Asako Ueno

Efficacy of short questionnaire for screening of early stage of dementia. Trial in Fukui prefecture, Japan

Hamano T1,2, Hayashi K1, Fujita Y3, Matsubara R4, Nagata M5, Ikebata Y6, Ito T,7 Ibe A,8 Sasaki H1, Yamaguchi T1, Enomoto S1, Endo Y1, MD, Ueno A1, Shirafuji N Ikawa M1, Yamamura O1, Nakamoto Y1, Hayashi K1, Yamamura O1, Nakamoto Y1 1Second Department of Internal Medicine, and 2Department of Aging and Dementia, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, 3Fujita Neurology Hospital, Fukui, 4Matsubara Hospital, Fukui, 5Nakamura Hospital, Echizen-city, 6Ikebata Hospital, Echizen-city, 7Sukoyaka Silver Hospital, Fukui, 8Ibe Hospital, Echizen-cho, Japan

Donepezil reduces phosphorylation levels of tau protein in a cellular model of tauopathy

Background:Neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) is the pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Hyperphosphorylated tau is a major constitute of NFT. Donepezil hydrochloride is a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, which is widely used for improvement of the cognitive function in AD, as well as dementia with lewy bodies. Recently, it was disclosed that AD patients who recieved donepezil for a long period showed the slowing of disease progression. However, the mechanisms are not yet clear. Methods: M1C cells that express wild-type human brain tau (4R0N) via Tetracycline Off induction (Hamano et al., EurJ Neursci 2008; Hamano et al., Neurobiol Aging 2012) were treated with 0.1 to 10 m M of donepezil for 24 h. The levels of total and phosphorylated tau were examined before and after donepezil treatment by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Results:We found that 0.1 to 10 m M of donepezil reduced phosphorylated tau levels by Western blot analysis, as well as an immunocytochemical study. Donepezil treatment also inactivated GSK3 b, which is one of the tau kinases, via the activation of Akt. Donepezil did not show cytotoxic effects. Conclusions: It was suspected that donepezil decreased phosphorylation levels of tau protein via the inactivation of GSK3. Although the mechanisms responsible for the reduction of phosphorylation levels of tau protein by donepezil require further examination, this report sheds light on possible therapeutic approaches to tauopathy.

Erratum: Pioglitazone decreases the phosphorylated and total tau protein (Alzheimer's and Dementia)

In Fig. 4.6 the units of the Dwell time, horizontal axis, should be seconds. In Fig. 4.7b the units of the Access frequency, vertical axis, should be arbitrary instead of min−1. The actual switching frequency is approx. 5 min−1. In the rst paragraph of the Outlook the following paper regarding the GA cross-linking by Ilioaia et. al. should be cited: Ilioaia, C., Johnson, M. P., Horton, P. and Ruban, A. V. Induction of E cient Energy Dissipation in the Isolated Light-harvesting Complex of Photosystem II in the Absence of Protein Aggregation. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2008, 283, 29505

Delusions of theft in patients with dementia

Background: Laminaria japonica , an edible brown seaweed, has long been utilized since ancient times as an important food resource to promote maternal health in Pacific and Asian countries. Due to its high contents of dietary fiber, minerals, carbohydrates, and protein, L. japonica has recently attracted much attention for its bioactive materials and nutraceutical qualities. Methods: The present study examined the effects of desalted Laminaria japonica (D LJ) on learning and memory function and cholinergic neuron activity in trimethyltin (TMT) induced memory deficits rats.After TMT injection (8mg/kg, i.p.), rats were administered with saline or D LJ (10 and 50mg/kg, p.o.) daily for 21 days. The cognitive improving effects of D LJ on TMT-induced amnesic rats were investigated by assessing the Morris water maze test and by performing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunohistochemistry.Results: In theMorris water maze, TMT treated group produced impairment in escape latency to find the platform. However, DLJ treated groups were significantly recovered the impairment of memory compared to the control group (on the 2nd and 4th day (P <0.05)). Consistent with behavioral data, DLJ group was significantly increased ChAT-ir neurons in the midial striatum compared to the control group (P <0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, administration of D LJ improved spatial learning and memory. These results suggest that D LJ may be useful for the cognitive improvement via regulation of cholinergic marker enzyme activity.