bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating mediating influences of β‐amyloid on the relationship between marital dissolution and cognition
Authors: Chandra Avinash , Anjum Rifah , Waters Sheena , Proitsi Petroula , Smith Laura J , Marshall Charles R 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundResearch has demonstrated that spousal loss through widowhood or divorce are associated with an increased risk of dementia and deteriorated cognitive performance. This is likely due to high levels of stress characteristic of these life events. Evidence suggests that neuropathology typically seen in Alzheimer’s disease, for example, β‐amyloid (Aβ), may be a by‐product of chronic stress. However, whether Aβ facilitates links between disruptive marital transitions and poor cognition remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to explore whether Aβ pathology could mediate associations between marital dissolution, either through divorce or widowhood, and domain‐specific cognitive performance in a cohort of cognitively normal (CN) subjects.MethodData was included for 543 participants in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative classified as CN that had data on self‐reported marital status (married, divorced or widowed) and Aβ PET imaging. Aβ levels were quantified by Centiloid values. Cognitive performance data on executive functioning and episodic memory was available for all participants. Multiple linear regression was utilised for exploring inter‐relationships between marital dissolution, Aβ burden, and cognition, whilst follow‐up mediation analysis examined indirect effects of Aβ on the association between marital status and cognitive performance.ResultsAssociations were found between elevated Aβ levels and both marital dissolution and poorer memory. Results from causal mediation analysis evidenced that Aβ was a significant mediator for the relationship between marital dissolution and episodic memory. These results were confirmed using the Baron and Kenney criteria for a partial mediation effect.ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence that the accumulation of Aβ pathology in the brain may be a pathway through which the stress of marital dissolution acts on memory abilities. This may have further implications for dementia risk, but future research is needed. Findings highlight that interventions after spousal loss may be helpful for the preservation of brain health.
Cognitive performance in individuals aged 80 or over from south of Brazil
Authors: Budni Josiane , Keller Gabriela Serafim , Campos Ana Carolina Brunatto Falchetti , Medeiros Eduarda Behenck , Lídio Adrielly Vargas , Grings Luísa Rosler , Casagrande Débora Dagostin , De Jesus Laura Ceolin , Fenilli Gabriela Piovesan , Boaventura Amanda L , Zabot Gabriel Casagrande , Ceretta Luciane B 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundThe population aged 80 or over has increased, which may predispose people to dementia. Validated scales are used to diagnose them. The study aimed to compare cognitive evolution and associated factors in individuals aged 80 or over.MethodThe Research Ethics Committee from the University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC) authorized the study under 3,214,698. It was an observational, quantitative study with a cohort design. Individuals aged 80 or over were recruited for this study. One hundred twenty‐four participants were evaluated in 2016. After six years, they were reevaluated, with 102 participants lost to follow‐up, resulting in 22 participants for reapplication. In addition, 78 new participants entered the study, totaling 100 participants in 2022. Cognitive tests such as the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Test, Verbal Fluency, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) were applied.ResultWhen comparing the two times, there was a significant difference in the percentage of retirement and participation in some activities in the community. Compared to cognitive tests, a decrease in cognitive decline and verbal fluency was observed in 2022, assessed by the MMSE. When the 22 individuals were evaluated over six years, there was a significant change in participation in community activities. When asked about difficulty remembering things, people, or situations, there was a reduction in 2022. Unlike the MMSE and the verbal fluency test, the MOCA showed cognitive impairment in most individuals in 2022.ConclusionIt is concluded that the population of 2016 and 2022 showed some differences related to cognition, but this difference was not observed in the 22 individuals. These results indicate a divergence between the tests. Considering the many differences in the Brazilian population, it is necessary to standardize a cognitive test suitable for screening cognitive decline.
