Disorders In Later Life Research Articles

Holes in the wall: Examining gaps in knowledge in child and adolescent mental health in Tanzania - Scoping review.

To perform scoping review of the existing literature available specific to child and adolescent mental health in Tanzania. An extensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE and EMBASE was undertaken to identify studies that focussed specifically on mental illness in children and young people in Tanzania. This included neurological and functional disorders, affective disorders, psychosis, epidemiological, intervention and treatment-based studies. Qualitative analysis of the studies was then undertaken to assess what is currently known about the subject and how reliable this information is and to identify areas for further research. Of 23 studies were included in the final synthesis, which could be broadly split into studies focussing on the prevalence and incidence of child and adolescent mental illness, hypothesised causes and correlations, identified treatments and interventions and qualitative studies of human experience. There is a dearth of published research regarding child and adolescent mental health in Tanzania. Although some high-quality studies allow us good insight into the epidemiology of mental illness, interventional studies are often small and low-power, and significant correlational relationships are yet to be drawn. There is significant scope for further child and adolescent mental health research in Tanzania.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES OF WORKING WITH MILITARY SERVANTS DURING DECOMPRESSION

The article considers psychological technologies used by military psychologists when working with servicemen at the decompression stage. Today, this issue is especially relevant in the context of a long war, when there is a constant need to involve servicemen in active action. Trainings, various types of psychotherapy, which are conducted by military psychologists, are aimed at solving a set of psychological problems that have arisen in the military as a result of a long stay in the combat zone. Decompression measures are aimed at restoring the psychological state of the military, which is accompanied by a set of psychophysiological actions. During a stay on the territory of hostilities, a serviceman may face a significant number of risks that can lead to mental disorders in later life. As a result of the presence of servicemen in the area of the joint force operation, when entering a peaceful environment there is a probable threat of manifestations of perception of the environment through the “military prism of reality”, introversion, anxiety about changing family attitudes to it, fear of their own family so that the family does not learn about the horrors of war. Decompression aims to help the military deal with stress, deal with negative experiences, teach self-help techniques and balance the psycho-emotional state. Military psychologists with the help of art therapy work with subconscious traumatic events, help to survive the effects of war. The main attention is paid to psychological methods, techniques, techniques used to work with servicemen in order to restore the body and gradually readapt to normal living conditions, preventing the development of psychological trauma in them. The obtained results can be the basis for the creation of a psychological program of decompression for active servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are periodically in the combat zone and need a quick recovery to maintain constant combat readiness.

Epigenetic Modifications Due to Childhood Trauma Causative of Potential Mental and Physical Disorders

The early years of life are when brain and behavioral development are most impacted by the environment. Children need to be in a nurturing environment with responsive and sensitive caretakers to ensure normal development. Findings have shown that traumatic events that occur during these stages tend to have lasting effects that extend to adulthood. Epigenetic modifications of the genes and receptors involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been shown to be the link between early life adversities (ELAs) and the increased risk of disease in adulthood. In this review, we have discussed the effect of ELAs on child development and its associated disorders in later life. We have also highlighted certain prominent genes involved in the stress response that have been reported to be epigenetically regulated in response to ELAs. As the detrimental mental and physical health consequences of ELAs have been well documented, we have also included reports that validate the hypothesis that ELAs increase the risk of depression and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in adulthood. Learning how these epigenetic modifications could occur in early stages, can help us in discovering new therapeutic interventions to reverse these effects by expressing or inhibiting the genes. Also, studying the interrelation between biological and psychological systems will provide an opportunity to improve treatment outcomes.

An Empirical Evaluation of the DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorders in Later Life.

Personality disorders (PDs) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) are conceptualized as distinct clinical syndromes. However, debate persists about the clinical utility of this categorical model, with many researchers supporting a dimensional model that focuses on pathological personality traits and personality dysfunction. This model was published in Section III of DSM-5 and named the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD). This study evaluated the AMPD by examining relationships between traits and dysfunction with traditional categorical PD constructs among older adults. Older adults (N = 202) completed the Personality Inventory for DSM-5, Levels of Personality Functioning Scale-Self-Report, and Coolidge Axis II Inventory. Results indicated that pathological personality traits do not relate to categorical PDs in directions predicted by the AMPD. Personality functioning related to categorical PDs in expected theoretical patterns according to the AMPD but lacked incremental validity above pathological personality traits. An implication of these findings is that the AMPD does not fully resolve the age-related issues with the traditional categorical PD model.

