Preliminary studies suggest that visinin-like protein 1 (VILIP-1) may be useful as a biomarker of neuronal injury in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. VILIP-1 is one of a class of neuronal calcium sensor proteins regulating calcium ion homeostasis. It has been shown to affect intracellular neuronal signalling involved in synaptic plasticity, and may be associated with calcium-mediated neuronal injury. Thus, VILIP-1 provides a link between calcium-mediated neurotoxicity and pathological changes in AD (Groblewska et al. J Alzheimers Dis 2015;47:17-32). Read More
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Brain volume loss associated with cognitive decline in MS
July 27, 2016The rate of brain volume loss (BVL) from neurodegeneration and axonal loss is estimated to be two-fold higher in MS patients compared to age-matched healthy controls, and is an important determinant of cognitive dysfunction, according to the results of a new meta-analysis. Read More
Aggressive BP lowering not advised in older patients with dementia, MCI
July 20, 2016Aggressive treatment to reach blood pressure targets may have adverse effects on cognitive function in patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to the results of a recent study (Mossello et al. JAMA Intern Med 2015;175:578-585). Read More
Opioid use increasing in elderly patients with dementia
July 13, 2016A decade ago, the FDA issued a black-box warning about the increased mortality risk associated with atypical antipsychotics used to treat dementia-related psychosis; the warning was extended in 2008 to include typical antipsychotics (www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm124830.htm). Read More