Exploring visual short‐term memory binding tests as early markers of cognitive decline: A comparative study between healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment
Authors: McAtarsney‐Kovacs Monika , Pardhan Shahina , Sapkota Raju , van der Linde Ian 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundElderly people, especially those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), are at heightened risk of developing dementia. In this study, we examined how well healthy young, normally aging and MCI participants performed in visual short‐term memory (VSTM) binding, a cognitive process in which an item’s different visual properties (e.g., form, location, colour) are combined and stored momentarily in our mind before being forgotten. Earlier work has identified VSTM binding as a potential cognitive skill that may be disproportionately affected in those with MCI/dementia, meaning that it may serve as an early behavioral marker.MethodThree groups of participants were recruited: 34 healthy young adults (mean age 25±3 years), 52 normally aging older adults (mean age 71±6.4 years) and 16 older adults with MCI (mean age 74±6years). All participants completed computer‐based VSTM tasks requiring the binding of object‐location, object name‐location, colour‐location, and colour word–location for two or four sequentially presented stimuli (presentation duration <1 sec). Participants also completed standard cognitive tests (Addenbrookes Cognitive Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Trail Making Test, National Adult Reading Test and CANTAB Paired Associates Learning). We compared the performance of healthy young and normally aging older groups to examine the effect of aging; normally aging older and MCI groups were compared to examine the effect of MCI.ResultThe performance of the normally aging older group was significantly lower than that of the healthy young group for memory tasks requiring object‐location (p = .003) and colour‐location (p = .014) binding. The performance of the MCI group was significantly lower than that of the normally aging older group for object name‐location (p = .014), colour‐location (p = .036) and colour word‐location (p<.001) VSTM tasks. VSTM binding performance correlated well with standard cognitive tests (ps ≤ .05).ConclusionThe performance of the young healthy group exceeded that of both older groups. Not surprisingly the MCI group performed least well, particularly in tasks assessing object name‐location, colour‐location and colour word‐location binding. The disproportionate deterioration of these abilities implies that they may serve as early markers of the cognitive decline associated with MCI/dementia, and may form the basis of straightforward cognitive tests that may complement standard cognitive tests.
Influence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension on Memory and Motor Recovery after Permanent Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Rohden Francieli , Moreira João Victor Matos e , Bernardi Luis Pedro , Paz Nicolly , Schlickmann Thomas Hugentobler , Da Ros Lucas Uglione , Zimmer Eduardo R. , Souza Diogo O. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundSystemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH), distinguished by a persistent elevation of blood pressure, emerges as a risk factor for stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Additionally, recent evidence suggests that stroke may adversely affect memory, potentially playing a role in the development of AD. This study aimed to investigate the influence of permanent focal ischemic stroke on memory, as well as on sensorimotor function (asymmetry of the front paws) and cerebral infarct size in adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), compared to normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats.MethodWe assessed the stroke effects on short‐ and long‐term memory through the open field task (7 and 21 days after stroke), on sensorimotor functions through the cylinder test and adhesive removal test (over 42 days after stroke), and on infarction volume through 2,3,5‐Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining (3 and 7 days after stroke).ResultShort‐term memory was observed in both naive WKY and naive SHR rats, while SHR naive animals did not exhibit long‐term memory. Stroke disrupted short‐term memory in both WKY and SHR rats and long‐term memory in WKY rats (Fig. 01). In regards to the sensorimotor function, (cylinder test and adhesive removal) WKY rats totally recovered from the stroke‐induced asymmetry in the front paws, while SHR rats did not (Fig. 02). Concerning infarction volume, WKY rats showed decreased infarction volume from the third to the seventh day after stroke, while SHR rats did not exhibit this reduction (Fig. 03).ConclusionThese results emphasize the impact of hypertension on memory, as well as on motor outcomes and brain infarct size following stroke, potentially contributing to the risk for AD.
