bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Examining Depression in Older Surgical Patients: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Alhamdah Yasmin , Yan Ellene , Butris Nina , Kapoor Paras , Lovblom Leif Erik , He David , Chung Frances 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundDepression affects individuals across various ages but is of significance in the older surgical population due to its adverse impact on cognitive function, surgical recovery, and overall functional disability. This study aimed to determine the overall prevalence and trajectory of depression in older surgical patients preoperatively, and at 30‐, 90‐ and 180‐days postoperatively.MethodThis study is a prespecified sub‐study and analysis of the Postoperative Functional Disability in Unrecognized Cognitive Impairment Study. Participants ≥ 65 years undergoing elective non‐cardiac surgery were recruited. Participants completed the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) through an online survey preoperatively and postoperatively at 30‐, 90‐ and 180‐days. A cut‐off of ≥ 5 was used to define depression. Participants also completed four cognitive screening tools: the Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status over the telephone and the Ascertain Dementia Eight‐item Questionnaire and Center for Disease Control and Prevention cognitive question through survey. Cognitive impairment (CI) was defined as meeting the cut‐off on one of the cognitive screening tools. Linear mixed‐effects models were used for trajectory analysis.ResultAmong 307 participants (mean ± SD age: 72.9 ± 5.5; 56.0% female), 62 (20.2%) screened positive for preoperative depression. Forty‐five (14.7%) had mild depression (GDS score 5‐8), 11 (3.6%) had moderate depression (GDS score 9‐11), and 6 (2.0%) had severe depression (GDS score 12‐15). Those who were depressed had significantly lower mean GDS scores at 90‐ and 180‐days postoperatively vs. preoperatively (5.38 ± 0.37 and 5.41 ± 0.35 respectively vs. 7.52 ± 0.28, P≤0.05). While the value at 30‐days was lower than that preoperatively, it was not significant. Non‐depressed participants had significantly higher 30‐days postoperative mean GDS score vs. preoperatively (2.09 ± 0.16 vs. 1.42 ± 0.14, P≤0.05). The mean GDS scores decreased over time in both groups (P for time <0.0001) with significant difference in the trajectories (P for interaction <0.0001). Of those with preoperative depression, 63% screened positive for CI on ≥1 cognitive screening tool vs. 33% without depression.ConclusionDepression is prevalent in older surgical patients. Our novel study findings enable better understanding of depression in the older surgical population.
Prospective analysis of clinical, cognitive and functional impairments among older adults following a diagnosis of covid
Authors: Cintra Fabiana Carla Matos da Cunha , Cintra Marco Túlio , Vallle Estevão Alves , De Souza Henrique Dias Furtado , Almeida Daniella Cristina Brites , Fortini Iza de Faria , Viana Bernardo de Mattos , Bicalho Maria Aparecida Camargos 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundPost‐Covid syndrome has been associated to enduring impairments in functionality, cognition, mood and physical capabilities among older adults.MethodsThe objective was to prospectively evaluate clinical, cognitive and functional impairments in elderly people at 3 and 12 months after the diagnosis of Covid‐19. Prospective cohort study of participants aged 60 years and over after a Covid‐19 diagnosis. The project was approved by the UFMG’s ethics committee. The assessment protocol included the scales Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study ‐ Activities of Daily Living (ADCS‐ADL), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian Version, Geriatric Depression Scale ‐ 15 items, Charlson Comorbidity Index, modified Medical Research Council for dyspnea and Fatigue Severity Scale. The statistical analysis included Paired Samples T Test for continuous variables, the Mcnemar Test for categorical variables and the Sign Test for ordinal variables.ResultsTwenty‐eight participants with a mean age of 69.46 ± 7.09 years and 8.04 ± 4.76 years of education were evaluated after 3 months (T1) and 12 months (T2). Women represented 56.6% and 82.1% of participants were hospitalized in the acute phase. There was an increase in frailty from 7.2% of frail people prior to covid diagnosis, to 39.3% at T1 (P = 0.004) and 32.2%, at T2 (p = 0.016) assessed by CFS. Functional recovery was not statistically significant (ADCS‐ADL ‐ P = 0.083), however, the subitem satisfaction and concerning functional performance assessed by COPM improved (P = 0.012). At (T1) 57.2% of the sample presented a diagnosis of MCI and 17.9% of dementia, while at (T2) 60.7% and 17.9%, respectively (P = 1.00). However, the DRS’s conceptualization domain showed statistical significance improvement [P = 0.011]. Dyspnea symptoms had a significant improvement: from 82.2% with grade II to IV dyspnea at (T1) to 50% at T2 (P = 0.031). No changes were observed in fatigue, depressive symptoms and post‐traumatic stress disorder.ConclusionThis study showed that symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive and functional changes may persist in older adults with following the diagnosis of covid. However, there was a significant improvement in dyspnea, in the DRS’s conceptualization domain and satisfaction in relation to functional performance after 12 months of follow‐up.
