Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
09:17

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia

Published on: November 6, 2017

Peripheral oxidative damage in mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease

Inês Baldeiras1, Isabel Santana, Maria Teresa Proença

  • 1Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Neurology Department, Coimbra University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal. ines.baldeiras@sapo.pt

Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|September 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative stress markers are present in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients, indicating early disease changes. Antioxidant levels correlate with cognitive function in MCI, suggesting a role in disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Oxidative stress is implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis.
  • The role of oxidative imbalance in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a precursor to AD, is less understood.
  • Understanding oxidative stress in MCI is crucial for early detection and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate peripheral blood levels of antioxidant defenses and oxidative damage markers in MCI patients.
  • To compare oxidative stress profiles between MCI, mild AD, and healthy controls.
  • To explore correlations between oxidative markers, cognitive function, and demographic factors in MCI.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defenses, lipid/protein oxidation markers, and nitrogen oxidative species.
  • Studied 85 MCI patients, 42 mild AD patients, and 37 age-matched controls.
  • Analyzed plasma and erythrocyte samples.

Main Results:

  • Increased oxidized glutathione and oxidative markers in plasma and erythrocytes were observed in both MCI and mild AD patients compared to controls.
  • Mild AD patients showed decreased vitamin E levels.
  • Higher antioxidant levels were found in females, while apolipoprotein E epsilon4 carriers had increased intracellular oxidative markers. Cognitive function positively correlated with antioxidant levels in MCI patients.

Conclusions:

  • Oxidative changes characteristic of mild AD are already present in the MCI stage.
  • Antioxidant depletion may accompany the progression from MCI to AD.
  • Oxidative stress markers and antioxidant status are relevant in MCI and may serve as potential biomarkers.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions07:30

Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions

Published on: April 23, 2021

In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma12:48

In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma

Published on: May 11, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Dementia l: Introduction01:22

Dementia l: Introduction

Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists01:30

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...