RETRACTED: Serebrovska et al. Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Training Improves Cognitive Function and Decreases Circulating Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5405.

The journal Int [...].

VASCULAR RISK FACTORS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN THE PATIENTS WITH CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To assess the severity of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD) depending on the number of vascular risk factors (VRF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: The study consisted of five hundred and eighty patients with CVD (247 females and 333 males) aged from 45 to 89 years (mean age: 64,1±8,9 years). The patients were divided into 6 groups (I, II, III, IV, V, VI) depending on the number of VRF. The examination consisted of a standard clinical evaluation, neurological examination, the application of neuropsychological tests (the MMSE; the PALT/The Paired Associates Learning Test; clock drawing test), laboratory tests, MRI of brain. RESULTS: Results: According to ANOVA, the greater the number of VRF the patients had, the lower was their total MMSE score corresponding to more pronounced cognitive decline (F=2,97, p=0,012). A significant negative correlation between patients' age and their MMSE score was detected regardless of their VRF count. The patients of the V and VI groups had substantially lower parameters of immediate, delayed memory and clock drawing test score comparing to the patients of the I group. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The presence of 4 and more VRF was related to more pronounced CI in the patients with CVD. Decline of different aspects of memory, attention, spatial orientation, abstract thinking, planning, concentration, executive and visuospatial skills in groups of patients with 4,5 and 6 vascular risk factors was established. Age was substantially associated with cognitive decline in all the group of patients.

Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Training Improves Cognitive Function and Decreases Circulating Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects not only the central nervous system, but also peripheral blood cells including neutrophils and platelets, which actively participate in pathogenesis of AD through a vicious cycle between platelets aggregation and production of excessive amyloid beta (Aß). Platelets adhesion on amyloid plaques also increases the risk of cerebral microcirculation disorders. Moreover, activated platelets release soluble adhesion molecules that cause migration, adhesion/activation of neutrophils and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which may damage blood brain barrier and destroy brain parenchyma. The present study examined the effects of intermittent hypoxic-hyperoxic training (IHHT) on elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor of AD. Twenty-one participants (age 51-74 years) were divided into three groups: Healthy Control (n = 7), MCI+Sham (n = 6), and MCI+IHHT (n = 8). IHHT was carried out five times per week for three weeks (total 15 sessions). Each IHHT session consisted of four cycles of 5-min hypoxia (12% FIO2) and 3-min hyperoxia (33% FIO2). Cognitive parameters, Aß and amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression, microRNA 29, and long non-coding RNA in isolated platelets as well as NETs in peripheral blood were investigated. We found an initial decline in cognitive function indices in both MCI+Sham and MCI+IHHT groups and significant correlations between cognitive test scores and the levels of circulating biomarkers of AD. Whereas sham training led to no change in these parameters, IHHT resulted in the improvement in cognitive test scores, along with significant increase in APP ratio and decrease in Aß expression and NETs formation one day after the end of three-week IHHT. Such effects on Aß expression and NETs formation remained more pronounced one month after IHHT. In conclusion, our results from this pilot study suggested a potential utility of IHHT as a new non-pharmacological therapy to improve cognitive function in pre-AD patients and slow down the development of AD.

Age related characteristics of cognitive changes in patients with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: According to World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts, by 2050 the number of people suffering from dementia will constitute about 150 millions in the world. Nowadays, Alzheimer's disease plays the leading role in dementia emergence; it is the cause of age related dementia in 60% of cases. The aim: This study aimed to assess the age related cognitive changes in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 503 patients aged 45 to 89 years with chronic cerebral ischemia were included into the study. All the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 - without MetS (n = 198), group 2 - with MetS (n = 305). Patients of both groups were divided into 3 age subgroups: 1st - 45-59, 2nd - 60-74, 3rd - 75-89 years old.The MetS was defined according to the criteria of the American Heart Association, the World Heart Federation, the International Atherosclerosis Society, and the International Association for the Study of Obesity. To evaluate patients' cognitive functions wide range of neuropsychological tests were used. RESULTS: Results: Patients of both groups had significant age related cognitive deficit. MetS patients of all age subgroups with mild cognitive impairment syndrome revealed a significant decline of immediate and delayed memory on the verbal stimuli (especially in patients of elderly and senior age groups), the rate of sensorimotor reactions, mental capacity, and the active attention amount in comparison to the patients without MetS. MetS patients with dementia of the middle age had significantly lower parameters of immediate and delayed memory on the verbal stimuli, the rate of sensorimotor reactions, mental capacity, and the active attention amount in comparison to the patients without MetS but with dementia. CONCLUSION: Conclusions:The presence of MetS was associated with more pronounced cognitive decline in the patients, concerning different aspects of memory, attention and executive functions.