Tau exacerbates the development of distinct neuropsychiatric symptoms in late braak stage – the head study
Authors: Aguzzoli Cristiano Schaffer , Povala Guilherme , Ferreira Pamela C.L. , Lussier Firoza Z , Bauer‐Negrini Guilherme , Amaral Livia , Soares Carolina , Ferrari‐Souza João Pedro , Zalzale Hussein , Bellaver Bruna , Rohden Francieli , Abbas Sarah , Leffa Douglas Teixeira , Schilling Lucas Porcello , Zimmer Eduardo R. , Tudorascu Dana , Pascual Belen , Gordon Brian A. , Lowe Val J. , Oh Hwamee , Soleimani‐Meigooni David N. , Rosa‐Neto Pedro , Baker Suzanne L. , Pascoal Tharick Ali 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundRecent studies showed that neuroinflammation plays a key role in triggering specific neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as irritability and agitation, in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While prior studies showed an association between tau pathology and all NPS domains, the extent to which tau influences each specific NPS domain remains unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the association of tau and NPS domains in the AD continuum. We hypothesize that tau plays a comparatively greater effect on the emergence of psychotic symptoms compared to other NPS domains.MethodWe assessed 56 individuals (21 cognitively unimpaired (CU), 23 MCI, and 12 AD dementia) from the HEAD study who underwent clinical assessments with the Neuropsychiatry Inventory Questionnaire (NPI‐Q) and had positron emission tomography (PET) for amyloid‐β (Aβ) ([18F]AZD4694 or [11C]PiB), and tau tangles ([18F]MK6240) at the same visit. We selected individuals with an NPI‐Q total score ≥1. Tau SUVR values were tailored with a mask from Braak stages I‐VI, using the inferior cerebellar gray matter as reference region. Leave‐one‐out voxel wise and linear regression tested the association between each NPI‐Q domain and biomarkers accounting for age, sex, cognitive status, and study site.ResultCI individuals had significantly higher NPI‐Q score and Braak VI PET SUVR than CU individuals (Table 1). NPI‐Q score was significantly associated with tau‐PET in the periRolandic and supplementary motor cortex (Figures 1A). Linear regression showed that NPI‐Q associates with tau‐PET in the Braak stage VI (Figure 1B). Leave‐one‐out regression analysis revealed that delusions, motor disturbances, and anxiety contributed most to the association between tau‐PET and NPS (Figure 2A, C). These domains presented a higher magnitude of association compared to each other NPI‐Q domain (Figure 2B). Notably, irritability, agitation, and disinhibition exerted a negative effect to the association, emphasizing that tau may not play a role in the development of these symptoms (Figure 2A, D)ConclusionOur study supports previous evidence suggesting that irritability and agitation may not be triggered by tau, but rather by other pathological process such as neuroinflammation. These findings provide additional rationale for the therapeutics aiming to mitigate irritability and agitation in AD patients.
Visual imagery ability in the continuum of Alzheimer’s disease: the mind’s eye compared in patients with MCI and early AD
Authors: Gabrielli Giulia Bechi , Margiotta Roberta , Panigutti Massimiliano , D'Antonio Fabrizia , Vita Antonella Di , Boccia Maddalena , Palermo Liana , Piccardi Laura , Sepe‐Monti Micaela , Talarico Giuseppina , Salati Emanuela , Bruno Giuseppe , Guariglia Cecilia 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundVisual Mental Imagery (VMI) is the ability to represent stimuli in the mind without sensory visual input. Previous studies have shown alterations in visual imagery in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, VMI has not been investigated in the AD prodromal stage, i.e., the Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). In this study, we aimed to investigate the VMI ability in AD and MCI patients. We hypothesized that VMI ability could be compromised from the early disease stage.MethodFor our purpose, we enrolled 14 patients with a diagnosis of probable typical AD, 19 amnestic MCI (aMCI), and 23 healthy control subjects (HC), matched for sex, age, and education; MMSE scores in AD patients significantly differed from those in aMCI and HC, that not differed between them. The extensive assessment of VMI included: 1) the O’Clock test that allows disentangling the possible role of visuo‐perceptual difficulties in the VMI task’s performance; 2) a modified version of The Complete Visual Mental Imagery Battery (CVMIB), including tasks evaluating the different VMI processes (Kosslyn, 1980; 2005), that is generation, maintenance, inspection and transformation of different types of visual mental images (i.e., objects, buildings and faces).ResultResults indicated that AD patients performed worse than HC in both perceptual and imaginal tasks of the O’Clock test and in all CVMIB’s tasks but maintenance. On the contrary, aMCI patients showed difficulties in the generation process and the imaginal task of the clock test.ConclusionOur findings suggested that generation, inspection and transformation processes of VMI are impaired since the early phase of Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, we found that the generation process is selectively impaired in aMCI patients, demonstrating that VMI deficits are already present in the prodromal stage of the disease. Since alterations in VMI processing might reflect the AD neuropathological progression, according to Braak and Braak’s model, VMI abilities might represent a useful neuropsychological marker of dementia to identify AD prodromal stage.
