Cognitive Frailty and Oxygen-ozone Therapy

Cognitive Frailty and Oxygen-ozone Therapy: Integrated Approach to Identify Biological and Neuropsychological Markers

As the world's population age, frailty is moving to the forefront of health and medical research and may become one of the world's most serious health issues. Understanding frailty prevention and treatment becomes even more crucial in order to reduce national healthcare costs. Oxygen-Ozone (O2-O3) therapy is a no-invasive/no-pharmacological and low cost procedure based on the therapeutic effects of low O3 concentrations, already used in medicine as an alternative/adjuvant treatment for different diseases and in the elderly. This project is the first pilot double blind randomized controlled trial where a group of elderly frail subjects are stratified as untreated (air), treated with pure O2 and treated with a mixture of O2-O3. The biological corollary will be transcriptomics, proteomics and also cognitive impairment assessment at baseline and after treatment. An algorithm combining these data will identify biomarkers of the response to O2-O3 therapy.

Background: Although frailty does not yet have an internationally recognized standard definition, the general premise is that it may be considered a geriatric syndrome reflecting multi-system dysfunction, in which individuals are able to dynamically transition between severity states. The World Health Organization and The International Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology are working on an internationally accepted frailty definition. Accumulating evidence supports the existence of a close relation between frailty and cognitive impairment in subjects with/without dementia. To date specific treatments for the cognitive frailty are not still available. Oxygen-Ozone (O2-O3) therapy is a no-invasive/no-pharmacological low cost procedure based on therapeutic effects of low O3 concentrations and used in medicine as an alternative/adjuvant treatment for different diseases and for improving metabolic activities in elderly. Molecular evidence shows that low O3 concentrations dissolve in the biological fluids and induce a mild oxidative stress, which stimulates antioxidant defences thus preventing the inflammatory response and cell damage. Inflammatory processes, altered release of the main reactive O2 species and mitochondrial/cytoskeletal modifications have been hypothesized to influence significantly the frailty state as well as the neurodevelopmental network on cognitive impairment. Aims To characterize clinical and neuropsychological-cognitive impairment profiles in elderly frail subjects at baseline and after treatment. To identify in vivo peripheral biomarkers associated to O2-O3 therapy through transcriptomic and proteomic analyses at baseline and after treatment. To correlate clinical/cognitive improvement with transcriptomic and proteomic profiles to identify biomarkers associated to treatment response.

A small catheter is inserted into the rectum and a total amount of 150cc of O2-O3 mixture at the concentration of 30ug of O3 per cc of O2 over a 5-10 min period is administered.

A small catheter is inserted into the rectum and a total amount of 150cc of O2 over a 5-10 min period is administered.

A small catheter is inserted into the rectum and a total amount of 150cc of air over a 5-10 min period is administered.

Italian frailty index (IFi) is an Italian version of the "frailty index" based on accumulation of age-related deficits. IFi has been expressed as a ratio of deficits present/deficits considered after a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in Frailty Instrument (FIt) based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-FIt)

SHARE-FIt is based on 5-item (i.e. grip strength and four self-reported items: fatigue, loss of appetite and/or eating less than usual, difficulties climbing stairs and/or walking 100 metres, and low level of physical activity). For each gender, a discreet factor (DFactor) model was estimated based on the five SHARE frailty variables. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ) is a subjective measure of memory failure in everyday life, lower scores indicating better memory function. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) is used to measure fluid intelligence, with higher scores indicating better function. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) is a test used to assess episodic memory, with higher scores indicating better function. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

ROCF-A is used to explore visuo-constructional ability and visuo-spatial memory, with higher scores indicating better function. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

FNAT is used to assess the patient's associative memory and is composed of encoding and retrieval phases, with higher scores indicating better function. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

The PNT is designed to explore lexical access, with higher scores indicating better function. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Trail Making Tests A (TMT-A) is used to assess visual attention and motor speed skills, with lower scores indicating better attention. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Trail Making Tests B (TMT-B) is used to assess executive functions, with lower scores indicating good performance in executive function. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral mRNAs levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

The mRNAs peripheral signatures compared before and after treatments. To identify the list of differentially expressed mRNAs we filter ANOVA results using both fold change |FC| ≥ 1.5 and p-value ≤0.05. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral NGFb (beta-Nerve Growth Factor) levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of NGFb compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of BDNF compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of VEGF compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IL, Interleukin-1b levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IL-1b compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IL, Interleukin-4 levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IL-4 compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IL, Interleukin-6 levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IL-6 compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IL, Interleukin-8 levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IL-8 compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IL, Interleukin-9 levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IL-9 compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IL, Interleukin-10 levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IL-10 compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IL, Interleukin-13 levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IL-13 compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral TNF-a (Tumor Necrosis Factor) levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of TNF-a compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Change from baseline and post-intervention in peripheral IFN-g (Interferon-gamma) levels in subjects stratified according to IFi or SHARE-FIt scores

Peripheral concentrations (pg/ml) of IFN-g compared before and after treatments. Change = month 3rd after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 9th after treatment - baseline score / Change = month 15th after treatment - baseline score

Inclusion Criteria: subjects between the ages of 60 and 85, referring to the diagnosis of amnesic or non-amnesic cognitive disorder, reported by the subject himself or by family members; MMSE score > 24/30; exclusion of dementia, even in the presence of ascertained Alzheimer's disease detected by the most advanced diagnostic techniques; function intact, or functional reduction not related to the cognitive problem; pharmacological therapy for the treatment of stable cognitive or behavioral disorders for at least 3 months at the time of enrolment; specific assessments/tools for frailty: "Italian frailty index (IFi)" and for "Frailty Instrument (FIt) based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-FIt)". Exclusion Criteria: subjects affected by disabling vision or hearing impairments; subjects affected by known psychosis or psychiatric illness, alcohol or drug abuse; subjects affected by uncontrolled hyperthyroidism or by Glucose-6-Phostate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD)-Favism (according to S.I.O.O.T Guidelines, http://www.ossiozono.it); subjects who considered invasive the methodology for rectal insufflation.

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