https://scholarlypublications.universiteitleiden.nl/access/item%3A2860436/view

Relationships between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and depressive symptoms: A comparative study of five specific samples

Beta power in the EEG of alcoholics.

The utility of neurophysiological markers in the study of alcoholism

Concord grape juice contains polyphenol compounds, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and influence neuronal signalling Concord grape juice supplementation has been shown to reduce inflammation, blood pressure and vascular pathology in individuals with CVD, and consumption of such flavonoid-containing foods is associated with a reduced risk for dementia In addition, preliminary animal data have indicated improvement in memory and motor function with grape juice supplementation, suggesting potential for cognitive benefit in ageing humans In this initial investigation of neurocognitive effects, we enrolled twelve older adults with memory decline but not dementia in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial with Concord grape juice supplementation for 12 weeks We observed significant improvement in a measure of verbal learning and non-significant enhancement of verbal and spatial recall There was no appreciable effect of the intervention on depressive symptoms and no effect on weight or waist circumference A small increase in fasting insulin was observed for those consuming grape juice These preliminary findings suggest that supplementation with Concord grape juice may enhance cognitive function for older adults with early memory decline and establish a basis for more comprehensive investigations to evaluate potential benefit and assess mechanisms of action

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0007114509992364

Concord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Optic nerve and retinal ganglion cell (GC) degeneration are possible explanations for the poor visual function reported in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated whether GC loss could be attributed to AD compared with control subjects by measuring the spatial density of GC (cells/mm2) with methods previously used to analyze the GC distribution of young normal retinas. Retinas from 4 autopsy-confirmed, severely demented patients with AD and 4 age- and sex-matched control subjects (ages, 66-86 yr for both groups) without history of dementing or ocular disease were prepared as unstained whole mounts. There was no evidence for loss of GC within the central 43 degrees of vision in patients with AD. The density of GC subserving the central 11 degrees of vision was reduced by one-fourth in both AD and control eyes compared with retinas from young adults, as was GC density in a wedge of nasal retina. This loss may contribute to deficits in visual function found in aged individuals, whether or not they have dementia.

Retinal ganglion cells in Alzheimer's disease and aging.

Older adult outpatients with major depression (n=25) and healthy control subjects (n=25) were compared using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Both measures were sensitive in detecting clinical depression. Subjects were, however, more likely to endorse multiple responses in BDI items, suggesting that the GDS is simpler for older adults to complete. Viewed within the context of previous relevant research that used these instruments to compare older dults, our results yield additional evidence of cross-study consistency in the functional efficiency of both measures

The Geriatric Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory as screening instruments in an older adult outpatient population.

The use of low-dose L-deprenyl, a selective MAO-B inhibitor, in Alzheimer's disease patients has been associated previously with improvements in agitation and episodic learning and memory. Behavioral, cognitive, and regional electroencephalogram (EEG) measures were obtained in a 4-week open pilot study of 14 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease by NINCDS criteria who were administered 10 mg L-deprenyl per day. L-Deprenyl administration was associated with significant improvements on the agitation and depression factors of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, and spouses' blind ratings. Recall improved on the Buschke Selective Reminding Task, but intrusions also tended to increase; verbal fluency decreased. Absolute EEG delta measures were selectively suppressed in the right frontal region. The pattern of changes suggests that L-deprenyl may be associated with improvement in behavioral and cognitive performance, in part through a mild behavioral disinhibiting effect.

A pilot study of low-dose L-deprenyl in Alzheimer's disease.

Visual evoked potentials in dementia: A meta-analysis and empirical study of Alzheimer's disease patients

Topographic measures of electroencephalographic (EEG) amplitude were used to compare recovered alcoholics (n = 14) with sex- and age-matched control subjects. Delta, alpha, and beta activity did not distinguish the groups, but regional differences in theta distribution did. Recovered alcoholics showed more uniform distributions of theta amplitudes in bilateral anterior and posterior regions compared with controls. Because a minimum of 5 years had elapsed since the recovered alcoholic subjects fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, it is unlikely these EEG theta differences reflect the effects of withdrawal.

Topographic quantitative EEG amplitude in recovered alcoholics

Personality traits in euthymic elderly subjects with and without past histories of major depressive episodes were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R and the Social Adjustment Scale-SR. Recovered depressed subjects were characterized by significantly more personality traits from DSM-III-R Clusters B and C than controls, and they exhibited differences in social adjustment, as well. Subjects who have recovered from depressive episodes may show significant differences in personality and social adjustment that might represent residua of past depression, a trait characteristic, or a risk factor for recurrence.

Mary F. Zemansky

Papers

The Geriatric Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory as screening instruments in an older adult outpatient population.

A pilot study of low-dose L-deprenyl in Alzheimer's disease.

Visual evoked potentials in dementia: A meta-analysis and empirical study of Alzheimer's disease patients

Topographic quantitative EEG amplitude in recovered alcoholics

Personality in recovered depressed elderly.