An Insertion Within SIRPß1 Shows a Dual Effect Over Alzheimer's Disease Cognitive Decline Altering the Microglial Response.

Background: Microglial dysfunction plays a causative role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Here we focus on a germline insertion/deletion variant mapping SIRPß1, a surface receptor that triggers amyloid-ß(Aß) phagocytosis via TYROBP. Objective: To analyze the impact of this copy-number variant in SIRPß1 expression and how it affects AD molecular etiology. Methods: Copy-number variant proxy rs2209313 was evaluated in GERALD and GR@ACE longitudinal series. Hippocampal specimens of genotyped AD patients were also examined. SIRPß1 isoform-specific phagocytosis assays were performed in HEK393T cells. Results: The insertion alters the SIRPß1 protein isoform landscape compromising its ability to bind oligomeric Aß and its affinity for TYROBP. SIRPß1 Dup/Dup patients with mild cognitive impairment show an increased cerebrospinal fluid t-Tau/Aß ratio (p = 0.018) and a higher risk to develop AD (OR = 1.678, p = 0.018). MRIs showed that Dup/Dup patients exhibited a worse initial response to AD. At the moment of diagnosis, all patients showed equivalent Mini-Mental State Examination scores. However, AD patients with the duplication had less hippocampal degeneration (p < 0.001) and fewer white matter hyperintensities. In contrast, longitudinal studies indicate that patients bearing the duplication allele show a slower cognitive decline (p = 0.013). Transcriptional analysis also shows that the SIRPß1 duplication allele correlates with higher TREM2 expression and an increased microglial activation. Conclusions: The SIRPß1 internal duplication has opposite effects over MCI-to-Dementia conversion risk and AD progression, affecting microglial response to Aß. Given the pharmacological approaches focused on the TREM2-TYROBP axis, we believe that SIRPß1 structural variant might be considered as a potential modulator of this causative pathway.

Effect of Nordic Sensi® Chair on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Nursing Homes Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are present in most people with dementia (PwD), including Alzheimer's disease. There is consensus that non-pharmacological therapies represent the first line of treatment to address BPSD. OBJECTIVE: We explore the efficacy of the use of a rocking chair (Nordic Sensi® Chair, NSC) in the treatment of BPSD in nursing home residents with moderate and severe dementia. METHODS: We carried out a 16-week randomized, single-blind, controlled, clinical trial with PwD admitted to nursing homes. Participants were assigned to a treatment group (n = 40) that received three times a week one session per day of 20 minutes in the NSC and a control group (n = 37). The Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home (NPI-NH) was used as primary efficacy outcome. Occupational distress for the staff was evaluated using the NPI-NH Occupational Disruptiveness subscale (NPI-NH-OD). Statistical analyses were conducted by means of a Mixed Effects Model Analysis. RESULTS: Treatment with the NSC was associated with a beneficial effect in most of BPSD, as reflected by differences between the treatment and control group on the NPI-NH total score (mean change score -18.87±5.56 versus -1.74±0.67, p = 0.004), agitation (mean change score -2.32±2.02 versus -0.78±1.44, p = 0.003) and irritability (mean change score -3.35±2.93 versus -1.42±1.31, p = 0.004). The NPI-NH-OD total score also improved the most in the treatment group (mean change score -9.67±7.67 versus -7.66±6.08, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in overall BPSD along with decreased caregiver occupational disruptiveness represent encouraging findings, adding to the potential of nonpharmacological interventions for nursing home residents living with dementia.

Multiancestry analysis of the HLA locus in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases uncovers a shared adaptive immune response mediated by HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes.

Across multiancestry groups, we analyzed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) associations in over 176,000 individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) versus controls. We demonstrate that the two diseases share the same protective association at the HLA locus. HLA-specific fine-mapping showed that hierarchical protective effects of HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes best accounted for the association, strongest with HLA-DRB1*04:04 and HLA-DRB1*04:07, and intermediary with HLA-DRB1*04:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:03. The same signal was associated with decreased neurofibrillary tangles in postmortem brains and was associated with reduced tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid and to a lower extent with increased Aß42. Protective HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes strongly bound the aggregation-prone tau PHF6 sequence, however only when acetylated at a lysine (K311), a common posttranslational modification central to tau aggregation. An HLA-DRB1*04-mediated adaptive immune response decreases PD and AD risks, potentially by acting against tau, offering the possibility of therapeutic avenues.

