bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring Narrative Identity via Linguistic Positioning in the Context of Alzheimer’s Dementia Risk Prediction – an Ethical and Linguistic Analysis
Authors: Hübner Constanze , Baumeister Annika , Gerards Michelle , Cantero‐Fortiz Yahveth , Marquié Marta , Ribaldi Federica , Schmitz‐Luhn Björn , Wittrock Julia , Boada Mercè , Frisoni Giovanni B , Jessen Frank , Rostamzadeh Ayda , Woopen Christiane , Schwegler Carolin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn the field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), possibilities of prediction are advancing due to the ever‐widening spectrum of technical and biomedical development. Such procedures become available to healthy persons, revealing risk probabilities to develop Alzheimer’s dementia in the course of one’s lifespan. The disclosure of and confrontation with such information can influence the individual’s self‐understanding, identity and life planning which raises various (bio‐)ethical issues on an individual and societal level. In this qualitative part of the PreTAD project, we aim to reveal information on the participants’ identity, through the analysis of their narrations ( = narrative identity), by focusing on language patterns participants use to express their positioning concerning risk prediction.MethodIn this qualitative‐explorative approach, we conduct N = 40 interviews with the following groups of participants: (a) general population, (b) first‐degree relatives of persons with Alzheimer’s dementia, (c) patients diagnosed with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The interview design is guided by three themes relating to risk prediction of Alzheimer’s dementia: (1) individual experiences, (2) points of access and needs, (3) contextualization and associations. With this approach we seek to enable a ‘conversational’ interview in which linguistic patterns, (self‐)positioning and stance towards risk, health and disease reveal attitudes, individual values and therefore narrative identity. The basis of the multifaceted qualitative and linguistic analysis are Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and Conversation Analysis (CA).ResultPreliminary results show that the deliberate approach of thematically segmented but rather unstructured interaction and the focus on patients’ narrations proved fruitful in identifying findings concerning the participants’ identity and sense of self in the context of risk‐prediction of dementia. By focusing analytically on linguistic stance (attitude) and direct/indirect (self‐)positioning of the participants, we can gain in‐depth insights into individual values and attitudes towards risk, risk prediction of Alzheimer’s dementia and health.ConclusionAccording to initial findings, the focus on narrative identity leads to important insights into self‐understanding of persons confronted with a potential risk and can help to refine ethical questions concerning risk prediction. To ensure good clinical practice regarding predictive interventions those should be acknowledged in counselling and risk disclosure communication.
The Minilinguistic State Examination for Primary Progressive Aphasia: validity evidences for the Argentinean version
Authors: Vivas Leticia , Redondo Santiago , Garavaglia Monica , Andreotti Daniela , Linares Nicolás , Matar Lourdes , Paolantonio Patricia 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundThis work presents a new brief language assessment tool for Primary Progressive aphasia: the Minilinguistic State Examination (MLSE). It has been developed with the intention to have equivalent version in different countries. We translated and adapted the test to Argentinean Spanish. Here we present the psychometric properties of the Argentinean Spanish version of the MLSE.MethodThe sample comprised 29 aphasic patients from different etiologies and 94 healthy community‐dwelling adults. All of them were native Argentinean Spanish speaking. The Argentinean MLSE was administered as well as the following equivalent subtests with validated Argentinean versions in order to analyze the concurrent validity through a Spearman´s Rho correlation coefficient: the Boston Aphasia Battery, the BEA (Batería de Evaluación de la Afasia), Pyramids and Palm tree test and Repeat and Point. Score´s reliability was analyzed according to K‐R 20 coefficient for each kind of possible error: motor, phonologic, semantic and working memory. Three independent clinicians scored a sub‐group of 16 patients in order to determine interraters reliability. Krippendorff´s alpha was calculated.ResultAll correlations with the equivalent tasks were statistically significant except for semantic association task that was near statistical significance (p = .061). Score´s reliability for motor errors was .825, for phonological errors .889, for semantic .841 and for working memory .874. Krippendorff´s alpha obtained for the total MLSE score was .877, while the following values were obtained for each type of error identified in the MLSE: motor = .398; phonological = .707; semantic = .729; syntactic = .831; working memory = .539; omissions = .672.ConclusionAll these analyses provide evidence of validity of the scores of the test and suggest that it can be used with confidence by clinicians. They also showed in general acceptable interrater reliability. However, some clarifications should be added to the motor and working memory scoring guide in order to avoid interrater´s divergencies, as the obtained values were low.
