bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
LifeBio memory's technology advancements for capturing life stories and seeing the whole person
Authors: Sanders Beth , Williams Becky 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundCapturing the complexity of an individual's uniqueness and life experiences is difficult. New technology approaches are needed to simplify the process of knowing the person’s story to improve care and communication.MethodLifeBio is currently developing a cross‐platform application (tablet, phone, web‐based), called LifeBio MemoryTM for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease or mild cognitive impairment. Utilizing groundbreaking technologies (including artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and speech to text conversions), LifeBio Memory is a novel machine‐learning‐based application that converts speech to text and generates life stories. LifeBio Memory will serve as an interactive tool to cultivate communication between people living with dementia, their family, and professional care partners. The LifeBio Memory application uses a new voice‐based application to prompt and store individuals’ stories, photos, and videos—resulting in a personalized, therapeutic reminiscence experience. Auto‐summarization technology will make a "quick read" version of the story possible; knowing the person improves quality.ResultCurrent results show a speech to text conversion accuracy of ∼99% with standard audio captures, and conversion rate accuracy above 90% in multiple voice files, which are the more difficult scenarios. Human parity is considered to be above 94%. LifeBio Memory has the initial automation of the extraction of keywords and phrases that will be utilized to summarize the life story. LifeBio and its research partner, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, have recently completed focus groups and people living with Alzheimer's Disease were the first to see, use, and evaluate the new application. Professionals in memory care and family members of people living with dementia were also included in focus groups.ConclusionInitial focus groups have evaluated the new LifeBio Memory software. These first focus groups gave valuable feedback on preferences, likes and dislikes, and ease‐of‐use for the application. Including people living with dementia in focus groups (online focus groups during COVID) for technology products like LifeBio Memory has been a valuable experience, and more details on lessons learned and next steps will be shared. NOTE: LifeBio Memory is supported by an SBIR grant from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Federal Award Identification Number R44AG069566.
Accountable care organizations and preventable hospitalization among patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Chen Jie 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundSystem‐level care coordination strategies can be the most effective to promote continuity of care among people with Alzheimer disease (AD); however, the evidence is lacking. To motivate providers to coordinate the care they provide and shift their focus upstream to prevention, major public and private payers are utilizing novel reimbursement mechanisms, like accountable care organizations (ACOs). The objective of this study is to determine if ACOs are associated with lower rates of potentially preventable hospitalizations for people with AD and if hospital ACO affiliation is associated with reduced racial and ethnic disparities in preventable hospitalizations among patients with AD.MethodThis study employed a cross‐sectional study design and used 2015 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project inpatient claims data from 11 states and the 2015 American Hospital Association Annual Survey. This study focused on community‐dwelling adults with AD aged ≥65 years. Logistic regression and the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition method were used.ResultAfrican American patients with AD were less likely to be hospitalized at ACO‐affiliated hospitals than White patients. Among patients with AD that were hospitalized, hospital ACO affiliation was associated with lower odds of potentially preventable hospitalizations (OR=0.86, p=0.02; OR=0.66, p<0.001 with propensity score matching) after controlling for patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and state indicators. Hospital ACO affiliation explained 3.01% (p<0.01) of the disparity in potentially preventable hospitalizations between White and African American patients but could not explain disparities between White and Latinx patients.ConclusionAs the U.S. population ages, it will become increasingly diverse, as will the population with AD. It is crucial to identify cost‐saving strategies that effectively promote coordination and quality care for this high‐need group, particularly among minorities. This study is the first to provide evidence that ACOs may be effective at preventing PPHs for chronic conditions for people with AD and could reduce racial disparities. Results suggest that future research should explore the impacts of other value‐based payment models on quality of care for people with AD and risk factors as well as the ability of these payment models to reduce disparities.
The Boston Naming Test identifies presymptomatic anomia in MAPT mutation carriers
Authors: Bouzigues Arabella , Russell Lucy L , Peakman Georgia , Convery Rhian S , Greaves Caroline V , Bocchetta Martina , Todd Emily G , Cash David M , Rohrer Jonathan D ,   the Genetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative (GENFI)
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrior studies of prodromal genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have identified impaired executive function and social cognition in C9orf72 and GRN mutation carriers but few cognitive deficits have been found in MAPT mutation carriers.MethodWe investigated performance on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) in the GENetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative (GENFI) cohort of 499 mutation carriers and 248 mutation negative controls divided across three genetic groups: C9orf72, MAPT and GRN. Mutation carriers were further divided into 3 groups according to their global CDR plus NACC FTLD score: 0 (asymptomatic), 0.5 (prodromal) and 1+ (fully symptomatic). Mutation carrier groups were compared to each other and to mutation‐negative controls using a bootstrapped linear regression model, adjusting for age and education.ResultWe found that all of the symptomatic (1+) groups performed significantly worse on the BNT than controls, and worse than the prodromal and asymptomatic mutation carriers within the same genetic group. The MAPT symptomatic group also performed significantly worse than the GRN and C9orf72 symptomatic groups. Furthermore, both the MAPT asymptomatic and prodromal groups performed significantly worse than controls which was not the case in the other genetic groups.ConclusionThese results suggest a specific deficit in naming in MAPT mutation carriers consistent with previous literature, likely to be due to impaired semantic knowledge. Notably, this study shows that the BNT can be used to detect very early deficits in the disease course, allowing dissociation of MAPT mutation carriers from controls and from other genetic groups. Clinical trials focused on the prodromal period within individuals with MAPT mutations should use language tasks such as the BNT for patient stratification and as outcome measures.