Fructose Consumption Affects Glucocorticoid Signaling in the Liver of Young Female Rats.

The effects of early-life fructose consumption on hepatic signaling pathways and their relation to the development of metabolic disorders in later life are not fully understood. To investigate whether fructose overconsumption at a young age induces alterations in glucocorticoid signaling that might contribute to development of metabolic disturbances, we analysed glucocorticoid receptor hormone-binding parameters and expression of its target genes involved in gluconeogenesis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase) and lipid metabolism (lipin-1), as well as redox and inflammatory status in the liver of female rats subjected to a fructose-rich diet immediately after weaning. The fructose diet increased hepatic corticosterone concentration, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 level, glucocorticoid receptor protein level and hormone-binding activity, as well as lipin-1 level. The expression of glucose-6-phosphatase was reduced in fructose-fed rats, while phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase remained unaltered. The fructose-rich diet increased the level of fructose transporter GLUT2, while the expression of fructolytic enzymes fructokinase and aldolase B remained unaltered. The diet also affected pro-inflammatory pathways, but had no effect on the antioxidant defence system. In conclusion, a fructose-rich diet applied immediately after weaning promoted lipogenesis and enhanced hepatic glucocorticoid signaling, possibly to protect against inflammatory damage, but without an effect on gluconeogenesis and antioxidant enzymes. Yet, prolonged treatment might ultimately lead to more pronounced metabolic disturbances.

Depression and associated factors among old age population in Dega damot district, North West Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study

• Depression is a common disorder in late life. • Older people with other chronic medical illnesses, retired ones’ and with those having poor social support have more risk for depression. • Usual screening of depression in older people should be considered. • Integration of mental health services with other clinical services should be considered by clinician and policy makers. Depression has been recognized as a significant problem associated with undesirable outcomes such as poor functioning, increased perception of poor health, increased utilization of medical services, increased morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and treatment of depression reduces medical costs and reduce caregiver burden. However, limited evidence was available on the prevalence of geriatric depression and its associated factors in Ethiopia. To assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among old ages in Dega Damot district, North West Ethiopia, 2019. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 01, 2019 to September 30, 2019. Fifteen items Geriatric depression scale was used to conduct a face-to-face interview with 813 old age people in selected areas of the district. EPI data version 3.1 software was used for data entry and SPSS version 23 for analysis. Variables with a P -value of less than 0.25 in the bivariable analysis were entered in to the multivariable analysis. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated and statistical significance was declared at P -values < 0.05. The prevalence of depression among elders was found to be 45.9% [95% CI: 42.3%-49.4%]. This study showed that being female [AOR = 2.40, 95% CI [1.60–3.59], (age>75 years [AOR=6.78, 95% CI 3.08–14.93], age 70–74 years. [AOR=4.64, 95% CI 2.60–8.30], age 65–69 years [AOR=1.80, CI 1.12–2.88]; divorced [AOR=4.31, CI [1.53–12.17], widowed [AOR=6.56, 95% CI 2.28–18.79]; retired [AOR = 4.83, 95% CI [2.23–10.43]; having chronic disease (AOR=5.39, CI [2.70–10.76] and poor social support [AOR=7.45, CI 4.22–13.16] and medium social support [AOR=3.67, CI 2.36–5.70] were significantly associated with depression. Variables like alcohol consumption, khat chewing, and other substances are a sensitive issue in the society and might cause social desirability bias. Fail to establish cause and effect relationships because of cross-sectional study design was used. Almost half of the elders were found to be depressed which is high in prevalence. Screening of depression should be emphasized among the geriatric population.

Late-onset depression is associated to age-related central auditory processing disorder in an older population in Southern Italy.

