Comparison between physical and cognitive treatment in patients with MCI and Alzheimer's disease.

Cognitive and physical activity treatments (CT and PT) are two non-pharmacological approaches frequently used in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The aim of this study was to compare CT and PT in these diseases. Eighty-seven patients were randomly assigned to CT (n=30), PT (n=27) or control group (CTRL; n=30) for 6 months. The global cognitive function was measured by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Specific neuropsychological tests explored attention, memory, executive functions, behavioral disorders. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVD) were collected. All measures were performed before (T0), after treatments (T1), and at three-months follow-up (T2). MMSE did not change from T0 to T1 and T2 in patients assigned to PT and CT, while CTRL patients showed a decline MCI: -11.8%, AD: -16.2%). Between group differences (MCI vs AD) were not found at T1 and T2. Significant worsening was found for CTRL in MCI (T0- T1: P=.039; T0-T2: P<.001) and AD (T0-T1: P<.001; T0-T2: P<.001), and amelioration was found for CT in AD (T0-T2: P<.001). Attention, executive functions and behavioral disorders were unaffected by either PT or CT. Memory was increased in patients with MCI assigned to PT (+6.9%) and CT (+8.5%).. CVD were ameliorated in the PT group. CTRL patients of both groups, revealed significant decline in all functions and no between groups differences were detected. PT appear to ameliorate CVD. Although between groups differences were not found, results suggest a major retention in MCI compared with AD, suggesting that the latter might benefit better of constant rather than periodic treatments. This study confirms the positive effects of CT and PT in mitigating the cognitive decline in MCI and AD patients, and it is the first to demonstrate their similar effectiveness on maintaining cognitive function.

Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with blood pressure and carotid arterial stiffness in obese children.

INTRODUCTION: Both sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and high blood pressure (BP) occur more frequently among obese children than among normal weight children, and this may be due to endothelial dysfunction and worsened arterial stiffness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between SDB and BP, and the possible role of endothelial function and local and systemic arterial stiffness in a sample of obese children asymptomatic for sleep disturbances. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine obese children were included in the study. Children underwent overnight limited channel polysomnography, and the vascular measurements included the following: office and 24-h ambulatory BP; brachial flow-mediated dilatation, carotid intima-media thickness and carotid distensibility measured using ultrasound; and systemic arterial stiffness index measured using digital volume pulse analysis. RESULTS: Significant correlations between different BP measurements (both office and ambulatory BP monitoring and estimated by Z score) and SDB were found, including correlations involving the respiratory disturbance index, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the number of desaturations per hour and the mean peripheral saturation (r ranging between 0.330 and 0.474). Carotid distensibility was correlated with the AHI (r = -0.367; P = 0.030) and with the mean oxygen saturation (r = 0.401; P = 0.017). In contrast, there was no relationship among flow-mediated dilatation, stiffness index, carotid intima-media thickness and all the tested respiratory markers. In the multivariate analysis, the supine Z SBP remained independently associated with the number of desaturations per hour and the AHI, even after correction for carotid distensibility and BMI. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that in obese children asymptomatic for sleep respiratory problems, SDB might worsen BP, in part, through an increase in arterial stiffness.