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UAMS
Institute on
Aging
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Research
Researchers throughout UAMS are conducting studies related to
dementia. This is fostered by our Pilot Grant Program and an active
mentoring program for young investigators interested in AD research. In
this section we provide information on:
UAMS Pilot Studies
The UAMS Memory Research Center funds several pilot studies each year.
The following pilot studies are in progress right now. For more
information on each study, please call or e-mail
the contact person.
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Study Title:
Sleep Fragmentation Method & Attention
Principal Investigator: Catherine
Cole, DNSc, APRN, BC
Description:
When healthy people have fragmented sleep it is associated with
the inability to pay attention and memory problems. The effect
of fragmented sleep on attention is very important to persons
with Alzheimer’s disease because the first thing needed to build
memories is the ability to pay attention. The purpose of this
study is to test methods that we can use to study fragmented
sleep and attention. This information will help Dr. Cole design
future studies to examine the effect of fragmented sleep on
attention in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. For one night we
will sound tones just loud enough to wake you up periodically.
Each individual will be involved in the study for about two
weeks and for two days of those two weeks we would like you to
stay with us in the General Clinical Research Center on the
sixth floor in the Veterans Hospital of the University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences. We want you to be as comfortable
as possible during those two days so we are inviting you to
bring a family member or your sleeping partner, roommate, or
family member with you.
Needed: 15
persons enrolled in the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences Memory Research Center, who have a diagnosis of mild
Alzheimer’s disease, and who are good sleepers.
Cost:
Free of charge
Reimbursement: None.
However, you will receive a free hearing screen, a free sleep
study commonly valued up to $4000.00, and free meals during the
study.
Time
Commitment:
48 hours in the General Clinical Research Center.
Contact Person:
Dr. Catherine Cole:
Office 501-257-2199,
colecatherine@uams.edu
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Study Title:
Treatment of Language and Memory in
Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease: A
Comparison Between Drug Therapy and
Drug Therapy Plus Behavioral Intervention
Investigators: Kimberly McCullough,
PhD, CCC-SLP
Gary McCullough, PhD
Pham Liem, MD
Description:
The
purpose of this study is to
collect data on the effects of behavioral interventions for
memory and communication deficits in persons taking
cholinesterase inhibitors compared with the effects of
cholinesterase inhibitors alone. Initial testing will include a
written case history, tests of communication skills, and
interviews with the participants, family, and staff caregivers
to help select potential goals for treatment. Participants will
be randomly selected to participate in Group A (control) or
Group B (intervention). Group A will use a Caregiver Checklist
for eight weeks to identify any increase or decrease in the
occurrence of the identified communication deficits. Group B
will have 16 treatment sessions by a Speech Language Pathologist
during the eight-week period. A post test will be administered
to all participants.
Needed:
20 individuals with mild
to moderate dementia who are already taking cholinesterase
inhibitors
Cost:
Free of charge
Reimbursement:
None, but the Intervention Group, Group B, will receive 16
therapy sessions at no charge
Time
Commitment:
All participants: Initial testing (two 1-hour sessions)
Group
A: Use Caregiver Checklist for 8 weeks. Post evaluation (two
1-hour sessions)
Group
B: Two
1-hour treatment sessions per week for 8 weeks (16 treatment
sessions). Post evaluation (two
1-hour sessions)
Contact Persons: Dr.
Kimberly McCullough, 501-450-5488,
kmccullo@mail.uca.edu
Dr. Gary McCullough, 501-686-8754,
McculloughGaryH@uams.edu
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Study
Title: The Stigma of Alzheimer's
Disease:
Perceptions of African American
Community Leaders and Members.
Principal Investigators: Snigdha Mukherjee, PhD
Greer Sullivan, MD,
MSPH
Description:
For this study we
are interested in talking to African American community members
about their views and opinions on the health issues of African
American elderly. We are especially interested in finding out
what would make the elderly and their families comfortable about
using social and health services. We would like to conduct two
focus group discussions.
Needed:
A total of at least
sixteen African American community members for two focus group
discussions. For one group African American community members
between the ages of 25 to 45 years of age will be recruited and
for the other group African American community members ages 45
and over will be recruited.
Cost:
Free of charge.