Moderators of language change in middle‐aged and older adults. Preliminary results of the Compostela Aging Study
Authors: Facal David , Lojo‐Seoane Cristina , Felpete Alba , Campos‐Magdaleno Maria , Fernández‐Feijoo Fátima , Varela‐López Benxamin , Stern Yaakov , Rozas Arturo X. Pereiro 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundAlthough there is evidence that measures of verbal fluency, naming and word memory can be good predictors of progression to dementia, language change and the main variables predicting it are not yet fully characterized. Recent research draws attention to the need to consider cognitive reserve, functional, and neurobiological indicators together to explain changes (Facal et al., 2021).MethodThe study sample was drawn from the participants of the Compostela Aging Study who completed the third and fourth follow‐up assessments, with about 18 months between assessments. Sample included 24 persons with MCI, 42 with subjective cognitive decline and 41 cognitively unimpaired participants. Language performance was assessed via Boston naming test, semantic, phonemic, and ideational fluency. The difference in performance between the assessments (T4‐T3) was calculated. General linear regression (GLR) models were developed, including the change in each language variable as dependent, and years of education, gait speed (timed‐up and go test), grip strength and mean cortical thickness in the left and right hemispheres as covariates.ResultsThough cross‐sectional differences were found in the four language measures, no differences were found in language change measures (Figure 1). The GLR model with the Boston naming test as the dependent variable was the only significant (F = 5.52, p< .01, η2 = 0.26, B‐1 = 0.99). Of the five covariates included in the model, grip strength was significant (F = 21.17, p< .01, η2 = 0,21, B‐1 = 0.99).ConclusionNaming tests can be good markers of linguistic change in the continuum from healthy cognitive aging to dementia (Flores‐Vázquez et al., 2022). Although this is a first approximation, and 18 months can be a too short time to register significant changes, this work stress the importance of jointly analyzing cognitive reserve, functional and neurobiological predictors.References:Facal, D., Burgo, C., Spuch, C., Gaspar, P. & Campos‐Magdaleno, M. (2021) Cognitive Frailty: An Update. Frontiers in Psychology 12,813398. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.813398Flores‐Vázquez, J.F., Contreras‐López, J.J., Stegement, R., Castellanos‐Maya, O., Ćurčic‐Blake, B., Andrés, P., Sosa‐Ortiz, A.L., Aleman, A., Enriquez‐Geppert, E. (2022). Extended FNAME performance is preserved in subjective cognitive decline but highly affected in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Neuropyshology 37, 6, 650‐660. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000874
Longitudinal trajectories of passively monitored instrumental activities of daily living and high frequency digital cognitive assessment differ between cognitively normal and mild cognitively impaired older adults
Authors: De Vito Alyssa N. , Liu Yan , Ju Catherine H. , Wu Chao‐Yi , Lee Samuel Y. , Eichten Alyssa , Cohen Anael Kuperwajs , Beattie Zachary T. , Dodge Hiroko H. , Ferguson John E. , Hughes Adriana M. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundTraditional cognitive and daily functioning measures that utilize episodic assessment schedules are less sensitive to subtle within‐person change in those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to evaluate whether longitudinal trajectories of high frequency cognitive assessments (HFA) and passively assessed higher order instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) differ between those with intact cognition (CN, n = 59) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 45). An exploratory aim evaluated whether the use of person‐specific distributions would detect differences in longitudinal trajectories not captured by traditional between‐group analyses.MethodLongitudinal trajectories of six individual sensor features, three cognition/IADL domain factors, and one IADL composite measure were evaluated using mixed‐effects models with a random intercept, cognitive status (CN vs. MCI), time, and a cognitive status x time interaction as fixed effects. Person‐specific distributions were evaluated using logistic mixed‐effects models to examine the likelihood that IADL measures fell below or above person‐specific thresholds derived from the 90‐day baseline monitoring period. A change from baseline performance was indicated if a participant’s score fell below their person‐specific 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, or 50th percentile or if a participant’s performance fell above their person‐specific mean, mode, 60th, 70th, 80th, or 90th percentile. Exploratory analyses that fit person‐specific distributions along a continuous outcome were also conducted.ResultMixed effects models found longitudinal group differences for time to complete Trail Making Test B and the discrepancy between subjectively reported and objectively assessed pillbox use. See Table 1 for analysis results. Models that used person‐specific distributions identified differences in longitudinal trajectories for time to complete Trail Making Test B and the Stroop Test, the number of clicks on the Stroop Test, and subjective‐objective discrepancies in pillbox use between groups. See Figure 1 for exploratory analyses that used person‐specific distributions with a continuous outcome.ConclusionHFA and passively monitored IADLs demonstrate longitudinal differences between older adults with intact cognition and those with MCI. Models that utilized person‐specific distributions identified longitudinal group differences in additional features not captured by traditional between‐group analyses. HFA approaches that use individualized distributions have potential to create more reliable and sensitive disease monitoring for AD.