Differential Pattern of Tau Deposition is Associated with Each Cognitive Score in Cognitively Unimpaired Elders
Authors: Nayak Siddharth , Hojjati Seyed Hani , Ozoria Sindy , Chernek Peter , Calimag Jenseric , Ghaderi Bardiya , Razlighi Qolamreza R 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundDifferent subtypes of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) are shown to have differential patterns of tau deposition on the cerebral cortex. However, for cognitively unimpaired elders the spatial specificity of tau deposition has not been fully investigated.ObjectiveWe aim to show that tau deposition in different brain regions is uniquely associated with performance in different cognitive domains. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of amyloid‐β (Aβ) in every tau‐cognition relationship.MethodsA total of 124 cognitively unimpaired older adults (68.62 ± 5.56 years) underwent 18F‐florbetaben (FBB) positron emission tomography (PET) scans to determine Aβ positivity and 18F‐MK‐6240 PET scans for measuring in vivo tau accumulation in addition to four cognitive domain assessments, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Voxel‐wise multiple regression analysis is used with voxel‐wise tau uptake as the outcome and cognitive scores, Aβ status and their interaction as the predictor of interest controlling for age, sex, and head size.ResultsMemory and reasoning scores were associated with a unique pattern of tau deposition with negligible spatial overlap (less than 9% on Dice), as shown in Fig. 1, suggesting that each cognitive domain is affected by distinct patten of tau accumulation. Furthermore, as seen in Fig. 2, the presence of Aβ significantly modulates the effect of tau on memory in most regions shown in Fig. 1a in a way that only Aβ+ participants show significant tau‐memory relationships while Aβ‐ participants show no relationship. Strikingly, the tau‐cognitive relationship for other domains did not show strong interactions in the cortex. However, reasoning and speed showed a weak interaction with tau in the right entorhinal cortex and left hippocampus, respectively.ConclusionOur findings provide evidence for regional specificity of tau deposition in unimpaired elders, as it has been reported in AD patients. In addition, while the presence of Aβ strongly modulates the relationship between tau and memory, this modulation is significantly attenuated or completely missing from other cognitive domains.
Development and validation of a new measure Characterising Language Experience and Acculturation (CLEAr‐Q) to inform the cognitive assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse older adults
Authors: Page Zara A , Croot Karen , Lam Ben C. P. , Brodaty Henry , Kochan Nicole A. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundLanguage and cultural factors are known to influence cognitive performance on neuropsychological measures used to assess cognitive impairment and dementia. A new measure, the Characterising Language Experience and Acculturation Questionnaire (CLEAr‐Q) was developed to address the gap in access to a brief measure of these factors in the Australian context. The aim is to validate and further develop the CLEAr‐Q as a tool to capture linguistic and acculturation variables to improve measurement of cognition in older adults from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.MethodsThe CLEAr‐Q was initially created as a paper questionnaire and completed by all older adults from CALD backgrounds in the CogSCAN Study. Items were drawn from the literature and adapted based on feedback from the CogSCAN group. An online version for validation with a larger sample was then developed with consultation from a CALD community working group via an adapted participatory research framework. The anonymous survey is completed online in English and data collection will conclude in February 2024. Preliminary analysis (e.g., Pearson correlation) will be conducted to check for redundant items and to select linguistic and acculturation variables (Table 1) to be included in an exploratory factor analysis; this will establish the factor structure and develop a streamlined, psychometrically validated version of the CLEAr‐Q.ResultsThe CogSCAN sample included 75 participants aged 60‐95 who reported speaking and/or reading a language other than English (LOTE). The validation sample to date consists of 244 participants aged 60‐90 who reported speaking and/or reading a LOTE at a functional level, were born in over 50 overseas countries (Figure 1) and speak on average more than two languages (Table 2). Data analysis is in progress.ConclusionsResults will contribute to validating the CLEAr‐Q and demonstrating its utility to characterise known diversity in CALD samples. Future directions include examining the relative importance of linguistic and acculturation variables from the CLEAr‐Q in predicting cognitive performance, which is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy of current neuropsychological measures for assessment of cognitive impairment and dementia in older adults from CALD backgrounds.
