bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuroticism moderates the association between beliefs about medications and reported adverse medication effects in mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Kelly Dana A , Davis Jennifer D , Daiello Lori A , Burke Erin M , Fernandez Tiana , Tremont Geoffrey , Ott Brian R , Margolis Seth A 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundAdverse medication effects may negatively affect quality of life (QoL), treatment adherence, and tolerability/enrollment in investigational drug studies. No research has investigated whether negative beliefs about medications and personality influence adverse effect reporting in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), where disease modifying therapies are needed. We examined associations among medication beliefs, neuroticism, and perceived adverse medication effects in people with MCI.MethodParticipants (N=50, age: 72±7 years, 54% female) with MCI completed the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ: Harm and Necessity‐Concerns [N‐C] subscales), NEO Five‐Factor Inventory‐3 (Neuroticism), and Generic Assessment of Side Effects (GASE: adverse effect count and intensity). Correlations and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression assessed interrelationships. The moderating effect of neuroticism on the association between medication beliefs and adverse effect reporting was modeled at mean±1 standard deviations of neuroticism.ResultParticipants took an average 6±3 medications/day; 20% took anti‐dementia medications. The number of reported adverse effects per participant ranged from 0‐15 (X̅=4). On average, adverse effect intensity was rated as mild; however, 26% endorsed moderate‐to‐severe intensity. On average, participants did not believe medications were generally harmful. Yet, 30% indicated that concerns about their specific medications outweighed perceived necessity of treatment. Neuroticism was normally distributed. Higher neuroticism and stronger harm/concern beliefs correlated with adverse effect intensity (Neuroticism: r=0.378, p=0.007; Harm: r=0.315, p=0.026; N‐C: r=‐0.406, p=0.003). OLS regression models including neuroticism and Harm or N‐C beliefs (run separately) each accounted for 32% of the variance in adverse effect intensity. There was an interaction between medication beliefs and neuroticism (p’s≤0.04); stronger harm beliefs and concerns outweighing necessity beliefs corresponded to greater adverse effect intensity at average and above average neuroticism (Harm: β=0.90, p=0.01; N‐C: β=‐0.33, p=0.003 and Harm: β=1.76, p=0.001; N‐C: β=‐0.58, p=0.001, respectively) but not at low‐average levels. Neither model was associated with raw adverse effect count.ConclusionIndividuals with MCI who are more stress‐reactive (neurotic) and maintain negative beliefs about medications tend to endorse more intense adverse effects. Supportive approaches aimed at helping stress‐reactive patients manage negative beliefs, reactions, and expectations about medications may enhance QoL, improve treatment adherence, and impact willingness to participate in clinical trials.
Continued white matter fibre degeneration over 3 years after ischemic stroke
Authors: Egorova Natalia , Dhollander Thijs , Khan Will , Khlif Mohamed Salah , Brodtmann Amy 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to chart white matter integrity over 3 years after stroke, to examine if post‐stroke loss of white matter continues to be accelerated compared to control participants.MethodWe applied a longitudinal “fixel”‐based analysis, sensitive to fibre tract‐specific differences within a voxel, to assess axonal loss in stroke (N=71, 22 women) compared to control participants (N=36, 13 women) across the whole brain. We studied microstructural differences in fibre density and macrostructural (morphological) changes in fibre cross‐section.ResultIn stroke participants, we observed significantly lower fibre density and cross‐section from 3 months to 3 years. The changes were widespread and affected the corpus callosum, bilateral inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus, right superior longitudinal fasciculus.ConclusionWe conclude that ischemic stroke is associated with extensive and continued neurodegeneration that significantly affects white matter micro and macrostructure across the whole brain. These findings confirm that the deleterious effects of stroke on white matter continue several years following the event.