Usefulness of the Visual Cognitive Assessment Test in Detecting Vascular MCI in a Southeast Asian Cohort
Authors: Tanoto Pricilia , Ye Hannah En , Vipin Ashwati , Leow Yi Jin , Lee Faith Phemie Hui En , Ghildiyal Smriti , Liew Shan Yao , Tan Isabelle Yu Zhen , Chong Wayne Freeman , Seah Eunice Limin , Azam Mohammed Adnan , Sandhu Gurveen Kaur , Zailan Fatin Zahra , Tan Farid Tan Bin Hasyim , Kandiah Nagaendran 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundVisual Cognitive Assessment Test(VCAT) is a visual‐based cognitive evaluation tool which can be administered to multilingual populations without translation. VCAT has shown to be effective in differentiating mild cognitive impairment(MCI) from cognitively normal and useful for diagnosing MCI and mild AD(Kandiah et al., 2016). However, whether VCAT is also useful for differentiating between vascular and non‐vascular MCI remains to be explored.Method604 non‐demented participants were recruited from the community as part of the Southeast Asian Biomarker and Cognition Study, Singapore(BIOCIS). All participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, including VCAT, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning(RAVLT) Delayed, and Color Trails 2(CT2). Classification of MCI was based on Petersen’s criteria(Petersen et al., 2001). Participants also underwent neuroimaging using a 3T MRI scanner. T1‐weighted and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery MRI was used for white matter hyperintensity visual ratings as per the modified Fazekas scale (Vipin et al., 2021). Participants with Fazekas total score of 5 and above were classified as the vascular group. Therefore, participants were divided into three groups: Cognitively Normal without cerebrovascular disease(NV‐CN), Non‐Vascular MCI(NV‐MCI), and Vascular MCI(V‐MCI) and their tests mean scores and cerebral perfusion were compared. Additionally, all neuropsychological tests and perfusion were compared in differentiating between NV‐CN and V‐MCI.ResultsParticipant demographics included a mean age of 60.34 years±10.76, Male 44%, and mean education years of 14.44 years±3.71. After adjusting for age and education years, mean of neuropsychological test, perfusion scores were significantly different between the three groups(p < 0.05). Tukey HSD post‐hoc test showed pairwise differences between all groups, except for perfusion scores(Table 1). ROC analysis was conducted to explore the discriminative performance of VCAT in differentiating between CN and V‐MCI. The analysis indicated an AUC of 0.74 with the optimal VCAT cut‐off for differentiating between CN and V‐MCI as 25.5 with specificity 0.85 and sensitivity 0.48. In an additional ROC analysis, we compared the discriminative properties of VCAT, RAVLT Delayed, CT2 and Perfusion.ConclusionThe results of our study suggest that VCAT is useful in discriminating between CN and V‐MCI, especially in comparison to other neuropsychological tests and perfusion. Future longitudinal studies are needed for further investigation.