bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An adapted version of the Three Words Three Shapes Test (3W3S) to old Brazilian adults
Authors: Silva Alice Kamensek , Zuanetti Patrícia Aparecida , Foss Maria Paula 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundAn adapted version of the Three Words Three Shapes Test (3W3S) is conducted for old Brazilian adults. This study describes the translation, back‐translation, and pilot study of 3W3S‐Br senior Brazilian adults' adaptation process.MethodThe 3W3S administration and scoring procedures were translated to Brazilian Portuguese by three independent translators. Concomitantly, a panel of specialists selected 18 abstract, regular nouns with the same amount of letters of the original format. The selected words must have had medium to high frequency in Brazilian Portuguese. They should also relate semantically and phonetically to the original ones. A final version was established and back‐translated. The 3W3S‐Br was then applied to 24 participants, divided into two groups, according to forms, of 12 members each (Form A (FA) and Form B (FB)). Inclusion criteria were age between 60‐80 years in the absence of depression, cognitive and functional impairment. The 3W3S‐Br has 5 conditions: 1) Copy (C); 2) Incidental Recall (IR); 3) Learning Trials total (LT), presented in three attempts; 4) Delayed Recall (DR); 5) Recognition (R). Correlations were verified by Pearson coefficient and differences between groups were compared by the Mann‐Whitney test. The analysis was performed by SPSS 28.0 or Windows.ResultThere were no significant associations between age (mean: 67±5), education (11±5), and sex(42%female) in all conditions of this instrument (p<0,05). Significant positive associations were demonstrated between MMSE and 3W3S‐Br in C (r = 0,481), LT (r = 0,455), DR (r = 0,407), R (r = 0,773). The comparison between alternate forms did not reveal differences in the 5 conditions of the test (p < 0,05). The groups also did not show significant differences between age, education, gender, and occurence of COVID‐19 infection.ConclusionAge, education, and sex did not correlate with 3W3S‐Br, whereas MEEM demonstrated correlations in most of its conditions. Alternate forms did not differ in this group of old Brazilian adults. The first steps of the adaptation process were completed and led to evidence of its clinical utility, granting further investigations. Further studies will be conducted to test psychometric properties and finalize the adaptation process.
Appropriateness of applying CSF biomarker cutoffs from Alzheimer’s disease to Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Weinshel Sarah , Irwin David J. , Zhang Panpan , Weintraub Daniel , Shaw Leslie M. , Siderowf Andrew , Xie Sharon X 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundWhile cutoffs for abnormal levels of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers amyloid β 1‐42 (Aβ 1‐42), total tau (t‐tau), phosphorylated tau (p‐tau), and the ratios of t‐tau/Aβ 1‐42 and p‐tau/Aβ 1‐42, have been established in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), biologically relevant cutoffs have not been studied extensively in Parkinson’s disease (PD). We aim to assess the suitability and diagnostic accuracy of established AD‐derived CSF biomarker cutoffs in the PD population.MethodBaseline and longitudinal data on CSF biomarkers, cognitive diagnoses, and PET amyloid imaging in 423 newly diagnosed patients with PD from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) cohort were used to evaluate established AD biomarker cutoffs compared with optimal cutoffs derived from the PPMI cohort.ResultUsing PET amyloid imaging as the gold standard for AD pathology, the optimal cutoff of Aβ 1‐42 was higher than the AD cutoff, the optimal cutoffs of t‐tau/Aβ 1‐42 and p‐tau/Aβ 1‐42 were lower than the AD cutoffs, and their confidence intervals (CIs) did not overlap with the AD cutoffs. Optimal cutoffs for t‐tau and p‐tau to predict cognitive impairment were significantly lower than the AD cutoffs, and their CIs did not overlap with the AD cutoffs.ConclusionOptimal cutoffs for the PPMI cohort for Aβ 1‐42, t‐tau/Aβ 1‐42, and p‐tau/Aβ 1‐42 to predict amyloid‐PET positivity and for t‐tau and p‐tau to predict cognitive impairment differ significantly from cutoffs derived from AD populations. The presence of additional pathologies such as alpha‐synuclein in PD may lead to disease‐specific CSF biomarker characteristics.
