Dementia is a neurological disorder that is spreading with increasing human lifespan. In this neurological disorder, memory and cognition are declined and eventually impaired. Various factors can be considered as the background of this disorder, one of which is endocrine disorders. Thyroid hormones are involved in various physiological processes in the body; one of the most important of them is neuromodulation. Thyroid disorders, including hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, can affect the nervous system and play a role in the development of dementia. Despite decades of investigation, the nature of the association between thyroid disorders and cognition remains a mystery. Given the enhancing global burden of dementia, the principal purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between thyroid disturbances as a potentially modifiable risk factor of cognitive dysfunction. In this review study, we have tried to collect almost all of the reported mechanisms demonstrating the role of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in the pathogenesis of dementia.
Cadmium and lead concentrations were compared in tissues of cutlassfish, Trichiurus lepturus L., its intestinal nematode Hysterothylacium sp. type MB larvae, and in water from the same location in the Sea of Oman. Metal accumulation in hosts, parasites and sea water was measured by ICP-OES. Hysterothylacium larvae from the intestinal lumen and visceral cavity showed much higher metal concentrations than in host tissues or sea water. Statistical analyses revealed no significant differences in metal accumulation between infected and uninfected hosts. Cadmium concentration in the host muscle was lower than in intestine, liver and gonad tissues. The mean concentrations of lead and cadmium in nematodes were 289·03 and 81·5 times higher than in host intestine, 188·4 and 225 times higher than in host muscle, 108·6 and 65·3 times higher than in host gonads, 70·5 and 19·5 times higher than in host liver and 3351 and 148 times higher than in sea water. The results show the value of this and possibly related nematodes as bioindicators of heavy metals and their potential use in environmental studies.
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of catechin‐loaded Chitosan‐Alginate nanoparticles (NPs) on cognitive function in an aluminum chloride (AlCl3)‐induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Catechin‐loaded Chitosan‐Alginate nanocarriers were synthesized through ionotropic gelation (IG) method. Physio‐chemical characterization was conducted with the Zetasizer Nano system, the scanning electron microscope, and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experiments were performed over 21 days on six groups of male Wistar rats. The control group, AlCl3 treated group, Catechin group, nanocarrier group, treatment group 1 (AlCl3 + Catechin), and treatment group 2 (AlCl3 + nanocarrier). A behavioral study was done by the Morris water maze (MWM) test. In addition, the level of oxidative indices and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity was determined by standard procedures at the end of the study. AlCl3 induced a significant increase in AChE activity, along with a significant decrease in the level of Catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the hippocampus. Moreover, the significant effect of AlCl3 was observed on the behavioral parameters of the MWM test. Both forms of Catechin markedly improved AChE activity, oxidative biomarkers, spatial memory, and learning. The present study indicated that the administration of Catechin‐loaded Chitosan‐Alginate NPs is a beneficial therapeutic option against behavioral and chemical alteration of AD in male Wistar rats.