Journal of Alzheimer's Disease - Volume Pre-press, issue Pre-press

Authors: Jehu, Deborah A. | Pottayil, Faheem | Dong, Yanbin | Zhu, Haidong | Sams, Richard | Young, Lufei

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Physical activity preserves cognitive function in people without dementia, but the relationship between physical activity and cognitive domains among people living with dementia is unclear. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the association between physical activity and cognition domains among people living with dementia. Methods: Participants living with dementia in residential care facilities (complete case analysis: n  = 24/42) completed a battery of cognitive tests (global cognition : Montreal Cognitive Assessment; executive function : Trail-Making Test, Digit Span Forward Test; perception and orientation : Benton Judgement of Line Orientation Test; …language : Boston Naming Test; learning and memory : Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; complex attention : Digit Symbol Substitution Test). Participants wore an actigraphy monitor on their non-dominant wrist over seven days. We conducted a linear regression for total physical activity (independent variable) with race (white/black), fall risk (Morse Fall Scale), and the number of comorbidities (Functional Comorbidities Index) as covariates, and cognitive tests as variables of interest. Results: Participants were primarily male (75%), white (87.5%), and 50%had unspecified dementia (Alzheimer’s disease: 33%). Greater physical activity was associated with poorer global cognition, better executive function, and better learning and memory (p s  <  0.05). Physical activity was not related to visuospatial perception, language, or complex attention. Conclusions: Physical activity may preserve executive function and learning and memory among people living with dementia. Wandering is more common in later stages of dementia, which may explain greater physical activity observed with lower global cognition. Regularly assessing physical activity may be useful in screening and monitoring cognitive changes. Show more

Keywords: Accelerometry, actigraphy, Alzheimer’s disease, cognition, cognitive domains, dementia, physical activity

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230594

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-11, 2024

Authors: Slusarenko, Alexandra | Rosenberg, Michael C. | Kazanski, Meghan E. | McKay, J. Lucas | Emmery, Laura | Kesar, Trisha M. | Hackney, Madeleine E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Personalized dance-based movement therapies may improve cognitive and motor function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. While age- and MCI-related deficits reduce individuals’ abilities to perform dance-like rhythmic movement sequences (RMS)—spatial and temporal modifications to movement—it remains unclear how individuals’ relationships to dance and music affect their ability to perform RMS. Objective: Characterize associations between RMS performance and music or dance relationships, as well as the ability to perceive rhythm and meter (rhythmic proficiency) in adults with and without MCI. Methods: We used wearable inertial sensors to evaluate the …ability of 12 young adults (YA; age = 23.9±4.2 years; 9F), 26 older adults without MCI (OA; age = 68.1±8.5 years; 16F), and 18 adults with MCI (MCI; age = 70.8±6.2 years; 10F) to accurately perform spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal RMS. To quantify self-reported music and dance relationships and rhythmic proficiency, we developed Music (MRQ) and Dance Relationship Questionnaires (DRQ), and a rhythm assessment (RA), respectively. We correlated MRQ, DRQ, and RA scores against RMS performance for each group separately. Results: The OA and YA groups exhibited better MRQ and RA scores than the MCI group (p  < 0.006). Better MRQ and RA scores were associated with better temporal RMS performance for only the YA and OA groups (r2  = 0.18–0.41; p  < 0.045). DRQ scores were not associated with RMS performance in any group. Conclusions: Cognitive deficits in adults with MCI likely limit the extent to which music relationships or rhythmic proficiency improve the ability to perform temporal aspects of movements performed during dance-based therapies. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dance, gait analysis, mild cognitive impairment, music, rehabilitation, rhythm, therapy

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-231453

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-20, 2024

Authors: Rice, Paige E. | Thumuluri, Deepthi | Barnstaple, Rebecca | Fanning, Jason | Laurita-Spanglet, Jessie | Soriano, Christina T. | Hugenschmidt, Christina E.

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Background: Dance combines cultural and aesthetic elements with behaviors important for brain health, including physical activity, social engagement, and cognitive challenge. Therefore, dance could positively impact public health given the rapidly aging population, increasing incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and lack of uptake of exercise in many older adults. Despite a high volume of literature, existing literature does not support evidence-based guidelines for dance to support healthy aging. Objective: To conduct a scoping review of the dance intervention literature in older adults and provide information to facilitate a more consistent approach among scientists in designing dance …interventions for older adults that stimulate physical and neurocognitive health adaptations. Methods: Study characteristics (sample size, population, study design, outcomes, intervention details) were ascertained from 112 separate studies of dance reported in 127 papers that reported outcomes important for brain health (cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and mobility, cognition, mood, and quality of life). Results: High heterogeneity across studies was evident. Class frequency ranged from < 1 to 5 classes per week, class length from 30–120 minutes, and intervention duration from 2 weeks to 18 months. Studies often did not randomize participants, had small (< 30) sample sizes, and used varied comparator conditions. Over 50 tests of cognition, 40 dance forms, and 30 tests of mobility were identified. Conclusions: Based on these results, important future directions are establishing common data elements, developing intervention mapping and mechanistic modeling, and testing dosing parameters to strengthen and focus trial design of future studies and generate evidence-based guidelines for dance. Show more

Keywords: Aging, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition, health, physical fitness, physical function performance

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230741

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-38, 2024

Authors: Zhao, Hainan | Yuan, Hongxia | Wang, Ermin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia. Genetic components play an important role in AD and have been widely evaluated by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and exome sequencing, and some common and rare genetic variants have been identified. In addition to genetic factors, environment factors have a role in AD. Growing evidence from observational studies linked impaired kidney function to cognitive impairment and AD; however, there are inconsistences in these findings. Objective: To determine the causal effects of impaired kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD) on AD. Methods: Mendelian randomization (MR) methods …have been widely used to infer causal associations between exposure and outcome. Here, we conducted an MR study to investigate the causal effects of impaired kidney function and CKD on the risk of AD by analyzing large-scale GWAS datasets from FinnGen and CKD Genetics (CKDGen) Consortium. Results: We found no significant but a suggestive effect of CKD on decreased risk of AD using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) (p  = 8.46E–02) and simple mode (p  = 7.60E–02) methods. We identified a statistically significant effect of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on increased risk of AD using IVW (p  = 1.11E–02), weighted median regression (p  = 5.60E–03), and weighted mode (p  = 2.45E–02) methods. Conclusions: Together, our findings indicate that high eGFR levels may increase the risk of AD. These findings need to be verified in future studies. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, chronic kidney disease, genome-wide association study, kidney function, Mendelian randomization

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-240807

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-8, 2024

Authors: Dieterich-Hartwell, Rebekka

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Rising global levels of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease call for the treatment of both cognitive and psychosocial deficits of this population. While there is no cure for dementia, the progression can be slowed, and symptoms eased. The positive effects of exercise and dance have been documented as has interpersonal synchrony. Dance/movement therapy uses kinesthetic empathy, attunement, and mirroring to communicate, synchronize, and connect with clients, salient for a population that often struggles with loneliness and isolation. Here I offer a perspective on how dance/movement therapy promotes the social functions and neural underpinning of interpersonal synchrony, possibly providing neuroprotection for this …population. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dance/movement therapy, interpersonal synchrony, treatment

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-240239

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-6, 2024