Comparative efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine on cognition in AD patients with application of network meta‐analysis
Authors: Mostafaei Shayan , Garcia‐Ptacek Sara , Zargarzadeh Nikan , Habich Annegret , Eriksdotter Maria 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to assess the comparative efficacy of monotherapy and combined therapy of cholinesterase inhibitors plus memantine on cognition in AD and determine efficacy across doses for these pharmacological drugs.MethodThe screening of 2,113 articles were initiated. Finally, forty randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases inception to the end of Dec. 2022 were finally included in this review. The included RCTs contain donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine alone or in any combination of them were compared with placebo in terms of MMSE score. The mean difference (MD) in MMSE score was considered as the effect size of efficacy. The quality of the RCTs were appraised using the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool (RoB‐2). An additive network meta‐analysis (NMA) was applied to compare the efficacy of the drugs. Trends of efficacy across doses for each available treatment were checked using a dose‐response modeling. Finally, P‐score as a probability of being the most effective treatment, was used to rank the treatments. All statistical analyses were done using netmeta and dosresmeta R packages. The study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO (CRD42022358469).ResultThese RCTs included 16,785 AD patients with mean age 73 (SD = 3.5) yrs., and weight 64.5 (SD = 5.55) kg. Of these patients, 65.15% were women. The median follow‐up time was 6 (range = 3‐48) months. The main NMA results showed that galantamine 32mg/day (MD = 3.71; 95% CI = 2.21, 5.21; P‐score = 0.89), donepezil 10mg/day combined with memantine 20mg/day (MD = 3.27; 95% CI = 1.79, 4.76; P‐score = 0.83), and then galantamine 24mg/day (MD = 3.02; 95% CI = 2.19, 3.84; P‐score = 0.79) were significantly the most effective treatments compared with placebo, respectively. According to the sub‐group analysis of stages, donepezil 10mg/day combined with memantine 20mg/day (MD = 4.78; 95% CI = 2.86, 6.71) and galantamine 32mg/day (MD = 3.81; 95% CI = 2.20, 5.34) were recommended for moderate to severe and mild to moderate AD patients, respectively. Moreover, we found there was a significant positive linear trend of efficacy across doses of galantamine.ConclusionMonotherapy with a high dose of galantamine or the combination of donepezil plus memantine have the most favorable effects on cognition for 6 months follow up in AD patients.
Prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in an urban, community dwelling, elderly population and its association with Serum Vitamin B12 levels in South India.
Authors: Menon Jayakumar , Kantipudi Suvarna Jyothi 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundPrevalence of cognitive disorders is becoming higher in low and middle income societies with increasing lifespan1. Multiple factors contribute to emergence of cognitive disorders including genes, lifestyle, diet and nutrition, co‐morbid metabolic and vascular risk factors 2. There has been only a few studies from India, looking at the prevalence of cognitive impairment in the community. Ageing and dietary preferences pose a higher risk for B12 and Folic acid deficiencies, contributing to cognitive difficulties3. Our study aims to look at the prevalence of cognitive impairment in a community dwelling elderly population and the association of mild cognitive Impairment (MCI) with serum B12 levels.MethodA total of 308 individuals above the age of 60 were screened for medical issues and psychiatric illnesses. Those who fulfilled the intake criteria were evaluated using Subjective Memory Complaint Questionnaire (SMCQ), MOCA, ACE‐R or RUDAS and FAB. Serum B12 levels were evaluated for all the individuals.Result51.8 percent of individuals had normal cognitive function. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 48.8%. Among these 42.3% of individuals had mild cognitive impairment. There was no significant correlation between MCI and Serum B12 levels in the screened population.ConclusionThere is a high prevalence of cognitive difficulties in the studied population.Dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 does not appear to be a major factor contributing to the MCI. Alzheimer’s disease, vascular cognitive impairment and lifestyle and metabolic risk factors may need to be considered as contributory factors
References:1) Ravindranath V, Sundarakumar JS. Changing demography and the challenge of dementia in India. Nat Rev Neurol. 2021 Dec;17(12):747‐58.2)Scheltens P et al. Alzheimer’s disease. The Lancet. 2021 Apr 24;397(10284):1577‐90.3) Zhang C et al; Vitamin B12, B6, or Folate and Cognitive Function in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2020 Jan 1;77(2):781‐94.
