bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of oral health education in enhancing oral care knowledge,attitudesand behaviors for family caregivers of persons with dementia
Authors: Chien Chen‐Yi , Hu Yu‐Chen , Huang Huei‐Ling , Hsieh Shu‐Hua , Chiu Ying‐Chi , Su Pei‐Yin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundDue to the loss of cognitive function and memory, persons with dementia gradually lose their self‐care and social skills, and the weakening of their oral care ability can easily lead to periodontal disease, dry mouth, and root caries. Studies have shown that oral health maintenance can help prevent dementia and delay functional deterioration. Therefore, it is important to provide oral hygiene guidance to family caregivers to improve the quality of oral health care for persons with dementia.Oral care questionnaires and oral health assessment scales were used to assess the knowledge, attitude and behavior of family caregivers towards oral care for the person with dementia. Based on the assessment results, an oral health education program was designed, including: 1. immediate oral care health education at the outpatient clinic; 2. mailing of dementia oral care health education leaflets; and 3. individual health education and discussion by telephone one week after mailing. A post‐test was conducted one week after the intervention to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.ResultsFamily caregivers' oral care knowledge correctness increased from 49% to 88.9%, attitude correctness increased from 29% to 71.45%, and behavior correctness increased from 84% to 100%.ConclusionThe results showed that a multicomponent oral health education program could improve the oral care knowledge, attitude, and behavior for family caregivers of persons with dementia. In particular, the use of telephone health education and assessment during the COVID‐19 epidemic may provide a reference.
Non‐AD pathologies, as measured using a mismatch index between regional brain metabolism and tau PET signal, are associated with age, sex, and amyloid burden.
Authors: Malotaux Vincent , Colmant Lise , Dricot Laurence , Quenon Lisa , Huyghe Lara , Gérard Thomas , Ivanoiu Adrian , Lhommel Renaud , Hanseeuw Bernard J 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundBrain hypometabolism in the absence of tauopathy may indicate the presence of non‐AD pathologies. We aimed to investigate the mismatch between regional tau pathology and brain metabolism to characterize the profile of patients suspected to have co‐pathologies.MethodSixty‐one clinically impaired patients, attending the Memory Clinic, performed both a [18F]‐Fluorodeoxyglucose‐PET to assess brain metabolism and a [18F]‐MK6240 Tau‐PET to estimate tau burden. To compare these images, we normalized them using data from clinically normal older adults (n = 30), resulting in FDG and tau z‐scores for 74 FreeSurfer‐defined regions. We computed intra‐subject correlation coefficients between tau and FDG data as a mismatch index between tau and metabolism. We then compared FDG and tau z‐scores using intra‐individual paired sampled t‐tests and identified patients with hypometabolism exceeding tau pathology (suspecting co‐pathologies). To increase sensitivity, the same analysis was repeated using temporal regions only. We finally evaluated demographics, cognition, and amyloid burden in the group of patients with suspected co‐pathologies.ResultsIn the entire cohort, the intra‐subject FDG‐Tau correlation was significantly negative in the temporal lobe (r = ‐0.27, p<0.05), but not in the entire neocortex (r = ‐0.11), demonstrating closer association between modalities in the temporal lobe, and greater mismatch in the other regions. Twenty‐five (41%) patients had significantly greater FDG z‐scores than tau z‐scores, including thirteen (21%) with greater hypometabolism than tau pathology in the temporal lobe. These patients were older and more frequently male than patients with greater tau pathology; those with a temporal mismatch also had lower amyloid pathology (Table 1). Older ages and better cognition were associated with the mismatch index in the entire neocortex (r = 0.25/0.49, p<0.05); in addition, lower amyloid burden was associated with the temporal mismatch index (r = 0.27, p<0.05, Fig.1).ConclusionPatients with greater temporal hypometabolism than tau deposition are older, more frequently males, and have lower amyloid burden than patients with greater temporal tau deposition. These patients are suspected to have temporal non‐AD pathologies.