Genetic Associations Between Modifiable Risk Factors and Alzheimer Disease.

Importance: An estimated 40% of dementia is potentially preventable by modifying 12 risk factors throughout the life course. However, robust evidence for most of these risk factors is lacking. Effective interventions should target risk factors in the causal pathway to dementia. Objective: To comprehensively disentangle potentially causal aspects of modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer disease (AD) to inspire new drug targeting and improved prevention. Design, Setting, and Participants: This genetic association study was conducted using 2-sample univariable and multivariable mendelian randomization. Independent genetic variants associated with modifiable risk factors were selected as instrumental variables from genomic consortia. Outcome data for AD were obtained from the European Alzheimer & Dementia Biobank (EADB), generated on August 31, 2021. Main analyses were conducted using the EADB clinically diagnosed end point data. All analyses were performed between April 12 and October 27, 2022. Exposures: Genetically determined modifiable risk factors. Main Outcomes and Measures: Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for AD were calculated per 1-unit change of genetically determined risk factors. Results: The EADB-diagnosed cohort included 39 106 participants with clinically diagnosed AD and 401 577 control participants without AD. The mean age ranged from 72 to 83 years for participants with AD and 51 to 80 years for control participants. Among participants with AD, 54% to 75% were female, and among control participants, 48% to 60% were female. Genetically determined high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations were associated with increased odds of AD (OR per 1-SD increase, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.05-1.16]). Genetically determined high systolic blood pressure was associated with increased risk of AD after adjusting for diastolic blood pressure (OR per 10-mm Hg increase, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.02-1.46]). In a second analysis to minimize bias due to sample overlap, the entire UK Biobank was excluded from the EADB consortium; odds for AD were similar for HDL cholesterol (OR per 1-SD unit increase, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02-1.15]) and systolic blood pressure after adjusting for diastolic blood pressure (OR per 10-mm Hg increase, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.01-1.50]). Conclusions and Relevance: This genetic association study found novel genetic associations between high HDL cholesterol concentrations and high systolic blood pressure with higher risk of AD. These findings may inspire new drug targeting and improved prevention implementation.

Efficacy of Souvenaid® Combined with Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Mild Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Souvenaid® is a medical food that contains nutrients that can help synapse synthesis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The potential effectiveness of combination therapy of Souvenaid with cholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) is currently not well-known. OBJECTIVE: To look into the effect of combination therapy with Souvenaid plus AChEI in people with mild AD in the real-world. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective analysis in mild AD patients attending a memory clinic. Three groups were studied according to the treatment they received: Souvenaid alone (n = 66), AChEI alone (n = 84), and Souvenaid+AChEI (n = 70). Treatment effects were evaluated at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Cognitive functioning was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Trail Making Test (TMT/A-B), Phonemic and Semantic Verbal Fluency Test (PVFT/SVFT); neuropsychiatric symptoms were evaluated by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI); functional capacity was assessed by the Bayer Activities Daily Living Scale (BAYER-S). A Mixed Model for Repeated Measures analysis was carried out to evaluate changes in outcome scores. RESULTS: After 12 months Souvenaid+AChEI showed significant improvement in MMSE (p < 0.001), RAVLT (p < 0.0001), SVFT (p = 0.002), PVFT (p = 0.007), TMTA (p = 0.039), TMTB (p = 0.001), and NPI (p < 0.0001) compared to AChEI alone. CONCLUSION: Souvenaid showed cognitive and behavioral benefits in mild AD patients. These effects increased when Souvenaid and AChEI were used in combination. This study can serve as a model for the design of prospective controlled trials that help to support the combined use of Souvenaid and antidementia drugs in AD.

