On the participation of glycine receptors in the reconsolidation of spatial long-term memory in male rats.

The effects of intra-hippocampal manipulation of glycine receptors on the reconsolidation of recent and late long-term spatial memory were evaluated and assessed in the Morris water maze. The results obtained from the intra-hippocampal infusion of glycine and taurine demonstrated that taurine at a 100 nmol/side dose impaired the reconsolidation of recent and late long-term spatial memory. In comparison, at a dose of 10 nmol/side, it only affected the reconsolidation of late long-term spatial memory, reinforcing that there are differences between molecular mechanisms underlying recent and late long-term memory reconsolidation. On the other hand, glycine impaired the reconsolidation of early and late spatial memory when infused at a dose of 10 nmol/side, but not at a dose of 100 nmol/side, unless it is co-infused with an allosteric site antagonist of the NMDA receptor. Altogether these results show that glycine acting in situ in the hippocampal CA1 region exerts a pharmacological effect on U-curve, which can be explained by its concomitant action on its ionotropic receptor GlyR and on its NMDA receptor co-agonist site.

Influence of Alzheimer's disease on the relationship between nutritional status and risk of fall

Although malnutrition and risk of falls in the elderly have increased in recent years, uncertainties exist as to whether these conditions are associated after controlling for sociodemographic variables, body composition, metabolic condition, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to analyze the association between nutritional status and risk of fall in the elderly population. Participants were matched by gender and age, after they had been grouped on the basis of diagnosis of AD. The risk of falls, nutritional status, and mental status were assessed using the Downton Fall Risk Score (FRS), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE), respectively. Logistic regression modelsadjusted for the main confounders were used in the analyses. Among the 68 elderly individuals studied, participants who were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition were more likely to fall (odds ratio = 8.29; 95% confidence interval = 1.49-46.04) than those with normal nutritional status, regardless of gender, age, education, body composition, and metabolic condition. This association did not remain significant after adjustment for AD, a potential confounder in this association. Malnutrition or its risk was independently associated with high risk of fall; thus, malnutrition should be considered in the prevention of falls among the elderly population.

The Relationship Between Copper, Iron, and Selenium Levels and Alzheimer Disease.

This study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of copper, iron, and selenium in elderly people with Alzheimer disease (AD), comparing the same parameters in a paired group of healthy people, in order to verify if the amount of these metals may influence the cognitive impairment progression. Patients' cognitive impairment was evaluated by Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). The elementary quantification of erythrocytes was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. The statistical analyses were carried out by SPSS software 20.0 version, employing Shapiro-Wilk, Wilcoxon, Kruskall-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests, considering significant results of p < 0.05. The sample was composed of 34% (n = 11) of women and 66% (n = 21) of men in each group. The AD group was characterized by a higher concentration of copper (p < 0.0001) and iron (p < 0.0001); however, there is no significant difference in selenium level. The analyses of the metal levels in different stages of AD were not significant in CDR-1, however in CDR-2 and CDR-3, elevated levels of copper and iron were observed; in CDR-3 patients, the level of selenium was lower (p < 0.008) compared to that of healthy controls. Patients with Alzheimer disease studied present increase in biometal blood levels, especially of copper and iron, and such increase can be different according to the disease stage and can cause more impairment cognitive functions in AD.

Funcionalidade na doença de Alzheimer leve, moderada e grave: um estudo transversal / Functionality on mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease: a cros-sectional study

Objetivo: Avaliar a funcionalidade de pacientes com Doença de Alzheimer (DA) residentes na comunidade, no município de Guarapuava ­ PR, região Sul do Brasil. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, com pacientes com DA residentes na comunidade, no município de Guarapuava ­ PR. Os participantes foram classificados de acordo com a Escala Clínica de Demência em CDR 1 (DA leve), CDR 2 (DA moderada) e CDR 3 (DA severa). O estado mental foi avaliado através do Mini Exame do Estado Mental; as atividades básicas de vida diária (ABVD) através do Índice de Barthel e as atividades instrumentais de vida diária (AIVD) através do Índice de Lowton e Brody. Resultados: Foram avaliados 58 idosos com diagnóstico de DA, dos quais 14 (24,1%) estavam em CDR 1, 21 (36,2%) em CDR 2 e 23 (39,7%) em CDR 3. Houve diferença significativa entre os níveis de dependência para a realização das ABVD e AIVD entre todas as fases da DA (p <0,001), sendo que a dependência foi maior nos participantes estadeados em CDR 2 e CDR 3. Conclusão: O nível de dependência para a realização das atividades básicas e instrumentais de vida diária é maior nas fases mais avançadas da DA e a dependência para a realização das AIVD está presente em todas as fases da doença, sendo maior do que a dependência para a realização das ABVD desde a fase inicial da DA, sugerindo uma perda progressiva da funcionalidade

Objective: To evaluate the functionality of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) living in a community, in the city of Guarapuava PR, South of Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with patients with AD living in the community. Participants were classified according to Clinical Dementia Rating as CDR 1 (mild AD), CDR 2 (moderate AD) and CDR 3 (severe AD). The mental state was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination; the basic activities of daily living (ADLs) was determined by the Barthel Index and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) via by Lowton and Brody Index. Results: 49 elderly patients with AD diagnosis were evaluated, 14 (24.1%) of which were classified as CDR 1, 21 (36.2%) as CDR 2, and 23 (39.7%) as CDR 3. There was a significant difference between the levels of dependence for the performance of the basic ADLs and IADLs among all phases of AD (p <0.001). The dependence was higher in both CDR 2 and CDR 3. Conclusion: Functional dependence for basic activities of daily living becomes more frequent in the most advanced stages of AD, whereas dependence for IADLs is onset since early stages of AD, even more noticeable than dependence for basic ADLs, what suggests a progressive loss of functionality