Prevention of cognitive decline in subjective cognitive decline APOE‐ε4 carriers after Epigallocatechin gallate and a multimodal intervention, the PENSA study: 1‐year follow‐up results of the randomized controlled trial
Authors: Forcano Laura , Boronat Anna , Lorenzo Thais , Cuenca Aida , Soldevila‐Domenech Natalia , Pizarro Nieves , Puig‐Pijoan Albert , Piera Iris , Gomis Maria , Diaz‐Pellicer Patricia , Torre Rafael , Grau‐Rivera Oriol , Sánchez‐Benavides Gonzalo , Fauria Karine , Minguillón Carolina , Molinuevo Jose Luis , Gispert Juan Domingo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundPreventive approaches such as lifestyle interventions targeting multiple Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk or preventive factors are effective strategies to prevent cognitive decline. Additionally, there are reports on synergistic effects between different lifestyle intervention components and food supplements or pharmacological approaches, aiming to improve the intervention’s efficacy. In terms of delivery, trials have started to incorporate new technologies to optimize the implementation and management of interventions.MethodThe PENSA study, framed within the World‐Wide Fingers network, is a randomized, double‐blind clinical trial aiming to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized multimodal lifestyle intervention (diet, physical activity, cognitive/social stimulation) combined with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) over 12 months, in slowing down cognitive decline and improving brain connectivity. Continuous measures of dietary behavior, physical activity, cognitive training performance and mental health are collected through eHealth and mHealth tools/devices. 129 individuals aged 60‐80 years (65.1% females; 67.2±4.6 years), meeting subjective cognitive decline (SCD) criteria, carrying the APOE‐ε4 allele were enrolled and randomized into three treatment arms (multimodal intervention [MC] +EGCG/placebo, or lifestyle recommendations [CG]). The primary efficacy outcome is cognitive performance measured with the ADCS‐PACC‐plus‐exe. Results of participants’ data collected until January 2023 are included in the present study (MC: N = 104 at baseline, N = 97 at 6 months; CG: N = 25 at baseline, N = 22 at 6 months).ResultAfter 6 months, significant cognitive improvements are shown in the MC vs CG as measured by the ADCS‐PACC‐plus‐exe (Cohen’s d = 0.38) as well as the MoCA (Cohen’s d = 0.53). MC vs CG participants, showed greater adherence to the MedDiet (mean 76,8±10,9% vs. 60,9±14,9%). Regarding the MC intervention, adherence to physical and cognitive stimulation activities, was 85,0% and 75,0%, respectively. Average rate of response along the intervention to daily/weekly Ecological Momentary Assessments (mHealth prompts assessing diet, mood, physical activity and social stimulation) was 79,5%. Updated 1‐year follow‐up data will be presented in the meeting.ConclusionA personalized multimodal lifestyle intervention addressed to cognitively healthy people at higher risk of developing AD is a feasible and appears an effective treatment to prevent cognitive decline. The intensity of the intervention and the use of new technologies are appropriate for this population.
‘These are my friends’: Persons living with advanced dementia Zooming from Home during COVID‐19
Authors: Brown Nancy L 
Published: December 2023

AbstractOlder people can Zoom, even in the later stages of dementia! My research, conducted during the COVID‐19 lockdown, demonstrates that persons living with advanced stages of dementia can engage with one another in a virtual community, recognize one another on a Zoom screen, and participate in activities online. These sessions, designed according to the Validation Group methodology, enhanced the participants' remaining emotive capacities and reduced the effects of social isolation.Online sessions were conducted for 8 weeks, 2 hours each week during the COVID‐19 lockdown. Carers were instructed on using their tablet or computer along with preparations needed for the Zoom session. An agenda based upon the Validation group method developed by Naomi Feil provided the structure for each session. Sessions were video recorded following the ethics guidelines of the day center MELABEV and manually transcribed. NVivo software was used in the qualitative analysis.Clients enjoyed the familiar activities and demonstrated great pride when sharing items from their homes. This group format evoked memories of earlier social roles. They recognized and interacted with one another in the little squares. Even their non‐verbal communication through their eyes, their smiles, and their gestures increased during each session. During one activity, 100‐year‐old Annie pointed to the screen and said, “These are my friends.” The successful application of group theory adapted by Naomi Feil for disoriented older adults that includes: Welcome, Opening song, Discussion, Activity, Refreshments, Closing Song. The format provides opportunities for familiar social roles and individual and group empowerment. Themes that emerged from the data collection include Self‐identity, Social Connectivity, and Cultural Identity.Results support the notion that technology like Zoom offers an option for preventing social isolation and mitigating the negative impact of supporting someone with dementia during a pandemic and other crises. From a societal perspective, the importance of making available technology to persons with dementia and seeing them socially connect and engage through a medium not part of their generation has far‐reaching implications not only for future research but also for policy considerations, mitigating social isolation and caregiver burden among a vulnerable population.