CSF sphingomyelin metabolites in Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation
Authors: Morrow Autumn Rose , Panyard Daniel J. , Deming Yuetiva , Dong Ruocheng , Vasiljevic Eva , Betthauser Tobey J. , Jonaitis Erin M. , Kollmorgen Gwendlyn , Suridjan Ivonne , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Hulle Carol A. , Carlsson Cynthia M. , Asthana Sanjay , Johnson Sterling C. , Engelman Corinne D. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundSeveral Alzheimer’s disease (AD) metabolomics studies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma identified associations between sphingomyelin metabolites (SMs) and AD. However, the results were inconsistent, potentially due to small sample sizes. They were limited in the AD, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation biomarkers available for additional analyses. Leveraging two longitudinal preclinical and clinical AD cohorts with CSF metabolomics data, we analyzed the relationship between CSF SMs and biomarkers and measures of AD (PET Pittsburgh Compound B [PiB], amyloid‐β42/40, phosphorylated‐tau181, phosphorylated‐tau181/amyloid‐β42), neurodegeneration (neurofilament light [NFL], neurogranin, α‐synuclein), and neuroinflammation (soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 [sTREM2], interleukin‐6 [IL‐6], chitinase‐3‐like protein 1 [YKL‐40]).MethodWe used data from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) and the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). Participants were aged 45‐91 years with available CSF metabolomics and biomarker data (n = 493 individuals [726 visits]; 44 individuals had diagnosed AD, 40 had mild cognitive impairment [MCI], and 409 were cognitively unimpaired). CSF biomarkers were measured with the Roche NeuroToolKit assays, a panel of automated robust prototype immunoassays. Associations between 12 SMs and MCI and AD diagnoses were analyzed using logistic regressions. Cross‐sectional global amyloid burden in the brain, measured by PiB‐PET, was regressed on the SMs using linear regression models. The nine other longitudinal CSF biomarkers for AD, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation were regressed on SMs using linear mixed models. All models were adjusted for sex and age. A Bonferroni correction (p<3.47×10‐4) was used to determine statistical significance.ResultNo SMs were significantly associated with MCI or AD diagnosis (Table 1) or amyloid markers (Table 2). Phosphorylated‐tau181 was significantly, positively associated with six SMs. NFL and neurogranin were significantly, positively associated with 11 SMs. α‐synuclein was significantly, positively associated with 6 SMs (Table 3). sTREM2 and YKL40 were significantly, positively associated with 9 and 5 SMs, respectively (Table 4). Stearoyl SM had the strongest association for each set of SM‐biomarker regressions.ConclusionAssociations between SMs and biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, but not markers of amyloid or diagnoses of MCI or AD implicate SMs as potential biomarkers for neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation that may not be AD‐specific.
Properties of the cognitive function battery for the MIND diet intervention to prevent Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Krueger Kristin R. , Dhana Klodian , Aggarwal Neelum T. , Arfanakis Konstantinos , Carey Vincent , Sacks Frank , Barnes Lisa L. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundOver the last several years, evidence has increasingly demonstrated the strong potential for dietary interventions to improve cognitive function over time. Nonetheless, our ability to measure this progress is limited by variability in cognitive assessments across studies. We evaluated the properties of the cognitive battery used in The MIND Diet Intervention to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. The MIND Diet Intervention is a randomized control trial designed to examine the efficacy of the MIND diet to slow cognitive decline and reduce brain atrophy in older adults at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia.MethodParticipants were 604 adults between 65 and 84 years old without cognitive impairment, who had a body mass index > 25 k/m2, a family history of dementia and a suboptimal diet. They had an average of 17 years of education and were mostly white (89%) women (65%). Before randomization into one of two dietary intervention counseling sessions, participants completed an in‐person administration of the MIND cognitive battery of tests. The battery included 12 cognitive tests, measuring the four cognitive domains of executive function, perceptual speed, episodic memory, and semantic memory. We conducted a principal component analysis to examine the consistency between our theoretical domains and statistical performance of participants on each domain. In order to further establish validity of each domain, we regressed the domain scores against the covariates of age, and years of education, and late life cognitive activity.ResultFour factors emerged in the principal component analyses that were similar to the theoretical domains. Rand’s statistic was 0.82 (p<0.001), indicating a good fit between the factor analytic results and the hypothesized grouping. In regression analyses, we found the expected associations with age and late life cognitive activity with each of the four cognitive domains.ConclusionThese results suggest that the MIND cognitive battery is a comprehensive and efficient battery, which may perform well as an outcome measure in future intervention trials for older adults.
