Epidemiological studies, modern clinical, neuroimaging, neuropsychological, molecular biological, and genetic studies have considerably enhanced our knowledge about ageing processes of the human brain, its sequelae, diagnostic, and therapeutic possibilities and limits. In addition to Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative dementias, the impact of cerebrovascular lesions and their risk factors in the pathogenesis of cognitive disorders of the aged are increasingly acknowledged, and the recognition of mild cognitive impairment as a frequent initial stage of developing dementia is becoming an increasingly important diagnostic and therapeutic problem. The included papers were presented at the 7th International Symposium in Graz, Sept. 2001 and give a timely overview of the current and future concepts of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies of pathological brain ageing and dementias, early recognition of mild cognitive impairment and future possiblities of prevention of dementing processes.
Contents Jellinger, K. A.: Vascular-ischernic dementia: an Update ................................................................... l van Dijk, E. J., Prins, N. D., Vermeer, S. E., Koudstaal, P. J., Breteler, M. M. B.: Frequency of white matter lesions and silent lacunar infarets ............................................................25 Kapeller, P., Schmidt, R., Enzmger, Ch., Ropele, S., Fazekas, F.: CT and MRI rating of white matter changes ....................................................................................................................41 Schmidt, R., Fazekas, F., Enzinger, C., Ropele, S., Kapeller, P., Schmidt, H.: Risk factors and progression of small vessel disease-related cerebral abnormalities ...................................................................................................................................47 Schmidt, H., Fazekas, F., Schmidt, R.: Microangiopathy-related cerebral damage and angiotensinogen gene: from epidemiology to biology ................................................................ 53 Fazekas, F., Ropele, S., Schmidt, R.: Can small-vessel disease-related cerebral abnormalities be used as a Surrogate marker for vascular dementia trials?...........................................61 Perry, G., Nimomura, A., Cash, A. D., Taddeo, M. A., Hirai, K., Aliev, G, Avila, J., Wataya, T., Shimohama, S., Atwood, C. S., Smith, M. A.: Reactive oxygen: its sources and significance in Alzheimer disease ................................................................. 69 Arendt T.: Dysregulation of neuronal differentiation and cell cycle control in Alzheimer's disease ..........................................................................................................................77 Kienzl, E., Jellinger, K., Janetzky, B., Steindl, H., Bergmann, J.: A broader horizon of Alzheimer pathogenesis: ALZAS - an early serum biomarker? ......................................................87 Smith, G.: ls mild cognitive impairment bridging the gap between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease?.......................................................................................................................... 97 Fischer, P., Jungwirth, S., Krampla, W., Weissgram, S., Kirchmevr, W., Schreiber, W., Huber, K., Rainer, M., Tragl, K. H.: Vienna-Transdanube-Aging "VITA": study design, recruitment strategies and level of participation .........................................................105 Airnkvist, 0., Axelman, K., Basun, H., Wahlund, L.-O., Lannfelt, L.: Conversion from preclinical to clinical stage of Alzheimer's disease as shown by decline of cognitive function in carriers of the Swedish APP-mutation ...........................................................117 Kurz, A., Riemenschneider, M., Drzezga, A., Lautenschlager, N.: The role of biological markers in the early and differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease .............................................................................................................................................127 Schmitt, F. A., Cragar, D., Ashford, J. W., Reisberg, B., Ferris, S., Möbius, H.-J., Stöffler, A.: Measuring cognition in advanced Alzheimer's disease for clinical trials......................... 135 Windisch, M., Hutter-Paier, B., Schreiner, E.: Current drugs and future hopes in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease..................................................................................................... 149 Flores-Flores, C., Nissirn, A., Shochat, S., Soreq, H.: Development of human anti- body fragments directed towards synaptic acetylcholinesterase using a semi- synthetic phase display library........................................................................................................ 165 Giacobini, E.: Long-term stabilizing effect of cholinesterase inhibitors in the therapy of Alzheimer' disease ........................................................................................................ 181 Fisher, A, Brandeis, R., Haring, R., Bar-Ner, N., Kliger-Spatz, M., Natan, N., Sonego, H., Marcovitch, l., Pittel, Z.: Impact of muscarinic agonists for successful therapy of Alzheimer's disease ....................................................................................................... 189 Geerts, H., Finkel, L., Cair, R., Spiros, A.: Nicotinic receptor modulation: advantages for successful Alzheimer's disease therapy ..................................................................................... 203 Winblad, B., Möbius, H.-J., Stöffler, A.: Glutamate receptors as a target for Alzheimer's disease - are clinical results supporting the hope? ........................................................ 217 Kesslak, J. F., Kawas, C.: Can estrogen play a significant role in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease? ....................................................................................................................... 227 Fahnestock, M" Garzon, D., Holsinger, R. M. D., Michalski, B.: Neurotrophic factors and Alzheimer's disease: are we focusing on the wrong molecule? ....................................... 241 Humpel, C., Weis, C.; Nerve growth factor and cholinergic CNS neurons studied in organotypic brain slices ................................................................................................................. 253 Ruether, E., Alvarez, X. A., Rainer, M., Moessler, H.: Sustained improvement of cognition and global function in patients with moderately severe Alzheimer's disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with the neurotrophic agent Cerebrolysin ® ............................................................................................................................... 265 Muresanu, D, F., Rainer, M., Moessler, H.: Improved global function and activities of daily living in patients with AD: a placebo-controlied clinical study with the neurotrophic agent Cerebrolysin ® ................................................................................................. 277 Mucke, H. A. M.; Genomics and dementia - new drug targets ahead? ............................................... 287 Permanne, B., Adessi, C., Fraga, S., Frossard, M.-J., Saborio, G. P, Soto, C.: Are P-sheet breaker peptides dissolving the therapeutic problem of Alzheimer's disease? ....................... 293 Gasic-Milenkovic, J., Deuther-Conrad, W., Münch, G.: Glycoxidative stress creates a vicious cycle of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease - a target for neuroprotective treatment strategies? ............................................................................................ 303 Iqbal, K., Alonso, A. del C, EI-Akkad, E., Gong, C-X., Haque, N., Khatoon, S, Tsujio, I., Grondke-Iqbal, l.: Pharmacological targets to inhibit Alzbeimer neu- rofibrillary degeneration ................................................................................................................. 309 Solomon, B., Frenkel, D.: Generation and brain delivery of anti-aggregating anti- bodies against ß-amyloid piaques using phage display technology ..................................................... 321 Rockenstein, E., Mallory, M., Mante, M., Alford, M., Windisch, M, Moessler, H., Masliah, E.: Effects of Cerebrolysin™ on amyloid-ß deposition in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease ........................................................................................................... 327 Heiser, M., Hutter-Paier, B., Jerkovic, L., Pfragner, R., Windisch, M., Becker- Andre, M., Dieplinger, H.: Vitamin E binding protein Afamin protects neuronal cells in vitro ................................................................................................................................... 337 Jellinger, K. A.; Recent developments in the pathology of parkinson's disease ....................... 347