Hippocampal subfield volume in relation to cerebrospinal fluid Amyloidβ1‐42 in early Alzheimer’s disease: A 7T MRI study
Authors: Adeyemi Oluwatobi F , Mougin Olivier , Penny Gowland , Bowtell Richard , Hosseini Akram A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackground7T MRI can provide high contrast and spatial resolution images for studying the volume of hippocampal subfields which can be used in conjunction with Amyloidβ1‐42 and tau measures in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to provide a non‐invasive alternative marker for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Method41 participants (20 AD and 21 healthy age‐ and gender‐matched controls) were recruited [aged 40 ‐ 76 years; 64% female). The protocol for the analysis of the CSF for the Amyloidβ1‐42 (reference range: 627‐1322 pg/ml), total tau (reference range: 146‐595 pg/ml), Thr181‐phosphorylated tau (reference range <68 pg/ml) have been previously published (Hosseini et al, 2022) and the measures were used for the ATN classification of Alzheimer’s disease. Imaging was carried out on a Philips Achieva 7T scanner using a Nova Medical (Wilmington MA, USA) single‐channel transmit, 32‐channel receive (1Tx32Rx) head coil. Images acquired are PSIR (TE/TR = 3.1/6.9ms; FA = 6o, isotropic 0.55 mm resolution) and T2‐weighted FSE (TE/TR = 119/59001ms, FA = 90o, 0.38×0.39×1.50 mm3 resolution).ResultFig 1 show the T2‐weighted image and the segmentation of the hippocampus obtained using ASHS (Yushkevich et al., 2015b)There was a significant decrease in the volume of each hippocampal subfield (Fig2) in AD patients compared to controls. The change in volume was not significant for the whole brain showing that the hippocampal volume loss was not simply part of general brain atrophy.There was an approximately linear relationship between the CSF Amyloidβ1‐42 and volume of the hippocampus for the AD participants (Fig 3). A positive linear relationship was observed in all the subfields of the hippocampus but a statistically significant relation was only achieved in the Entorhinal Cortex (ERC) [p<0.022, r = 0.508].The ERC is known to represent perception of time, memory and navigation (Tsao et al., 2018)(Du et al., 2001), and AD pathology may start from the ERC before migrating along the hippocampus (Braak & Braak, 1997). Further, the ERC volume loss on 1.5 T MRI has been reported greater in AD as compared with Mild Cognitive Impairment(Du et al., 2001).ConclusionThe association of the volume of ERC and CSF Amyloidβ1‐42 suggests the potential for using 7T MRI as a biomarker for an early identification of AD.
Urban‐rural differences in the prevalence of Subjective Cognitive Decline in India: A comparative study
Authors: Narayanasamy Rajitha , Malo Palash Kumar , Hameed Shafeeq K Shahul , Stezin Albert , R Meghana , Menon Meenakshi , L Abhishek M , Mallikarjun Divya N , Partha Ajith , M Amitha C , Velavarajan Goutham , Singh Sadhana , HS Sunitha , Arvind Prathima , Kommaddi Reddy Peera , Diwakar Latha , Sundarakumar Jonas S. , Issac Thomas Gregor 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundSubjective Cognitive Decline (SCD), defined as a self‐experienced persistent cognitive decline with a normal performance in objective neuropsychological assessments is one of the first clinical manifestations of dementia. SCD has a strong association with depression, and more research is needed to understand the relationship between the two. When they co‐occur the risk of developing dementia increases. Despite the increased focus on the preclinical stages of dementia such as SCD there is limited research on its prevalence specifically in India. The present study aims to bridge this research gap by estimating the prevalence of SCD in India and assessing urban‐rural differences in its prevalence as well as sociodemographic factors.MethodThe study used data from two ongoing community‐based prospective cohort studies, namely the Tata Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TLSA) and Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence and COGnition (SANSCOG) in urban Bangalore and Srinivaspura respectively (Sundarakumar et al., 2020). Baseline data collected from 4429 participants aged 45 years and older were included in the analysis. The study used Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) scores and participants' responses to the questions pertaining to subjective cognitive impairment in Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to estimate the prevalence of SCD.ResultOf 4429 participants recruited between 2015 and 2022, a total of 1010 (22.8%) participants [median (IQR) age, 60 (15)] were classified as having SCD. As shown in Tabe1, the prevalence was higher in the rural cohort than in the urban cohort (25.1% vs 14.0%, p<0.001). The rural cohort was also found to be comparatively younger (57 (15) vs 63 (14)), and have fewer years of education (4 (9) vs 15(2)). Depression was found to have significant association with SCD in both the cohorts, with more depressive symptoms observed in the rural cohort. As shown in Table 2, the prevalence of SCD was higher in women than men in the urban cohort.ConclusionThe study’s findings indicate that despite being comparatively younger, the rural cohort had a higher prevalence of SCD, potentially due to the protective effect of higher years of education in the urban cohort.