The association between late-life depression (LLD) and age-related hearing loss (ARHL) was suggested by preliminary studies, but reliance on LLD subtypes may introduce significant bias. We examined the association between ARHL and LLD according to the age of onset (early-onset depression (EOD) and late-onset depression (LOD)). We investigated the association between ARHL and LLD diagnosed according to the Semi-structured Clinical Diagnostic Interview for DSM-IV-TR in 1749 Italian community-dwelling older subjects from the population-based GreatAGE Study, Southern Italy. Peripheral ARHL was assessed as a pure tone average (PTA) threshold > 40dB hearing level in the better ear- and age-related CAPD as a score of < 50% to the Synthetic Sentences Identification with Ipsilateral Competitive Message (SSI-ICM) test. LLD amounted at 10.29% of the sample, subdivided in LOD (6.21%) and EOD (4.08%). Age-related CAPD tended to be higher in LOD (28.91%) than in EOD (19.05%). After accounting for covariates, LOD was tendentially associated to age-related CAPD, but not to peripheral ARHL. This trend was confirmed by the linear models in which LOD was significantly associated to worsen SSI-ICM percentages (odds ratio 2.38, 95% confidence interval 1.32-4.30, p = 0.004), but not to PTA values. In a fully adjusted model of LOD, the effect of the association between CAPD and LOD was explained by social dysfunction. LLD was not associated to peripheral ARHL. Age-related CAPD was associated to LOD, a form of depression with cognitive dysfunction hallmark. The ARHL assessment may be an important opportunity to prevent depressive disorders in later life, particularly for LOD.

Play Mode Effect of Exergames on Subthreshold Depression Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Trial.

BackgroundSubthreshold depression is a common mental disorder in late life. Increasing studies have supported the positive effects of exergames to subthreshold depression. The current study aims to investigate how play mode potentially affects exergames’ effects on subthreshold depression among older adults.MethodA between-group experiment was carried out to compare the effect of exergames with different play modes. Fifty-two Singaporean older adults with subthreshold depression were randomly assigned into two conditions, and performed either single-player or multiple-player Nintendo Wii Tennis exergames for 6 weeks, while the key variables of depression, social support and loneliness were measured at both pre- and post-study period.ResultsFindings from path analysis suggested that older adults in multiple-player exergames experienced lower levels of loneliness, and further more reduction on subthreshold depression, when compared to those in single-player exergames. Although social support was not affected by play mode, the significant relationship among social support, loneliness, and depression was found in the context of exergaming.ConclusionThis study not only provides additional insight into a possible causal association lining play mode and health outcomes of exergames, but also opens the discussion of how to optimize antidepressive effect of exergames for older adults.

\u201cI feel good when I drink\u201d\u2014detecting childhood-onset alcohol abuse and dependence in a Ugandan community trial cohort

BackgroundAlcohol, substance use, and mental health disorders constitute major public health issues worldwide, including in low income and lower middle-income countries, and early initiation of use is an important predictor for developing substance use disorders in later life. This study reports on the existence of childhood alcohol abuse and dependence in a sub-study of a trial cohort in Eastern Uganda.MethodsThe project SeeTheChild—Mental Child Health in Uganda (STC) included a sub-study of the Ugandan site of the study PROMISE SB: Saving Brains in Uganda and Burkina Faso. PROMISE SB was a follow-up study of a trial birth cohort (PROMISE EBF) that estimated the effect that peer counselling for exclusive breast-feeding had on the children’s cognitive functioning and mental health once they reached 5–8 years of age. The STC sub-study (N = 148) used the diagnostic tool MINI-KID to assess mental health conditions in children who scored medium and high (≥ 14) on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in the PROMISE SB cohort N = (119/148; 80.4%). Another 29/148 (19.6%) were recruited from the PROMISE SB cohort as a comparator with low SDQ scores (< 14). Additionally, the open-ended questions in the diagnostic history were analysed. The MINI-KID comprised diagnostic questions on alcohol abuse and dependence, and descriptive data from the sub-study are presented in this paper.ResultsA total of 11/148 (7.4%) children scored positive for alcohol abuse and dependence in this study, 10 of whom had high SDQ scores (≥ 14). The 10 children with SDQ-scores ≥ 14 had a variety of mental health comorbidities of which suicidality 3/10 (30.0%) and separation anxiety disorder 5/10 (50.0%) were the most common. The one child with an SDQ score below 14 did not have any comorbidities. Access to homemade brew, carer’s knowledge of the drinking, and difficult household circumstances were issues expressed in the children’s diagnostic histories.ConclusionsThe discovery of alcohol abuse and dependence among 5–8 year olds in clinical interviews from a community based trial cohort was unexpected, and we recommend continued research and increased awareness of these conditions in this age group.Trial registration Trial registration for PROMISE SB: Saving Brains in Uganda and Burkina Faso: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01882335), 20 June 2013. Regrettably, there was a 1 month delay in the registration compared to the commenced re-inclusion in the follow-up study: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01882335?term=saving+brains&draw=2&rank=1

