Your search for: 'author:("Fornazzari, Luis")' has returned 2 results. (0.009s) Save search

Authors: Showraki, Alireza | Murari, Geetanjali | Ismail, Zahinoor | Barfett, Joseph J. | Fornazzari, Luis | Munoz, David G. | Schweizer, Tom A. | Fischer, Corinne E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common, accelerate the conversion to dementia, and are associated with increased caregiver burden in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: The aim of this study is to identify potential associations between the core cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (amyloid/tau) and NPS in AD/MCI. Methods: For this systematic review, four databases, PubMed (1946–2018), Cochrane (2005–2018), EMBASE (1947–2018), and PsycINFO (1806–2018) were searched for relevant observational studies using an extensive list of keywords. English studies were selected for critical appraisal based on our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were defined as 1) at least one AD …CSF biomarker has been measured; 2) at least one NPS has been assessed; and 3) analysis has been done to examine the association between core AD CSF biomarker and NPS (main outcome). Animal, postmortem, and review studies were excluded. Results: In total, 21 studies qualified for the systematic review. The overall picture regarding the association between NPS and AD CSF biomarkers is conflicting. However, agitation/aggression was significantly and consistently related to core AD CSF biomarkers. Moreover, depression was the only NPS to occasionally be associated with lower core AD CSF pathology. Conclusion: Our study has revealed agitation/aggression as the most consistent NPS related to core AD CSF biomarkers. Future studies are required to focus on other neglected NPS domains such as disinhibition. Moreover, why depression was the only NPS inversely associated with core AD CSF pathology remains to be elucidated. Our study also revealed a great degree of heterogeneity, hence calling for a more standardized “objective” approach for the evaluation of NPS. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, behavioral symptoms, biomarkers, cerebrospinal fluid, neuropsychiatry, systematic review

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-190365

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 477-501, 2019

Authors: Fischer, Corinne E. | Churchill, Nathan | Leggieri, Melissa | Vuong, Veronica | Tau, Michael | Fornazzari, Luis R. | Thaut, Michael H. | Schweizer, Tom A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Repeated exposure to long-known music has been shown to have a beneficial effect on cognitive performance in patients with AD. However, the brain mechanisms underlying improvement in cognitive performance are not yet clear. Objective: In this pilot study we propose to examine the effect of repeated long-known music exposure on imaging indices and corresponding changes in cognitive function in patients with early-stage cognitive decline. Methods: Participants with early-stage cognitive decline were assigned to three weeks of daily long-known music listening, lasting one hour in duration. A cognitive battery was administered, and brain activity was measured before and after intervention. …Paired-measures tests evaluated the longitudinal changes in brain structure, function, and cognition associated with the intervention. Results: Fourteen participants completed the music-based intervention, including 6 musicians and 8 non-musicians. Post-baseline there was a reduction in brain activity in key nodes of a music-related network, including the bilateral basal ganglia and right inferior frontal gyrus, and declines in fronto-temporal functional connectivity and radial diffusivity of dorsal white matter. Musician status also significantly modified longitudinal changes in functional and structural brain measures. There was also a significant improvement in the memory subdomain of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that neuroplastic mechanisms may mediate improvements in cognitive functioning associated with exposure to long-known music listening and that these mechanisms may be different in musicians compared to non-musicians. Show more

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive reserve, functional MRI, imaging, MRI, music

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-210610

Citation: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 84, no. 2, pp. 819-833, 2021