Obesity reduces hippocampal structure and function in older African Americans with the APOE-ε4 Alzheimer’s disease risk allele

IntroductionExcess body weight and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) disproportionately affect older African Americans. While mid-life obesity increases risk for AD, few data exist on the relationship between late-life obesity and AD, or how obesity-based and genetic risk for AD interact. Although the APOE-ε4 allele confers a strong genetic risk for AD, it is unclear if late-life obesity poses a greater risk for APOE-ε4 carriers compared to non-carriers. Here we assessed: (1) the influence of body mass index (BMI) (normal; overweight; class 1 obese; ≥ class 2 obese) on cognitive and structural MRI measures of AD risk; and (2) the interaction between BMI and APOE-ε4 in older African Americans.MethodsSeventy cognitively normal older African American participants (Mage = 69.50 years; MBMI = 31.01 kg/m2; 39% APOE-ε4 allele carriers; 86% female) completed anthropometric measurements, physical assessments, saliva collection for APOE-ε4 genotyping, cognitive testing, health and lifestyle questionnaires, and structural neuroimaging [volume/surface area (SA) for medial temporal lobe subregions and hippocampal subfields]. Covariates included age, sex, education, literacy, depressive symptomology, and estimated aerobic fitness.ResultsUsing ANCOVAs, we observed that individuals who were overweight demonstrated better hippocampal cognitive function (generalization of learning: a sensitive marker of preclinical AD) than individuals with normal BMI, p = 0.016, ηp2 = 0.18. However, individuals in the obese categories who were APOE-ε4 non-carriers had larger hippocampal subfield cornu Ammonis region 1 (CA1) volumes, while those who were APOE-ε4 carriers had smaller CA1 volumes, p = 0.003, ηp2 = 0.23.DiscussionThus, being overweight by BMI standards may preserve hippocampal function, but obesity reduces hippocampal structure and function in older African Americans with the APOE-ε4 Alzheimer’s disease risk allele

Examining the efficacy of a cardio-dance intervention on brain health and the moderating role of ABCA7 in older African Americans: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

IntroductionAfrican Americans are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared to White Americans. Exercise is a lifestyle behavior associated with neuroprotection and decreased AD risk, although most African Americans, especially older adults, perform less than the recommended 150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise. This article describes the protocol for a Phase III randomized controlled trial that will examine the effects of cardio-dance aerobic exercise on novel AD cognitive and neural markers of hippocampal-dependent function (Aims #1 and #2) and whether exercise-induced neuroprotective benefits may be modulated by an AD genetic risk factor, ABCA7 rs3764650 (Aim #3). We will also explore the effects of exercise on blood-based biomarkers for AD.Methods and analysisThis 6-month trial will include 280 African Americans (≥ 60 years), who will be randomly assigned to 3 days/week of either: (1) a moderate-to-vigorous cardio-dance fitness condition or (2) a low-intensity strength, flexibility, and balance condition for 60 min/session. Participants will complete health and behavioral surveys, neuropsychological testing, saliva and venipuncture, aerobic fitness, anthropometrics and resting-state structural and functional neuroimaging at study entry and 6 months.DiscussionResults from this investigation will inform future exercise trials and the development of prescribed interventions that aim to reduce the risk of AD in African Americans

Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo

Meeting Abstracts: Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo Clearwater Beach, FL, USA. 9-11 June 201

Acute Inositol-Stabilized Arginine Silicate Improves Cognitive Outcomes in Healthy Adults

Inositol-stabilized arginine silicate (ASI) is an ergogenic aid that upregulates nitric oxide. Acute ASI supplementation improves working memory and processing speed in young adults but there is a lack of data examining other cognitive tasks. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine acute ASI effects on young healthy adults by assessing multiple cognitive domains. Nineteen young adults (20.9 ± 3.2 years) completed this randomized, double-blind, crossover study consuming ASI (1.5 g ASI + 12 g dextrose) and placebo (12 g dextrose). The participants completed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and two digital cognitive assessments before consuming the supplement and then completed the same battery of tests 60 min post-supplementation. Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated that ASI consumption significantly improved total RBANS and immediate memory scores compared to the placebo (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were displayed between trials for other cognitive domains (p > 0.05). Acute ASI ingestion increased overall RBANS scores and immediate memory scores in young adults. More research is needed to examine the acute effects of ASI on other domains of cognition, in older populations, and its long-term effects on cognition

Face-to-Face and Digital Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions to Enhance Cognitive Reserve and Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: A Review of Completed and Prospective Studies