Combined treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 plus acetylcholinesterase inhibitors improved cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a neurocognitive state between normal aging and dementia. There is currently no approved treatment for MCI, with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) being the commonly prescribed drugs. The Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 is an herbal remedy used for cognitive disorders, including dementia. This study aims to explore the potential synergistic effect of combination therapy with EGb 761 plus AChEI in patients with amnestic MCI in a real-life setting. Methods: We retrospectively identified 133 patients with amnestic MCI who were attending a memory clinic. Patients had received treatment with any of the following drugs: G. biloba extract EGb 761, donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine at their standard doses. Subjects were divided into three treatment groups: EGb 761, AChEI, and EGb 761+AChEI. Patients were assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Boston Naming Test, Trail Making Test (TMT Parts A and B), Letter and Category Fluency Test (LFT, CFT), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Interview for Deterioration in Daily Living. Mixed-effects model analysis was carried out to evaluate changes in cognitive, functional, and behavioral outcomes over a 12-month follow-up. Results: After 12 months, EGb 761+AChEI showed significant improvement in MMSE, RAVLT, CFT, TMT A-B, and NPI compared to AChEI and in MMSE and RAVLT compared to EGb 761. At 12 months, EGb 761 was superior to AChEI on the CFT, TMT A-B, and NPI. Discussion: Our findings suggest that combined therapy with EGb 761 plus AChEI may provide added cognitive and functional benefits in patients with MCI and provides additional real-world evidence for the combined use of EGb 761 and anti-dementia drugs in patients with MCI. This study can serve as a model for the design of clinical trials that help to support the combined use of EGb 761 and anti-dementia drugs in patients with MCI.

Effects of Tianeptine Treatment on Depression and Cognitive Function in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A 12-Month Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common manifestation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In clinical practice, antidepressant medication is often used for depression in AD. OBJECTIVE: We explore the effectiveness of the atypical antidepressant tianeptine compared with other conventional antidepressants in AD patients with depression in a real-life setting. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 126 AD patients who had received antidepressant treatment for 12 months with tianeptine or other antidepressants. Subjects were divided into two groups according to the treatment they had received: tianeptine group (n = 38) or other antidepressant group (n = 88). Drug effects on depression, cognition, behavior, and functional performance were evaluated at baseline, 6, and 12 months. A Mixed Effects Model Analysis was carried out to evaluate changes in performance scores. RESULTS: Both tianeptine and other antidepressants showed an antidepressant effect after 12 months with significant improvement on the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Depression subscale. A statistically significant improvement at 12 months was shown in the tianeptine group versus the other antidepressants group on most of the cognitive measures such as the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Letter and Category Fluency Test, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and the Boston Naming Test. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that tianeptine reduces depressive symptoms and improves cognition in AD patients. This could be considered clinically relevant and should inspire the design of future long-term randomized controlled trials that contribute to supporting the use of tianeptine for improving cognitive function in AD patients.

Benefits of Treatment with Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb 761 Alone or Combined with Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in Vascular Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Vascular dementia (VaD) is the most severe manifestation of cognitive impairment caused by cerebrovascular disease. There are currently no specific drug treatments approved for VaD, with cholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) being frequently used in VaD. However, the benefits they provide are small and short-lived. The standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 has demonstrated protective properties against neuronal and vascular damage and has been used as a pharmacological treatment for VaD. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to study the efficacy of EGb 761 alone and in combination with AChEI in a real-life setting. We carried out a retrospective analysis of data over a 12-month period in a sample of people suffering from VaD. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 77 patients with a diagnosis of VaD who had received treatment with any of the following drugs: Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (240 mg daily), donepezil (10 mg daily), galantamine (16 or 24 mg daily), or rivastigmine patch (9.5 or 13.3 mg daily). Subjects were divided into three groups according to the treatment they had received: EGb 761 alone (n = 25), AChEI alone (n = 26), and EGb 761+AChEI (n = 26). Cognitive functioning was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Trail Making Test forms A (TMTA) and B (TMTB), Letter (LFT) and Category Fluency Test (CFT); neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI); functional capacity was assessed by Interview for Deterioration in Daily Living (IDDD). RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement was observed in the EGb 761 group versus the AChEI group at 12 months' follow-up in CFT (+1.74, p < 0.001), TMTA (-17.91, p = 0.031) and NPI (-5.89, p < 0.001). With regard to the combined treatment, a statistically significant improvement was shown in the EGb 761 plus AChEI treatment group versus AChEI group at the 12-month follow-up in MMSE (+2.0, p = 0.001), RAVLT (+2.23, p = 0.007), CFT (+1.15, p = 0.013), TMTA (-19.92, p = 0.012), TMTB (-46.50, p < 0.001) and NPI (-6.77, p < 0.001). In the same line, a statistically significant improvement was observed in the EGb 761 plus AChEI treatment group versus EGb 761 at 12-month follow-up regarding MMSE (+2.11, p = 0.001), RAVLT (+2.35, p = 0.004) and TMTB (-25.25, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: After 12 months of treatment EGb 761 alone or combined with AChEI showed cognitive and behavioral benefits in patients suffering from VaD. This study thus provides additional real-world evidence for the combined use of EGb 761 and anti-dementia drugs in VaD patients.

