Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease with the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the motor cortex and lower motor neurons in the spinal cord and the brain stem. The etiology and pathogenesis of ALS are being actively studied, but there is still no single concept. The study of ALS risk factors can help to understand the mechanism of this disease development and, possibly, slow down the rate of its progression in patients and also reduce the risk of its development in people with a predisposition toward familial ALS. The interest of researchers and clinicians in the protective role of nutrients in the development of ALS has been increasing in recent years. However, the role of some of them is not well-understood or disputed. The objective of this review is to analyze studies on the role of nutrients as environmental factors affecting the risk of developing ALS and the rate of motor neuron degeneration progression. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Springer, Clinical keys, Google Scholar, and E-Library databases for publications using keywords and their combinations. We analyzed all the available studies published in 2010–2020. Discussion: We analyzed 39 studies, including randomized clinical trials, clinical cases, and meta-analyses, involving ALS patients and studies on animal models of ALS. This review demonstrated that the following vitamins are the most significant protectors of ALS development: vitamin B12, vitamin E > vitamin C > vitamin B1, vitamin B9 > vitamin D > vitamin B2, vitamin B6 > vitamin A, and vitamin B7. In addition, this review indicates that the role of foods with a high content of cholesterol, polyunsaturated fatty acids, urates, and purines plays a big part in ALS development. Conclusion: The inclusion of vitamins and a ketogenic diet in disease-modifying ALS therapy can reduce the progression rate of motor neuron degeneration and slow the rate of disease progression, but the approach to nutrient selection must be personalized. The roles of vitamins C, D, and B7 as ALS protectors need further study.

This pilot research was one of the first sociological studies with general questions on genetic testing with 300 participants, 75% of which were representatives of one people – the Sakha. A quantitative method was used: a sociological survey with quota sampling (Δ ± 5%), held in February – March 2018 in the City of Yakutsk (n = 350). Analysis of the survey results have shown that the respondents have low levels of awareness about the DNA-testing method: 72.3% “do not know about the method”. Only 18.7% of respondents knew that since 2000 the Medical-Genetic Centre of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) conducts DNA diagnostics for hereditary diseases, with 81.0% replying that they didn’t know that. The questionnaire has shown that 90.3% of participants would like to undergo DNA-testing to identify their susceptibility to genetic diseases. Our questionnaire has shown high levels of self-identity among the young Sakha and their desire to learn about their belonging to a specific ethnicity (49.3%) with the assistance of DNA-testing. Furthermore, based on the answers relating to motivations for undergoing DNA-testing, we can say that the respondents have confirmed the peculiarities of their national mindset, specifically, high value of children for a family: “concern for the health of my future children” was a great motivator for taking the test (50.3%).

В статье приводятся результаты клинического и генетического исследования якутской семьи с наследственной спастической параплегией (НСП). Изучены заболевшие и здоровые члены семьи. Болезнь клинически характеризуется как прогрессирующая спастическая параплегия нижних конечностей в сочетании с далеко зашедшим случаем периферической нейропатии. Применены методы экзомного секвенирования всего генома, молекулярное моделирование динамина-2 и экспериментальное воспроизведение ключевых элементов патогенеза НСП. Генетический анализ выявил мутацию c.2155C> T, p.R719W в высоко устойчивом GTP-эффекторном домене гена динамин-2. В экспериментах на клетках HeLa показано, что мутантный динамин-2 подавляет процесс эндоцитоза. Моделирование in-silico определило, что выявленная мутация расположена в сигнальном комплексе динамина-2 и потенциально нарушает сборку и функциональные свойства белка. Тестирование этой мутации в других якутских семьях с НСП показало отрицательный результат, что еще раз подтверждает генетическую гетерогенность этой...

Chiari 1 Malformation (CM1) is classically defined as a caudal displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum into the spinal cord. Modern imaging techniques and experimental studies disclose a different etiology for the development of CM1, but the main etiology factor is a structural defect in the skull as a deformity or partial reduction, which push down the lower part of the brain and cause the cerebellum to compress into the spinal canal. CM1 is classified as a rare disease. CM1 can present with a wide variety of symptoms, also non-specific, with consequent controversies on diagnosis and surgical decision-making, particularly in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic. Other disorders, such as syringomyelia (Syr), hydrocephalus, and craniocervical instability can be associated at the time of the diagnosis or appear secondarily. Therefore, CM1-related Syr is defined as a single or multiple fluid-filled cavities within the spinal cord and/or the bulb. A rare CM1-related disorder is syndrome of lateral amyotrophic sclerosis (ALS mimic syndrome). We present a unique clinical case of ALS mimic syndrome in a young man with CM1 and a huge singular syringomyelic cyst with a length from segment C2 to Th12. At the same time, the clinical picture showed upper hypotonic-atrophic paraparesis in the absence of motor disorders in the lower extremities. Interestingly, this patient did not have a disorder of superficial and deep types of sensitivity. This made it difficult to diagnose CM1. For a long time, the patient’s symptoms were regarded as a manifestation of ALS, as an independent neurological disease, and not as a related disorder of CM1. Surgical treatment for CM1 was not effective, but it allowed to stabilize the course of CM1-related ALS mimic syndrome over the next two years.

This article describes the neuropsychological study of patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 according to the clinic register YSC CMP. The purpose of the study was to identify neuropsychological features of SCA1. This study involved 34 patients, of whom 9(26,5%) were men and 25(73,5%) women. The average age of the patients is 52. As a result of the study, neuropsychological features manifested in SCA type 1 were identified. Keywords: neuropsychological research, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, neurodegenerative disease.

This literature review analyses current scientific research that focuses on the impact of bilingualism and multilingualism on human cognitive functions. The focus is on the impact of two or more language experiences on executive functions such as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory. The article examines the concept of «bilingual advantage» and the factors that modulate its manifestation, as well as the role of bilingualism in the formation of cognitive reserve.