022 September 21, 2022 Blog

In a cohort of pre-diagnosed, cognitively “normal” men, a recent Aging study compares expression levels of circulating miRNAs and their association with cognitive function and decline.

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Can factors in our bloodstream tell us about our cognitive abilities or predict cognitive decline later in life? Among individuals with dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), studies have identified extracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers of cognitive impairment. In cognitively normal individuals, however, this association has not yet been fully investigated.

“Understanding the functions of miRNAs in the earliest stages of cognitive decline will expand our knowledge on the biology of prodromal AD and the roles of circulating miRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases and could result in identification of therapeutic targets to guide drug development [17].”

In a new research paper, published on the cover of Volume 14, Issue 17, of Aging (listed as “Aging (Albany NY)” by Medline/PubMed and “Aging-US” by Web of Science), researchers Nicole Comfort, Haotian Wu, Peter De Hoff, Aishwarya Vuppala, Pantel S. Vokonas, Avron Spiro, Marc Weisskopf, Brent A. Coull, Louise C. Laurent, Andrea A. Baccarelli, and Joel Schwartz from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, University of California San Diego, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston University School of Medicine, and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health assessed the expression levels of extracellular miRNAs circulating in blood plasma taken from 530 cognitively normal men and investigated the association between these miRNAs and cognitive function. Their secondary goal was to investigate the genes and biological pathways associated with miRNAs linked to cognitive function or decline. The research paper was published on September 6, 2022, and entitled, “Extracellular microRNA and cognitive function in a prospective cohort of older men: The Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study.”

The NAS Cohort

The Normative Aging Study (NAS) is a large longitudinal study that was established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in 1963. Since this study began, researchers have been diligently following-up with a cohort of 2,280 men from Massachusetts, United States. (Most of these men served in World War II and the Korean War.) Participants in NAS have comprehensive baseline examinations every three to five years to record their aging patterns, including global cognitive function assessments using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The average age of this veteran cohort is currently 72 years old.

The Study

In the present study, blood samples were collected from 530 NAS participants between the years 1996 and 2013—totaling 1,331 in-person visits; equal to 2,471 years of follow-up. Plasma miRNAs were profiled using small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Linear regression and linear mixed models were used to assess the expression of 381 miRNAs and their association with current cognitive function and rate of change in cognitive function.

Of the 381 plasma miRNAs detected in at least 70% of the samples collected, two miRNAs were associated with higher baseline MMSE scores. Thirty-three miRNAs were associated with the rate of change in MMSE over time. KEGG enrichment analysis and repeated measures analyses were used to explore potential regulatory targets of the significant plasma miRNAs. The genes targeted by the significant miRNAs were primarily associated with prion diseases, fatty acid biosynthesis, Hippo signaling, ECM-receptor interactions, and TGF-β signaling pathways.

“Taken together, our results suggest that various plasma extracellular miRNAs are associated with global cognitive function among cognitively ‘normal’ men. If they were to play a causal role in cognitive decline, it would likely be through pathways that regulate synaptic plasticity, cell death, the response to injury, and energy homeostasis. Extracellular miRNAs may also contribute to greater rates of cognitive decline possibly through involvement in the prion-like propagation of AD lesions or in hindering their neuroprotective role of curbing AD-like pathology.”

Conclusion

These findings suggest that plasma miRNA levels are associated both with global cognition and the rate of change in global cognition among cognitively normal older men. The researchers were forthcoming about the limitations of this study, especially in regard to the study population and the MMSE scoring. Still, this study highlights the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers for cognitive function and decline in older men and underscores the importance of elucidating the mechanisms by which extracellular miRNAs influence cognition.

“Additional research is needed to identify the biological pathways influenced by expression of these extracellular miRNAs, investigate relationships with CNS miRNA expression, and examine the potential impacts of circulating miRNAs on other neurological outcomes.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging.

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Trending With Impact: Neuromodulation in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment

By Kathryn Atkins May 27, 2022 May 28, 2022 Blog

Dr. Fabrizio Vecchio wrote about the potential synergistic effects of neuromodulation combined with cognitive training to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Neuromodulation in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment

The Trending With Impact series highlights Aging (Aging-US) publications that attract higher visibility among readers around the world online, in the news, and on social media—beyond normal readership levels. Look for future science news about the latest trending publications here, and at Aging-US.com.

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Many neurodegenerative disorders among elderly populations share some common characteristics. In dementias, for example, neurons and glial cells undergo a progressive loss of structure or function in the brain and spinal cord. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and the main cause of cognitive impairment. Studies have confirmed that cognitive treatments, such as cognitive stimulation, training and rehabilitation, can improve brain function by increasing brain plasticity.

