Rosa Capozzo

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a possible marker of disease severity and progression

To date there are no biomarkers with proven reliability as a measure of disease burden in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of our study is to assess the neurofilament light chain (NFL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples as a measure of disease activity and progression in ALS.

Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light chain levels: marker of progression to generalized amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

To evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels could predict the time to generalization (TTG) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The prevalence of peripheral and central hearing impairment and its relation to cognition in older adults.

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and dementia are two highly prevalent conditions in the adult population. Recent studies have suggested that hearing loss is independently associated with poorer cognitive functioning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of ARHL and cognitive impairment in a large sample of subjects older than 65 years and to correlate hearing function with cognitive function. A total of 488 subjects older than 65 years (mean age 72.8 years) participating in the Great Age Study underwent a complete audiological, neurological and neuropsychological evaluation as part of a multidisciplinary assessment. The prevalence of a hearing loss greater than 25 dB HL was 64.1%, of Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) was 14.3 and 25.3% of the subjects reported a hearing handicap as reported on the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Version questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis corrected for gender, age and education duration showed that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was significantly associated with hearing impairment (CAPD and hearing threshold; odds ratio 1.6, p = 0.05) and that Alzheimers disease (AD) was significantly associated with CAPD (odds ratio 4.2, p = 0.05). Given that up to 80% of patients affected by MCI convert to AD, adding auditory tests to a screening cognitive battery might have value in the early diagnosis of cognitive decline.

Age-related hearing impairment and frailty in Alzheimer's disease: interconnected associations and mechanisms

Among potentially modifiable age-related conditions linked to dementia, Alzheimers disease (AD), and late-life cognitive disorders, age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) or presbycusis is the most widely diffused sensory disorder and one of the principal causes of chronic disability in older adults (Gates and Mills, 2005). The impairments of peripheral (sensory or strial) and central (predominantly neural) auditory pathways, diagnosed with different procedures, are often variously imbricated in determining ARHI, with mixed clinical findings (Gates and Mills, 2005). A growing body of epidemiological evidence linking ARHI with late-life cognitive disorders (Panza et al., 2015a) suggested the potential for correcting hearing loss so that elders can function better also from a cognitive point of view with appropriate treatment. ARHI is also a substantial marker for frailty in older age, another age-related clinical condition for identifying older persons at elevated risk for numerous adverse health outcomes such as falls, institutionalization, hospitalization, disability, and death (Rodriguez-Manas, 2013). Frailty is as a multidimensional syndrome characterized by a nonspecific state of vulnerability, reduced multisystem physiological reserve, and decreased resistance to stressors (Rodriguez-Manas, 2013). Although there is no consensus regarding the operational definition of frailty, in general, two are the most frequently used approaches: the first is the physical or “phenotypic” model of frailty, while the second is based on deficit accumulation, measured with the so called frailty indexes, and defined as an accumulation of health-related deficits and disorders (Rodriguez-Manas, 2013). However, also psychological, cognitive and social factors are part of this multidimensional syndrome, with great influence on its definition and treatment. Cognition has already been suggested as a possible component of frailty with increased risk of adverse outcomes. Therefore, the prevention of cognitive-related adverse outcomes including delirium (Eeles et al., 2012) and late-life cognitive disorders (Robertson et al., 2013; Panza et al., 2015b) may be possible also through frailty prevention.

Frontal assessment battery for detecting executive dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis without dementia: a retrospective observational study

Objective The frontal assessment battery (FAB) is a quick and reliable method of screening to evaluate frontal lobe dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, previous studies were generally conducted on small samples representing different stages of disease and severity. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the FAB in detecting executive functions and its association with demographic and clinical features in ALS without dementia. Design Retrospective observational study. Setting A multidisciplinary tertiary centre for motor neuron disease. Participants We enrolled 95 consecutive patients with ALS diagnosed with El Escorial criteria in the period between January 2006 and December 2010. Main outcome measures We screened the patients with ALS using the FAB. An Executive Index (EI) was also calculated by averaging the Z scores of analytic executive tests evaluating information-processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test—Oral version), selective attention (Stroop test) and semantic memory (Verbal Fluency Test). Results The FAB detected executive dysfunction in 13.7% of the patients with ALS. Moreover, using the EI standardised cut-off, 37.9% of the patients with ALS showed executive dysfunction. The receiver-operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal cut-off for the FAB in the whole sample was 16, with a sensitivity of 0.889 (95% CIs 0.545 to 1.000), a specificity of 0.593 (95% CI 0.450 to 0.907) and a moderate overall discriminatory power of 0.809. Different levels of respiratory function, duration of disease and depressive symptoms did not affect the FAB validity. Conclusions In patients with ALS without dementia, a high prevalence of executive dysfunction was present. The FAB showed good validity as a screening instrument to detect executive dysfunction in these patients and may be used when a complete neuropsychological assessment is not possible.

Mitochondrial genome aberrations in skeletal muscle of patients with motor neuron disease.

Abstract Our objective was to assess the role of defects of mitochondrial function as contributing factors in the pathogenesis and/or progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); mitochondrial genome structural alterations were investigated. DNA lesions, point alterations and gross rearrangements were screened by specific applications of real-time PCR including an optimized rapid gene-specific method for the accurate quantification of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lesions as well as sequencing on skeletal muscle biopsies of three patients presenting with motor neuron disease. We found a higher frequency of mtDNA lesions, including multiple deletions, particularly in the only SOD1 mutated patient as well as in a patient negative for mutations in SOD1 but presenting a severe form of the disease. The occurrence and the extent of mtDNA lesions of the cases here presented were consistent in all the examined clinical phenotypes of ALS (SOD1 related ALS, bulbar onset, spinal onset) and correlated with the severity of clinical course of the illness and with the presence of SOD1 mutation as well. In conclusion, the strong association with mtDNA damages supports the hypothesis that mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of ALS.

