We know that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurs at an early stage of cognitive decline and is considered a predictive risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-associated dementia progression. Nevertheless, along with the early signs of neurocognitive deterioration, there is also the parallel incidence of frequently underestimated affective and neuropsychiatric symptoms (A-NPSs), including:
• psychosis (e.g., hallucinations and delusions)
• mood disorders (e.g., depression and/or apathy)
• behavioral abnormalities (e.g., agitation/aggressiveness).
Indeed, the incidence of A-NPSs is much greater in individuals with MCI and AD than in the general elderly population, and the occurrence of A-NPSs accelerates the progression from MCI to AD, thus underlying the importance of these non-cognitive symptoms for ADS prognosis.
Within this framework, a better understanding of the neurobiological and neuropathological underpinnings of A-NPSs burden in AD and MCI may provide a threefold advantage. First, it will expand the study of AD pathogenesis from a mechanistic (e.g., brain structural connectome analysis) point of view, and improve the knowledge about brain–behavior relationships in dementia. Secondly, it will provide the use of novel biomarkers and different symptom clusters for early clinical diagnosis and prediction of disease course. Lastly, it will improve the discovery of novel treatments, not only in terms of pharmacological intervention but also nutritional supplementation and innovative dietary management.
To advance in the dissection of A-NPSs and thus provide some insights into AD and MCI etiology, we welcome Original Research, Review, Brief Research Report, Case Report, Clinical Trial, Data Report, and Community Case Study papers on the following themes and subtopics:
• pharmacological and non-pharmacological (with special interest on dietary modulation) interventions to treat A-NPSs in the context of MCI and AD are highly encouraged, in both patients and animal models of AD-like neuropathology
• imaging studies and innovative techniques to investigate A-NPSs and identify therapeutic strategies
• studies assessing the neural basis of A-NPSs
• studies evaluating the clinical management of A-NPSs
• studies assessing changes of the microbiota ecosystem and its relationship with A-NPSs and AD
• studies assessing the reliability of A-NPSs as ‘predictors’ of AD progression.
We know that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurs at an early stage of cognitive decline and is considered a predictive risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and AD-associated dementia progression. Nevertheless, along with the early signs of neurocognitive deterioration, there is also the parallel incidence of frequently underestimated affective and neuropsychiatric symptoms (A-NPSs), including:
• psychosis (e.g., hallucinations and delusions)
• mood disorders (e.g., depression and/or apathy)
• behavioral abnormalities (e.g., agitation/aggressiveness).
Indeed, the incidence of A-NPSs is much greater in individuals with MCI and AD than in the general elderly population, and the occurrence of A-NPSs accelerates the progression from MCI to AD, thus underlying the importance of these non-cognitive symptoms for ADS prognosis.
Within this framework, a better understanding of the neurobiological and neuropathological underpinnings of A-NPSs burden in AD and MCI may provide a threefold advantage. First, it will expand the study of AD pathogenesis from a mechanistic (e.g., brain structural connectome analysis) point of view, and improve the knowledge about brain–behavior relationships in dementia. Secondly, it will provide the use of novel biomarkers and different symptom clusters for early clinical diagnosis and prediction of disease course. Lastly, it will improve the discovery of novel treatments, not only in terms of pharmacological intervention but also nutritional supplementation and innovative dietary management.
To advance in the dissection of A-NPSs and thus provide some insights into AD and MCI etiology, we welcome Original Research, Review, Brief Research Report, Case Report, Clinical Trial, Data Report, and Community Case Study papers on the following themes and subtopics:
• pharmacological and non-pharmacological (with special interest on dietary modulation) interventions to treat A-NPSs in the context of MCI and AD are highly encouraged, in both patients and animal models of AD-like neuropathology
• imaging studies and innovative techniques to investigate A-NPSs and identify therapeutic strategies
• studies assessing the neural basis of A-NPSs
• studies evaluating the clinical management of A-NPSs
• studies assessing changes of the microbiota ecosystem and its relationship with A-NPSs and AD
• studies assessing the reliability of A-NPSs as ‘predictors’ of AD progression.