Recently, researcher Fabrizio Vecchio, from IRCCS San Raffaele Roma‘s Brain Connectivity Laboratory, discussed innovative treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease. On April 27, 2022, Dr. Vecchio published his new editorial paper in Volume 14, Issue 9, of Aging (Aging-US), entitled, “Cognitive training and neuromodulation for Alzheimer treatment.”

“Neuromodulation techniques are having a growing consensus as a therapeutic approach of incipient and mild to moderate dementia because of their capability to be modulated both in space, i.e. in different cortical and subcortical areas of the brain, and time.”

Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation is a considerably recent development in the medical field. This promising treatment option therapeutically alters nerve activity within specific neurological sites of the body using the targeted delivery of electrical stimulation or chemical agents. Neuromodulation can be used not only for patients with dementia but also for those with a number of other disorders, including chronic pain, epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. However, the demonstrated value of cognitive treatments has not been discounted by Dr. Vecchio. In his editorial paper, he discussed the potential synergistic effects of neuromodulation combined with cognitive training (COG).

“Together with cognitive treatments one of the possible innovative strategies to be undertaken is the neuromodulation that involves non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS).”

Dr. Vecchio described his recent study on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with cognitive training. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, researchers evaluated the efficacy of rTMS-COG treatment in Alzheimer’s patients. Before, immediately after and 40 weeks after rTMS-COG treatment, patients were assessed using neuropsychological and electroencephalography (EEG) examinations. The researchers evaluated six regions of the brain and analyzed neuropsychological and neurophysiological data derived from EEG. After six weeks of intensive daily treatment, immediate results showed an improvement in cognitive scales. At the 40-week follow-up evaluation, improvements in brain connectivity emerged.

“Based on these assumptions and promising results, particularly of rTMS and COG, some researchers hypothesized that a treatment combining rTMS and COG may result in synergic effects more effective [in] respect to applying the two therapies separately.”

Conclusion

Although more research must be conducted to confirm the clinical efficacy of neuromodulation for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, initial results are promising. Cognitive treatments should not be discounted either, as they have been shown to improve brain function. Dr. Vecchio suggests a potentially efficacious combination of neuromodulation and cognitive training that may offer significant benefits for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

“In conclusion, rTMS combined with cognitive training, can be regarded as a potentially useful treatment for AD, not modifying the neuropathological changes, but slowing down their effects on brain networks and providing important groundwork for future studies to build upon. Derived EEG parameters can be awarded the role of diagnostic and predictive biomarkers of AD progression.”

Click here to read the full editorial paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

AGING (AGING-US) VIDEOS: YouTube | LabTube | Aging-US.com

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Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals have the power to benefit humanity from the inside out by rapidly disseminating information that may be freely shared with researchers, colleagues, family, and friends around the world.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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Trending With Impact: How Biological Sex Impacts Alzheimer’s Disease

By Kathryn Atkins March 24, 2022 March 25, 2022 Blog

Men and women are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Researchers investigated AD mice for potential sex differences in synaptic function.

Figure 1. The diagram shows sex-specific alterations in plasticity and memory and the associated changes in amyloid beta (Aβ) pathology and inflammatory response in APP/PS1 mice.

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As the worldwide elderly population continues to expand, the symptoms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are simultaneously increasing around the globe. Researchers are driven to investigate new ways to detect and treat AD in earlier stages—before symptoms become more difficult or impossible to overturn. An important piece of data to consider is that dementia is more prevalent among women than among men; dementia affects 8.1 % of women and 5.4% of men. Many AD studies have not used gender/sex as a variable to cross-examine their research findings. This information may be a key factor that leads to developing more efficacious strategies for AD detection and treatment in all patients, and especially in women.

“In the long run, the underrepresentation of female biology in biomedical research will hamper the development of effective drugs with negative consequences on women’s health.”

In a recent editorial paper published on March 12, 2022, by Aging (Aging-US) in Volume 14, Issue 5, researchers from the National Univers i ty of Singapore discussed the importance of understanding sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease. Their trending editorial paper, entitled, “Sex matters in Alzheimer’s disease?“, was based on results from their previous study published in 2021.

Sex-Specific Synaptic Dysfunction

In AD patients, researchers have observed a loss of function in the sites where nerve cells communicate with each other—in the synapses. Synaptic dysfunction is an early event in AD and can be observed years before other symptoms appear. In the research study being discussed in this editorial, the research team examined differences between the synaptic activity of male and female mice with two mutations associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (APP/PS1).