The association between brain‐derived neurotrophic factor and improved cognition in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease patients in an exercise‐primed transcranial‐direct current stimulation study
Authors: Koo Grace KY , Herrmann Nathan , Gallagher Damien , Rapoport Mark , Charles Jocelyn , Papneja Purti , Rajji Tarek K. , Andreazza Ana C. , Oh Paul I. , Marzolini Susan , Kiss Alex , Swardfager Walter , Liu Celina , Vieira Danielle , Kim Doyoung , Song Bing Xin , Lanctôt Krista L. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundBrain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non‐invasive brain stimulation, has been found to improve cognitive functions in AD/MCI, particularly after priming. While the mechanism of tDCS response remains unclear, BDNF has been proposed to be involved with the beneficial effects of tDCS. However, few studies have investigated the direct relationship between cognition and BDNF in individuals receiving tDCS. With data from an ongoing clinical trial (the EXPRESS study), we examined the relationship between BDNF and changes in cognition before and after intervention in individuals with MCI/mild AD.MethodParticipants completed a 5‐week, blinded, randomized trial investigating the effects of exercise priming on tDCS. The Montreal Cognitive Asssessment (MoCA), to assess global cognition, was administered and blood samples were collected to quantify serum BDNF at baseline and endpoint visits. Baseline BDNF concentrations were log‐transformed prior to analyses. A Pearson’s partial correlation was used to assess the relationship between baseline BDNF and change in MoCA (ΔMoCA) over time across all participants.ResultIn 18 participants (10 males [55.6%], mean [±SD] age 73.9±8.5 years, education 17.1±2.0 years, and baseline MoCA score 21.5 ± 3.5), mean baseline BDNF concentration was 116.0 ± 40.9 (ng/mL). A Pearson’s partial correlation, controlling for age, showed a significant positive correlation between baseline BDNF concentrations and ΔMoCA score over time (rpartial(15) = .517, p = 0.034).ConclusionHigher baseline BDNF levels were correlated with greater improvement in global cognition over time in MCI/mild AD patients. This finding contributes to current literature that suggests BDNF as a therapeutic target in AD treatment. Further analyses upon unblinding will be done to evaluate the predictive capacity of baseline BDNF concentrations on cognitive improvement across treatment groups.
Acceptability of an online training program for dementia caregivers: Results from a mixed‐methods pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Teles Soraia , Paúl Constança , Ferreira Ana ,   Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS)
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundiSupport is an online knowledge and skills training program developed by the World Health Organization to prevent and/or minimize caregiving‐associated health problems. iSupport was culturally adapted to Portugal.MethodA mixed‐methods two arm RCT was carried. Participants were recruited through the Alzheimer’s Association. Inclusion criteria are being a non‐paid caregiver; for at least six months; experiencing a clinically relevant level of burden (≥ 21 on ZBI) or depression or anxiety symptoms (≥ 8 on HADS). Eligible participants were randomized to either iSupport‐Portugal or the control arm (e‐book). Repeated measurements were collected at baseline, three (T1) and six months after baseline. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted. Usage data until T1 was extracted from iSupport’s platform. A content analysis was performed for interview data.ResultsForty‐two participants were allocated to the intervention (n=21) and control (n=21) arms. Caregivers in the intervention arm are mostly female (81%), middle‐aged (M 49 years) and highly educated (M 15.8 years of schooling). Most (81%) are children of the person with dementia, provide long‐term (Mdn 3 years) and intensive care (Mdn 29 hrs/week). Scores on ZBI (Mdn 38) and HADS‐anxiety (Mdn 12) suggest moderate to high levels of burden and anxiety. Positive attitudes towards online psychoeducation were revealed (Mdn 24 on OPI‐BAS scale). Twelve caregivers were interviewed, including dropouts. At T1, 85.7% of participants have used the program; 38.9% discontinued its use within two weeks, 66.7% within ten. On average, iSupport was accessed 8 times and 12.5 lessons were visited (in 23). One‐time‐only visitors printed the lessons (n=2); offline use is possible. Lessons on communication and shared decision making were the most visited (>90%). The qualitative data informs on the motivations and deterrents to use iSupport, usage styles, and perceived results.ConclusionA moderate acceptability of iSupport‐Portugal is suggested and might be improved with minor content and interface adjustments. Despite heterogeneous usage patterns, iSupport was mostly used intensively and during a few weeks. Conducting a re‐assessment (T1) earlier might be adequate. When nationally releasing iSupport, research on usage data must consider potential biases from unknown offline use. This pilot may inform improvements on iSupport country‐specific versions.