A quantitative analysis of the impact of COVID‐19 quarantining on in‐home eating and drinking habits in a cohort of people living with dementia
Authors: Fletcher‐Lloyd Nan , Soreq Eyal , Barnaghi Payam , Kolanko Magdalena A , Wingfield David , Wilson Danielle 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundSince the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 (COVID‐19), people living with dementia (PLWD) have reported experiencing changes in their in‐home eating and drinking habits during quarantine. Previous research has been conducted solely through questionnaires, making it subject to researcher bias. However, remote monitoring technologies allow us the unprecedented ability to quantify behavioural patterns of PLWD in real‐world environments. We used data collected as part of an ongoing project at the UK Dementia Research Institute’s Care Research and Technology Centre. This work aims to understand better the effects of COVID‐19 quarantining on the in‐home eating and drinking habits of PLWD.MethodUsing COVID‐19 as a natural experiment, we compared data collated during the UK’s first COVID‐19 lockdown with the same period pre‐COVID. Household activity was observed using kitchen motion and appliance usage (refrigerator door, kettle, and oven) sensors, summed across four different daily periods (22:00, 04:00, 10:00, and 16:00), and then standardized across households by sensory device, resulting in 16 features. With this dataset, we trained a binary random forest classification model for each household independently, assessing performance using 10‐fold cross‐validation and also computing permutation feature importances (PFIs). Finally, using the PFIs of each household as a behavioural pattern reflecting in‐home eating and drinking habit changes as a function of quarantine, we used agglomerative hierarchical clustering (metric = correlation; method = ward) to identify similar behavioural changes across households.ResultOur cohort included 25 households of PLWD. All patients (11 female : 14 male; mean age at study start = 80.3 ± 6.78 years) had established diagnoses of dementia. Across households, binary classification accuracy was high (mean = 0.88 ± 0.08), with precision and recall balanced well (mean F1‐score = 0.83 ± 0.14). Hierarchical clusters of the household PFIs produced 4 main groupings that simple statistical observations showed each relied on distinct features for binary classification.ConclusionApplying combined supervised and unsupervised learning approaches to in‐home monitoring data has the potential to dramatically improve research for dementia care. Our findings show that in‐home eating and drinking habit changes among PLWD, in response to the COVID‐19 quarantine, are complex.
Social determinants of health questionnaire development for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Piña‐Escudero Stefanie Danielle , Possin Kate L , Tsoy Elena , Caipa Maritza Pintado , Aguirre Gloria A , Ibanez Agustin , Lanata Serggio 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundThere is a lack of instruments designed to capture exposures across various social and determinants of health throughout the lifespan in persons with late‐life neurodegenerative disorders. Responding to this need, we created and piloted the administration of the MAC‐RedLat Social Determinants of Health Questionnaire.MethodThe questionnaire was administered to 137 dyads of participants‐caregivers. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted using the software R.ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 67 years (SD = 11.0). 47.7% had Alzheimer´s disease dementia and 12.4% had frontotemporal dementia, the rest were controls. Data were screened for multivariate assumptions (normality, linearity, homogeneity, and homoscedasticity). All assumptions were met with slight problems of heteroscedasticity. Bartlet’s test indicated correlation adequacy x2 = 2191.611, p<0.001, and the KMO test indicated borderline sampling adequacy, MSA = 0.75. A parallel analysis and Scree plot examination suggested 4 overall factors. Additionally, a 3‐factor model was run based on theory. Maximum likelihood examination was used with Oblimin rotation. After testing all the 37 questions, 19 items split among several factors using the criterion that loadings must be greater than .300. These items were eliminated from further analysis. The final 3‐factor model is presented in Table 1. This model achieved simple structure with each item loading on only one factor. This model had moderate fit: Tucker Lewis Index = 0.764, RMSEA = 0.062, 90%CI (0.054,0.071) and SRMR = 0.06. The CFI = 0.884 indicated room for improvement. Factor 1 included 9 items related to socioeconomic status, factor 2 included 5 items related to challenging life experiences, and factor 3 included 4 items related educational environment. The reliability of the 3 factors was 0.074, 0.071, and 0.069, for factors 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The mean scores for each factor were factor 1 M = 5.322(SD = 1.283), factor 2 M = 3.19(SD = 1.108), and factor 3 M = 1.809(SD = 0.444).ConclusionOur instrument is adequate to measure social determinants of health in persons with neurodegenerative dementia with the input of caregivers.