“To characterize molecular changes in the AD brain that is attributed to sex differences, we performed RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry of the hippo-campus and showed accelerated pathology, stronger immune response and higher microglial activation in AD female mice compared to males [5].”

Their findings revealed a number of differentially expressed genes and plasticity-related genes were sex-regulated. Plasticity-related genes are important for learning, memory and other cognitive abilities. The study also found that female AD mice had an accelerated Alzheimer’s pathology, stronger immune response and higher microglial activation—all of which contribute to dementia symptoms. These results suggested that sex differences in early-stage synaptic function may have important implications for understanding the higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in women, and the related mechanisms may be potential targets for diagnosis and treatment.

Conclusion

In their editorial paper, the authors acknowledge that, although more research needs to be done on this topic, these findings could lead to new strategies for detecting and treating Alzheimer’s disease. The authors conclude by writing that synaptic dysfunction among males and females with Alzheimer’s disease revealed sex-regulated differentially expressed genes and plasticity-related genes as potential targets for early AD intervention. Overall, sex differences should be considered when developing custom-tailored strategies for early AD detection, prevention and treatment.

”Our work, along with others in this field, also emphasises the importance of including biological sex as variable in many research settings, particularly studies exploring aging [7] and how they impact different disease states [8].”

Click here to read the full editorial paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

Click here to read Aging’s Special Collection on Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Trending With Impact: Cognitive Decline Predicted from Middle-Age

By Kathryn Atkins March 3, 2022 March 4, 2022 Blog

Researchers investigated epigenetic and brain aging markers in middle-age for their potential to predict cognitive decline.

Trending With Impact: Cognitive Decline Predicted from Middle-Age

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Aging seems nearly synonymous with brewing cognitive decline, but does it have to be? There are interventions that may help preserve cognitive function with age, however, the first order of business is identifying early biological aging markers that present before symptoms begin emerging. Mid-life biomarkers that can indicate accelerated aging and predict age-related cognitive decline (including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia) may provide humans with enough time to course-correct and improve our quality of life in old age.

The latest to endeavor in search of these early aging markers are researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, University of Pennsylvania, Boston University School of Medicine, National Institute on Aging from the National Institutes of Health, University of Minnesota, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, University of Texas at Austin, University of California San Francisco, and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Their new research study was published in Aging (Aging-US) as the cover paper in Volume 14, Issue 4, on February 27, 2022. The paper is entitled, “Mid-life epigenetic age, neuroimaging brain age, and cognitive function: coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study.”

The Study

In this study, the researchers looked at the associations between cognitive function, epigenetic age and age acceleration measures (using DNA methylation), and brain imaging data in a biracial cohort involving 1,676 healthy human participants. These participants were derived from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. The CARDIA study began in 1985 with the aim of tracking changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors among thousands of young-adult to middle-age participants. The average age of participants in this current study was 40 years old.

Participants were evaluated for cognitive function using three tests: the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Trail Making Test B-A (TMTB-A) and the Digit Symbol Coding Test (DSCT). The researchers assessed and re-analyzed the cohort twice (up to 15 years apart). Data were generated for two separate sub-studies. The first sub-study looked specifically at DNA methylation (DNAm) data using GrimAge, PhenoAge, Hannum’s DNAm Age, and Horvath’s DNAm Age. The second sub-study collected neuroimaging data from participants using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

“While blood-derived epigenetic aging markers have shown predictive value years before age-related diseases occur [21–23], biological aging rates can differ across organ systems, so predictors derived directly from the brain may hold unique information for cognition [24, 25].”

The researchers note that aging-related brain atrophy occurs in a predictable manner across the human lifespan. Therefore, brain atrophy is the measure of brain aging identified by MRI scans in this study. To translate the atrophy of brain structures into a biomarker of aging, the team leveraged machine-learning algorithms to generate a composite age-related morphological index called the Spatial Pattern of Atrophy for Recognition (SPARE) of Brain Age (SPARE-BA).

“The goal of the present study was to quantify the associations of epigenetic age acceleration and SPARE-BA acceleration with subsequent cognitive performance in a biracial cohort (~40% Black participants and ~60% White participants) of middle-aged adults with 5 to 15 years of follow up.”