Moving Pictures India: Co‐designing a digital dementia care intervention for low and middle income countries
Authors: Brijnath Bianca , Rao Rachita , Antoniades Josefine , Baruah Upasana , Loganathan Santosh , Varghese Mathew , Cooper Claudia , Kent Mike , Dow Briony 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundDespite the rapid proliferation of smartphones in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs), few studies have explored how to harness this technology to improve dementia care. Using a case‐study from India, where 830 million people are smartphone users, we describe the co‐design of a fully digitalised dementia care intervention for family carers in a resource‐poor setting.MethodQualitative in‐depth video interviews were conducted in English, Hindi, and/or Kannada with 19 family carers and 25 health providers in Bangalore, India. Data were thematically analysed, then presented to 10 of the interview participants in a co‐design workshop, where they were asked to storyboard the data to form the basis of nine short films on dementia care.ResultWorkshop participants developed storyboards for nine films: signs of dementia and the diagnostic process; first steps and treatment; managing difficult behaviours; working with doctors and going to hospital; managing pain; eating, nutrition, and dental care; managing hygiene and incontinence; later stages and palliative care; and self‐care for carers. A proposed film on care pathways was deemed too broad and discarded. Instead, carers wanted greater specificity on routine, sleep, and pleasant activities as well as legal and ethical issues in dementia care. Overall, 11 films were proposed. Carers used the parent‐child analogy to describe their relationship with the person with dementia, utilised various surveillance technologies to keep their relative safe, and expressed differing views about institutionalised care. These cultural nuances and systemic issues associated with care will be reflected in the films. Once produced, the films will be member checked with all interview participants and community members for cultural salience and relevance before progressing to a full digital trial to evaluate its impact on reducing carer burden and improving carer’s mood and quality of life.ConclusionThe films will be available on a mobile‐optimised website, freely accessible, and bypass barriers of distance, being time‐poor, and semi‐literate. By co‐producing resources in country, this model is scalable, based on knowledge of local resources and burden of disease, and relevant to LMICs where substantive increases in dementia prevalence are anticipated to occur.
Cognitive reserve in Down syndrome: a new opportunity to understand resilience in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Vaqué‐Alcázar Lídia , Carmona‐Iragui Maria , Videla Laura , Barroeta Isabel , Benejam Bessy , Rodríguez‐Baz Íñigo , Arranz Javier , Pegueroles Jordi , Lleó Alberto , Fortea Juan , Bartrés‐Faz David 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundTraditionally, cognitive reserve (CR) and other related concepts underlying resilience, have been studied in the context of aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD; Stern et al., 2020). Despite the increasing interest in elucidating how CR measures influence brain and cognitive development through a lifespan perspective (Kremen et al., 2019), its study in developmental diseases such as Down syndrome (DS) remains unexplored. Understanding the role of CR and its neurobiological mechanisms in DS is critical, since this population is genetically determined to develop AD (Fortea et al., 2021). During the last decades, people with DS have experienced an improvement in the number and quality of stimulating activities due to the higher inversions in disability services and community support resources. In this regard, our goal was to test whether this enriched environment would result in a generational effect showing a lower intellectual disability (ID) level and a higher intellectual profile as function of the birth year in DS.MethodWe selected a cross‐sectional subsample from the cohort study of adults with DS recruited at the Alzheimer‐Down Unit from the Catalan Down Syndrome Foundation and Hospital of Sant Pau. We included 528 participants with DS without clinical symptoms of AD born between 1955‐1995 (age: 39.25±9.27 years; 46.02% females). Participants with profound ID (as these individuals perform at floor scores) were excluded for Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K‐BIT) analyses (N = 379; age: 39.03±9.10 years; 48.02% females).ResultResults evidenced a generational increase in the proportion of individuals with mild or moderate ID and a decrease in those with profound or severe ID level (Fig1). Similarly, a higher proportion of individuals acquired intellectual milestones (i.e., language, literacy, calculation; Fig2). Furthermore, our analyses revealed an increase in mean K‐BIT scores as function of the birth year (P<.001; Fig3).ConclusionThere have been major changes in CR proxies in individuals with DS. Given the near full penetrance of AD in this population, characterizing the effect of these factors on AD presentation and pathophysiology could signify an important advance in the design of primary prevention plans in this particularly vulnerable population, which could probably be transferred to the general population.
