Effects of Different Doses of BDNF on Postoperative Cognitive Function in Aged Rats Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

Objective:To investigate the effects of different doses of BDNF on postoperative cognitive function in aged rats undergoing abdominal surgery.Methods:72 aged healthy male SD rats of SPF grade were selected.According to the random number table method,the rats were randomly divided into the control group,model group,low dose BDNF injection group,and high dose BDNF injection group,with 18 rats in each group.The model group,low dose group,and high dose group underwent abdominal surgery after anesthesia,and 5μL/time of BDNF was intranasally administered to the rats in the low dose and high dose groups 6 hours after abdominal surgery,of which the dose of the low dose group was 0.1 g/L,while that of the high dose group was 0.2 g/L.The drug was administered alternately through both nostrils,with an interval of 2 minutes each time,for 5 times.The control group did not undergo surgery after anesthesia.The escape latency and swimming distance of the four groups of rats were compared before surgery,the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery;similarly,the BDNF protein expression level in the hippocampus of the four groups of rats was compared on the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery.Results:The escape latency and swimming distance of the control group were not statistically significant on the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery,p>0.05;the escape latency and swimming distance of the model group,low dose group,and high dose group on the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery were statistically significant,p<0.05.Before surgery,the escape latency and swimming distance of the four groups were not statistically significant,p>0.05;on the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery,the escape latency and swimming distance of the model group>low dose group>high dose group>control group,p<0.05.The BDNF protein expression level in the hippocampus of the control group on the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery showed no statistical significance p>0.05;the expression level of BDNF protein in the hippocampus of the model group,low dose group,and high dose group on the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery was statistically significant,p<0.05.On the first day,the third day,and the seventh day after surgery,the expression level of BDNF protein in the hippocampus of the model group<low dose group<high dose group<control group,p<0.05.Conclusion:Compared with 0.1 g/L of BDNF,0.2 g/L of BDNF can improve the postoperative cognitive function of aged rats undergoing abdominal surgery.

Age-trends in Cognitive Function and Quality of Life: Sex Differences in a Community Population in Taiwan region,China

Population aging has developed into a significant area of concern in developed countries, especially in relation to thepreservation of functional independence and the quality of life (QoL). However, information on the contribution ofsex differences in quality of life and cognitive function is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate potentialdifferences in cognitive function and QoL between males and females. For this study, we recruited 382 healthy subjectsaged 19–79 years from communities in Southern Taiwan region,China. Cognitive function and QoL were assessed using the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment, Brief Version (UPSA-B) and World Health Organization Quality ofLife Instruments (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. The effects of sex, age groups, and interaction of sex and ageon the UPSA-B and WHOQOL-BREF scores were examined. We found that the financial and communicationdomains of the UPSA-B showed declining trends with age in both sexes, although these trends were more obviousin females than in males. In the domain of Physical Capacity, QoL showed an age-increased trend in males, whileQoL in the Environment domain showed an age-increased trend in females. Regarding the relationships betweencognitive function and QoL, we found that the financial skill and communication skill of UPSA-B was positivelycorrelated to the psychological well-being domain of WHOQOL-BREF, in males of age <40 years. In conclusion,our findings demonstrate differential relationships between cognitive function and QoL between males and females,which could serve as a basis for further study between cognitive function and quality of life in communities.

Biliverdin Reductase-A correlates with inducible nitric oxide synthasein in atorvastatin treated aged canine brain

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and neuropathology. Recent preclinical and epidemiological studies proposed statins as a possible therapeutic drug for Alzheimer’s disease, but the exact mechanisms of action are still unknown. Biliverdin reductase-A is a pleiotropic enzyme involved in cellular stress responses. It not only transforms biliverdin-IX alpha into the antioxidant bilirubin-IX alpha but its serine/threonine/ tyrosine kinase activity is able to modulate cell signaling networks. We previously reported the beneficial effects of atorvastatin treatment on biliverdin reductase-A and heme oxygenase-1 in the brains of a well characterized pre-clinical model of Alzheimer’s disease, aged beagles, together with observed improvement in cognition. Here we extend our knowledge of the effects of atorvastatin on inducible nitric oxide synthase in parietal cortex, cerebellum and liver of the same animals. We demonstrated that atorvastatin treatment （80 mg/day for 14.5 months） to aged beagles selectively increased inducible nitric oxide synthase in the parietal cortex but not in the cerebellum. In contrast, inducible nitric oxide synthase protein levels were significantly decreased in the liver. Significant positive correlations were found between biliverdin reductase-A and inducible nitric oxide synthase as well as heme oxygenase-1 protein levels in the parietal cortex. The opposite was observed in the liver. Inducible nitric oxide synthase up-regulation in the parietal cortex was positively associated with improved biliverdin reductase-A functions, whereas the oxidative-induced impairment of biliverdin reductase-A in the liver negatively affected inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, thus suggesting a role for biliverdin reductase-A in atorvastatin-dependent inducible nitric oxide synthase changes. Interestingly, increased inducible nitric oxide synthase levels in the parietal cortex were not associated with higher oxidative/nitrosative stress levels. We hypothesize that biliverdin reductase-A-dependent inducible nitric oxide synthase regulation strongly contributes to the cognitive improvement observed following atorvastatin treatment.

Effects of Physical Exercise and Music Therapy on Cognitive Aspects in Tunisian Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Type Dementia

Aim: The objective of this research is to highlight the effectiveness of physical exercise and music therapy in older patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Patients with a mild level of AD were included in this study, divided into the therapy group (TG;N = 30, aged 68 ± 3.2 years) and the control group (CG;N=30, aged 65 ± 2.6 years). The therapy group was enrolled in an exercise-training program (walking, resistance and balance exercises) combined with musical therapy for 10 weeks (three sessions of 60 minutes per week). The Control group was instructed to follow their daily rhythm of life (e.g., rest, reading) under the same conditions. The intervention program was enrolled under the supervision of;one psychologist;a neurologist;two music therapists, and two physiotherapists, all belonging to the same hospital unit. After 10 weeks of participation in the combined program, cognitive parameters were improved in the therapy group measured with the Behavior Pathology in Alzheimer Disease (BEHAVE-AD), (p < 0.05) for activity disturbance, diurnal rhythm disturbances, anxieties and phobias, affective disturbance. The percentage range of improvements is 1.07% to 2.96%. Results: Our results demonstrate that physical exercise combined with music therapy improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusions: Physical exercise and music therapy are beneficial combined treatments for improving life quality in older patients. This approach may be useful to help patients with a mild level of Alzheimer’s disease improve their behavioral and psychological parameters.

与年龄及认知功能相关的成人脑波功率涨落图特点

对１２０名２０－７９岁正常受试者完成了与年龄及认知功能相关的脑涨落图特点的研究。结果表明：（１）脑波优势涨落功率空间构型额低枕高梯度的随龄减小过程，在认知测验差组较好组明显；（２）脑波优势涨落功率受年龄与认知因素的交互影响集中于左前右后脑轴上；（３）脑波优势涨落功率前后梯度和左右不对称性变化表明，脑波活动的前后和左右调控可能在不同层次上发挥作用，并且，前后脑和左右脑的协调活动与认知功能有密切关系。上述结果说明，脑波功率涨落与认知功能及其老化过程有密切关系。