Systematized Physical Activity And Depressive Symptoms In Alzheimer's Dementia: A Systematic Review [atividade Física Sistematizada E Sintomas De Depressão Na Demência De Alzheimer: Uma Revisão Sistemática]

Objective: To develop a systematic review of scientific articles that have been analyzed the effects of systematic physical activity in depression of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: We performed a search in the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, MedLine and Biological Abstracts, we used the following keywords: "Alzheimer dementia", "Alzheimer disease", "Alzheimer's, physical activity", "physical exercise", "motor intervention", "physical therapy", "exercise", "aerobic", "strength", "fitness", "depression", "dysphoria", "depressive symptoms" and "depressive episodes", and also a manual search in references of the selected articles. Results: Have been found four studies that met all criteria of this study. Two studies presented reductions in depressive symptoms, and two others no reduction of these symptoms. Conclusion: In conducting this systematic review, it was observed that there is not consensus regarding the benefits of physical activity on depressive symptoms in patients with Alzheimer dementia.5915864Schulz, R., O'Brien, A.T., Bookwala, J., Fleissner, K., Psychiatric and physical morbidity effects of dementia caregiving (1995) Gerontologist, 35, pp. 771-791Lyketsos, C.G., Steinberg, M., Tschanz, J.T., Norton, M.C., Steffens, D.C., Breitner, J.C.S., Mental and behavioral disturbances in dementia: Findings from the cache county study on memory in aging (2000) American Journal of Psychiatry, 157 (5), pp. 708-714. , DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.5.708Tan, L.L., Wong, H.B., Allen, H., The impact of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia on distress in family and professional caregivers in Singapore (2005) International Psychogeriatrics, 17 (2), pp. 253-263. , DOI 10.1017/S1041610205001523Magni, E., Binetti, G., Bianchetti, A., Trabucchi, M., Risk of mortality and institutionalization in demented patients with delusions (1996) Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 (3), pp. 123-126Scarmeas, N., Brandt, J., Albert, M., Hadjigeorgiou, G., Papadimitriou, A., Dubois, B., Delusions and hallucinations are associated with worse outcome in Alzheimer disease (2005) Arch Neurol, 62, pp. 1601-1608Olin, J.T., Schneider, L.S., Kats, I.R., Meyers, B.S., Alexopoulos, G.S., Breitener, J.C., Provisional diagnostic criteria for depression of Alzheimer disease (2002) Am J Geriatric Psychiatr, 10, pp. 125-128Snowdon, J., How high is the prevalence of depression in old age? 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Proposal for developing maize hybrids by combining heterotic patterns [Propuesta para formar híbridos de maíz combinando patrones heteróticos]

In this work we present a proposal to incorporate genes from exotic maize populations and heterotic patterns to adapted heterotic patterns, so that in addition to obtain the recovered original crosses, using the strategy of combining exotic and adapted heterotic patterns, it takes advantage of genetic diversity generated trough developing new options of maize hybrids with the alleles of interest. To describe the strategy, a case study for developing yellow maize hybrids from adapted maize heterotic patterns of white grain and exotic yellow heterotic patterns as donors, was used. In a comparative analysis, it was determined that the proposal could be more efficient than using reciprocal recurrent selection beginning with yellow populations and the conventional backcrossing methods. The included early test in this proposal, would lead to select segregating yellow lines with outstanding general combining ability to reduce costs in line evaluation and would allow being more successful in selecting recovered yellow lines. The combination and complementation between adapted and exotic populations or heterotic patterns would allow taking advantage of adapted and exotic germplasm, because it would be possible to develop different types of yellow maize hybrids with the recovered yellow lines, in comparison to reciprocal recurrent selection and conventional methods where only recovered crosses similar to the originals could be developed

Proposal for developing maize hybrids by combining heterotic patterns [Propuesta para formar híbridos de maíz combinando patrones heteróticos]

In this work we present a proposal to incorporate genes from exotic maize populations and heterotic patterns to adapted heterotic patterns, so that in addition to obtain the recovered original crosses, using the strategy of combining exotic and adapted heterotic patterns, it takes advantage of genetic diversity generated trough developing new options of maize hybrids with the alleles of interest. To describe the strategy, a case study for developing yellow maize hybrids from adapted maize heterotic patterns of white grain and exotic yellow heterotic patterns as donors, was used. In a comparative analysis, it was determined that the proposal could be more efficient than using reciprocal recurrent selection beginning with yellow populations and the conventional backcrossing methods. The included early test in this proposal, would lead to select segregating yellow lines with outstanding general combining ability to reduce costs in line evaluation and would allow being more successful in selecting recovered yellow lines. The combination and complementation between adapted and exotic populations or heterotic patterns would allow taking advantage of adapted and exotic germplasm, because it would be possible to develop different types of yellow maize hybrids with the recovered yellow lines, in comparison to reciprocal recurrent selection and conventional methods where only recovered crosses similar to the originals could be developed

Apathy, Cognitive Function And Motor Function In Alzheimer's Disease [apatia, Funções Cognitivas E Funcionalidade Motora Em Idosos Com Doença De Alzheimer]

