38 research outputs found

    Short-Term Environmental Enrichment Rescues Adult Neurogenesis and Memory Deficits in APPSw,Ind Transgenic Mice

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    Epidemiological studies indicate that intellectual activity prevents or delays the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Similarly, cognitive stimulation using environmental enrichment (EE), which increases adult neurogenesis and functional integration of newborn neurons into neural circuits of the hippocampus, protects against memory decline in transgenic mouse models of AD, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. To study the therapeutic benefits of cognitive stimulation in AD we examined the effects of EE in hippocampal neurogenesis and memory in a transgenic mouse model of AD expressing the human mutant β-amyloid (Aβ) precursor protein (APPSw,Ind). By using molecular markers of new generated neurons (bromodeoxiuridine, NeuN and doublecortin), we found reduced neurogenesis and decreased dendritic length and projections of doublecortin-expressing cells of the dentate gyrus in young APPSw,Ind transgenic mice. Moreover, we detected a lower number of mature neurons (NeuN positive) in the granular cell layer and a reduced volume of the dentate gyrus that could be due to a sustained decrease in the incorporation of new generated neurons. We found that short-term EE for 7 weeks efficiently ameliorates early hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory deficits in APPSw,Ind transgenic mice. The cognitive benefits of enrichment in APPSw,Ind transgenic mice were associated with increased number, dendritic length and projections to the CA3 region of the most mature adult newborn neurons. By contrast, Aβ levels and the total number of neurons in the dentate gyrus were unchanged by EE in APPSw,Ind mice. These results suggest that promoting the survival and maturation of adult generated newborn neurons in the hippocampus may contribute to cognitive benefits in AD mouse models

    Recognition memory for emotional pictures in Alzheimer's patients

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    Objective - the purpose of the present study was to examine whether Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients can benefit from the emotional content of visual stimuli in a picture recognition test. Method- Sixteen patients with AD and 19 normal controls matched for age and years of education, were studied. Sixteen pictures (with varying emotional contents) were presented to each participant. Thirty minutes later, a recognition test was applied with the target-pictures mixed among 34 others of similar content. the subjects were instructed to rate them as pleasant, unpleasant or indifferent. Results - the total of pictures correctly recognized by the AD patients (75.4% of the target-picture S) was smaller than that of the controls (96.4%). Controls recognized more emotional pictures than indifferent pictures. Conclusions - Emotional content enhanced recognition of pictures in normal subjects, whereas for the Alzheimer's subjects the emotional significance attached to the pictures was of no benefit to enhance recognition.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, EPM, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, EPM, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

    A longitudinal study of the effects of neuropsychological rehabilitation program in Alzheimer's disease

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    Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc
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