11^th International Conference on Vascular Dementia February 15-16, 2019 Amsterdam | Netherlands

Biography:

Hans von Holst received his MD´s degree in 1976 and specialist in Neurosurgery 1982, Karolinska University Hospital. In 1985 he earned his PhD and Associate Professorship in Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet and appointed as senior neurosurgeon 1988 - 2015. During 1991-1996 he was Chairman of the Dept of Neurosurgery and Division Manager of the Neuroclinics at Karolinska University Hospital, respectively. Between 1994-2014 he was appointed as Professor in Neuroengineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and visiting Professor at Karolinska Institutet 2006-2012, He has published over 150 original papers in reputed journals, reviews and books including editorial board member in several journals.

Abstract:

Increased intracellular water content defined as cytotoxic brain tissue edema is a serious secondary clinical complication to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke and without knowledge to the etiology. Recently a hypothesis to the nervous tissue edema was presented suggesting that external dynamic and internal mechanical static impact forces caused protein unfolding resulting in an increased brain tissue water content and what happens with the metabolism in the long run. The hypothesis was confirmed by computer simulation tests. In this laboratory study we further evaluated the hypothesis by using the mature protein laminin LN521 upon the effects of both dynamic as well as static impact forces, respectively. The treated laminin solutions were then analyzed with denatured electrophoresis and Electron Microscopy showing aggregation and fragmentation of the laminin structures. The present laboratory results confirm earlier hypothesis and computer simulation suggesting for the first time that dynamic impact force in an accident and increased mechanical static force in stroke unfold mature proteins having the potential to increase the intracellular water content defined as cytotoxic brain tissue edema. The clinical condition resembles the phenomenon when elasmobranchs including white sharks prevent their cells from too high hydrostatic pressure in the deep sea. Thus, the present laboratory study results and knowledge from marine physics may be considered to improve the clinical treatment and outcome of TBI and stroke patients. This opens up new perspectives how vascular dementia in TBI and Stroke should be looked upon when it come sto clinical treatment.

 

Biography:

Dr. Foundas is a Cognitive and Behavioral Neurologist currently working as the Executive Director of the Brain Institute of Louisiana. She has worked as Professor of Neurology at Tulane University, Vice-Chair of Clinical Research at LSU, and Chair of Neurology at UMKC. Her clinical practice focuses on patients with cognitive disorders. Her research addresses questions about speech and language, motor control, learning and memory. She has published over 200 scientific papers

Abstract:

The world population is aging. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be over 1.6 billion people worldwide aged 65 and over (17% of the world’s population). The greatest risk for dementia is increasing age. Vascular dementia (VaD) is one dementia subtype that occurs with increasing age. This diagnosis is found in about 20% of people with dementia. Many people with neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease or Frontotemporal dementia, have microvascular disease and meet the clinical criteria for a mixed-type of dementia. These mixed-dementia patients often have a more malignant progression of their disease compared to individuals without microvascular disease. Our clinical and research team focuses on early intervention in individuals with mild cognitive impairment, including innovative treatment approaches to change the trajectory of cognitive decline. This talk will be divided into three parts. The first part will include an overview of the clinical and pathological heterogeneity of VaD. The second part will emphasize clusters of patients with vascular cognitive impairment, including major cognitive markers that seem to be prevalent across clinical subtypes. Finally, the third part will present preliminary data regarding our clinical approach that includes the innovative use of neural stimulation and photobiomodulation. Our clinical research team uses a two-pronged approach to:

(1) improve communication skills and functional independence in patients with a dementia diagnosis,

(2) facilitate early identification and treatment of at risk individuals. This discussion will focus on our innovative treatment approaches designed to enhance functional independence, improve communication skills, and reduce caregiver burden. 

Biography:

Brian is Executive Director of DiSC. An international media lawyer and digital media practitioner by background, he is managing the company and overseeing the development of the Living Memories and Heartwise+ projects.

 

Abstract:

Archival materials are increasingly being incorporated into products and interventions as part of practice with older people. One area of this work involves the use of archival films, videos, photographs, and television and radio broadcasts in tools for reminiscence activities with older people, in particular individuals living with dementia.Interest in the well-being benefits of this work is based on the demonstrated ability of these multi-sensory materials to stimulate memories of the past in the person with dementia, and to afford opportunities for increasing communication and social interaction with caregivers and others.One current application of archival film for reminiscence activities is the project being developed by Liv, drawing on a major proprietary archive covering social and industrial life in Britain from the 1940s onwards. It was a Finalist in the national UK Nursing Times Awards 2017. This presentation, including screening of examples of archive film, will describe the development of digital tools being produced from this material including a series of DVDs and an accompanying reminiscence guide of topics and questions for use by family members and practitioners. It will also discuss the interactive online platform being developed for the delivery of Living Memories reminiscence resources on mobile devices. Issues such as the tailoring of content to particular audiences, for example, men who may struggle to engage with more generically-targeted social activities for persons with dementia, will also be addressed. Experiences to date of employing these tools in settings such memory cafés, and with a variety of professional and other user groups will be reported. A related Twitter feed (@memorytriggers) to help younger people communicate with those who grew up in the 1940s-60s will also be described.

 

Biography:

Shu G. Chen, PhD, received his PhD in 1992 from the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA. He is an Associate Professor of Pathology and Neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. His research centers on the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. He has published more than 80 papers in scientific journals.