Navigating Dyslexia Diagnosis in Primary Progressive Aphasia within Transparent Languages: A Study in a Spanish‐Speaking Community
Authors: Garcia Florentina Morello , Calandri Ismael Luis , Hernández Micaela A , Crivelli Lucia , Difalcis Micaela , Leiva Samanta , Ferreres Aldo , Allegri Ricardo 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundSurface dyslexia serves as a complementary feature in the classification of the semantic variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), while reading deficits have also been reported in the other two PPA variants. In opaque languages, tasks involving regular and irregular words and non‐words are useful tools for dyslexia diagnosis. However, in transparent languages like Spanish, where most words are regular for reading, different approaches are needed. This study aims to: 1) present an alternative approach for detecting reading deficits in Spanish‐speaking PPA patients, and 2) identify brain FDG‐hypometabolism patterns in PPA subjects with dyslexia.MethodWe assessed 17 PPA patients and 61 age‐sex‐education‐matched healthy subjects with tasks of word and non‐word reading, foreign word reading (FWRead), and visual lexical decision with pseudohomophones (VLDPsh). Employing a single‐case series methodology with a case‐control design, we conducted comparisons against controls and intra‐subject analyses. To assess hypometabolism, we performed 18F‐FDG PET scans on all subjects, and we analyzed the images using SPM. We adjusted a prediction model of 18F‐FDG signal in control subjects to determine the w‐score for each patient. A region was defined as abnormal if it fell below a w‐score of ‐1.5.ResultWe detected dyslexia in 94% of all PPA subjects. Specific patterns were identified: 5 cases of surface dyslexia (characterized by impairments in the lexical reading mechanism), 2 of phonological dyslexia (impairments in the phonological mechanism), 3 of mixed dyslexia (impairments in both reading mechanisms), and 6 unspecified. The FDG‐PET results revealed left ventral occipitotemporal, left ventral inferior parietal, and left superior temporal cortex hypometabolism (see Figure 1).ConclusionThis research provides valuable insights into the presence and types of dyslexia shown by Spanish‐speaking PPA patients and emphasizes the importance of studying reading, as it has been observed to be affected in 94% of our sample. Our findings underscore the need to employ tasks such as FWRead and VLDPsh to assess lexical reading mechanisms in Spanish‐speaking contexts. Moreover, the identification of hypometabolism in brain regions contributes additional insights into the metabolic deficits observed in PPA patients and is consistent with reported data about regions linked to reading.