Herpes simplex diagnosis and treatment are not associated with incident dementia
Authors: Schmidt Mark A , Rawlings Andreea , Koppulo Padma D , Prado Yolanda K , Rosales A Gabriela , Weinmann Sheila A 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundAlthough an association between dementia and certain infectious diseases, such as HIV, has been well‐established, recent publications have also concerningly hinted at the possibility of its association with a much more common infectious disease, as well: herpes simplex virus (HSV). We sought to better investigate potential associations between HSV diagnosis and treatment with incident dementia in a large, retrospective cohort.MethodWe conducted our analysis among members of Kaiser Permanente Northwest aged 50 and older between 2000‐2019. We matched individuals with an HSV diagnosis during this time frame to three individuals, each, without HSV, based on age at index date (HSV diagnosis date for cases and a reference date for controls), sex, and membership length prior to index date. Follow‐up time started at the index date and ended on the date of dementia diagnosis, membership end date, death, or end of follow‐up, whichever came first. We defined HSV and dementia diagnoses by ICD‐9/‐10 codes recorded in the electronic health record. We defined herpes simplex antiviral treatment, based on in‐network pharmacy fills. We used survival analysis to examine the associations between dementia with HSV diagnosis (yes/no, overall, by sex, age, and HSV type) and HSV medication fills (yes/no; and by tertiles of medication dispensed). We adjusted models by demographic and clinical factors.Result87,432 persons (21,661 with HSV) were included. The mean age was 60.9 years and 69% were female. Over a mean follow‐up of 6.1 years, 4,507 developed dementia. HSV diagnoses – overall and Type 2 – was significantly associated with lower risk of dementia (Figure). Anti‐viral medication (any versus none) was not associated with dementia, and we did not see a dose response when examining dose by tertile (Figure).ConclusionIn contrast to the recent reports, we found a slight, but statistically‐significant association between HSV diagnosis with dementia. We did not observe a lower risk of dementia associated with anti‐herpetic treatment, also as had been previously reported. The relationship between HSV and dementia may be complex and deserves further study. However, that we did not see a positive association between HSV and dementia in our study is very encouraging.
Effects of interaction with people on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in long‐term care facility residents
Authors: Arai Asuna , Khaltar Amartuvshin , Ozaki Takashi , Katsumata Yuriko 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundBehavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are a well‐known risk factor for an increased burden of care for staff in long‐term care facilities and family caregivers. Social interaction that emphasizes the importance of relationships and communication between individuals has been proposed as a suitable psychosocial intervention for BPSD. However, it remains unclear what type of social interaction could impact the longitudinal change of BPSD in residential care settings. This study investigated the effect of interaction with people including relationships with residents, and communication with family/relatives and friends at baseline on BPSD among long‐term care facility residents over 1 year.MethodThis follow‐up study was conducted among older adult residents with dementia or similar symptoms at 10 selected long‐term care facilities in Japan. Participants were assessed twice at a 1‐year interval using a questionnaire for care staff. The questionnaire included a brief questionnaire form of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI‐Q), a standardized scale to assess 12‐item BPSD. Generalized linear mixed effect models were used to examine associations between interaction with people and changes in the number and severity of BPSD symptoms over 1 year.ResultAmong 220 participants, poor relationships with other residents at baseline were associated with greater baseline BPSD. Less communication with family/relatives at baseline was associated with increased severity of BPSD over 1 year.ConclusionActive interaction with family and relatives may prevent progression of BPSD severity among long‐term care facility residents for at least 1 year.