 

Abstract:

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are characterized by the deposition of misfolded protein aggregates in the central nervous system (CNS). Previous efforts have focused on the development of CNS-proximal clinical biomarkers, including PET neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid measures of alpha-synuclein, beta-amyloid and tau. However, these diagnostic techniques are often used in clinical studies on patients with advanced disease state, and are complex, invasive or expensive. Therefore, there remains an urgent need for reliable, inexpensive and minimally invasive peripheral biomarkers. Recent studies have revealed widespread peripheral involvement of PD- and AD-like pathology, often prior to clinical manifestations of the diseases. Indeed, alpha-synuclein and tau deposits have been observed in peripheral tissues in PD and AD, respectively. A formidable challenge is that the levels of these amyloidogenic protein aggregates in peripheral tissues are extremely low and thus only variably detectable using immunological methods. Therefore, highly sensitive analytical platforms are required as the new generation of biomarker assays specific for protein aggregates and amyloid fibrils. The real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) has emerged as a robust, rapid and ultrasensitive technology for template-assisted amplification of misfolded protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. Using the RT-QuIC technique, our recent studies have shown that disease-associated protein aggregates are readily detectable in peripheral tissues of patients affected by PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, and AD and other tauopathies. Validation of peripheral protein biomarkers will enable sensitive premortem diagnostic tests for PD, AD, and related disorders, and accelerate clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies.

 

Biography:

Dr. Nancy Broz has a BA in English from Ursinus College,  MA from Rowan University in Supervision and Curriculum,  and an ED. D. from Temple University in English Education. She was a teacher and  administrator in the Moorestown, NJ public schools until 2005, has taught for Rutgers University,  Temple University and is now an adjunct professor for Fairleigh Dickinson University.  Dr. Broz has also been a language arts consultant for 30 years.

Abstract:

My husband had Alzheimer’s and I was his caregiver for 10 years.  During that time I learned many lessons --  both while I cared for him and after his death. These are my survival lessons to share.

Alzheimer’s caregiving is a lonely place. How do you come to terms with the disease yourself,  then try to make the right decisions for your ill spouse --  medical, social, financial decisions. How do you honor the patient’s wishes? Take care of yourself?  Help others to help you? The answers aren’t the same for everyone, but options can help.

You must figure out when it’s time to tell others and when you must be the family decision maker. Key factors for me were understanding his perceptual changes, visions, hallucinations, and loss of direction.

I wrote a blog, saw an elder care lawyer, adopted a dog, tried (but failed) to put my spouse in resident placement. Most important was my network of supportive friends.

Completely exhausted by the eighth year, my unusual solution was finding a caregiver who moved in with his young family. It was an alternate style of life, but one that worked  well for all of us. We created a new support structure.  In this way, I survived

Biography:

Abstract:

We aimed to estimate of brain morphological pattern and cognitive status changes and after CABG in long-term postoperative period.

Material and methods. The study included 75 male patients (62.5±5.5y) with initial Bek scale is not more than 16, MMSE is not less than 24, FAB scale 11 points. Before and 5 years after CABG patients were examined in STAI, MMSE, FAB scales and brain MDCT.

Results. Five years after CABG there was significant reduction in STAI (initial - 20.0 [17.0, 23.0], after - 22.0 [19.0, 27.0], p <0.05), the preservation of cognitive status on the MMSE (initial - 28 [27, 29], after - 27 [26; 28], p <0.05) and FAB (initial - 16 [14, 17], after - 17 [16, 17], p <0.05). Only 2 patients developed dementia. III ventricle width pre/after - 6.86±1.91 mm / 8.45±2.18 mm, p = 0.001, ventriculocranial index Evans – 29% / 31%; the presence of leukoaraiosis was detected in 18 (31.03%) patients / 44 (66.67%), p = 0.001, cysts and gliosis were found in 2 (3.45%) patients / 24 (36.36%), p = 0.0001.

Conclusion. During 5 years after CABG the majority of patients revealed the worsening in the cerebral morphological structure in the form of enlargement of its ventricular system, increase in the number of patients with leukoaraiosis, cysts and gliosis areas. These structural changes in the brain on MDCT indicate a progression of chronic cerebral ischemia in the long-term postoperative period, despite the preservation of cognitive status in screening neuropsychological testing.

 

Biography:

Abstract:

The Major Neurocognitive Disorders of Vascular Type are the second cause of dementias in Latin American Countries. This is due to the cultural influences that permeate life in our countries: stress, the amount of work hours, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet, generally unbalanced and rich in salts, fats and fried foods. Diseases of high prevalence in our environment such as diabetes and hypertension contribute to the high rate of cerebrovascular events that manifest acutely or chronically to attack the brain in areas essential for the development of social cognition, and also the constructions Affective.In this way, we can observe in this type of patients Apathy, poor affective performance in terms of expression of emotions, alterations in chronobiological rhythms (with symptomatic manifestations such as insomnia and changes in mood) and also slowing down in decision-making at the expense of of the decrease in the action of the superior cerebral functions, and also pictures of disinhibition characteristic of frontotemporal dementias. In this lecture, we propose to present in a detailed manner the aforementioned clinical expressions that have their origin in vascular alterations in the brain, and that decrease the time and quality of life of the affected people.