330 - Depression and Anxiety among Older people in Central Africa: Results of the EPIDEMCA population-based study

Introduction:Depression and anxiety are two very common psychiatric disorders in late-life. They are markers of poor quality of life and are strongly associated with death among older people. Yet, few studies on these comorbidities have been conducted in the African population. This study aims to present the epidemiology of depression and anxiety among older people in Central Africa.Method:A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out in Republic of Congo (ROC) and Central African Republic (CAR) between 2011 - 2012 among older people aged ? 65 years (EPIDEMCA study). Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire and participants underwent a brief physical examination. Depression and anxiety symptoms were ascertained using a community version of the Geriatric Mental State (GMS-B3) and the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy diagnostic system (AGECAT), probable cases were defined as having a GMS-AGECAT level of 3 or more. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between potential risk factors collected and each symptom.Results:Overall 2002 participants were included in the EPIDEMCA study (500 in Brazzaville and 529 in Gamboma in ROC, 500 in Bangui and 473 in Nola (473) in CAR). Median age of the participants was 72 years [interquartile range: 68 – 78 years] and females were mostly represented (61.8%). Prevalence was 38.1% (95% Confidence Interval: 35.9% - 40.2%) for depression, 7.7% (95% CI: 6.5% - 8.9%) for anxiety and 5.7% (95% CI: 4.6% - 6.7%) for the co-occurrence of both disorders. For all three outcomes, prevalence was significantly higher among females and in rural areas. Only depression increased with age. Preliminary analyses showed that female sex, living in a rural area, and living without a partner were associated with the three outcomes (Odds Ratios from 1.59 to 3.27; p&lt;0.01). In-depth results regarding correlates of depression, anxiety and the co-occurrence of both will be presented.Conclusion:The prevalence of depression and anxiety was high among Central African older people. Evidence on the epidemiology of these common psychiatric symptoms are of importance for care management and also emphasize the need to maintain and/or strengthen social support around older people in the region.

Fetal Growth Restriction - Diagnostic Work-up, Management and Delivery.

Fetal or intrauterine growth restriction (FGR/IUGR) affects approximately 5 – 8% of all pregnancies and refers to a fetus not exploiting its genetically determined growth potential. Not only a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, it also predisposes these fetuses to the development of chronic disorders in later life. Apart from the timely diagnosis and identification of the causes of FGR, the obstetric challenge primarily entails continued antenatal management with optimum timing of delivery. In order to minimise premature birth morbidity, intensive fetal monitoring aims to prolong the pregnancy and at the same time intervene, i.e. deliver, before the fetus is threatened or harmed. It is important to note that early-onset FGR (< 32 + 0 weeks of gestation [wks]) should be assessed differently than late-onset FGR (≥ 32 + 0 wks). In early-onset FGR progressive deterioration is reflected in abnormal venous Doppler parameters, while in late-onset FGR this manifests primarily in abnormal cerebral Doppler ultrasound. According to our current understanding, the “optimum” approach for monitoring and timing of delivery in early-onset FGR combines computerized CTG with the ductus venosus Doppler, while in late-onset FGR assessment of the cerebral Doppler parameters becomes more important.

Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Elderly

With the increasing age of those born between 1946 and 1965, issues relating to the “baby boomer” generation are more relevant than ever. This review aims to both highlight the importance of screening for substance use disorders in the elderly (specifically in this case, opioid use disorder) and then summarize the available treatment options for this vulnerable population. A narrative review of the literature showed surprisingly little research on the treatment of substance use disorders, especially opioid use disorder, in the elderly. None of the three medications that are FDA approved for opioid use disorder in adults (methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone) is contraindicated in the elderly. All medications should be used cautiously, keeping in mind that the elderly often have more medical issues (which can include chronic pain) as well as are on multiple medications that can lead to medication interactions. Because there is very limited data on treatment of opioid use disorder in later life, current treatment generally follows recommendations for the general/mixed age population. More research into the topic is needed, especially with a larger percentage of the “baby boomer” generation entering the 65+ age range.

