Aplicación de ejercicios de Brain Gym(R) en personas institucionalizadas con deterioro cognitivo / Effects of Brain Gym(R) exercises in institutionalized older adults with cognitive impairment

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar los efectos de un programa de ejercicios de Brain Gym(R) con un programa de gimnasia de mantenimiento en pacientes mayores institucionalizados con deterioro cognitivo. Veintinueve personas institucionalizadas con deterioro cognitivo participaron en dos programas, uno basado en ejercicios de Brain Gym(R) y otro de gimnasia de mantenimiento, durante 18 semanas. Se emplearon los test Mini-examen cognoscitivo, Fototest, Trail Making Test, Índice de Barthel y el Timed up and Go. No se encontraron mejoras significativas en las variables analizadas. Se observó una tendencia positiva, especialmente en el grupo de gimnasia de mantenimiento, en la función cognitiva global y salud física. En conclusión, los efectos de un programa de ejercicios de Brain Gym(R) en una muestra de personas mayores institucionalizadas con deterioro cognitivo fueron similares a los de un programa de gimnasia de mantenimiento, sin mejoras significativas de la función cognitiva o independencia funcional

This study aimed at comparing the effects of a program based on Brain Gym(R) exercises against a fitness exercise program on the cognitive function and functional independence in institutionalized older adults with cognitive impairment. Twenty-nine institutionalized older adults with cognitive impairment took part either on a Brain Gym(R) based exercise program or on a fitness exercise program during eighteen weeks. The assessment measures used were the Mini-Examen Cognoscitivo, Fototest, Trail making test, Barthel Index and the Timed up and Go Test. None of the variables analysed improved significantly. A trend towards improvement, particularly in the fitness exercise group, in both cognitive status and functional independence was observed. In conclusion, the performance of a Brain Gym(R) exercise-based program had the same effects than taking part in a fitness exercise program, with no significant improvements on the cognitive function or functional independence, in a sample of institutionalized older adults with cognitive impairment

Lack of GSK3ß activation and modulation of synaptic plasticity by dopamine in 5-HT1A-receptor KO mice.

Psychiatric disorders are associated with excitation-inhibition (E-I) balance impairment in the prefrontal cortex. However, how the E-I balance is regulated is poorly known. The E-I balance of neuronal networks is linked to the action of numerous neuromodulators such as dopamine and 5-HT. We investigated the role of D2-receptors in tuning the E-I balance in a mouse model of anxiety, the 5-HT1A-receptor KO mice. We focused on synaptic plasticity of excitation and inhibition on layer 5 pyramidal neurons. We show that D2-receptor activation decreases the excitation and favors HFS-induced LTD of excitatory synapses via the activation of GSK3ß. This effect is absent in 5-HT1A-receptor KO mice. Our data show that the fine control of excitatory transmission by GSK3ß requires recruitment of D2-receptors and depends on the presence of 5-HT1A-receptors. In psychiatric disorders in which the number of 5-HT1A-receptors decreased, therapies should reconsider how serotonin and dopamine receptors interact and control neuronal network activity.

Influencia del deterioro cognitivo en el test freezing of gait-score: un estudio piloto / Influence of the cognitive impairment on the fog-score test: A pilot study

Objetivo: Verificar si el deterioro cognitivo puede afectar a la puntuación total obtenida en el test Freezing of Gait score (FOG-score) en pacientes con la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Material y método: Se llevó a cabo un estudio no experimental, seccional correlacional en 34 participantes, con EP leve o moderada. Los participantes ejecutaron el test de FOG-score y las siguientes pruebas de evaluación cognitiva: Mini examen cognoscitivo (MEC), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) y Fuld Object Memory Evaluation (FOME). La función motora fue medida mediante el apartado IIIde la Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), referente a los aspectos motores. Resultados: Se halló una correlación significativa negativa entre la puntuación total del FOG y la función cognitiva global (Mini examen cognoscitivo) (r=0,68; p<0,001); los parámetros relacionados con la memoria (FOME) (r=0,64; p<0,001) y las funciones ejecutivas (FAB) (r=0,57; p<0,001). Las puntuaciones de los aspectos motores mantienen una menor relación con los parámetros del FOG-score (r=0,35; p>0,005). Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que el deterioro cognitivo puede afectar fuertemente en el desarrollo de las tareas del test FOG-score. Esto implica la necesidad de ajustar el punto de corte en la evaluación de personas con EP que padecen disfunción cognitiva, lo que evitaría que el examinador sobreestimase la existencia y recurrencia de episodios de congelación en esta población (AU)