Serum N-acetylaspartate Level in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

BACKGROUND N -acetylaspartate (NAA) level is a biomarker of functional integrity and vitality in neurons. In vivo multisection proton ((1)H)-magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies indicate that NAA level decreases in specific cortical brain areas of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). OBJECTIVE To study NAA level in serum samples as a possible biomarker of ALS. DESIGN Serum NAA assay by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in a case-control series. SETTING Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Policlinico, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. PATIENTS One hundred twelve consecutive patients with ALS and 51 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES General estimating equations tested associations between serum NAA level and clinical variables in patients with ALS. RESULTS Serum NAA level was significantly higher in ALS cases than in controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a direct association between serum NAA level and the presence of ALS. After stratifying serum NAA level based on the median value (0.171 mmol/L), the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for ALS was 19.97 (95% confidence interval, 7.18-55.55) (P < .001). N -acetylaspartate level did not differ across ALS clinical phenotypes. Riluzole treatment did not affect NAA level. A significant correlation was found between serum NAA level and ALS progression rate. CONCLUSIONS High serum NAA level was found in patients with ALS, which may relate to greater excretion of NAA into the blood circulation following increased release of this metabolite from damaged neurons. The correlation between serum NAA level and disease progression rate suggests that it may be a useful biomarker of ALS.

Midlife Metabolic Profile and the Risk of Late-Life Cognitive Decline

Among metabolic syndrome components, the effects of higher plasma glucose levels on cognitive decline (CD) have been considered in few studies. We evaluated the associations among midlife glycemia, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, midlife insulin resistance [homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-index)], and CD in the older subjects of the population-based MICOL Study (Castellana Grotte, Italy) at baseline (M1) and at follow-ups seven (M2) and twenty years later (M3). At M1, a dementia risk score and a composite cardiovascular risk score for dementia were calculated. For 797 subjects out of 833, we obtained a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score at M3, subdividing these subjects in three cognitive functioning subgroups: normal cognition, mild CD, and moderate-severe CD. Mean fasting glycemia at baseline was significantly higher in moderate-severe CD subgroup (114.6±71.4 mg/dl) than in the normal cognition subgroup (101.2±20.6). Adjusting for gender, age, and other metabolic components, higher fasting glycemia values both at M1 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.59] and M2 (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.01-1.57) were associated with an increased risk of moderate-severe CD. Mean HOMA index value was significantly higher in the moderate-severe CD subgroup (5.7±9.4) compared to the normal cognition subgroup (2.9±1.4) at M1. The dementia risk probability (MMSE < 24) increased moving through higher categories of the dementia risk score and decreased as long as the cardiovascular score increased. The present findings highlighted the indication to control blood glucose levels, regardless of a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, as early as midlife for prevention of late-life dementia.

Mitochondrial genome large rearrangements in the skeletal muscle of a patient with PMA

Sir, Progressive muscular atrophy is a motor neuron disease (MND) characterized by selective lower motor neuron involvement [1]. MND pathogenesis is unknown and different mechanisms, including oxidative stress, may be involved [2]. Mitochondrial (mt) abnormalities have been observed in motor neurons of patients with MND [2], and MND patients carrying pathogenic mtDNA alteration have been reported [3]. A 63-year-old woman presented with a 4-year history of proximal upper limb muscle weakness and hypotrophy. Informed consent was obtained. Neurological examination revealed muscle weakness, hypotrophy and fasciculations with the absence of deep tendon reflexes in upper limbs. Cranial nerves and lower limbs function were normal. Laboratory examinations, SOD1, and SMA analysis were normal. Electromyography of the four limb muscles showed diffuse chronic denervation with fibrillations. Motor, sensory evoked potentials were normal. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of brain was normal, whilst MRI of the spinal cord revealed cervical and lumbar disks protrusion. The muscular weakness slowly

Time to generalisation as a predictor of prognosis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), prognosis is usually based on death or tracheostomy as outcomes. Nevertheless, the early course is known to be a reliable indicator of the whole course of the disease.1 The identification of outcomes in early stages would determine better planning of interventions and more appropriate stratification of newly diagnosed patients for randomised clinical trials (RCTs). The time of disease spread is probably linked to the rate of progression and the intensity of neuro-axonal degeneration,2 and it has already been related to survival in ALS.3 The aim of the present study was to evaluate if time to generalisation (TTG) may predict survival in ALS. All patients with a diagnosis of possible, probable or definite ALS, according to El Escorial criteria,4 and an onset of the disease between January 2004 and December 2007, referred to the Centre of Motor Neuron Disease, University of Bari, were enrolled in the current study. The study was terminated in April 2012. Death or tracheostomy was used as outcome measure to study the 4-year and 5-year mortality. Considered clinical variables were: (1) age at symptom onset (AAO); (2) site of symptom onset (bulbar region or spinal region); (3) time of diagnosis; (4) onset-diagnosis interval (ODI), defined as the time from the onset of the first symptom to diagnosis of ALS; (5) score of the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-r) at baseline;5 (6) TTG, considered as the time of spreading of the clinical signs from spinal (cervical, thoracic, or lumbosacral regions), or bulbar localisation or both. To detect generalisation, all the lower and upper motor neuron signs listed in the El Escorial criteria for the four body regions were investigated;4 TTG was censored at the time of the last follow-up visit; (7) overall survival (OS), defined as …