Reimbursement:
$25 Wal-Mart gift certificate. Refreshments, parking and
transportation costs will be provided up to a value of $20.
Time Commitment:
One visit,
1½ hours long
Contact Person:
Mr. Miles Henderson, 501-372-3110 (H),
501-350-0633 (C)
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Study Title:
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
for Caregivers
of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Principal Investigator: Sandra K.
Pope, PhD
Description:
The purpose of this study is to
determine the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Stress
Reduction (MBSR) program on reducing stress and improving the
quality of life for individuals who are currently or have been
caregivers of a family member with Alzheimer’s Disease. The
MBSR program teaches relaxation techniques, simple stretching
exercises, and meditation. In Part I of this study, we will
conduct 3 focus groups of approximately 5 adults each where we
will discuss ways to make the MBSR program more acceptable to
caregivers of AD patients. In Part II of the study, volunteers
will be randomly selected to participate in either an
intervention group (A) or a control group (B). Group A will
participate in a 6 week MBSR program which will meet once a week
for 2 hours in the Fall of 2004. Group B will participate in a
weekly support group hosted by Alzheimer’s AR and will be given
the opportunity to participate in the MBSR program in the Spring
of 2005.
FOCUS GROUPS
Needed:
15 adults who are or have been caregivers of AD
patients
Cost:
No cost
Reimbursement:
Participants will
receive $25.
Time Commitment:
Participants
will meet one time only for 1½ hours.
INTERVENTION GROUPS
Needed:
40 adults who are currently or
have been caregivers of AD patients
Cost:
No cost
Reimbursement:
Participants will
receive the MBSR course, workbook,
book and 2 relaxation tapes at no charge. (Usual course fee is
$325.)
Time Commitment:
Group A:
Participants will complete an interview lasting 45 minutes
before and after the program plus 2 hours of class time each
week for 6 consecutive weeks. Participants will be asked to
practice the techniques learned in the course for 30 minutes per
day, 6 days per week during the program.
Group
B:
Participants will complete a 45 minute orientation meeting one
week before the intervention, weekly 1-hour support group
meetings for 6 weeks, and will be given the option to
participate in the MBSR program in Spring 2005.
Group
A & B:
Participants in both groups will complete a 30-minute
questionnaire before and after the first and second MBSR
programs. Also, participants will collect saliva samples 4
times a day for 2 days before and after each program.
Contact Persons:
Dr. Sandra K. Pope, Ph.D. at (501)526-5757,
popesandrak@uams.edu
Mary Horne, Research Assistant at (501)526-5758,
hornemaryt@uams.edu
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Study
Title: A Pain Behavior Observational
Method for
Severely Cognitively Impaired Elders With
Osteoarthritis
Investigators: Pao-Feng Tsai, PhD, RN
Cornelia Beck, PhD, RN, FAAN
Rudolph Parrish
Kathy Richards, PhD, RN
Description:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a pain observational
tool for severely cognitively impaired elders with
osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Severely cognitively impaired
elders have trouble responding to questions about their pain,
making pain management difficult. We developed this
observational tool as an alternative to the verbal report. This
study will take place in the participant’s residence that may be
his/her own home or a nursing home. The participant will be
asked to perform simple activities such as sitting, standing,
walking, and reclining. While the participant is performing
these activities he/she will be observed for pain behaviors.
The session will be videotaped and later rated for pain
behaviors. The participant will also be asked to self-rate
his/her pain.
Needed:
45 severely cognitively
impaired elders and 45 non-cognitively impaired elders, at least
60 years old and diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hip or
knee.
Cost:
Free of charge
Reimbursement:
$25.00 gift
certificate for completing entire study
Time Commitment:
Three twenty-minute
sessions (total of one hour) in one day.
Contact Person:
Dr. Pao-Feng Tsai, 501-296-1999,
tsaipaofeng@uams.edu
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Refereed Publications - In press
De los Reyes E, Dyken PR, Phillips P,
Brodsky M, Bates S, Glasier C, Mrak RE. (in press). Profound
infantile neuroretinal dysfunction in a heterozygote for the CLN3 genetic
defect. J Child Neurol.
Griffin WST, Mrak RE.