Genomic Characterization of Host Factors Related to SARS-CoV-2 Infection in People with Dementia and Control Populations: The GR@ACE/DEGESCO Study.

Emerging studies have suggested several chromosomal regions as potential host genetic factors involved in the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease outcome. We nested a COVID-19 genome-wide association study using the GR@ACE/DEGESCO study, searching for susceptibility factors associated with COVID-19 disease. To this end, we compared 221 COVID-19 confirmed cases with 17,035 individuals in whom the COVID-19 disease status was unknown. Then, we performed a meta-analysis with the publicly available data from the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative. Because the APOE locus has been suggested as a potential modifier of COVID-19 disease, we added sensitivity analyses stratifying by dementia status or by disease severity. We confirmed the existence of the 3p21.31 region (LZTFL1, SLC6A20) implicated in the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and TYK2 gene might be involved in COVID-19 severity. Nevertheless, no statistically significant association was observed in the COVID-19 fatal outcome or in the stratified analyses (dementia-only and non-dementia strata) for the APOE locus not supporting its involvement in SARS-CoV-2 pathobiology or COVID-19 prognosis.

The Genetic Research in Alzheimer Disease (GERALD) Initiative Finds rs9320913 as a Neural eQTL of lincRNA AL589740.1.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, and longitudinal studies are crucial to find the factors affecting disease development. Here, we describe a novel initiative from southern Spain designed to contribute in the identification of the genetic component of the cognitive decline of Alzheimer's disease patients. The germline variant rs9320913 is a C>A substitution mapping within a gene desert. Although it has been previously associated to a higher educational achievement and increased fluid intelligence, its role on Alzheimer's disease risk and progression remains elusive. A total of 407 subjects were included in the study, comprising 153 Alzheimer disease patients and 254 healthy controls. We have explored the rs9320913 contribution to both Alzheimer disease risk and progression according to the Mini-Mental State Exams. We found that rs9320913 maps within a central nervous system lincRNA AL589740.1. eQTL results show that rs9320913 correlated with the brain-frontal cortex (beta = -0.15, p value = 0.057) and brain-spinal cord (beta of -0.23, p value = 0.037). We did not find rs9320913 to be associated to AD risk, although AA patients seemed to exhibit a less pronounced Mini-Mental State Exam score decline.

Long runs of homozygosity are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Long runs of homozygosity (ROH) are contiguous stretches of homozygous genotypes, which are a footprint of inbreeding and recessive inheritance. The presence of recessive loci is suggested for Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, their search has been poorly assessed to date. To investigate homozygosity in AD, here we performed a fine-scale ROH analysis using 10 independent cohorts of European ancestry (11,919 AD cases and 9181 controls.) We detected an increase of homozygosity in AD cases compared to controls [ßAVROH (CI 95%) = 0.070 (0.037-0.104); P = 3.91 × 10-5; ßFROH (CI95%) = 0.043 (0.009-0.076); P = 0.013]. ROHs increasing the risk of AD (OR > 1) were significantly overrepresented compared to ROHs increasing protection (p < 2.20 × 10-16). A significant ROH association with AD risk was detected upstream the HS3ST1 locus (chr4:11,189,482‒11,305,456), (ß (CI 95%) = 1.09 (0.48 ‒ 1.48), p value = 9.03 × 10-4), previously related to AD. Next, to search for recessive candidate variants in ROHs, we constructed a homozygosity map of inbred AD cases extracted from an outbred population and explored ROH regions in whole-exome sequencing data (N = 1449). We detected a candidate marker, rs117458494, mapped in the SPON1 locus, which has been previously associated with amyloid metabolism. Here, we provide a research framework to look for recessive variants in AD using outbred populations. Our results showed that AD cases have enriched homozygosity, suggesting that recessive effects may explain a proportion of AD heritability.