Background: Currently, there is no pharmaceutical intervention to treat or delay pathological cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Multidomain lifestyle interventions are increasingly being studied as a non-pharmacological solution to enhance cognitive reserve, maintain cognition, and reduce the risk of or delay ADRD. Review of completed and prospective face-to-face (FTF) and digital multidomain interventions provides an opportunity to compare studies and informs future interventions and study design. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, clinicaltrials.gov and NIH RePORTER) were searched for multidomain lifestyle programs. Studies were included if the program (1) included a control group, (2) included at least 3 interventions, (3) were at least 6 months in duration, and (4) included measurement of cognitive performance as an outcome. Results: In total, 17 multidomain lifestyle programs aimed at enhancing cognitive reserve and reducing risk of ADRD were found. Thirteen programs are FTF in intervention delivery, with 3 FTF programs replicating the FINGER protocol as part of the World Wide Fingers Consortium. Four programs are delivered digitally (website, Web application, or mobile app). Program characteristics (e.g., target population, duration, frequency, outcomes, and availability) and results of completed and prospective studies are reviewed and discussed. Conclusion: This review updates and discusses completed and current multidomain lifestyle interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive reserve and reducing risk of ADRD. A growing number of international studies are investigating the efficacy and utility of these programs in both FTF and digital contexts. While a diversity of study designs and interventions exist, FTF and digital programs that build upon the foundational work of the FINGER protocol have significant potential to enhance cognitive reserve and reduce risk of ADRD

1032 Association of Sleep Duration and APOE ε4 Status on Brain Regional Tau Deposition in Clinically Normal Older Adults

Abstract Introduction We examined interactive associations of sleep duration on regional tau-PET deposition in clinically-normal individuals, as a function of β-amyloid (Aβ), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed preliminary data from 26 community-dwelling cognitively normal older-adults with baseline tau ([18F] PI2620) and Aβ ([11C] PiB) PET scans participating in NYU studies on sleep, aging and memory. Sleep duration was characterized as total sleep time (TST) using data from polysomnography (NPSG). Linear mixed effects models controlling for Aβ, age, sex, race, BMI and other sleep variables, examined a main association of TST with regional tau and a meta-region of interest, which was a composite of regions in the temporal lobe. Interactions between TST*Aβ, and TST*APOE ε4 on these regions were also examined Results Of the 26 subjects, 16 (61.5%) were females, 10 [38.5%] were Black/African-American, 14 [53.8%], APOE ε4 carriers, and 3 [11.5%] individuals were Aβ+. The mean (SD) age was 66.5 (4.6) years, BMI was 26.0 (10.6) kg/m**2, and education was 16.4 (2.5) years. There was no clear association of TST with cortical tau in the combined meta-region involving the entorhinal and inferior temporal lobe (meta-analytic estimate: β = −0.01[0.01]; 95% CI, −0.04 to 0.03, P =.16). However, TST by APOE ε4 interaction was significant for the combined meta-region (meta-analytic estimate: β = −0.06[0.02]; 95% CI, −0.11 to -0.01, P =.03), right inferior temporal β [right] = −0.02[0.01]; 95% CI, −0.04 to −0.00, P=.02), and bilaterally in the superior parietal β [left] = −0.20[0.08]; 95% CI, −0.37 to −0.02, P=.03), β [right] = −0.03[0.01]; 95% CI,−0.04 to −0.00, P=.04), cortical regions, suggesting a synergistic effect. TST by APOE ε4 interaction with regional tau trended in the left precuneus (β [left] = −0.01[0.01]; 95% CI, −0.02 to 0.00, P=.07) and the left inferior temporal β [left] = −0.02[0.01]; 95% CI, −0.03 to 0.00, P=.08) cortical regions. TST by Aβ interaction was not associated with regional tau. Conclusion APOE ε4 and sleep duration exhibited synergism in association with higher regional tau in cognitively-normal older adults. Larger studies are needed to delineate mechanisms and strata specific estimates. Support (if any) AASM[BS-231-20], NIAK23AG068534, R01AG082278, AARG-D- 21-848397, BrightFocus[A2022033S

A functional genomics screen identifying blood cell development genes in Drosophila by undergraduates participating in a course-based research experience.

Undergraduate students participating in the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) have conducted a two-phased screen using RNA interference (RNAi) in combination with fluorescent reporter proteins to identify genes important for hematopoiesis in Drosophila. This screen disrupted the function of approximately 3500 genes and identified 137 candidate genes for which loss of function leads to observable changes in the hematopoietic development. Targeting RNAi to maturing, progenitor, and regulatory cell types identified key subsets that either limit or promote blood cell maturation. Bioinformatic analysis reveals gene enrichment in several previously uncharacterized areas, including RNA processing and export and vesicular trafficking. Lastly, the participation of students in this course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) correlated with increased learning gains across several areas, as well as increased STEM retention, indicating that authentic, student-driven research in the form of a CURE represents an impactful and enriching pedagogical approach

A functional genomics screen identifying blood cell development genes in Drosophila by undergraduates participating in a course-based research experience.

Undergraduate students participating in the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) have conducted a two-phased screen using RNA interference (RNAi) in combination with fluorescent reporter proteins to identify genes important for hematopoiesis in Drosophila. This screen disrupted the function of approximately 3500 genes and identified 137 candidate genes for which loss of function leads to observable changes in the hematopoietic development. Targeting RNAi to maturing, progenitor, and regulatory cell types identified key subsets that either limit or promote blood cell maturation. Bioinformatic analysis reveals gene enrichment in several previously uncharacterized areas, including RNA processing and export and vesicular trafficking. Lastly, the participation of students in this course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) correlated with increased learning gains across several areas, as well as increased STEM retention, indicating that authentic, student-driven research in the form of a CURE represents an impactful and enriching pedagogical approach