bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mnemonic strategies as dyadic interventions to increase well‐being in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Bormans Kasper 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundDementia is a growing problem with 50 million patients worldwide expecting to triple by 2050. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease, characterized by a long process of deterioration for the patient and negative impact on the close environment (‘caregiver burden’). Dementia is not only memory‐loss, there is also communication‐loss. More than 70% of the dementia patients are still living at home, taken care for by a family member. Dementia thus affects three times as many persons involved than there are patients. The primary objective is to examine how the accumulation of (augmented) reality to mnemonic strategies can strengthen the relation between Alzheimer patients and their caregivers. The secondary objective is to elaborate a dyadic intervention to transform the ‘hidden victims of dementia’ into ‘hidden resources’.MethodWe developed a mobile application (‘MemoryHome’) based on the ancient mnemonic strategy ‘the method of loci’. The digital tool allows caregivers to construct personalized memory walks throughout the known environment of dementia patients. These memory palaces link photos of significant others to the architectural surroundings. Previous research mainly focused on the method of loci as a solitary activity for Alzheimer patients to delay their memory problems. The novelty of our study is to use the mnemonic strategy for the first time as a dyadic intervention to increase well‐being by introducing the concept of a ‘co‐walker’. The visual‐audio‐guide encourages conversation between the patient and the caregiver.ResultWe evaluated the impact of our psychosocial intervention (week 0‐4‐8) in homecare (n=19 dyads) and in the residential setting (n=22 dyads) on quality of life (QOL‐AD), feelings of depression (GDS‐15) and connectedness of subjects in the early phase of AD and their significant others (QCPR). Results suggested a modest but positive association with quality of life, connectedness between dyads and the absence of feelings of depression. Participants reported to feel more cheerful, more physically active and socially connected.ConclusionThe mobile application MemoryHome is a convenient instrument to reinforce the dialogue between patients and their environment. Translating mnemonic strategies into dyadic interventions can turn ‘hidden victims’ in ‘hidden resources’ in future Alzheimer research.
FTD Disorders Registry (FTDDR) disease impact survey: Understanding the lived experience of persons affected by frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), including those diagnosed, their families and caregivers
Authors: Wheaton Dianna KH , Harlass Sherry , Reddy Sweatha , Vincent Lakecia , Tatton Nadine 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundFTD is a group of rare brain diseases that cause myriad progressive changes to behavior, personality, language, and movement with onset typically before age 60. There are currently no treatments or cure. The FTDDR is a regulatory‐compliant, web‐based portal that functions as both a Contact Registry and Research Registry for persons affected by FTD to amplify the patient/family voice and facilitate research. The Disease Impact Survey was designed to characterize person‐centric perceptions of FTD disease manifestation and the impact to those diagnosed and others.MethodThe 35‐question survey was administered online via the Research Registry to 672 participants (205 male; 467 female) between March 2017 and January 2021. Multiple‐choice style questions collected details about the diagnosis, symptoms, and daily life functionality. It also queried how the lives of people around diagnosed persons are affected.ResultRespondents were 19.5% FTD‐diagnosed persons, 40% biological family, 40% spouse/partner caregivers. Diagnosis was 54% bvFTD, 6% nfvPPA, 7% svPPA, 4% lvPPA, 9% PSP, 7% CBD/CBS, 4% FTD‐ALS, 2% other, and 6% indeterminate. The most common first symptom was personality change (27%), cognitive problem (25%), or language problem (18%). 78% of individuals waited for a second symptom before seeking a diagnosis. 52% required seeing 3 or more doctors before an FTD diagnosis was determined. 75% of FTD diagnosed persons were reported to be living at home. Assistance required with daily activities ranged from 30% for self‐reporting FTD persons versus 43% as reported by biological family/spouse/caregivers. Family and caregivers reported a range of negative impacts including altered role/relationships (84%), disrupted plans for the future (73%), and increased stress/negative health (73%).ConclusionFTD is a devastating disease that hinders a person in the prime of life from performing basic mental and/or physical daily tasks, and in most cases changes the person’s personality and behaviors. The Disease Impact Survey captures these elements from the lived experience and demonstrates that FTD not only affects the person diagnosed, but also family, friends, and caregivers.