(in press). Cytokines and their potential as biomarkers: Relevance to the Multicenter Vitamin E Trial in Aging Persons with Down Syndrome.
J
Policy Analysis Management.
Mehta KM, Simonsick WM,
Rooks R, Newman AB, Pope, SK, Rubin SM, Yaffe K. (in press) Black
and white differences in cognitive function test scores, What explains the
difference? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Mrak RE, Griffin WST.
(in press). Trisomy 21 and the Brain. Journal of Neuropathology and
Experimental Neurology.
Snow LA, Weber JB,
O’Malley KJ, Cody M, Beck C, Bruera E, Ashton C, & Kunik M. (in
press). NOPPAIN: A nursing assistant-administered pain assessment
instrument for patients with dementia. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive
Disorders.
Souder E, & Beck C.
(in press). Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease. Nursing Clinics of North
America.
Wainwright MS, Craft JM,
Griffin WST, Marks A, Pineda J. (in press) Increased
susceptibility of S100β transgenic mice to perinatal hypoxia-ischemia.
Annals of Neurology.
Wu S, Bodles AM, Porter
MM, Griffin WST, Basile AS, Barger S. (in press) Induction
of serine racemase expression and D-serine release from microglia by
Amyloid β-peptide. Journal of Neuroinflammation.
2004 Refereed Publications
Li Y, Liu L, Liu D, Woodward S, Barger SW,
Mrak RE, Griffin WST.
(2004). Microglial activation by uptake of fDNA via a scavenger receptor.
J Neuroimmunol, 147:50–55.
2003 Refereed Publications
American Geriatrics
Society and American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (2003).
Consensus statement on improving the quality of mental health care in US
nursing homes: Management of depression and behavioral symptoms associated
with dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51(9),
1287-1298. (C. Beck member of AGS/AAGP Expert Panel on Quality
Mental Health Care in Nursing Homes)
Bartzokis G, Cummings JL,
Sultzer D, Henderson VW, Nuechterlein KH, Mintz J. (2003) White
matter structural integrity in aging adults and patients with Alzheimer’s
disease: A magnetic resonance imaging study. Archives of Neurology, 60:393-398.
Beck C,
& Shue V. (2003). Surrogate decision making and related issues.
Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders, 17(2, Supplement 1),
S12-S16.
Chumbler NR, Grimm JW,
Cody M, Beck C. (2003). Gender, kinship and caregiver burden: The
case of community-dwelling memory impaired seniors. International
Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, 722-732.
Henderson VW, Guthrie
JR, Dennerstein L. (2003). Serum lipids and memory in a population-based
cohort of middle-age women. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and
Psychiatry, 74:1530-1535.
Li Y, Liu L, Barger, SW,
Griffin WST. (2003). Interleukin-1 Mediates Pathological Effects of
Microglia on Tau Phosphorylation and on Synatophysin Synthesis in
Cortical Neurons through a p38-MAPK Pathway.
J Neurosci 23(5):1605-1611.
Mrak RE.
(2003)
Cytokine
regulation in Alzheimer’s disease. In:
Kronful Z (Ed): Cytokines
and Mental Health.
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, chapter 17, Pp 385-402.
Pope SK,
Shue VM, Beck C. (2003) Will a healthy lifestyle help prevent
Alzheimer’s disease? Annual Review of Public Health, 24:111-32.
Segal JB, Williams R,
Kraut MA, Hart, Jr. J. (2003) Semantic memory deficit with a left
thalamic infarct. Neurology, 61:252-254.
Souder E, Terry L, & Mrak RE.
(2003). Autopsy 101. Geriatric Nursing, 24, 330-336.
2003 Non-Refereed Publications
Beck C, Shue VM, Pope SK.
(2003). Nonpharmacologic treatments of Alzheimer’s disease. [On-line
serial]. Timely Topics in Medicine. Available at:
http://www.ttmed.com.
2003 Books
Beck C,
& Shue V. (2003). Behavioral management of dementia. In JA Trafton, & WP
Gordon, (Eds.), Best Practices in the Behavioral Management of Chronic
Disease Vol 1. (Ch 4). Los Altos, CA. Institute for Disease
Management.