The Effects of Moderate and High Intensity Aerobic Exercise on Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism and Brain Volume in Cognitively Normal Older Australians: Data from the IPAC Study
Authors: Kadyrov Maria , Whiley Luke , Erickson Kirk I. , Holmes Elaine , Brown Belinda M 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundA common misconception about ageing is that a decline in brain health is solely observed in those who have dementia. In fact, decreases in cognitive function and reductions in brain volume are commonly observed in adults over the age of 65. Brain changes in older adulthood have been shown to be decreased in individuals who are more physically active, with alterations in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism emerging as a potential mechanism, however this is still not well understood. In light of this, our study aims to investigate the effects of moderate and high intensity aerobic exercise on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism to assess the efficacy of exercise in reducing brain atrophy in cognitively normal older adults.MethodSamples were collected from the Intense Physical Activity and Cognition (IPAC) study, during which a six‐month randomised controlled trial was performed to observe the impact of aerobic exercise on brain volume measurements in cognitively normal older adults (n = 99, aged 60‐80). Blood samples and neuroimaging measures were collected at baseline and following the completion of the intervention (6 months). Baseline and post‐intervention plasma samples were collected and analysed using 1H‐NMR spectroscopy to quantify 112 lipoproteins, followed by a comprehensive in‐house mass spectrometry (MS) lipids screen targeting >1200 individual lipid species.ResultPreliminary analyses suggest that lipid and lipoprotein metabolism is altered by aerobic exercise and that these alterations are associated with changes in brain volume. Further analyses will increase the sample size, and also evaluate other factors (i.e. sex, APOE status) as potential moderators of the link between aerobic exercise and the metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this study is the first to establish the relationship between exercise and lipids and lipoprotein metabolism, and their association to brain volume in cognitively normal older adults. The significance of our findings will be evaluated further using an external validation cohort. The discovery of novel lipids or metabolic pathways will create avenues for future research into new therapeutic targets for future healthy ageing interventions.
The heritability of subjective cognitive complaints in older Australian twins
Authors: Selwood Amanda , Catts Vibeke S. , Numbers Katya T. , Lee Teresa , Thalamuthu Anbupalam , Wright Margie , Sachdev Perminder S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundSubjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) may be a precursor to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. This study aimed to examine the heritability of SCCs, and the influence of personality and mood on the relationship between SCCs and memory performance.MethodThe heritability of SCCs were examined in 306 twin pairs using structural equation modelling. Genetic, environmental, and phenotypic correlations between SCCs and memory performance, personality, and mood scores were determined.ResultSCCs were low to moderately heritable. Mood appeared to be related to SCCs by an environmental correlation, whereas memory performance was related to SCCs by a genetic correlation. SCCs had a significant amount of both genetic and environmental variances not explained by memory performance, personality, or mood.ConclusionOur results suggest that SCCs are influenced both by a person’s mood and their memory performance, and that these determinants are not mutually exclusive. Much of the genetic and environmental components to SCCs were specific to SCCs, with the specific factors yet to be determined.
