Research on age-related cognitive impairment is scarce in Central America. We report factors associated with cognitive impairment among a sample of older adults in Panama diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 31), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 43), or no cognitive impairment (controls, n = 185). Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype was assessed in a subset of cases (n = 135). Age (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.03-6.17) and ApoE ɛ4 (OR = 5.14, 95% CI = 2.11-12.52) were significantly related to cognitive impairment (AD/MCI combined). Results underscore the potential of genetic screening in Panama for identifying those at risk of dementia.

aim:To describe the biomarker profiles in elderly Panamanians diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or no impairment using serum-based biomarkers. Methods: Twenty-four proteins were analyzed using an electrochemiluminescence-based multiplex biomarker assay platform. A biomarker profile was generated using random forest analyses. Results: Two proteins differed among groups: IL-18 and T-lymphocyte-secreted protein I-309. The AD profile was highly accurate and independent of age, gender, education and Apolipoprotein E e4 status. AD and MCI profiles had substantial overlap among the top markers, suggesting common functions in AD and MCI but differences in their relative importance. conclusion: Our results underscore the potential influence of genetic and environmental differences within Hispanic populations on the proteomic profile of AD. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Currently, a large proportion of people with dementia live in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) where population aging is increasing at unprecedented rates. The number of people at risk for dementia in LMIC will summary points• The search for blood biomarkers that correlate with pathological changes in Alzheimer's disease has yielded evidence that suggests it is a viable approach to early diagnosis.• The present and recent reports indicate a significant impact of race and ethnicity on biomarkers of disease status, thus underscoring the importance of this line of research.• Overlap among the top markers of Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment suggest common functions across disease stages but differences in their relative importance.• Blood-based biomarkers are promising cost-and time-effective strategies for primary care clinical settings particularly in low-resource settings.For reprint orders, please contact: reprints@futuremedicine.com

Cognitive impairment and depression are common mental health problems among the elderly, although few studies have examined their cooccurrence in older adults in Latin America. The purpose of this study was to examine cognitive impairment, depression, and cooccurrence of the two conditions and associated factors in a sample of older adults in Panama. This study included 304 community-dwelling elderly (≥65 years) individuals. Participants underwent a clinical interview and assessments of cognitive function by the Minimental State Examination and depressive symptoms by the Geriatric Depression Scale. Limitations in basic (BADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities in daily living and the presence of chronic illnesses were recorded. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that cooccurrence of cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms was explained by increasing age (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.20, 8.30), low education (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.33, 8.38), having four or more chronic conditions (OR: 11.5, 95% CI: 2.84, 46.63), and BADL limitations (OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 1.26, 19.68). Less education and limitations in BADL and IADL increased the odds of cognitive impairment alone, while less education and three or more chronic conditions increased the odds of depression alone. These findings underscore the relevance of assessing cognitive impairment in the elderly as part of a long-term approach to managing depression and vice versa.

No abstract

The Panama Aging Research Initiative is a cohort study of 423 adults aged ≥65 years recruited from an outpatient geriatric department of Panama's largest public hospital,

No abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease. It is a type of dementia and it mainly deals with thinking, memory and behavioral aspects. It is a progressive disease, which in course of time damages most sections of the brain. Beta amyloid peptides (Ab) have been recognized as potential biomarkers to monitor AD. The Ab protein is made up of 39-42 amino acids, which are the main components of the plaques found in the AD brain. This beta amyloid is toxic to the neurons and causes degeneration. In order to measure these biomarkers, nanobiosensing techniques are used. Timely monitoring of Ab levels helps in the detection of the irreversible disease called AD. These techniques fall in two categories, viz., in vitro and in vivo. Several techniques like electrochemical techniques, cantilever-based liposome biosensor, ELISA, PET scan, microdialysis, etc., are discussed further in the article. These techniques can prove to be effective methods for quantifying amyloid deposition within specific brain regions.

Apolipoprotein ɛ4 allele (APOE ɛ4) is the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but inconsistencies have arisen in studies with Hispanics. The objective of this study was to explore APOE ɛ4 expression and cognitive function in a sample of Panamanian older adults, including healthy controls, mild cognitive impairment, and AD. Participants with at least one copy of APOE ɛ4 had a significantly lower performance in global cognition, verbal memory, executive functions, visuospatial abilities, regardless of diagnosis. The present study contributes to the understanding of the association of APOE ɛ4 and impairment in specific cognitive domains in elderly Hispanics.