Objective: to verify if cognitive impairment can affect the total score obtained on the Freezing of Gait score (FOG-score) test in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Material and method: A sectional, correlational non-exploratory study was carried out on thirty-four subjects, with mild to moderate PD disease. The participants carried out the FOG-score test and cognitive evaluation: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the Fuld Object Memory Evaluation (FOME). Motor function was assessed by the motor subscale of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) (part III). Results: there was a significant negative correlation between the FOG-score test and global cognition (MMSE) (r=.68; p<.001), memory-related parameters (FOME) (r=.64; P<.001) and executive functions (FAB) (r=.57; P<.001). The motor scores held lower relation with FOG parameters (r=.35; P>.005). Conclusions: the results of this study suggest that cognitive impairment can strongly affect task performance of the FOG-score test. This suggests the need to adjust the cut-off point when assessing PD patients suffering from cognitive dysfunction. This could prevent the examiner from overestimating the existence and recurrence of freezing episodes in this population (AU)

Efectos del ejercicio físico y pautas básicas para su prescripción en la enfermedad de Alzheimer / Efeitos do exercício físico e diretrizes básicas para sua prescrição na doença de Alzheimer / Effects of physical exercise and basically orientations for prescription in Alzheimer’s Disease

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo actualizar el estado del arte con respecto a los beneficios potenciales que el ejercicio físico tiene sobre la enfermedad de Alzheimer. En primer lugar, se presentan los motivos por los que el ejercicio podría ser beneficioso, a través de la descripción de los efectos que su práctica tiene sobre aspectos metabólicos y neuropatológicos relacionados con esta enfermedad. En segundo lugar, se analizan las diferentes respuestas orgánicas que podrían ser moduladas a través del ejercicio y los cambios que este provoca en los marcadores biológicos de la enfermedad de Alzheimer. En tercer lugar, se muestran los hallazgos de los principales estudios que han propuesto la realización de programas de ejercicio en personas diagnosticadas de enfermedad de Alzheimer, a través de la descripción de los resultados obtenidos en los mismos. Finalmente, se presentan recomendaciones prácticas y propuestas de actuación para prescribir ejercicio físico en esta población (AU)

O presente estudo tem como objetivo atualizar o estado da arte sobre os potenciais benefícios do exercício físico na doença de Alzheimer. Em primeiro lugar, as razões pelas quais o exercício pode ser benéfico, são apresentadas através da descrição dos efeitos de sua prática nos aspectos metabólicos e neuropatológicos da doença. Em segundo lugar, são analisadas as diferentes respostas orgânicas que podem ser moduladas através dos exercícios e as mudanças provocadas em marcadores biológicos da doença de Alzheimer. Em terceiro lugar, são mostrados os achados dos principais estudos que propuseram a realização de programas de exercício para pessoas diagnosticadas com doença de Alzheimer, por meio da descrição dos resultados obtidos da mesma. Finalmente, são apresentadas recomendações práticas e propostas de ação para prescrever exercício nesta população(AU)

The aim of this study is to update the state of the art regarding the potential benefits of physical exercise on Alzheimer's disease. Firstly, the reasons why physical exercise may be beneficial are discussed through the impact that its performance has on the metabolic and neuropathological aspects related to this disease. Secondly, the different organic adaptations that could be modulated by means of exercising as well as the changes that could be induced through its practice on Alzheimer's disease biomarkers are analyzed. Thirdly, the findings of the main studies that have proposed the performance of exercise programs on people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are discussed trough the description of the obtained results. Finally, some practical recommendations and guidelines for prescribing physical exercise on this population are shown (AU)

Potential benefits of non-pharmacological therapies in fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is an incurable common syndrome of non-articular origin, and with no effective treatment by now. A great deal of research has sought to assess the efficacy of different therapies, especially non-pharmacological and low-cost ones, in the reduction of the intensity of symptoms. Despite the availability of a wide range of alternative therapies nowadays, there is little scientific evidence of the potential benefits of most of them, with results being contradictories. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the less well known alternative therapies in FM treatment, to describe the more relevant clinical studies published in this matter, and to analyze the potential effects of the main alternative therapies, in order to verify their efficacy.

Nucleoplasmic reticulum is not essential in nuclear calcium signalling mediated by cyclic ADPribose in primary neurons.

Nuclear calcium regulation is essential for controlling nuclear processes such as gene expression. Recent studies, mostly performed on immortalized or transformed cell lines, reported the presence of a nucleoplasmic reticulum (NR). It has been suggested that NR acts as a storage organelle having an important role in nuclear Ca2+ signalling. However, whether NR is present and necessary in primary neurons for generation of nuclear Ca2+ signalling has never been investigated. Here, we show, by confocal microscopy and by electronic microscopy, that nuclei in intact neurons or isolated nuclei are not endowed with NR. Finally, our experiments performed on isolated nuclei from Aplysia giant neurons show that the nuclear envelope acts as a functional Ca2+ store which can be mobilized by the second messenger cyclic ADPribose to elicit a nucleoplasmic Ca2+ elevation. Our study provides evidence that nuclear Ca2+ signals can be independent of the presence of NR in neurons.