Mapping High‐Frequency Conductivity Using MRI in the Brains of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Jahng Geon‐Ho , Park Soonchan , Lee Mun Bae , Rhee Hak Young , Ryu Chang‐Woo , Kwon Oh In 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies reported increased concentrations of metallic ions and imbalanced Na+ and K+ ions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the increased mobility of protons by microstructural disruptions in AD. The purposes of this study were: 1)to apply a high‐frequency conductivity (HFC) mapping technique using a clinical 3T MRI system and 2)to compare HFC values among participant groups.MethodThis prospective study included 74 participants (23 AD patients, 27 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 24 cognitively normal (CN) elderly people) to explore the clinical application of HFC mapping in the brain. For the brain MREPT images, a multi‐echo turbo spin‐echo pulse sequence was used. A homemade software was used to map the HFC at the Larmor frequency of 128 MHz at 3T. We performed statistical analyses to 1) compare HFC maps between the three participant groups and 2) to evaluate the association of HFC maps with Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores.ResultThe HFC value was higher in the AD group than in the CN and MCI groups. MMSE scores were negatively associated with HFC values, but age was positively associated with HFC values. The HFC value in the insula has a high area under the ROC curve (AUC) value to differentiate AD patients from the CN participants (Sensitivity (SE) = 82, Specificity (SP) = 97, AUC = 0.902, p < 0.0001), better than GMV in hippocampus (SE = 79, SP = 83, AUC = 0.880, p < 0.0001).ConclusionHFC values were significantly increased in the AD group compared to the CN group and increased with age and disease severity. HFC values of the insula along with the GMV of the hippocampus can be used as an imaging biomarker to improve the differentiation of AD from CN.
The European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia Programme: Summary outputs post Innovative Medicines Initiative Funding
Authors: Ritchie Craig W , Collij Lyduine E. , Barkhof Frederik ,   the EPAD consortium
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe in 2015 initiated European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia (EPAD) programme was funded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a European Union led programme that brought commercial, academic, and third sector organisations together. A key part of the project was the development of the EPAD Longitudinal Cohort Study (LCS) to test existing and develop new disease models regarding the pre‐dementia phases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). After 2020, the maintenance of the EPAD Dataset and Biorepository was supported from multiple sources, including the Alzheimer’s Association and Gates Ventures. EPAD was the first dataset to be uploaded onto the AD Workbench, directly supporting the development of this key part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative (ADDI).MethodEPAD‐LCS data is openly available on the AD workbench, with access being split into 3 domains: Data Only, Biological Samples (CSF, Blood, Saliva, and Urine), and (advanced) MRI data. Access to these data sets is monitored and reported on closely via the AD Workbench. More recently the NTK App developed by Roche Diagnostics has been embedded on the AD Workbench as a free‐to‐use app to ease data analysis from EPAD and other cohorts on the AD Workbench.ResultThe total number of requests for data will be presented grouped by research question domain, geographic location, and academic/commercial split. The outputs from these data requests in terms of academic publications will be presented with a summary of where these findings are pointing towards in terms of new insights in our understanding of preclinical and prodromal AD. Operational aspects will also be presented with regards speed of access from initial enquiry, through application to provision of data and samples.ConclusionThe EPAD‐LCS is a major pan‐European study which has generated vast amounts of data across a comprehensive range of biological, clinical, and epidemiological variables. Access to this data to generate new knowledge is free for anyone and we prioritised rapid access to a data environment that facilitates analysis. Combining the major programmes of EPAD, ADDI and the NTK App has been shown to achieve the core objective of knowledge generation which research participants expect.
Effects of hippocampal atrophy and white matter lesions on cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Yamamoto Ryo , Shimizu Soichiro , Inagawa Yuta , Takenoshita Naoto , Ishii Kenji 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundWe investigated the effects of white matter lesions and hippocampal atrophy on head MRI on cognitive function in AD patients.MethodWe examined 47 patients who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease according to the ATN classification at the geriatric department of Tokyo Medical University Hospital. We evaluated the severity of white matter damage by the sum of PVH and DWMH in the Fazekas classification on head MRI at the first visit, and hippocampal atrophy by VSRAD.ResultThere was a significant correlation between white matter impairment and cognitive changes (r = 0.292, p<0.05). And the correlation test for hippocampus atrophy and MMSE change was also performed with correlation coefficients r = 0.00926 and p = 0.951 (>0.05).ConclusionThe sum of PVH and DWMH and the amount of change in MMSE were positively correlated in AD patients. Therefore, it was concluded that the more severe the white matter disorder, the slower the progression of cognitive decline. These results suggest that advanced white matter disorders may inhibit the progression of AD in AD patients.
