The day of the study patientes underwent a complete clinical evaluation and assessment of psycho-physical abilities using specific test such as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Blood samples were collected from an antecubital vein to assess serum and plasma aliquots for blood routine analysis and RNA and protein extraction from circulating lymphomonocytes.
To explore a putative epigenetic regulation of such complex scenario some circulating miRNAs likely involved in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases and neuro-inflammation will be measured.
Expression and functional activity of P2X7R-inflammasome complex will be measured by PCR and WB. Acute phase cytokines inflammasome-related levels will be determined by ELISA. Biochemical parameters (fasting glucose, lipid profile, serum creatinine, uric acid) will be measured by standard methods in the biochemistry laboratory of the University Hospital in Pisa. The same determinations will be repeated after one year from the first visit.
