Three-Dimensional Quantitative Imaging of Telomeres in Buccal Cells Identifies Mild, Moderate, and Severe Alzheimer's Disease Patients

Abstract

Using three-dimensional (3D) telomeric analysis of buccal cells of 82 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and cognitively normal age and gender-matched controls, we have for the first time examined changes in the 3D nuclear telomeric architecture of buccal cells among levels of AD severity based on five 3D parameters: i) telomere length, ii) telomere number, iii) telomere aggregation, iv) nuclear volume, and v) a/c ratio, a measure of spatial telomere distribution. Our data indicate that matched controls have significantly different 3D telomere profiles compared to mild, moderate, and severe AD patients (p < 0.0001). Distinct profiles were also evident for each AD severity group. An increase in telomere number and aggregation concomitant with a decrease in telomere length from normal to severe AD defines the individual stages of the disease (p < 0.0001).

Treatment and Management of Dementia Due to Alzheimer’s Disease

“…& Though intellectual stimulation and socialization is encouraged, more studies need to be performed to determine whether these activities can be used to modify cognitive decline in those with dementia [18].…”

Quantitative 3D Telomeric Imaging of Buccal Cells Reveals Alzheimer’s Disease-Specific Signatures

“…The collection of patient samples was done as previously described [36]. Using Epicentre Catch-A11 sample collection swabs, buccal cells were collected by the Queen’s University Memory Clinics’ personnel in duplicates from each participant’s cheek and smeared onto a marked square of microscope VWR pre-cleaned frosted slides.…”

“…In this cohort, we described a non-invasive method to examine and define alterations in AD and during AD progression using quantitative 3D nuclear telomere imaging of buccal cells (BCs). As a follow-up to our initial cohort of 82 subjects with age- and gender-matched caregiver controls (41 AD and 41 non-AD) [36], the current study reports on a second independent patient cohort in which we investigated the 3D nuclear telomeric profiles from BCs of 88 study participants using age- and gender-matched non-caregiver controls (44 AD and 44 non-AD). This is in contrast to the previous study that was based on caregiver controls [28].…”

Towards Personalized Intervention for Alzheimer’s Disease

“…A multi-tissue study showed that calpain activity is increased in CSF and decreased in blood of AD patients [57]. Interestingly, a rare study of telomere in buccal cells showed shorter telomeres and increased number of telomeres in AD patients compared to controls [58].…”