Browsing by Author "Welsh-Bohmer, Kathleen A"
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Item Open Access Assessing tilavonemab efficacy in early Alzheimer's disease via longitudinal item response theory modeling(Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 2024-04) Zhou, Xiaoxiao; Zou, Haotian; Lutz, Michael W; Arbeev, Konstantin; Akushevich, Igor; Yashin, Anatoli; Welsh-Bohmer, Kathleen A; Luo, ShengAbstractINTRODUCTIONAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by declines in cognitive and functional severities. This research utilized the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) to assess the influence of tilavonemab on these deteriorations.METHODSLongitudinal Item Response Theory (IRT) models were employed to analyze CDR domains in early‐stage AD patients. Both unidimensional and multidimensional models were contrasted to elucidate the trajectories of cognitive and functional severities.RESULTSWe observed significant temporal increases in both cognitive and functional severities, with the cognitive severity deteriorating at a quicker rate. Tilavonemab did not demonstrate a statistically significant effect on the progression in either severity. Furthermore, a significant positive association was identified between the baselines and progression rates of both severities.DISCUSSIONWhile tilavonemab failed to mitigate impairment progression, our multidimensional IRT analysis illuminated the interconnected progression of cognitive and functional declines in AD, suggesting a comprehensive perspective on disease trajectories.Highlights Utilized longitudinal Item Response Theory (IRT) models to analyze the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) domains in early‐stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, comparing unidimensional and multidimensional models. Observed significant temporal increases in both cognitive and functional severities, with cognitive severity deteriorating at a faster rate, while tilavonemab showed no statistically significant effect on either domain's progression. Found a significant positive association between the baseline severities and their progression rates, indicating interconnected progression patterns of cognitive and functional declines in AD. Introduced the application of multidimensional longitudinal IRT models to provide a comprehensive perspective on the trajectories of cognitive and functional severities in early AD, suggesting new avenues for future research including the inclusion of time‐dependent random effects and data‐driven IRT models.Item Open Access Effects of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet, exercise, and caloric restriction on neurocognition in overweight adults with high blood pressure.(Hypertension, 2010-06) Smith, Patrick J; Blumenthal, James A; Babyak, Michael A; Craighead, Linda; Welsh-Bohmer, Kathleen A; Browndyke, Jeffrey N; Strauman, Timothy A; Sherwood, AndrewHigh blood pressure increases the risks of stroke, dementia, and neurocognitive dysfunction. Although aerobic exercise and dietary modifications have been shown to reduce blood pressure, no randomized trials have examined the effects of aerobic exercise combined with dietary modification on neurocognitive functioning in individuals with high blood pressure (ie, prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension). As part of a larger investigation, 124 participants with elevated blood pressure (systolic blood pressure 130 to 159 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure 85 to 99 mm Hg) who were sedentary and overweight or obese (body mass index: 25 to 40 kg/m(2)) were randomized to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet alone, DASH combined with a behavioral weight management program including exercise and caloric restriction, or a usual diet control group. Participants completed a battery of neurocognitive tests of executive function-memory-learning and psychomotor speed at baseline and again after the 4-month intervention. Participants on the DASH diet combined with a behavioral weight management program exhibited greater improvements in executive function-memory-learning (Cohen's D=0.562; P=0.008) and psychomotor speed (Cohen's D=0.480; P=0.023), and DASH diet alone participants exhibited better psychomotor speed (Cohen's D=0.440; P=0.036) compared with the usual diet control. Neurocognitive improvements appeared to be mediated by increased aerobic fitness and weight loss. Also, participants with greater intima-medial thickness and higher systolic blood pressure showed greater improvements in executive function-memory-learning in the group on the DASH diet combined with a behavioral weight management program. In conclusion, combining aerobic exercise with the DASH diet and caloric restriction improves neurocognitive function among sedentary and overweight/obese individuals with prehypertension and hypertension.Item Open Access Tissue-specific genetic control of splicing: implications for the study of complex traits.(PLoS Biol, 2008-12-23) Heinzen, Erin L; Ge, Dongliang; Cronin, Kenneth D; Maia, Jessica M; Shianna, Kevin V; Gabriel, Willow N; Welsh-Bohmer, Kathleen A; Hulette, Christine M; Denny, Thomas N; Goldstein, David BNumerous genome-wide screens for polymorphisms that influence gene expression have provided key insights into the genetic control of transcription. Despite this work, the relevance of specific polymorphisms to in vivo expression and splicing remains unclear. We carried out the first genome-wide screen, to our knowledge, for SNPs that associate with alternative splicing and gene expression in human primary cells, evaluating 93 autopsy-collected cortical brain tissue samples with no defined neuropsychiatric condition and 80 peripheral blood mononucleated cell samples collected from living healthy donors. We identified 23 high confidence associations with total expression and 80 with alternative splicing as reflected by expression levels of specific exons. Fewer than 50% of the implicated SNPs however show effects in both tissue types, reflecting strong evidence for distinct genetic control of splicing and expression in the two tissue types. The data generated here also suggest the possibility that splicing effects may be responsible for up to 13 out of 84 reported genome-wide significant associations with human traits. These results emphasize the importance of establishing a database of polymorphisms affecting splicing and expression in primary tissue types and suggest that splicing effects may be of more phenotypic significance than overall gene expression changes.