White matter lesions and temporal atrophy are associated with cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with hypertension and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: An increasing evidence suggests hypertension (HTN) could be linked to cognitive impairment and incident Alzheimer's disease (AD). The precise mechanisms linking HTN and AD are not well-known. The aim of this study was to assess the putative association between HTN and AD. METHODS: We assessed in patients with AD associations between HTN and demographic and clinical data, vascular risk factors, treatments, APOE genotypes, brain white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and medial temporal atrophy (MTA) in multivariate analysis of covariance. RESULTS: We studied 92 patients with AD (mean ± SD age: 72.12 ± 6.91; women: 66.30%). Patients with HTN had significantly worse cognitive and functional status and higher frequency and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (P = .010). Magnetic resonance imaging analyzes showed significant increases in WMH (P = .018) and in MTA (P = .012) in patients with AD with HTN compared with those without HTN. CONCLUSIONS: Neuroimaging burden (MTA and higher degree of severity of WMH) among patients with AD and HTN are associated with the impaired cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Genome-wide association analysis of dementia and its clinical endophenotypes reveal novel loci associated with Alzheimer's disease and three causality networks: The GR@ACE project.

INTRODUCTION: Large variability among Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases might impact genetic discoveries and complicate dissection of underlying biological pathways. METHODS: Genome Research at Fundacio ACE (GR@ACE) is a genome-wide study of dementia and its clinical endophenotypes, defined based on AD's clinical certainty and vascular burden. We assessed the impact of known AD loci across endophenotypes to generate loci categories. We incorporated gene coexpression data and conducted pathway analysis per category. Finally, to evaluate the effect of heterogeneity in genetic studies, GR@ACE series were meta-analyzed with additional genome-wide association study data sets. RESULTS: We classified known AD loci into three categories, which might reflect the disease clinical heterogeneity. Vascular processes were only detected as a causal mechanism in probable AD. The meta-analysis strategy revealed the ANKRD31-rs4704171 and NDUFAF6-rs10098778 and confirmed SCIMP-rs7225151 and CD33-rs3865444. DISCUSSION: The regulation of vasculature is a prominent causal component of probable AD. GR@ACE meta-analysis revealed novel AD genetic signals, strongly driven by the presence of clinical heterogeneity in the AD series.

Medial temporal lobe atrophy is independently associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

AIM: Evidence describing the contribution of cerebral white matter disease and medial temporal atrophy (MTA) to behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) has been conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and MTA observed on magnetic resonance imaging with BPSD among patients with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort of patients attending a memory clinic, 46 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (mean age: 72.38 ± 7.05 years) were studied. Sociodemographic, cognitive, and BPSD data were collected. BPSD were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Magnetic resonance imaging, WMH, and MTA were rated using the Scheltens scales for the assessment of signal hyperintensities and atrophy of medial temporal lobes. For multivariate analysis, two binary logistic regression analyses were carried out, with presence or absence of each BPSD as the dependent variable and with WMH or MTA as the predictor variable. Results of the logistic regression were analyzed to see if the significance of the WMH or MTA score was maintained in a model that factored in other possible confounding variables identified in univariate analysis. RESULTS: The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that in models that accounted for confounding variables, increased total MTA was significantly associated with apathy (odds ratio = 1.605, adjusted P = 0.042) and disinhibition (odds ratio = 0.607, adjusted P = 0.042). WMH measures did not significantly predict any BPSD item. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that MTA potentially contributes to the aetiology of BPSD, and they provide evidence to support the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease pathology itself can contribute to BPSD.