Predicting Sojourn Times across Dementia Disease Stages, Institutionalization, and Mortality
Authors: Tate Ashley , Bouteloup Vincent , van Maurik Ingrid S. , Mank Arenda , Speh Andreja , Eriksdotter Maria , Wimo Anders , Dufouil Carole , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Jönsson Linus 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundA common concern for patients with dementia is the time until severe stages and mortality. Current literature is sparce and often features small sample sizes. We aim to determine the time spent in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild‐, moderate‐, or severe dementia, institutionalization, and death.MethodMultistate modeling was used to obtain the time in each state. Covariates were age at study baseline, sex, amyloid status, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis. The sample included a register (SveDem) and memory clinics (Amsterdam Dementia Center and Memento).ResultBased on 80,972 patients, the full disease course from MCI to institutionalized‐severe dementia lasted between 7.91 (95% CI: 7.07‐9.02) years for males aged 87 at baseline and 11.70 (9.96–14.44) years for females aged 71.ConclusionGenerally, rapid progression was associated with older age at baseline, males, and AD diagnosis. The results provide key estimates for researchers and clinicians to estimate prognosis.
The Memory Binding Test: a new tool to assess emerging episodic memory decline in asymptomatic at‐risk individuals to Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Pereira Filipa Raposo , George Nathalie , Barba Gianfranco Dalla , Dubois Bruno , La Corte Valentina 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundEpisodic memory (EM) deficits are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) is the most specific official diagnostic tool detecting AD‐linked EM alterations in advanced preclinical stages (Grober et al., 2021). However, new tools that anticipate diagnosis to the at‐risk phase are needed, to reach more meaningful therapies. Based on existing research, we aim to investigate the Memory Binding Test (MBT) promising capacity to detect the appearance of subtle AD‐linked EM alterations and anticipate AD‐diagnosis to an at‐risk phase (Bushcke ey al., 2017; Mowrey et al., 2018).MethodsFCSRT and MBT scores were collected yearly during 5 years from the INSIGHT‐preAD cohort. We selected 3 groups controlled for age, education level, gender, beta‐amyloid burden (AB+), and neurodegeneration status based on 15 individuals who converted to prodromal‐AD during follow‐up, as follows: converters/AB+; non‐converters/AB+; controls/AB‐. Evaluation of both list‐learning tests is mainly based on free recall (FR) and total (cued) recall (TR) scores. The FCSRT uses 1‐list of words to remember while the MBT uses 2‐lists, introducing a binding component sensitive to subtle EM alterations. Data was analysed using mixed effect models including age, gender, and education as covariates.ResultsWhen compared with the FCSRT, the MBT anticipated the detection of AD‐linked EM alterations in the converters/AB+ versus the other groups. In the MBT decline started up to 5 years prior to diagnosis, in delayed FR (mainly associated to executive dysfunction), followed by decline in 4 binding‐associated scores 1 year later (linked to storage deficits associated with the amnesic hippocampal syndrome characteristic of AD). Therefore, at an at‐risk phase, MBT outperformed FCSRT, both in the year of diagnosis and in the number of scores confirming AD‐linked EM deficits.ConclusionWe show the MBT capacity to detect the initial subtle EM alterations and to anticipate diagnosis to the at‐risk phase, while participants remain cognitively normal. We argue that the MBT (at‐risk phase detection) and the FCSRT (preclinical phase classification) could be complementary rather than concurrent tools, fostering meaningful innovative treatments to prolong quality of life in AD, a disease that remains without a cure.