The finding that some older individuals report declines in aspects of cognitive functioning is becoming a frequently used criteria to identify elderly at risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Once concerns are identified in a community setting, however, effective means are necessary to pinpoint those individuals who should go on to more complex and costly diagnostic evaluations (e.g., functional imaging). We tested 44 African American volunteers endorsing cognitive concerns (37 females, 7 males) age )- 65 years with CogState battery subtests and recorded resting-state EEG, with eyes closed. After current source density (CSD) transformations of EEG recordings we obtained spectral power for delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands. We characterized CogState One Card Back Learning (OCL, memory) with diffusion model parameters drift rate, boundary and non-decision time (NDT). Forward regression models showed that lower OCL drift rate, slower accumulation of information needed for decision making was linked to increased absolute and relative delta at occipital region. Lower drift rate was also linked to decrease in OCL theta power at parietal region, with no findings for ONB. Results show that cortical resting, eyes closed EEG rhythms are related to memory in African American seniors endorsing cognitive concerns. This study further supports the use of EEG as an easily accessible, cost-effective, culture-fair, and noninvasive clinical measurement that could provide potentially reliable diagnostic (and perhaps prognostic) information to differentiate at-risk from stable African American seniors.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32914393
Previously, oxidative damage has been associated with severity of clinical symptoms and supplementation with antioxidants and essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPUFAs) was proposed to have beneficial effects in schizophrenia. We evaluated the effects of supplementation with EPUFAs and vitamin E in patients treated with haloperidol depot injection. This was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study with four arms (Placebo, vitamin E, EPUFAs, and vitamin E + EPUFAs). Biomarkers of oxidative stress, neurochemistry, psychopathology, and extrapyramidal symptoms were assessed at baseline and after 4 months. In EPUFAs group of patients,reduced glutathione concentration was increased compared to placebo. Concentration of oxidized glutathione was decreased in patients receiving vitamin E. In addition, compared to placebo a non-significant trend of increased activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase was observed in all three treatment groups. Patients receiving vitamin E experienced less motor retardation. No difference in extrapyramidal symptoms was found. Our study indicates that supplementation with vitamin E and EPUFAs may improve the antioxidative defense, especially glutathione system, while there is no major effect on symptoms severity. Supplemental treatment with EPUFAs and vitamin E in schizophrenia patients treated with haloperidol is potentially beneficial and a larger independent study appears warranted.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3690097
Background: Dopaminergic system plays an important role in anti psychotic response. Func tional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can change dopamine receptor expression or dopamine disposition and thus influence response to anti- psychotic treatment. Subjects and methods: 138 schizophrenia patients were stratified in the treatment-resistant and tr eatment-responsive group. Control group consisted of 94 healthy blood donors. All subjects we re genotyped for the following SNPs: DRD1 (rs4532, rs5326), DRD2 (rs1801028, rs1799732), DRD3 (rs6280) and COMT (rs165815, rs4680). Association between the genotypes and clinical symptoms were tested using ANCOVA with cu rrent antipsychotic dose as a confounder. Di fferences in allele frequencies between treatment-responsive and treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients were assessed using % 2 tests. Results: No statistically significant associations were observed between any of the inves tigated genotypes and c linical scores and occurrence of the treatment- resistant schizophrenia. Conclusions: Genetic variability in dopaminergic syst em does not have a major role in clinical symptoms and occurrence of treatment-resistant schizophren ia among Slovenian patients.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32741593