Associations of sensory impairments with cognition vary by race in older US adults
Authors: Arshad Faaizah , Pinto Jayant M , Yaffe Kristine , Brenowitz Willa D 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundSensory impairments are associated with increased dementia risk in older adults, but whether such associations vary by race is unknown.MethodWe studied 2,058 participants from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) aged 57 to 85 without cognitive impairment at the time of recruitment. 8% identified as Hispanic, 13% as non‐Hispanic Black, and 76% as non‐Hispanic White. Sensory function in the 5 senses (vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch) was measured by visual acuity, interviewer‐rated hearing, a five‐item smell identification test, a four‐item taste identification test, and touch by single point and 2‐point discrimination. Previously published cut‐points defined poor, fair, and good levels of function. Cognition was measured with a modified version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in the same subjects 10 years later. Linear regression models with interaction terms evaluated whether the association between sensory impairments and cognition differed by race/Ethnicity, adjusting for age, sex, and education.Result64.7% of individuals had poor sensory function (≥1 impairment). Hispanic (n = 228) and non‐Hispanic Black (n = 237) older adults were more likely to have ≥1 sensory impairments and to have lower cognition scores compared to non‐Hispanic Whites (n = 1,593). In adjusted models including all participants, fair interviewer‐rated hearing (‐0.68 points, CI:‐1.09,‐0.27), fair smell (‐0.77 points, CI:‐1.14,‐0.41), fair taste (‐0.37 points, CI:‐0.73, ‐0.01), and having multiple sensory impairments (‐0.73 points, CI:‐1.27, ‐0.19) were associated with lower cognition compared to good sensory function/ no impairments. For smell, taste, and touch there were differences by race. The estimated effect of fair smell on subsequent lower cognition was stronger in non‐Hispanic Blacks compared to Whites (‐0.99 points, CI: ‐1.90,‐0.09, p for interaction = 0.03). The estimated effect of poor taste on worse cognition was stronger in non‐Hispanic Whites compared to Hispanics (‐1.42 points, CI: ‐2.62,‐0.22, p for interaction = 0.02). There was a significant association between poor touch and lower cognition in Hispanics but not for other racial groups (‐2.03 points, CI: ‐3.81, ‐0.25, p = 0.03).ConclusionWe found important racial differences in how sensory dysfunction predicts future cognition. Sensory impairments are often modifiable; further insight on these differences may help stimulate efforts to reduce disparities in dementia burden.
Higher depression scores in cognitively unimpaired individuals affect event‐related potentials similar to those of MCI
Authors: Öz Didem 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundDepression is common among seniors, both cognitively unimpaired (CU) and in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Electroencephalography (EEG) event‐related Potentials‐P300 is one of the most commonly used electrophysiological parameter associated with cognition. This study aimed to investigate P300 mean amplitude differences between CU individuals and those with MCI, with and without depressive symptoms.MethodThe study included 20 CU individuals with depression [CU‐Dep(+)], 21 MCI patients [MCI‐Dep(+)] with depression, 20 CU individuals without depression [CU‐Dep(‐)] and 22 MCI patients [CU‐Dep(‐)] without depression. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) ≥14, was the cut‐off score for classification of Dep (+) or Dep (‐). CU seniors had no significant neurological abnormality or global cognitive impairment. Participants with MCI had cognitive impairment as defined with performances ≥1.5 standard deviations below for age‐and education‐matched controls and with no impairment of daily‐living activities. The ERPs were recorded with a visual classical oddball paradigm, mean P300 amplitudes were measured in the 250‐550ms time window.ResultThe repeated‐measures ANCOVA showed no effect of age and education on P300 but a LOCATION x GROUP interaction [F(6,158) = 2.56,p = 0.035) and main GROUP effect [F(3,79) = 2.56,p = 0.003). Post‐hoc analysis revealed CU‐Dep(‐) had higher P300 amplitudes than MCI‐Dep(+). Moreover, CU‐Dep(+) had lower P300 amplitudes than CU‐Dep(‐) in frontal electrode location. Although there were no significant results, there were a gradual decline trend from CU‐Dep(‐) to MCI‐Dep(+)(Figure 1., Table 2.).ConclusionThe current study showed reduced P300 amplitudes in CU and MCI groups with depression as compared to those without depression. The P300 potential may be a useful tool to determine possible changes or impairments due to sub‐threshold depressive symptoms. However, the lack of significant difference between CU‐Dep(‐) and MCI‐Dep(‐) shows us that the P300 amplitude difference may not always be associated with cognitive status, but may also be associated with depressive symptoms. Thus, it is necessary to consider the depressive symptoms of the participants in cognitive EEG studies.
Examining the factors that moderate progression from subjective cognitive decline to objective cognitive decline: A 4‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Katayama Osamu , Lee Sangyoon , Bae Seongryu , Makino Keitaro , Chiba Ippei , Harada Kenji , Morikawa Masanori , Tomida Kouki , Shimada Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundSubjective cognitive decline (SCD) in older adults has been identified as a risk factor for dementia, although the literature is inconsistent, and the factors that contribute to this inconsistency are not fully understood. We focused on the protective factors for dementia risk and aimed to determine whether SCD has more protective factors for dementia risk and whether they reduce the association with future objective cognitive decline (OCD) from a 4‐year longitudinal study.MethodWe included 4,363 older adults (age: 71.7±5.3 [mean ± standard deviation] years; 2,239 women) from the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology–Study of Geriatric Syndromes. SCD, OCD, and protective factors such as lifestyle and activity for dementia risk were assessed using a face‐to‐face interviews and objective cognitive assessment tools. Participants were categorized into cognitive status: normal cognition (neither SCD nor OCD), SCD only, OCD only, and SCD and OCD (both SCD and OCD) groups. Four years later, participants were classified as having or not having mild cognitive impairment or global cognitive impairment. Binomial logistic regression analysis was performed with follow‐up on the cognitive status and at the baseline cognitive status groups as the dependent and independent variables, respectively.ResultPotential confounding factors‐adjusted odds ratios for SCD only, OCD only, and SCD and OCD groups for developing OCD at follow‐up were 1.08 (95% CI, 0.80‐1.45; p = 0.608), 4.00 (95% CI, 2.64‐6.07; p<0.001), and 3.12 (95% CI, 2.22‐4.37; p<0.001), respectively. The SCD only group had more protective factors for dementia risk than the OCD only group.ConclusionCommunity‐dwelling elderlies with SCD had more protective factors for dementia risk at the baseline and a lower association with OCD in the 4‐year follow‐up. Our results suggest that the presence of protective factors for dementia risk may be a contributing factor to the inconsistent literature on the SCD outcomes.
