Background This study examined the relationship between rapid weight gain during infancy

The thyroid hormones have been reported to be associated with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. The relationship between thyroid function within the normal range and cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer’s disease patients has been shown in a recent study. Mild cognitive impairment is often the first stage of Alzheimer’s disease; thus, early diagnosis is important. The present study investigated the relationship between thyroid function and regional cerebral blood flow in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. A total of 122 memory clinic outpatients who underwent thyroid function testing and single photon emission computed tomography were divided into mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and Normal groups. Regional cerebral blood flow was calculated using a three-dimensional stereotactic region of interest template in an automated cerebral perfusion single photon emission computed tomography analysis system. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age and sex was conducted to examine the relationships between thyroid hormones and regional cerebral blood flow. Thyroid stimulating hormone was significantly associated with regional cerebral blood flow in the bilateral temporal, bilateral pericallosal, and bilateral hippocampal regions in the mild cognitive impairment group. In the Alzheimer’s disease group, free triiodothyronine was significantly associated with regional cerebral blood flow in the bilateral parietal, right temporal, and bilateral pericallosal regions. The present study showed the association of thyroid stimulating hormone with regional cerebral blood flow in the mild cognitive impairment group and the association of free triiodothyronine with regional cerebral blood flow in the Alzheimer’s disease group. These study findings could contribute to the early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment at general memory clinics and the prevention of subsequent progression to Alzheimer’s disease.

BackgroundBecause underweight in adolescents poses several health problems, it is important to prevent it in adolescence. For the prevention of underweight, it is necessary to investigate risk factors, especially lifestyles, because these can be modified. However, a limited number of studies exist regarding lifestyle factors associated with underweight among adolescents. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between lifestyle factors and underweight among Japanese adolescents.MethodsStudy subjects comprised 2641 seventh-grade school children (age 12 or 13 years) from the town of Ina, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Measurements of height and weight were made for each subject, while information regarding lifestyles of each subject was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Underweight was determined by the age- and sex-specific body mass index cut-off points. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for underweight.ResultsAdolescents who ate slowly were more likely to be underweight than those who did not eat slowly; the OR (95% CI) was 2.78 (1.77–4.39) in boys and 2.69 (1.81–3.98) in girls. Girls who did not exercise were more likely than those who exercised to be underweight (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.07–2.51).ConclusionsThe present study showed that eating slowly and exercise were associated with underweight among Japanese adolescents. These results suggest that eating speed and exercise need to be considered in school health programs for healthy body weight.

The issue of whether serum lipid marker values are cognitively and neurologically significant for elderly individuals attending a memory clinic has been controversial. We investigated the associations of serum lipid markers with the memory function and cortical structure in 52 patients aged ≥75 years who had attended our memory clinic based on their subjective memory complaints. None had a history of medication for hyperlipidemia. The Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) was administered to all patients for the assessment of their memory function. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), and triglyceride (TG) were measured for each patient. Surface-based morphometry (SBM) was performed for the calculation of each patient's cortical thickness and gyrification index based on structural MRI data. Our analyses revealed that the serum HDLC level was positively and significantly correlated with the WMS-R subtests of visual paired associates I/II and logical memory I (p < 0.05). The serum TG level was negatively correlated with the logical memory I subtest. The SBM results showed positive correlations between the serum HDLC level and the gyrification indices of the bilateral insular and frontal opercular cortices, and those two gyrification indices were positively correlated with the logical memory I and visual paired associates I/II. These results suggest that in these elderly patients, a high serum HDLC level was associated with not only preserved memory function but also gyrification of the insular and frontal opercular cortex. We conclude that elderly individuals' serum lipid markers should be carefully assessed in memory clinic settings, because serum HDLC may be a biomarker for memory function and cortical structure.

Background In patients with Parkinson's disease, executive deficits are known to correlate with motor dysfunctions, such as gait and postural instability. However executive deficits are sometimes difficult to detect using common frontal assessment batteries. Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome includes six subtests to evaluate different aspects of executive function required in daily life. Among these the Modified Six Elements Test examines higher levels of executive function with regard to prospective memory and organization of behavior. Aim Using Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome we examined which types of executive dysfunction correlate with motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease without apparent dementia. Methods A total of 54 Parkinson's disease patients with Mini‐Mental State Examination scores over 24 were assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (total score of parts II and III as general motor function, subscores of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, gait disturbance and postural instability) for motor assessment, and both the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (total raw score of all subtests and subscores of each of the 6 subtests) and Frontal Assessment Battery for executive function. Correlation coefficients for executive and motor assessments were compared. Results Among the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome subtests, the Modified Six Elements Test showed the strongest correlation with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale subscore of gait disturbance, but did not correlate with patient background factors, such as age. Conclusion Even in Parkinson's disease without apparent dementia, deficits in complex executive functions, such as prospective memory and organization of behavior, correlate with motor dysfunctions, especially gait. We believe the Modified Six Elements Test is useful to evaluate early executive deficits.