Peripheral triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 expression is associated with myoinositol level at posterior cingulate cortex in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Fuh Jong‐Ling , Lee Wei‐Ju , Lirng Jiing‐Feng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundTriggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is up‐regulated in activated microglia related neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Most magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies consistently demonstrated neuroinflammatory changes with elevated glial marker myoinositol (MI) or MI/total creatine (tCr) and lower levels of neuronal marker N‐acetylasparate (NAA) or NAA/tCr in patients with AD. We propose that the higher systemic TREM2 expression measured by TREM2 mRNA expression in peripheral blood might be associated with the neuroinflammatory marker in MRS.MethodWe recruited subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to AD from two teaching hospitals in Taiwan. All of the subjects underwent clinically functional assessments and a neuropsychological test battery. Quantitative estimates of TREM2 mRNA and the soluble form of TREM2 (an alternatively spliced TREM2 transcript (TREM2alt)) mRNA levels were measured. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed by using a 2 × 2 × 2 cm3 voxel situated in the midsagittal posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus region. We analyzed the association between MRS and peripheral TREM2 mRNA expression.ResultIn total, 15 MCI patients and 26 AD patients were recruited. The mean age of MCI and AD patients was 72.1 ± 6.0 and 76.7 ± 7.6 years. The mean MMSE score was 25.8 ± 2.1 in MCI patients and 20.8 ± 3.4 in AD patients. The percentage of apolipoprotein (APOE) ɛ4 carrier status in MCI and AD patients was 21.4% and 38.5%. The correlation analysis showed the TREM2alt mRNA expression level was associated with MI/tCr at PCC in AD (r = ‐0.68, p < 0.001) and MCI (r = ‐0.63, p = 0.013) subjects, but TREM2 mRNA expression was not.ConclusionThe TREM2alt mRNA expression is associated with the MI/tCr at PCC in both AD and MCI patients, which suggested the peripheral soluble TREM2 expression might reflect the central neuroinflammatory changes in AD patients.
A campaign to tackle discrimination
Authors: Mardones Solange , Emerson Leanne 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundDementia Australia’s strategic direction represents a year of extensive community consultation and identifies discrimination as a leading issue for people living with dementia.An objective is to change community attitudes to dementia, creating greater community empathy so no‐one with dementia feels isolated.MethodIn 2019, Dementia Australia surveyed >5000 respondents to identify types of discrimination faced by people living with dementia. Of responding family members, friends and carers, 94% said people had not stayed connected with a relative living with dementia. Some 80% said people had deliberately avoided their friend or relative living with dementia; 81% felt people in shops, cafes and restaurants treated people living with dementia differently. Traditionally anti‐discrimination campaigns focus on elevating awareness and understanding to change behaviour. Dementia Australia tackled the behaviour directly: expanding people’s understanding of discrimination and its impact, providing practical information and tips to do better. The 'Help Keep the World Open' campaign used the social isolation created by COVID‐19 to show that once the crisis had passed, most people could resume regular social routines. However, for people with dementia, isolation can be a reality every day. The next campaign stage ‐ ‘A little support makes a lot of difference’ ‐ highlighted the capabilities of people living with dementia, given the right supports. The campaign shared tips and tools to support people living with dementia to live well. These broad‐ranging national campaigns were developed collaboratively with people with a lived experience of dementia. The high‐level objectives were to raise awareness of dementia and the lack of understanding that causes discrimination, to shift negative perceptions and show practical ways for people to support those living with dementia.ResultExceptional levels of engagement and reach were achieved across media. From May 18 to 23 December 2020, more than 35 million impressions reached 4.6 million Australians, with engagement rates well above industry averages across all channels.ConclusionOur content created increased awareness and understanding of dementia, changing misconceptions ‐ vital to improving quality of life. This campaign demonstrated that building empathy alongside knowledge by asking the community to change behaviour and attitudes is both engaging and effective.