Early-life nutrition and metabolic disorders in later life: a new perspective on energy metabolism.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic disorders have become an epidemic globally. However, the pathogenesis remains largely unclear and the prevention and treatment are still limited. In addition to environmental factors during adulthood, early life is the critical developmental window with high tissue plasticity, which might be modified by external environmental cues. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the vital role of early-life nutrition in programming the metabolic disorders in later life. In this review, we aim to overview the concepts of fetal programming and investigate the effects of early-life nutrition on energy metabolism in later life and the potential epigenetic mechanism. The related studies published on PubMed database up to March 2020 were included. The results showed that both maternal overnutrition and undernutrition increased the riskes of metabolic disorders in offspring and epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, miRNAs, and histone modification, might be the vital mediators. The beneficial effects of early-life lifestyle modifications as well as dietary and nutritional interventions on these deleterious metabolic remolding were initially observed. Overall, characterizing the early-life malnutrition that reshapes metabolic disease trajectories may yield novel targets for early prevention and intervention and provide a new point of view to the energy metabolism.

Cardiorenal metabolic biomarkers link early life stress to risk of non-communicable diseases and adverse mental health outcomes

Stress is one of the most critical determinants of lifetime health and increases the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. To gain insight into underlying environment-gene interactions, we analyzed the cardiorenal metabolome of adult mice exposed to multidimensional early-life transportation stress. Using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, we show that early life stress permanently programs metabolic pathways in somatic organs linked to cardiorenal and mental health disorders in later life. Heart and kidneys of stressed mice revealed robust metabolic markers linked to abnormal energy metabolism, branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis and degradation, methylhistidine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, glycine and serine metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. These markers were strongly associated with anxiety-like behaviours. Dysregulation of energy and protein metabolism suggests an increased risk of metabolic diseases like insulin resistance, cardiorenal syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. These findings provide novel insights into the direct effects of early life stress on cardiorenal metabolism and are consistent with prior observations of increased non-communicable disease risk in stressed populations. Thus, stress-associated metabolic signatures in somatic organs may provide early predictors of health risks in later life and reveal new candidates for peripheral biomarker detection with diagnostic value.

Don't blame the BAME: Ethnic and structural inequalities in susceptibilities to COVID-19.

This article has been written from the UK, using British terminology to refer to ethnic minorities where BAME (Black, Asian, minority ethnic groups) is a commonly used and recognized acronym. In the United Kingdom, Asian also generally refers to minorities from South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In the United States, Asian more frequently refers to people from Southeast Asian countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. Socially constructed categories used to refer to minoritized groups are variously constructed in different countries; for example, British nomenclature most often refers to ethnicity rather than race.

Mood Disorders in Late Life: A Population-based Analysis of Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Consequences in Community-dwelling Older Adults in Ontario: Troubles de l'humeur en âge avancé : Une analyse dans la population de la prévalence, des facteurs de risque et des conséquences chez des adultes âgés vivant en milieu communautaire en Ontario.

Objective:Mental health issues in late life are a growing public health challenge as the population aged 65 and older rapidly increases worldwide. An updated understanding of the causes of mood disorders and their consequences in late life could guide interventions for this underrecognized and undertreated problem. We undertook a population-based analysis to quantify the prevalence of mood disorders in late life in Ontario, Canada, and to identify potential risk factors and consequences.Method:Individuals aged 65 or older participating in 4 cycles of a nationally representative survey were included. Self-report of a diagnosed mood disorder was used as the outcome measure. Using linked administrative data, we quantified associations between mood disorder and potential risk factors such as demographic/socioeconomic factors, substance use, and comorbidity. We also determined associations between mood disorders and 5-year outcomes including health service utilization and mortality.Results:The prevalence of mood disorders was 6.1% (4.9% among males, 7.1% among females). Statistically significant associations with mood disorders included younger age, female sex, food insecurity, chronic opioid use, smoking, and morbidity. Individuals with mood disorders had increased odds of all consequences examined, including placement in long-term care (adjusted odds ratio [OR] =2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71 to 3.02) and death (adjusted OR = 1.35; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.63).Conclusions:Mood disorders in late life were strongly correlated with demographic and social/behavioral factors, health care use, institutionalization, and mortality. Understanding these relationships provides a basis for potential interventions to reduce the occurrence of mood disorders in late life and their consequences.

Standardized assessment of personality disorders in older adults: State-of-the-art.

