ObjectiveTo determine which findings on routine clinical EEGs correlate with delirium severity across various presentations and to determine whether EEG findings independently predict important clinical outcomes.MethodsWe prospectively studied a cohort of nonintubated inpatients undergoing EEG for evaluation of altered mental status. Patients were assessed for delirium within 1 hour of EEG with the 3-Minute Diagnostic Interview for Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM) and 3D-CAM severity score. EEGs were interpreted clinically by neurophysiologists, and reports were reviewed to identify features such as theta or delta slowing and triphasic waves. Generalized linear models were used to quantify associations among EEG findings, delirium, and clinical outcomes, including length of stay, Glasgow Outcome Scale scores, and mortality.ResultsWe evaluated 200 patients (median age 60 years, IQR 48.5–72 years); 121 (60.5%) met delirium criteria. The EEG finding most strongly associated with delirium presence was a composite of generalized theta or delta slowing (odds ratio 10.3, 95% confidence interval 5.3–20.1). The prevalence of slowing correlated not only with overall delirium severity (R2 = 0.907) but also with the severity of each feature assessed by CAM-based delirium algorithms. Slowing was common in delirium even with normal arousal. EEG slowing was associated with longer hospitalizations, worse functional outcomes, and increased mortality, even after adjustment for delirium presence or severity.ConclusionsGeneralized slowing on routine clinical EEG strongly correlates with delirium and may be a valuable biomarker for delirium severity. In addition, generalized EEG slowing should trigger elevated concern for the prognosis of patients with altered mental status.

Oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in peripheral neurons is considered to be important in the development of diabetic neuropathy. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) wraps mtDNA and promotes mtDNA replication and transcription. We studied whether overexpression of TFAM reverses experimental peripheral diabetic neuropathy using TFAM transgenic mice (TFAM Tg) that express human TFAM (hTFAM). Levels of mouse mtDNA and the total TFAM (mouse TFAM + hTFAM) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) increased by approximately twofold in the TFAM Tg mice compared with control (WT) mice. WT and TFAM Tg mice were made diabetic by the administration of streptozotocin. Neuropathy end points were motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, mechanical allodynia, thermal nociception, and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD). In the DRG neurons, mtDNA copy number and damage to mtDNA were quantified by qPCR, and TFAM levels were measured by Western blot. Mice with 16-wk duration of diabetes developed motor and sensory nerve conduction deficits, behavioral deficits, and intraepidermal nerve fiber loss. All of these changes were mostly prevented in diabetic TFAM Tg mice and were independent of changes in blood parameters. Mice with 16 wk of diabetes had a 40% decrease in mtDNA copy number compared with nondiabetic mice (P < 0.01). Importantly, the mtDNA copy number in diabetic TFAM Tg mice reached the same level as that of WT nondiabetic mice. In comparison, there was upregulation of mtDNA and TFAM in 6-wk diabetic mice, suggesting that TFAM activation could be a therapeutic strategy to treat peripheral neuropathy.

ObjectivesThere is a critical need to develop effective treatments for diabetic neuropathy. This study determined if a selective mGluR2/3 receptor agonist prevented or treated experimental diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) through glutamate recycling and improved mitochondrial function.MethodsAdult male streptozotocin treated Sprague‐Dawley rats with features of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or Low Capacity Running (LCR) rats with insulin resistance or glucose intolerance were treated with 3 or 10 mg/kg/day LY379268. Neuropathy end points included mechanical allodynia, nerve conduction velocities (NCV), and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD). Markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant response, glutamate recycling pathways, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) associated proteins were measured in dorsal root ganglia (DRG).ResultsIn diabetic rats, NCV and IENFD were decreased. Diabetic rats treated with an mGluR2/3 agonist did not develop neuropathy despite remaining diabetic. Diabetic DRG showed increased levels of oxidized proteins, decreased levels of glutathione, decreased levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and OXPHOS proteins. In addition, there was a 20‐fold increase in levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and the levels of glutamine synthetase and glutamate transporter proteins were decreased. When treated with a specific mGluR2/3 agonist, levels of glutathione, GFAP and oxidized proteins were normalized and levels of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), SIRT1, PGC‐1α, TFAM, glutamate transporter proteins, and glutamine synthetase were increased in DRG neurons.InterpretationActivation of glutamate recycling pathways protects diabetic DRG and this is associated with activation of the SIRT1‐PGC‐1α–TFAM axis and preservation of mitochondrial OXPHOS function.

Neurodegeneration is an important determinant of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) but while currently approved treatments reduce inflammation, they have not been shown to reduce neurodegeneration. SIRT1, a NAD dependent protein deacetylase, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in neurological diseases including MS. We have studied the role of SIRT1 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and found evidence for a neuroprotective role. In this review we summarize the most recent findings from the use of SIRT1 activators and SIRT1 overexpression in transgenic mice. These data support provide a rational for the use of SIRT1 activators in MS.

Axon degeneration in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is associated with impaired NAD+ metabolism. We tested whether the administration of NAD+ precursors, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) or nicotinamide riboside (NR), prevents DPN in models of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. NMN was administered to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and STZ-induced diabetic mice by intraperitoneal injection at 50 or 100 mg/kg on alternate days for 2 months. mice The were fed with a high fat diet (HFD) for 2 months with or without added NR at 150 or 300 mg/kg for 2 months. The administration of NMN to STZ-induced diabetic rats or mice or dietary addition of NR to HFD-fed mice improved sensory function, normalized sciatic and tail nerve conduction velocities, and prevented loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers in skin samples from the hind-paw. In adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons isolated from HFD-fed mice, there was a decrease in NAD+ levels and mitochondrial maximum reserve capacity. These impairments were normalized in isolated DRG neurons from NR-treated mice. The results indicate that the correction of NAD+ depletion in DRG may be sufficient to prevent DPN but does not significantly affect glucose tolerance, insulin levels, or insulin resistance.