2002
Publications
Butterfield
DA, Griffin S, Munch G, Pasinetti GM. (2002) Amyloid ß-peptide and
amyloid pathology are central to the oxidative stress and
inflammatory cascades under which Alzheimer’s disease brain exists.
J Alz Dis 4: 193-201.
Cody, M., Beck, C.,
Shue, V.M., & Pope, S. (2002). Reported practices of primary care
physicians in the diagnosis and management of dementia. Aging &
Mental Health, 6(1), 72-76.
Griffin WST, Mrak RE. (2002) Interleukin-1 in the
genesis and progression of and risk for development of neuronal
degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. J Leukoc Biol
72:233-238.
Henderson
VW,
Drachman DA. (2002) Dementia, butterfly ballots, and voter
competence [editorial]. Neurology 58:995-996.
Henderson VW, Klein BEK, Resnick SM. (2002)
Menopause and disorders of neurologic function, mental health, and
the eye. In: International Position Paper on Women’s Health and
Menopause: A Comprehensive Approach. NIH Publication No.
02-3284. National Institutes of Health: Bethesda, MD, pp 251-270.
Henderson VW. (2002) Protective effects of estrogen
on aging and damaged neural systems. In: Pfaff DW, Arnold AP, Etgen
AM, Fahrback SE, Moss RL, Rubin RT (eds), Hormones, Brain, and
Behavior, vol. 4. San Diego: Academic Press, pp
821-837.
Henderson VW. (2002) Randomized trials of estrogen
for memory and dementia. In: Lobo RA, Crosignani PG, Paoletti R,
Bruschi F. (eds), Women’s Health and Menopause: New Strategies
– Improved Quality of Life. Dordrecht, The Netherlands:
Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp 279-290.
Kleinman, L., Schmier, J., Rothman, M., Frank, L., &
Beck, C. (2002). Time and costs of managing specific disruptive
behaviors in long-term care facilities: A descriptive study.
Consultant Pharmacist, 17, 497-507.
Kraut M, Kremen S,
Moo L, Segal J, Calhoun V, Hart J. (2002). Object activation in
semantic memory from visual multimodal feature input. Journal of
Cognitive Neuroscience;14:37-47.
Kraut M, Kremen S,
Segal J, Calhoun V, Moo L, Hart J. (2002). Object activation from
features in the semantic system. Journal of Cognitive
Neuroscience;14:24-36.
Mrak RE. (2002) Autopsy
crucial to Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Aging Arkansas February, p 12.
Rapp, C.G., Shue,
V., & Beck, C. (2002). Preserving abilities: Finding the best level
of assistance. In A.L. Barricek, J. Rader, B. Hoeffer, & P.D. Sloane
(Eds.), Bathing Without a Battle. (pp. 59-68). New York, NY,
Springer Publishing Company.
Resnick SM, Henderson VW. (2002) Hormone therapy
and risk of Alzheimer disease: A critical time [editorial]. JAMA
288:2170-2172.
Slotnick, S., Moo, L., Kraut, M., Lesser, R., &
Hart,
J. (2002). Interactions between thalamic and cortical rhythms during
semantic memory recall in human. PNAS, 99(9); 6440-6443.
Slotnick S, Moo L,
Krauss G, Hart J. (2002). Large-scale cortical displacement of a
human retinotopic map. NeuroReport;13:41-46.
Souder, E. & Beck, C. (2002). Nursing care for
persons with cognitive impairment. In M F. Weiner & A. Lipton,(Eds.),
The dementias: Diagnosis, treatment, and research. 3rd ed.
Wash D.C.: The American Psychiatric Press, pp 381-404.
Souder, E., Chastain, J., Williams, R. (2002).
Dementia in the new millennium. Medsurg Nursing, The Journal of
Adult Health, 11 (2), 61-70.
2001 Publications
Beck, C. (2001).
Identification and assessment of effective services and
interventions: The nursing home perspective. Aging and Mental
Health, 5(Supplement 1), S99-S111.
Chumbler,
N.R., Cody, M., Booth, B.M., Beck C.K. (2001). Rural-urban
differences in service use for memory-related problems in older
adults. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research,
28(2), 212-221.