The Results

Out of the four epigenetic aging markers examined, the researchers found that GrimAA was uniquely capable of closely predicting worse cognitive outcomes in this middle-aged CARDIA population. In the long term, biomarkers of epigenetic aging were more stable predictors of cognitive decline than the brain aging biomarker. However, changes in SPARE-BA and the SPARE-BA acceleration (SPARE-BAA) index showed stronger associations with cognition over time than any of the epigenetic aging markers. The researchers believe this is because the brain age/aging biomarkers may be more temporally dynamic in association with cognitive decline. When the researchers compared each biomarker’s association with cognition, they found that a combined model of GrimAA and SPARE-BAA demonstrated an improved ability to predict lower cognitive performance.

“GrimAA and SPARE-BAA were not correlated with one another, indicating that they capture distinct facets of biological aging.”

Conclusion

The researchers were forthcoming about limitations in this study. The epigenetic and brain imaging markers were mostly derived from different participants within the study, therefore, other unmeasured factors may have contributed to the study results. Baseline cognitive data was not recorded at younger ages and epigenetic markers were collected at different time points than cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes. These differences inhibited cross-sectional analysis of epigenetic and brain aging. In addition, predictions may be better validated with extended follow-up periods. Nonetheless, this research may have identified two profoundly useful indicators of cognitive decline that could be put to use as early as middle-age—a potential “tipping point” in the human lifespan; when interventions may still prevent irreversible cognitive impairment.

“With further validation, epigenetic and brain aging markers may help aid timely identification of individuals at risk for accelerated cognitive decline and promote the development of interventions to preserve optimal functioning across the lifespan.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

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Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers bi-monthly in all fields of aging research. These papers are available to read at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals offer information that has the potential to benefit our societies from the inside out and may be shared with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other researchers, far and wide.

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Trending With Impact: Worms Reveal Early Event in Neurodegeneration

By Kathryn Atkins November 19, 2021 November 19, 2021 Blog

Researchers examined roundworms to determine the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in progressive neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

From Figure 2. Altered mitochondrial morphology and activity in tauwt-expressing larvae. (truncated) — From Figure 2. Altered mitochondrial morphology and activity in tau^wt-expressing larvae. (truncated)

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Many aging-associated neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, involve the aggregation of abnormal tau in nerve cells (neurons). Normally, tau proteins function to stabilize microtubules in the brain. Tauopathy occurs when tau proteins become misfolded and misshapen (which turns tau into toxic tau). They then continue to proliferate and bind to each other, forming tau oligomers. These tau oligomers are more toxic and have a greater potential to spread tau pathology. Before the tau pathology snowballs into neurodegenerative disorders, the events that lead up to abnormal tau have remained elusive to researchers.

“While the association between tau levels and energy metabolism is established, it is not clear whether mitochondrial dysfunction is an early pathological feature of high levels of tau or a consequence of its excessive formation of protein aggregates.”

Previous studies have demonstrated an association between tau levels and mitochondrial metabolism, however, determining which one proceeds the other has yet to be fully illuminated. Shedding light on this subject, researchers—from the University of Copenhagen, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging—used a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans; roundworm/nematode) model of tau to examine mitochondrial changes over time. Their paper was chosen as the cover of Aging (Aging-US) Volume 13, Issue 21, published in November of 2021 and entitled, “Alteration of mitochondrial homeostasis is an early event in a C. elegans model of human tauopathy”.

The Study

“Here, we utilized transgenic nematodes expressing the full length of wild type tau in neuronal cells and monitored mitochondrial morphology alterations over time.”

To investigate the impact of tau on mitochondrial activity, neuronal function and organismal physiology, the researchers selected and cultured an already characterized nematode strain that expresses the full length of wild type human tau protein. They compared wild type nematodes with tau-expressing nematodes (at various ages) over time using a thrashing assay, mitochondrial imaging, worm tracking software, and western blot analysis. Calcium deregulation was also examined to determine whether or not it is implicated in the impairment of mitochondrial activity in the tau-expressing nematodes. They found that chelating calcium led to restored mitochondrial activity and suggested a link between mitochondrial damage, calcium homeostasis and neuronal impairment in this nematode model.

Figure 2. Altered mitochondrial morphology and activity in tauwt-expressing larvae. — Figure 2. Altered mitochondrial morphology and activity in tau^wt-expressing larvae.

Conclusion

“Our findings suggest that defective mitochondrial function is an early pathogenic event of tauopathies, taking place before tau aggregation and undermining neuronal homeostasis and organismal fitness.”

The researchers were forthcoming about limitations in their study, given the differences between human and nematode biology and pathology. Nevertheless, they found evidence that, in this nematode tauopathy model, neurotoxicity depends on protein alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction takes place before high levels of tau are detected. Tau mutations may also modulate calcium homeostasis by influencing the main cellular storage sites—the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.

