ABSTRACT
Alzheimer Disease(AD) presently remains an irreversible disease.Consequently,with current research findings and clinical practices,we propose a new prevention and treatment perspective,summarized in four aspects:early-stage,comprehensive,systematic,and long term,which are interrelated and yet show varying significance depending on the circumstances.We hope this view will help improve AD-related practices in prevention,clinical management,research and education,better equipping us to face challenges posed by AD.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the preventive effects of Haishe capsules on the conversion of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) to Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods Patients (n=120) with aMCI from our department were recruited and randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group (n=60 in each group).The treatment group was given 0.9 gram of Haishe capsules three times a day while the control group received no drug treatment.Data on the conversion ratio,memory and cognitive function were comparedbetween the groups in a 24-months follow-up.Results By the end of the study,12 patients in the treatment group and 15 in the control group dropped out.Valid data for 93 patients were available for statistical analysis (48 in the treatment group and 45 in the control group).The number of aMCI patients who converted to AD was 6,with a conversion ratio of 12.5％ (6/48);and the number of patients who went through conversion in the control group was 13,with a conversion ratio of 28.8％ (13/45).The difference in conversion between the two groups was statistically significant (x2 =3.83,P＜0.05).After 24 months,MMSE scores for the treatment group (25.52± 1.07) had no significant change compared with baseline levels,while MMSE scores for the control group decreased significantly(24.75--1.49) and were markedly lower than thosefor the treatment group (t=2.85,P＜0.05).MoCA scores for the treatment group (19.39 ±2.01) did not show decline until the end of the study,while those for the control group started to decrease about half way through the study and were lower than scores for the treatment group (t =2.41,P＜0.05).Compared with baseline levels,ADAS-Cogscores for the treatment group (7.62± 1.06) did not increase significantly during the course of the study.ADAS-Cogscores forthe control group were higher at both half way (7.70±0.75) and the end of the study (8.18±0.80)than base line levels,and there was a statistically significant difference in end-of-study ADAS-Cog scores between the two groups(t =-2.6,P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Haishe capsules not only effectively maintain memory and cognitive function,but also delay the conversion from aMCI to AD.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic tension-type headache (a primary headache disorder) and cervicogenic headache (a secondary headache disorder that is attributable to upper cervical spine pathology) share similar clinical manifestations, but their associated personality traits may differ. We evaluated the personality differences between sufferers of chronic tension-type headache and cervicogenic headache. METHODS: We administered the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ) and the Zuckerman Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS) to 18 patients suffering from chronic tension-type headache, 19 suffering from cervicogenic headache, and 26 healthy volunteers. Depressive trends were measured with the Plutchik-van-Praag Depression Inventory (PVP). RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, the chronic tension-type headache group scored significantly higher on ZKPQ Neuroticism-Anxiety and on the PVP, while the cervicogenic headache group scored significantly lower on SSS Thrill and Adventure Seeking. In addition, the total SSS score was significantly lower in the cervicogenic headache group than in both the chronic tension-type headache group and the healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that higher scores for neuroticism-anxiety and depression were associated with chronic tension-type headache, while lower sensation-seeking scores were associated with cervicogenic headache.