Using Ambulatory Assessment to Explore Links between Daily Activities and Daily life Cognitive Functioning among Older Adults
Authors: Weinstein Andrea M. , Rothenberger Scott , Moore Raeanne C , Snitz Beth E. , Cohen Ann D , Butters Meryl A 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundCharacterizing dementia risk is difficult with traditional neuropsychological testing. Ecological Momentary Cognitive Testing (EMCT) uses ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to sample daily life cognition. The current study examined how daily activities were related to EMCT performance and explored whether associations remained when stratifying by amyloid‐beta (Aβ) status.MethodOlder adults without dementia underwent Pib‐PET imaging and a 10‐day EMA and EMCT protocol using the NeuroUX platform. EMCT measures included verbal memory (12‐item Memory List accuracy), spatial memory (Memory Matrix accuracy), inhibitory control (Color Trick reaction time [RT]), and visual search/processing speed (Matching Pair RT). We examined EMCT in relation to concurrent and previous day activities reported by EMA: 1) work/volunteer activities and 2) physical leisure activities (e.g., exercising or gardening). EMCT task performance was calculated by intraindividual mean and variability, assuming higher mean accuracy and lower variability indicated better cognition. We jointly modeled the mean function and log transformed intraindividual variability for each EMCT task in relation to concurrent and previous day activity, controlling for age, education, and protocol day. We then explored associations stratified by Aβ status.ResultForty participants (age = 73.6 years [67‐91]; education = 15 years [10‐19]; 21 female; 77% white; 7 Aβ+) completed the protocol. For instance, concurrent physical leisure (β = ‐.15, p = .011) or work activities (β = ‐.15, p = .012) was associated with lower Color Trick RT variability and this association held in Aβ+ individuals (β = ‐.69, p<.01; β = ‐.39, p = .01). Concurrent physical activities were associated with higher Memory List mean accuracy (β = .67, p = .05) and concurrent work activities was associated with lower Memory List variability (b = ‐.15, p = .04). Conversely, concurrent physical leisure activities were associated with higher Matching Pair RT variability (β = .15, p = .02) but only in Aβ‐ individuals. When looking at previous day activities, physical leisure (β = ‐.13, p = .05) and work (β = ‐.16, p = .02) activities were associated with less next‐day Memory Matrix variability, in both Aβ+ and Aβ‐ individuals.ConclusionDaily cognitive performance (i.e., EMCT) is sensitive to daily activities, with possible differences by Aβ status. Ongoing work is further examining these patterns (K23AG076663).
The role of the RUDAS can facilitate in differentiating dementia with Lewy bodies from Alzheimer’s disease in an urban Peruvian population
Authors: Custodio Nilton , Menendez Carlos E.E. Araujo , Custodio Belen , Malaga Diego Marco , Montesinos Rosa , Chambergo‐Michilot Diego , Bustamante‐Paytan Diego , Aguero Katherine , Verastegui Graciet , Tosto Giuseppe 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundDementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) differ in their cognitive characteristics. Subscales of the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) provide an opportunity to test these cognitive domains across the two conditions. Multiple brief cognitive screening tools have been evaluated to differentiate specific types of dementia, but there are no reports regarding RUDAS yet.MethodsOne hundred and twenty‐one [DLB (n = 46) and AD (n = 75)] patients enrolled in the Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias (IPN). AD cases were derived from the GAPP study (NIA grant #alz090494AG069118). Independent group t‐tests and chi‐square tests were used to examine differences in key demographic variables and in RUDAS sub‐scores (Orientation, praxis, construction, judgment, memory, and language) between groups.ResultsOn average, AD patients were older and had a lower total RUDAS score. AD and DLB patients performed significantly differently (p < 0.05) on all RUDAS cognitive domains (table 1). The RUDAS memory sub‐score was particularly effective in fully differentiating patients with AD from ones with DLB (AD: mean = 1.7, range = 0‐2; DLB: mean = 5, range = 4‐8; Figure 1).ConclusionOur results provide preliminary evidence of the utility of RUDAS to differentiate between cases diagnosed with AD and DLB in urban Peruvian populations. Future work will focus on confirming if the RUDAS memory sub‐score can aid in differentiating DLB from AD in larger, community‐dwelling populations in Peru.