“Investigating the tight interplay between tau oligomers and energy metabolism will enlighten new avenues for therapeutic strategies to slow or halt the progression of dementia-related diseases such as AD [Alzheimer’s disease].”

Click here to read the full priority research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

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Aging (Aging-US) is an open-access journal that publishes research papers monthly in all fields of aging research and other topics. These papers are available to read at no cost to readers on Aging-us.com. Open-access journals offer information that has the potential to benefit our societies from the inside out and may be shared with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other researchers, far and wide.

For media inquiries, please contact media@impactjournals.com.

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Trending With Impact: Can Singing Improve Aging?

By Kathryn Atkins November 11, 2021 November 12, 2021 Blog

In a two-year study, researchers compared the effects of choral singing with the effects of health education in an elderly cohort.

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There may be many paths that lead to the cessation of aging, or there may only be one—this mystery has yet to reveal itself. However, there is a wide array of evidenced methods capable of preserving youth by slowing down the aging process, and even mildly reversing it. Some known natural interventions are healthy diets, consistent exercise and avoiding aging-related risk factors, including carcinogens such as alcohol, cigarettes and excess sun exposure. Researchers have also studied less intuitive repetitive behaviors that appear to improve the cognitive decline associated with aging. For example, in a study published in 2015, researchers found that active singing led to cognitive improvements in participants with dementia.

“People engaging in lifelong music-making have been found to have better cognitive outcomes later in life.”

In a research study published in 2020, 30 researchers—from National University of Singapore, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, National University Health System, University of Cambridge, University of London, Singapore Immunology Network, Maurine Tsakok Inc, Voices of Singapore Choral Society, Presbyterian Community Services, NTUC Health Co-operative Limited, Beijing Chui Yang Liu Hospital, Fudan University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Nanyang Technological University, Imperial College London, and Genome Institute of Singapore—conducted the world’s first study designed to compare the impact of choral singing versus health education on cognitive function and aging in a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Their trending research paper was published by Aging (Aging-US) in 2020 and entitled, “Effects of choral singing versus health education on cognitive decline and aging: a randomized controlled trial”.

“In this RCT, we hypothesized that choral singing would improve cognitive health and/or reduce cognitive decline in elderly with high risk of dementia.”

The Study

This study, based out of Singapore, was designed for half of the subjects to participate in a choral singing program for one hour every week, over the course of two years. This program was conducted at the National University of Singapore’s Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. In these sessions, professional musicians taught the fundamental concepts and mechanics of “good” singing, including breathing techniques, harmonies, memorization and listening skills. Participants also prepared to sing in public performances to promote motivation, purpose, pride and accomplishment.

“Each session incorporated the musical, social, and physical aspects of choral singing.”

Forty-seven participants were randomly assigned to the choral singing intervention (CSI) arm, and 46 were assigned to the health education program (HEP) arm. Parallel to the CSI participants, HEP participants completed a weekly one-hour health education session at the Training and Research Academy at Jurong Point for two years. Family physicians, specialist clinicians and community nurses facilitated these sessions, which included short talks on health-related topics, group activities, memory work, and physical activities (not including singing).

At baseline, the researchers collected demographic and clinical characteristics from each participant. Characteristics included: age, gender, education, marital status, living situation, status of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, average composite cognitive test score, Singapore Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (SM-MMSE) score, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Follow-up assessments were conducted at two additional times throughout the study—after year one and year two of the programs. Researchers assessed the effects of both these programs on brain imaging, immune system and oxidative damage markers.

“Our study is the first randomized trial in the world that systematically assessed the effects of singing on cognitive decline in aging and the potential effects on brain imaging, immune system and oxidative damage markers.”

Results and Conclusion

The researchers were forthcoming about limitations in this study. The cohort was small and they did not include a non-intervention control arm; researchers were only able to compare the effects of choral singing to the effects seen in the health education cohort. The team did, however, observe an increase in the mean composite cognitive test scores among participants in the singing group, and a decrease in the mean composite cognitive test scores among participants in the health education group. They did not observe differences in brain aging, oxidative damage or immunosenescence.

“Our findings from the very first RCT on this topic suggest that choral singing is a potentially useful intervention for the promotion of cognitive health in aging. Choral singing is a safe and enjoyable activity, and is likely to be embraced by the community. Policy makers may consider promoting choral singing for healthy and active aging of seniors in the community. This is especially relevant for countries where existing resources are available.”

Click here to read the full research paper published by Aging (Aging-US).

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