Higher myelination of grey matter and white matter is associated with lower tau spreading and tau‐associated cortical thinning in Alzheimer’s
Authors: Rubinski Anna , Franzmeier Nicolai , Dewenter Anna , Luan Ying , Biel Davina , Ewers Michael 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundMyelination of axons in the grey matter (GM) and axonal connections may modulate the spreading of brain pathologies such as pathologic tau. Here, we tested for the first time whether MRI‐assessed myelination in the GM and white matter (WM) is associated with tau‐PET assessed spreading of pathologic tau between connected brain regions. We hypothesized that 1) higher myelination of WM connections is associated with lower tau‐PET in the connected regions and 2) higher myelination of GM is associated with higher resilience against the effect of tau on GM.MethodWe included AV1451‐tau‐PET from 202 amyloid‐PET positive (Aβ+) asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals from ADNI. Using a neocortical 200‐ROI brain‐parcellation atlas, we obtained regional tau‐PET SUVR and cortical thickness. Resting‐state fMRI functional connectivity (FC) and DWI‐based fiber‐tracts between the 200 ROIs were assessed in 100 individuals from the human connectome project (HCP). Next, we applied the 200 GM‐ROIs and fiber‐tract streamlines to a myelin‐water‐imaging atlas in healthy individuals (Liu et al., JON, 2019) to assess the myelin water fraction (MWF) in GM‐ROIs and their WM connections. Using linear regression, we assessed the associations between MWF, FC and tau‐PET, as well as the interaction between MWF and tau‐PET on cortical thickness.ResultWe found that higher MWF (i.e. higher myelin) in GM‐ROIs was associated with lower tau‐PET in corresponding ROIs (Figure 1, β=‐0.38, p<0.001). Using spatial regression, we found that for connections with lower MWF, the association between higher FC and higher tau‐PET was stronger (interaction MWF x FC on tau‐PET, Figure 2), suggesting that lower WM myelination facilitates the spreading of tau along connected regions. Lastly, the association between tau‐PET and cortical thinning in GM‐ROIs was attenuated at higher MWF in the corresponding GM‐ROIs (Figure 3, β=0.025, p<0.001), suggesting that higher GM myelination is associated with higher resilience against the effect of tau‐PET on GM atrophy.ConclusionHigher myelination of the GM and WM is associated with lower regional susceptibility to pathologic tau and higher resilience against effects of tau on GM integrity.
Translation and adaptation of the ABE BPSD score (ABS) for behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia in elderly Filipinos
Authors: Evangelista Jojo Rafanan , Ampil Encarnita Raya , Abe Koji , Marasigan Simeon S 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundDementia is not a disease in is itself but a collection of related to cognitive decline. Aside from cognitive decline, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which multifactorial in origin and is often brought about by maladaptation to the environment and struggles with the activities of daily living. Several tool have been made to screen BPSD, one of which is the Abe BPSD Score.MethodTwo bilingual persons independently translated the scale to the Filipino language. The translated version underwent evaluation by a team of experts composed of 5 neurologists, 5 experts in dementia and 5 psychiatrists. The items were further refined and revised, accordingly, by these specialists. The revised questionnaire was used for the face validity with 30 cognitively intact adults. The final Filipino version of the questionnaire was back translated by another independent native speaker of the Filipino language. The final Filipino version and the version translated to English were compared.ResultAll items had a CVR or >0.49 for the evaluation of content validity ratio (see table 1) and clarity of > 79% (see table 3) so that all items were retained and deemed appropriate. Regarding relevance, item 1 needed to be revised. There was a significant change of the ranking of the symptoms as compared to the English version of the Abe’s BPSD Score, thus the order of the symptoms were revised.ConclusionThe Filipino version of the Abe score for BPSD, ABS‐P, is a simple and easily understandable scoring system for assessing the presence and extent of BPSD. The translated and adapted Filipino version is practical for use in daily clinical practice since it has short administration time. A validation study can subsequently be carried out with the ABS‐P.
Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic in an early‐onset dementia clinic in Barcelona
Authors: Contador José , Guillén Nuria , Tort‐Merino Adrià , Balasa Mircea , Martínez Neus Falgàs , Olives Jaume , Castellví Magdalena , Juncà‐Parella Jordi , Borrego‐Écija Sergi , Bosch‐Capdevila Beatriz , Fernández‐Villullas Guadalupe , Ramos‐Campoy Oscar , Antonell Anna , Sanchez‐Valle Raquel , Lladó Albert 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic and related care policies have affected dementia patients. The characteristics of early‐onset dementia (EOD, <65 years) patients in 2020 may provide insights on how to rearrange the provision of care.MethodWe retrospectively reviewed, from 2016 to 2020, the demographic and clinical data of the new referrals at our EOD clinic (Hospital Clínic Barcelona). We used Fisher’s Exact test and Mann–Whitney U test in R4.0.2 (http://www.R‐project.org/) to analyze differences between 2020 and the period 2016‐2019.ResultIn 2020, we did not visit any new referral from 15th march to 31th may. We evaluated 104 patients in 2020 and 392 patients in 2016‐2019 (mean=98(SD=11.8) patients/year). No differences were found in age at onset (AAO), sex, diagnostic delay and MMSE score (Table1). Significant differences were found in the diagnoses obtained in each period (p<0.000005, Figure1A). In 2020, 19.2% of the patients were diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases (ND), 48.1% with non‐neurodegenerative diseases (NND) and 32.7% with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). On contrast, in 2016‐2019, 26% of the patients were diagnosed with ND, 22.2% with NND and 51.8% with SCD. Compared to 2016‐2019, ND, but not SCD or NND, presented longer diagnostic delay in 2020 (p<0.0005, Figure1B). ND, NND and SCD did not show differences between periods in AAO, sex or MMSE.We did not find differences in the type of ND in each period (Figure1A). Compared to 2016‐2019, Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) presented longer diagnostic delay in 2020 (p<0.005, Figure1B) while ND subgroups did not show differences in AAO, sex or MMSE. Cognitive disturbances in recovered COVID‐19 patients accounted for 16% of NND in 2020 [N=8, AAO 50.63(12), 63% female, MMSE 26.8(2.3)].ConclusionIn 2020, albeit we were forced to stop our normal activity during 2.5 months, we visited a similar number of patients among which we observed an increase in NND, including cognitive disturbances in patients with recovered COVID‐19. On contrast, we found a reduction in SCD and, to a lesser extent, ND. ND showed a longer diagnostic delay in 2020 that mainly affected FTLD. Whether COVID‐19 pandemic entails a diagnostic delay in dementia patients must be confirmed in 2021.
Key components of person‐centered care for people with dementia: A systematic review of interventions to design a patient preference study
Authors: Mohr Wiebke , Raedke Anika , Afi Adel , Edvardsson David , Mühlichen Franka , Platen Moritz , Roes Martina , Michalowsky Bernhard , Hoffmann Wolfgang 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundTo provide Person‐Centered Care (PCC) for People with Dementia (PwD), patient’s stated preferences must be known. Data about stated care‐preferences among PwD are limited. This study aimed to identify key components of PCC for PwD by a systematic review of PCC‐interventions, to inform the construction of a decision model for PwD‐preference elicitation.MethodA protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021225084). A search of the concepts Dementia, Person‐Centered Care, and Intervention was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science in Nov2020. Study selection was based on 2‐stage screening against eligibility criteria, limited to randomized controlled trials (RCT) and nonrandomized controlled study (NRS) designs. Risk of bias was assessed with version 2 of the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2) and the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) for nonrandomized studies. Information about authors, interventions, and outcomes were extracted and entered into an “Effects Table”. The identified PCC‐interventions were thus synthesized into intervention categories to form key components of PCC.ResultSearches identified 1781 records. 19 studies (15 RCT, 4 NRS) were included after screening. The quality of the studies varied between low to moderate. The individual interventions covered a wide range of non‐pharmacological, psychosocial offers, oftentimes bundled in multi‐component intervention‐sets. Nine intervention categories, i.e. key components of PCC to inform the construction of a decision model for PwD‐preference elicitation, emerged from data synthesis: sensory enhancement/relaxation, social contact, cognitive training, validation and reminiscence, physical activities, environmental adjustments, caregiver training and support, care organization and daily living assistance. Effect measures included i.a. agitation, quality of life, antipsychotic use, depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavior, with mixed results concerning the effect of the PCC interventions. All studies were conducted in nursery home or hospital settings.ConclusionNine intervention categories as key components of PCC to inform the construction of a decision model for PwD‐preference elicitation could be identified. As the findings were limited to nursery home and hospital settings, community‐dwelling PwD and the primary care‐setting should find greater consideration for future investigations on PCC interventions and patient preference studies.