The double ageing evolution in Europe is a tremendous challenge for health care. Older adults with a personality disorder place an additional burden: they have more somatic and psychiatric co-morbidity than those without a personality disorder. Moreover, they experience less quality of life than individuals without personality disorders. This is in sharp contrast to the dearth of empirical research concerning the construct of personality disorders in later life, the very limited amount of available diagnostic tools, criteria of classification systems like DSM not being attuned to the elderly context and the lack of age-neutrality of popular instruments to measure personality disorders. Therefore, in the Netherlands and Belgium a start was made to develop and validate age-specific instruments and to examine the applicability of the alternative dimensional-hybrid DSM-5 classification of personality disorders in older adults. These recent developments and how to apply them for a personalized assessment in older adults will be discussed. Finally, we advise a phased test-based diagnostic approach in which the above-mentioned instruments, combined with measures of adaptive features or more specific tests, can contribute to an assessment optimizing the balance between restricting the load for the older patient and still being sufficiently comprehensive to result in a personalized approach of the diagnostic process.

The immune system's first steps.

In the early 1950s, Peter Medawar and colleagues showed that transplant tolerance could be induced in adult mice by inoculating them in utero with cells from a donor strain. This elegant experiment revealed that the immune system in early life is functionally distinct and responsive to programming that persists into adulthood. Nearly 70 years later, the complexity and developmental trajectory of the fetal–neonatal immune system are much better understood. We have also begun to appreciate that the immune system in early life does not develop in isolation but is instead strongly infl uenced by maternal cells, commensal microbes, and pathogens. This special issue surveys recent advances in the fi eld of early life immunology. Review articles highlight distinctive features of human fetal immune system development elucidated by unbiased multi-omics analysis, the impact of commensal metabolites and xenobiotics on immunity before and after birth, how maternal and fetal immune components work together to combat viral infections during pregnancy (and what happens when these mechanisms fail), and the potential of vaccination approaches to boost fetal–maternal immunity and protect neonates against the pathogens that most frequently cause them harm. These discoveries should inform future public health initiatives and draw renewed attention to the vulnerability of children in early life, laying the groundwork for vaccination strategies to target pathogens that cause congenital and neonatal infections as well as therapies to treat disorders such as stillbirth and prematurity. Evidence is also mounting that immune system programming that starts in early life may influence the risk of developing conditions such as allergic, autoimmune, reproductive, and neuropsychiatric disorders in later life, further underscoring the translational implications of this kind of research.

Monitoring of Early Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease Using Functionalized Conducting Polymer and Aptamer Modified Electrode

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders of later life. Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) has been found to be one of the principal components of the Lewy-body that is thought to be the pathologic hallmark of PD. A highly sensitive electrochemical impedance sensor for α-Syn monitoring was fabricated using an aptamer immobilized on functionalized conducting polymers substrates: aptamer linked with poly(pyrrole-carboxylic acid)[PPy-COOH]. The conducting polymers were employed for providing high electrical conductivity and linking agents. The sensing performace was investigated in terms of sensitivity and detection range. The fabricated sensor exhibited extremely low detection limit at a 10-8 nM level. The developed α-Syn sensor could be utilized for the early diagnosis of PD.

Altered GABA-mediated information processing and cognitive dysfunctions in depression and other brain disorders.

Cognitive dysfunctions, including impaired attention, learning, memory, planning and problem solving, occur in depressive episodes, often persist during remission, predict relapse, worsen with recurrent episodes, and are not treated by current antidepressants or other medications. Cognitive symptoms are also present in other psychiatric disorders, are a hallmark of aging, and define several late-life disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. This pervasive occurrence suggests either a non-specific outcome of a diseased brain, or a shared underlying pathology contributing to this symptom dimension. Recent findings suggest a role for altered GABAergic inhibition in cognitive symptoms. Cellular, molecular and biochemical studies in human subjects report changes affecting the gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) system, specifically somatostatin-expressing (SST+) GABAergic interneurons, across brain disorders and during aging. SST+ neurons gate excitatory input onto pyramidal neurons within cortical microcircuits. Experimentally reducing the function of these neurons affects excitatory signal-to-noise ratio, reduces synchronized cellular and neural activity, and leads to cognitive dysfunctions. Conversely, augmenting SST+ cell post-synaptic α5-GABA-A receptor activity has pro-cognitive efficacy in stress and aging models. Together, this suggests that reduced signaling of the SST+ neuron/α5-GABA-A receptor pathway contributes to cognitive dysfunctions, and that it represents a novel therapeutic target for remediating mood and cognitive symptoms in depression, other psychiatric disorders and during aging.