Passively collected data from smartphones improves detection of frontotemporal dementia compared to the MoCA
Authors: Paolillo Emily W. , Casaletto Kaitlin B. , Taylor Jack C. , Heuer Hilary W. , Wise Amy B. , Dhanam Sreya , Sanderson‐Cimino Mark E. , Palacios Brandon R. , Young J. Clayton , Bui Mai Anh , Saloner Rowan , Dutt Shubir , VandeBunte Anna M. , Cadwallader Claire J. , Kramer Joel H. , Kremers Walter K. , Forsberg Leah K. , Boeve Brad F. , Rosen Howard J. , Boxer Adam L. , Staffaroni Adam M. ,   the ALLFTD Consortium
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundFrontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a common young‐onset dementia. Challenges to in‐person FTD evaluations (e.g., behavioral symptoms, disease rarity), highlight the need to develop remote, low‐burden assessment techniques. A growing literature supports passive digital phenotyping for monitoring neurobehavioral change. Thus, we examined the utility of passively collected data from smartphones to detect prodromal or symptomatic FTD compared to that of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a common cognitive screener.Method199 adults enrolled in the ALLFTD Mobile App study (mean age = 53.4 [SD = 15.2]; 58% women) completed up to 6 months of passive smartphone monitoring via the ALLFTD Mobile App. 55% were unimpaired [CDR®+NACC FTLD = 0], 22% had prodromal FTD [CDR®+NACC FTLD = 0.5], and 23% had symptomatic FTD [CDR®+NACC FTLD≥1] with a variety of syndromic presentations. Battery percentage was collected frequently (median interval = 45 min), and total daily battery usage was calculated as a proxy for smartphone use (higher battery usage = more smartphone use). Daily step counts were also passively collected. Logistic regression classified prodromal or symptomatic FTD vs. unimpaired as a function of: MoCA score [Model 1]; 7 passive features characterizing average, inter‐day variability, and changes over time in smartphone use and movement [Model 2]; or passive smartphone features and MoCA [Model 3]. Analyses were repeated excluding participants with symptomatic FTD to detect prodromal FTD vs. unimpaired.ResultThe area under the curves (AUCs) for detecting prodromal or symptomatic FTD (vs. unimpaired) from the MoCA alone [Model 1] and passive smartphone features alone [Model 2] were 0.77 (95%CI: 0.70‐0.85) and 0.77 (95%CI: 0.70‐0.84), respectively. Their combination [Model 3] resulted in a significantly improved AUC of 0.86 (95%CI: 0.80‐0.92) compared to Model 1 (p = 0.001). Significant Model 3 predictors included average daily battery usage (p = 0.02), slopes of change in step count (p = 0.04), and MoCA score (p<0.01). When distinguishing prodromal FTD from unimpaired, passive smartphone features alone (AUC = 0.75) were significantly better than the MoCA alone (AUC = 0.66; p<0.01), and their combination had the largest AUC (0.80).ConclusionResults support the utility of novel passively collected information from smartphones for detecting and monitoring FTD without contributing to assessment burden. With continued validation, passive digital monitoring methodologies have potential to increase access to dementia care.
Deciphering how ApoE shapes neurodevelopment
Authors: Sud Reeteka 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundWhat does neurodevelopment look like when neurodegeneration is the outcome – this is overarching theme of investigations currently ongoing in our lab. The E4 isoform of ApoE protein is the most consistently replicated risk factor in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). And yet, much remains unknown about the biological pathways that connect APOE4 genotype with the development of pathology that eventually leads to AD, nor do we know how early in life these cellular alterations begin.MethodWe derived neural precursor cells (NPCs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs) that were CRISPR‐edited at the APOE locus. As these cells give rise to neurons and glia in the developing fetal brain, elucidating how ApoE affects these cells can highlight its possible effects on neurodevelopment. Proteomic analysis was performed to characterize the protein expression landscape in the NPCs subsequent to targeted deletion of E4 from a parent IPSC line of APOE3/4 genotype. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) following mass spectrometric analysis were determined from the protein abundance fold change values obtained for each protein. Proteins which showed >1.5‐fold difference with FDR adjusted P‐value < 0.05 were considered differentially expressed.ResultCRISPR‐editing of E4 from the parent line revealed 98 differential expressed proteins. Of these, 54 were upregulated, and 44 were downregulated. Further analysis of the DEPs via STRING database showed that these changes primarily affect pathways linked to RNA processing, plasma membrane repair, and cytoskeleton organization.ConclusionIt is crucial to understand the developmental roles of ApoE and the isoform‐specific differences in its functions to better understand its function and dysfunction. Indeed, we find the effects of E4 extend beyond proteins considered central to AD pathology. Our results add to the growing body of literature on altered course of neurodevelopment from genetic risk factors in AD.