The aims of this study were to characterize the presence of apathy in patients with AD, determine the relationship between apathy, motor function and cognitive function, and to verify differences among patients stratified by level of apathy in relation to cognitive and motor abilities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 37 patients with AD. The following tests were used: MoCA, the Frontal Assessment Battery, Verbal Fluency, Clock Drawing Test, Andreotti & Okuma Battery Tests, Sit and Reach, Resistance of Upper Limbs - AAHPERD Battery Test, Sit and Lift Chair and the Apathy domain of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. After verifying the normality of the data distribution, comparisons were made using Student's t-test and the U Mann Whitney test; relationships were also assessed using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients. All analyses were considered to be statistically significant at a p-value of 0.05. Results: 46% of participants in this study showed mild symptoms of apathy. Significant and weak associations were found (p=0.04) between apathy and the attention domain on the MoCA and between apathy and the Walk Test. Analysis of differences in cognitive and motor functions according to participants' level of apathy revealed no significant differences for any of the variables. Conclusion: Apathy was reflected in attention and the Walk Test, suggesting these variables may be related to cognitive and functional decline in AD patients.64236243McKhann, G.M., Knopaman, D.S., Chertkow, H., The diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: Recommendations from the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association workgroup (2011) Alzheimers dememt, 7, pp. 263-269Starkstein, S.E., Jorge, R., Mizrahi, R., A prospective longitudinal study of apathy in Alzheimer's disease (2006) J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 77, pp. 8-11Aalten, P., Verhey, F.R.J., Boziki, M., Consistency of Neuropsychiatric Syndromes across Dementias: Results from the European Alzheimer Disease Consortium (2007) Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 24, pp. 457-463Guimarães, H.C., Levy, R., Teixeira, A.L., Neurobiology of apathy in Alzheimer's disease (2008) Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 66, pp. 436-443Ishii, S., Weintraub, N., Mervis, J.R., Apathy: A Common Psychiatric Syndrome in the Elderly (2009) J Am Med Dir Assoc, 10, pp. 381-393Chow, T.W., Binns, M.A., Cummings, J.L., Apathy Symptom Profile and Behavioral Associations in Frontotemporal Dementia vs Dementia of Alzheimer Type (2009) Arch Neurol, 66, pp. 888-893Esposito, F., Rochat, L., van der Linden, A.C.J., Apathy and executive dysfunction in Alzheimer disease (2010) Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord, 24, pp. 131-137van Reekum, R., Stuss, D.T., Ostrander, R., Apathy: Why care? (2005) J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, 17, pp. 7-19Mega, M.S., Cummings, J.L., Fiorello, T., The spectrum of behavioral changes in Alzheimer's disease (1996) Neurology, 46, pp. 130-135Gonfrier, S., Andrieu, S., David, R., Course of neuropsychiatric symptoms during a four year follow-up in the REAL-FR cohort (2008) Alzheimers Dement, 4 (4 SUPPL. 2), p. 135Boyle, P.A., Malloy, P.F., Treating apathy in Alzheimer's disease (2004) Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 17, pp. 91-99Lechowski, L., Benoit, M., Chassagne, P., Persistent apathy in Alzheimer's disease as an independent factor of rapid functional decline: The REAL longitudinal cohort study (2009) Int J Geriatri Psychiatry, 24, pp. 341-346Tunnard, C., Whitehead, D., Hurt, C., Apathy and cortical atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (2011) Geriatric Psychiatry, 26, pp. 741-748Weiner, M.F., Hynan, L.S., Bret, M.E., Early behavioral symptoms and course of Alzheimer's disease (2005) Acta Psychiatr Scand, 111, pp. 367-371Robbert, P.H., Mulin, E., Malléa, P., Apathy diagnosis, assessment, and Treatment in Alzheimer's disease (2010) CSN Neurosci Therap, 16, pp. 263-271Drijgers, R.L., Aalten, P., Wionogrodzka, A., Pharmacological treatment of apathy in neurodegenerative diseases: A systematic review (2009) Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 28, pp. 13-22(2000) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, , American Psychiatric Association (APA)., Washington: DC, APAMorris, J., The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR): Current version and scoring rules (1993) Neurology, 43, pp. 2412-2414Montaño, M.B.M.M., Ramos, L.R., Validade da versão em português da Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) (2005) Rev Saude Publica, 39, pp. 912-917Brucki, S.M.D., Nitrini, R., Caramelli, P., Suggestions for the utilization of the mini-mental state examination in Brazil (2003) Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 61, pp. 777-781Folstein, M.F., Folstein, S.E., McHugh, P.R., Mini-mental state. 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Effects Of Weight Training On Cognitive Functions In Elderly With Alzheimer's Disease [efeitos Do Treinamento Com Pesos Nas Funções Cognitivas De Idosos Com Doença De Alzheimer]

Deterioration in cognitive functions is characteristic in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be associated with decline in daily living activities with consequent reduced quality of life. Objective: To analyze weight training effects on cognitive functions in elderly with AD. Subjects: 34 elderly with AD were allocated into two groups: Training Group (TG) and Social Gathering Group (SGG). Methods: Global cognitive status was determined using the Mini-Mental State Exam. Specific cognitive functions were measured using the Brief Cognitive Battery, Clock Drawing Test and Verbal Fluency Test. The protocols were performed three times a week, one hour per session. The weight training protocol consisted of three sets of 20 repetitions, with two minutes of rest between sets and exercises. The activities proposed for the SGG were not systematized and aimed at promoting social interaction among patients. The statistical analyses were performed with the U Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon tests for group comparisons. All analyses were considered statistically significant at a p-value of 0.05. Results: There were no significant differences associated to the effects of the practice of weight training on cognition in AD patients. Conclusion: In this study, no improvement in cognitive functions was evident in elderly with AD who followed a low intensity resistance exercise protocol. Thus, future studies could evaluate the effect of more intense exercise programs.64253259Braak, E., Griffing, K., Arai, K., Neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease: What is new since A (1999) Alzheimer? 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