The need for better dementia literacy: current public understanding and awareness of dementia symptoms, risk factors and subtypes
Authors: Savage Sharon A , Ashworth Rosalie 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundImproving public knowledge of modifiable risk factors and presenting symptoms of dementia is vital to aid early diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately studies across the world report low levels of public awareness, even for the most common type of dementia: Alzheimer’s disease. While many people associate dementia with memory loss, little attention has been given to measuring public knowledge of key symptoms in atypical or non‐Alzheimer’s dementia subtypes. This study aimed to determine public understanding of different forms of dementia and accuracy in knowledge regarding key symptoms and risk factors.MethodA 10‐minute face‐to‐face survey of 311 adults (58% women), aged 18 to 89 years, was conducted in Exeter, UK in 2018. The majority (93%) of participants were White/European and well‐educated. A third had some experience caring for a person with dementia. Participants were asked to define dementia, name as many subtypes as possible, indicate which of the main dementia types they had heard of, and answer knowledge questions regarding dementia symptoms, risk factors and treatment options in both Alzheimer’s and frontotemporal dementias.ResultAlthough two‐thirds of participants (68%) could state at least one key fact about dementia (usually memory loss), only 11% identified dementia as a neurological or brain disease that was degenerative. Almost all participants had heard of Alzheimer’s disease (98%), although only 43% spontaneously named this type. While 57% said they had heard of Vascular dementia, less than a quarter had ever heard of Fronotemporal dementia (23%) or Dementia with Lewy Bodies (17%). Accuracy of dementia knowledge was generally low, but greater for Alzheimer’s Disease (57% accuracy across questions) than for Frontotemporal dementia (27% accuracy across questions). Knowledge was poorest regarding risk factors. Having personally known or cared for someone with dementia and having higher education levels was associated with greater knowledge in Alzheimer’s Disease (all p < .05).ConclusionOverall, public knowledge of dementia remains suboptimal, but particularly so for non‐Alzheimer dementias. Improving public awareness of non‐memory symptoms and how to reduce risk of dementia will be an important step for future management of dementia.
Prediction of cognitive status and 5‐year survival for elderly with diabetes by using the Neurocognitive Frailty Index (NFI)
Authors: Pakzad Sarah , Bourque Paul , Fallah Nader , Saucier Daniel 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus has been shown to be associated to cognitive decline and an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly persons (Biessels et al., 2014). The aim of this research was to determine whether the Neurocognitive Frailty Index (NFI, Pakzad et al., 2017) could help to predict cognitive changes in elderly people with diabetes.MethodParticipants in this study were drawn from waves 1 (1991 to 1992) and 2 (1996 to 1997) of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) for prediction of 5‐year cognitive changes in those who received a consensus diagnosis of no cognitive impairment (NCI) or cognitive impairment but not dementia (CIND) in wave 1 (n = 997). The CIND category was contained to individuals whose level of cognitive impairment was measured to be greater than the NCI group but less than the dementia group. NFI was defined as a combined score of 41 physical and mental components (in 8 cognitive domains) as they were available in the dataset (NFI has 42 components but we withdraw diabetes). Cognitive score (measured by 3MS) at follow‐up, and mortality were outcome.ResultMean NFI and standard deviation was 9.7±6.22 in people without diabetes, 11.71±5.42 in people with diabetes and 9.36±5.30 in people with diabetes but are using treatment. Multiple linear regression indicated that NFI score is significantly associated to cognitive status (3MS at follow‐up, p<0.05), however, diabetes did not show any significant association to predict this outcome. CHAID decision tree analysis stratified NFI scores into five categories, while proportional hazards analysis adjusted for age, gender and education indicated that NFI was more correlated to survival than age and had a dose‐response effect in relation to survival. Those with diabetes had a higher probability of death compared to those without (p<0.05).ConclusionNFI was significantly associated with cognitive changes for the elderly in those with and without diabetes. Given that the NFI is proving to be a valuable tool to assess the risk of developing dementia, further investigation is needed to clarify which modifiable risk factors may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.