Chumbler,
N.R., Cody, M., Beck, C. (2001). Mental health service use by
cognitively impaired older adults. Clinical Gerontologist,
22(3/4), 118-122.
Doody, R.S.,
Stevens, J.C., Beck, C., Dubinsky, R.M., Kaye, J.A., Gwyther, L.,
Mohs, R.C., Thal, L.J., Whitehouse, P.J., DeKosky, S.T., & Cummings,
J.L. (2001). Practice parameter: Management of dementia (An
evidence-based review). Neurology, 56, 1154-1166.
Gerdner,
L.A. & Beck, C.K. (2001). State wide survey to compare services
provided for residents with dementia in special care units and
non-special-care units. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
and Other Dementias, 16(5), 289-295.
Li Y, Liu L, Barger SW, Mrak RE,
Griffin WST. (2001). Vitamin E suppression of microglial
activation is neuroprotective. J Neurosci Res 66:163-170.
Mrak RE, Griffin WST. (2001).
Interleukin-1, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Neurobiol Aging 22:903-908.
Mrak RE, Griffin WST. (2001) The role
of activated astrocytes and of the neurotrophic cytokine S100B in
the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Aging
22:915-922.
MacDonald MC, Almor
A, Henderson VW, Kempler D, Andersen ES. (2001). Assessing working
memory and language comprehension in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain
and Language 78:17-42.
Paganini-Hill
A, Clark LJ, Henderson VW, Birge S. (2001). Clock drawing: analysis
in a retirement community. Journal of the American Geriatrics
Society,49:941-947.
Pippenger MA,
Cummings JL. (2001). Treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 8:237-253.
Pippenger M,
Holloway RG, Vickrey BG. (2001). Neurologists’ use of ICD-9CM codes
for dementia. Neurology, 56:1206-1209.
Pope SK, Sowers MF,
Welch GW, Albrecht G. (2001). Functional limitations in women at
midlife: the role of health conditions, behavioral and environmental
factors. Women’s Health Issues, 11:494-502.
Richards, K.C.,
Sullivan, S., Phillips, R., Beck, C.K., Overton-McCoy, A.L. (2001).
Effect of individualized activities on the sleep of nursing home
residents who are cognitively impaired: A pilot study. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 27(9), 30-37.
Sheng JG, Jones RA, Zhou XQ, McGinness
JM, Van Eldik LJ, Mrak RE, Griffin WST. (2001). Interleukin-1
promotion of MAPK-p38 overexpression in experimental animals and in
Alzheimer’s disease: potential significance for tau protein
phosphorylation. Neurochem Int 39:341-348.
Sheng JG, Mrak RE, Jones RA, Brewer MD,
Zhou XQ, Mcginness J, Woodward S, Bales K, Paul SM, Cordell B,
Griffin WST. (2001). Neuronal DNA damage correlates with
overexpression of interleukin-1$
converting enzyme in APPV717F mice. Neurobiol Aging
22:895-902.
Slotnick S,
Moo LR, Tesoro M, Hart J. (2001). Hemispheric asymmetry in
categorical versus coordinate visuospatial processing revealed by
temporary cortical deactivation. Journal of Cognitive
Neuroscience, 13:1088-1096.
Sowers MF, Pope SK,
Welch G, Sternfeld B, Albrecht G. (2001). The association of
menopause and physical functioning in women at the mid-life.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; 49:1485-1492.
Journal of Neuroinflammation
Basic research into
Alzheimer’s disease, pioneered at the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences, led to the idea that a special type of long-lasting
inflammation occurs in the brain in Alzheimer patients. Over the past
15 years, this idea has spread throughout the Alzheimer research
community and has led to new ideas about the prevention and treatment of
Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, two UAMS researchers – Dr. Robert
Mrak and Dr. Sue Griffin – launched a new scientific journal dedicated
to this new and growing field of neuroinflammation. The Journal of
Neuroinflammation is an open access, online journal that publishes
papers on all aspects of innate immunological responses of the central
nervous system, involving microglia, astrocytes, cytokines, chemokines,
and related molecular processes. This journal brings together work
focusing on common pathogenic processes, and provides a forum for
integrative reviews and commentaries on this field.
Click here to access the
Journal of Neuroinflammation
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