Cognitive-behavioral treatment for depressed patients with Alzheimer's disease. An open trial.

BACKGROUND: Depression has a high prevalence among patients with Alzheimer's disease, and it has a significant negative impact on their functioning. However, despite its significant impact and challenge, few treatment outcomes data are available to guide clinical care of depression among this population. We developed a cognitive-behavioral intervention to persons with AD. In this paper, we describe the intervention and results of an open trial evaluating its feasibility and utility. SETTING: Dementia Unit. SUBJECT: Alzheimer's disease patients. METHODS: The treatment was administered over a period of three months with the implication of a caregiver. Dyads were followed for an additional three months in-person sessions. A selection of skills is offered, including education and self-awareness, coping self-statements, behavioral activation, problem-solving therapy, exercise, and caregiver education. RESULTS: Nine participants were enrolled. Overall, patients and caregivers were satisfied with the treatment and reported that they benefited-in terms of depression, anxiety, and caregiver distress. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are preliminaries and attention now needs to be turned to futher evaluation in a randomized clinical trial.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Caregiver Burden and Coping Strategies.

This study was conducted to obtain data regarding the association of caregiver burden (CB) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) in patients with Alzheimer's disease. We conducted a series of multiple linear regressions to determine the relationship between CB and NPSs and whether the caregiver coping strategies mediated this relationship. The NPSs were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and caregivers were evaluated with the Caregiver Burden Interview and the Inventory and the Coping Strategies Inventory. Results show that patients with more frequent and severe NPS were more likely to be cared for by more burdened caregivers, and this was partially mediated by caregiver coping strategies. More disengagement (ß = .330,P< .001) and less engagement coping (ß = -.347,P< .001) were predictors for NPS after adjusting for patient and caregiver characteristics. These results may be useful with a view to designing treatment interventions that aim to modify the use of caregiver coping strategies and to reduce NPSs.

Sleep disturbances in Alzheimer's disease are associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms and antidementia treatment.

Sleep disturbances (SDs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may significantly affect the behavioral, functional, and cognitive capacities of patients to the point of becoming a major determinant of caregiver burden. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 125 patients with probable AD to assess the association of SDs with neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive and functional status of patients, and severity and duration of dementia and to ascertain the role of antidementia drugs in the treatment of SD. SDs were assessed using the questionnaire on sleep disorders in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. The prevalence of SDs in this sample was 36%. SDs in patients with AD are significantly associated with depression (Wald's test, 3.983; p < 0.05), disinhibition (Wald's test, 5.522; p < 0.05), and aberrant motor behavior (Wald's test, 7.430; p < 0.01). The patients treated with memantine presented lower mean SDs scores (t = 2.76; p < 0.001). These results highlight the need for a standardized and validated approach to the assessment of SDs in AD.

The experience of caregiving: the influence of coping strategies on behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether caregiver coping strategies are independently associated with behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPS) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) after accounting for patient characteristics. METHODS: Cross-sectional data analysis of 80 patients with AD and their primary caregivers. The presence of BPS was recorded using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). The relationship between caregiver characteristics and BPS was assessed through one-way analysis of variance, two-tailed student t-tests or correlation coefficients. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine the combined effect of all caregiver factors that were significant on bivariate analysis regarding coping and BPS controlling for patient characteristics. RESULTS: Caregivers were on average 62 years old, 77% female, and most were the children or the spouse of the patient. Over 50% had significant depression or anxiety. Patients were on average 77 years old and 62% were female, and most had moderate to severe dementia. After adjusting for patient characteristics, patients cared for by more depressed, more burdened, or those using more disengagement coping strategies showed higher NPI mean composite scores. CONCLUSION: Coping strategies are associated with BPS regardeless of patient characteristics. Interventions to reduce BPS should focus on which psychological coping strategies caregivers use. Understanding how coping strategies influence BPS may help tailor specific interventions for caregivers.