Longitudinal evaluation of total tau and physical activity on cognitive decline in a population‐based study
Authors: Desai Pankaja , Evans Denis A. , Dhana Klodian , Aggarwal Neelum T. , Wilson Robert S. , Rajan Kumar B. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about the longitudinal relationships of physical activity (PA) and serum total tau (tau) on cognitive decline. We examined if PA moderated the association of tau and cognitive decline in a biracial, population‐based sample of older adults.MethodWe studied 1,159 participants in the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), who provided blood and completed neuropsychological tests of episodic memory, perceptual speed, and the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). A standardized global cognitive function test score was computed using individual tests. Self‐report PA was categorized into three groups‐ No PA (responded to at least four of five specified activity items and reported no activity for all responses), low PA (< 150 minutes/week), and high PA ( > 150 minutes/week). Tau concentrations were measured by ultrasensitive immunoassay and classified as low (<0.40 pg/mL) and high (>0.40 pg/mL).ResultThe average age of study participants (63% females and 60% African Americans) was 77 years, with a mean education of 13 years. After adjusting for demographic characteristics and APOE‐ε4 allele, among participants with high tau concentrations, the rate of cognitive decline for participants with high PA (β= ‐0.047, 95% CI= ‐0.067, ‐0.027) was 70% slower than for participants with no PA (β= ‐0.080, 95% CI= ‐0.101, ‐0.058). Similar associations were observed for individual cognitive tests. Specifically, comparing participants with high PA to no PA among those with high tau concentrations, the rate of annual decline in episodic memory was slower by 92%, perceptual speed by 62%, and MMSE by 80%. Among participants with low tau concentrations, high PA (β= ‐0.035, 95% CI= ‐0.052, ‐0.019) was associated with a 77% slower cognitive decline in annual rate compared to no PA (β= ‐0.046, 95% CI= ‐0.066, ‐0.026). Individual tests of those with low tau concentrations showed the annual rate of decline in episodic memory was slower by 76%, perceptual speed by 78%, and MMSE by 68% for high versus low PA.ConclusionPA significantly slowed cognitive decline in participants with high and low concentrations of tau. These findings may inform the development of prevention trials tailored to at‐risk characteristics with long‐term follow‐up measurement.
Electrophysiological disruptions and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment patients
Authors: Vilca Brenda Chino , Rojo Inmaculada Concepción Rodríguez , Torres Lucia , Cuesta Pablo , Carnes Anna , Piñol‐Ripoll Gerard , Huerto Raquel , Maestú Fernando 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized, at the neuropathological level, by the accumulation of amyloid‐β (Aβ) neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein. A key aspect of AD’s is focused on its early detection. In recent years, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been established as a sensible and validated biomarker that could help to provide an accurate diagnosis of the disease. It is known that lower CSF Aβ‐42 concentrations and higher CSF levels of total and phosphorylated tau (t‐tau and p‐tau respectively), have been extensively replicated parameters among AD patients. Similarly, electrophysiological signatures, as analyzed by the electroencephalography (EEG) technique, seem to be a non‐invasive useful tool for evaluating the progressive loss of efficiency of neuronal networks. Given that, the purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between power EEG values derived from clusters of sensors and CSF markers in a sample of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients.Method7 MCI participants (aged from 61 to 85) were recruited from the Cognitive Disorders Unit of the Hospital Universitari Santa Maria (Lleida, Spain). All of them underwent a neuropsychological evaluation, CSF lumbar puncture, and EEG recordings.ResultAmyloid. Male population showed a significant negative correlation (rho = ‐0.754, p < 0.003) between amyloid load and theta power in antero‐posterior regions of the brain. The average power of the cluster correlated significatively with ADAS (rho = 0.562, p < 0.037), total tau (rho = 0.538, p < 0.049) and delayed recall (rho = ‐0.612, p < 0.020). Total tau. A widespread alpha power cluster was found in the male population whose oscillatory activity correlated negatively with t‐tau CSF load (rho = ‐0.653, p < 0.014). When assessing the female population, we found a relationship (rho = ‐0.864, p < 0.001) between total‐tau and beta power in a widespread cluster. Additionally, the beta cluster average power significatively correlated with p‐tau load (rho = ‐0.800, p < 0.005) and age (rho = ‐0.621, p < 0.041).ConclusionElectrophysiological activity seems to be depicting a clear sex‐based pattern of associations with neuropathological markers of AD.