Compliance‐without‐pressure techniques to enhance the implementation of psychosocial interventions in Alzheimer’s research
Authors: Bormans Kasper 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundOver the past 30 years more than 200 interventions, targeting the caregivers of dementia patients, have been examined and found to be effective on the basis of randomized clinical trials. Only 3% of this large collection of psychosocial interventions was translated into daily practice. The primary objective of this study is to determine facilitators and barriers for implementing psychosocial interventions in Alzheimer’s research and to come up with communicational strategies to overcome possible obstacles and resistance. The secondary objective is to describe the different challenges between implementing a digital tool in the home environment versus the residential setting.MethodWe recruited professional caregivers in homecare (n=14) and the residential setting (n=24). Both groups were enrolled in a similar intervention trajectory of 36 weeks to assist people with dementia and their loved ones using a mobile health application (‘MemoryHome’). Participants were trained in employing the technology to construct personalized memory walks through the known environment of dementia patients. The participants kept a diary to report all types of resistance and possible obstacles specific to homecare or the residential setting. Simultaneously, the caregivers received a communicational training (4 monthly sessions of 120min) based on several compliance‐without‐pressure‐techniques to encourage dementia patients and their significant others to cooperate with the intervention and to continue performing the walks regularly.ResultThe implementation of psychosocial interventions in Alzheimer’s research can be enhanced through communicational training focusing on compliance‐without‐pressure‐techniques (f.i. foot‐in‐the‐door, illusion of choice, errorless learning, sensory variety, future perspective, sense‐of‐agency and positive reinforcement). The condition of homecare and residential setting had specific facilitators (f.i. more involved family members in homecare) and barriers (f.i. decreased health conditions in the residential care setting).ConclusionThe results suggest that the challenge for the future of psychosocial interventions is not so much to come up with new inventions, but to motivate people to actually use existing instruments. Adapting the intervention to the possibilities of the living environment and stimulating the significant others to collaborate, for example by means of compliance‐without‐pressure techniques, can provide a crucial added value for upcoming Alzheimer’s treatments.
The first intervention study addressing dementia among LGBT older adults and their caregivers: Lessons learned
Authors: Fredriksen‐Goldsen Karen , Teri Linda , Kim Hyun‐Jun , McKenzie Glenise , La Fazia David M , Emlet Charles A , Petros Ryan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe cognitive health needs of LGBT older adults have not been adequately addressed in mainstream clinical trials. Aging with Pride: IDEA (Innovations in Dementia Empowerment and Action), is the first intervention worldwide designed to improve physical functioning and quality of life of LGBT adults living with dementia and caregivers.MethodAs a first step, this intervention evaluated the processes and effectiveness of culturally responsive recruitment approaches for this population. A strong research‐community partnership was necessary for the development and implementation of the intervention.ResultLGBT participants with dementia made the first contact to research team as often as caregivers did and showed a higher rate of living alone and having a friend‐based care network. The most common reason for ineligibility was not having a caregiver.ConclusionInitial findings demonstrate efficacy of an enhanced intervention addressing the distinct risk and protective factors among LGBT older adults living with dementia. This study illustrates innovative ways to address serving disadvantaged communities and their caregivers and how to design a clinical trial with hard‐to‐reach participants.
Disparities in subjective cognitive impairment by sexual orientation and gender in a national population‐based study of U.S. adults
Authors: Jung Hailey , Kim Hyun‐Jun , Fredriksen‐Goldsen Karen 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundIn this presentation we discuss the findings of the first national population‐based study to examine disparities in subjective cognitive impairment among sexual minority adults.MethodUsing the U.S. National Health Interview Survey (2013‐2018), we estimated weighted prevalence of subjective cognitive impairment by sexual orientation for women and men aged 45 and older, and performed logistic regressions after adjusting for age, income, education, and race/ethnicity.ResultApproximately one‐quarter of sexual minority women and men reported subjective cognitive impairment, and their odds were higher than heterosexual counterparts. Among women, sexual minorities had higher odds for greater severity, frequency, and extent of subjective cognitive impairment. While sexual minorities were more likely to report activity limitations resulting from cognitive impairment, they were no more likely to attribute limitations to senility/dementia.ConclusionCognitive impairment is increasing and of substantial societal cost. The findings signify the need to develop targeted interventions and policies to address distinct challenges sexual minorities face.
Facing the void: The experience of Australian care partners and people living with dementia following diagnosis
Authors: Gresham Meredith D , Low Lee‐Fay , Phillipson Lyn , Jeon Yun‐Hee , Swaffer Kate , Brodaty Henry 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe COGNISANCE (Co‐designing dementia diagnosis and post diagnostic support) project aims to co‐design and produce resources that will improve communication of dementia diagnoses and support for people living with dementia (PLWD) and care partners following diagnosis. Internationally, dementia guidelines reinforce the need for post‐diagnostic support, however PLWD and care partners are frequently dissatisfied. COGNISANCE is being conducted in five countries; Poland, UK, Netherlands, Canada and Australia. This presentation reports on current Australian experiences of support from the perspectives of PLWD, care partners and health and social care practitioners.MethodsInterviews and focus groups were conducted using online video conferencing with 8 PLWD who had been diagnosed with dementia in the past 24 months and 17 care partners. Nineteen health or social care professionals were interviewed individually or in small groups via videoconferencing. Techniques used included word association exercises and projective interviewing ‐ projecting thoughts and feelings onto photographs of an (hypothetical) older couple receiving a diagnosis; and discussion of barriers and facilitators to post‐diagnostic support. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed.ResultsKey themes were that PLWD and care partners experienced lack of support and direction following diagnosis. Support information given at the time of diagnosis was usually minimal. PLWD described ‘an information vacuum’ and care partners felt lost, and at a loss of what to do next, or where to find practical or emotional support. The majority of care partners felt abandoned and wanted follow‐up after the diagnostic interview. Health care professionals were concerned but described difficulty in recommending useful supports because of lack of available/appropriate services, lack of knowledge of supports or therapeutic nihilism.ConclusionPost‐diagnostic support is inadequate and could be improved by follow‐up, better linking with services, provision of information and development of a support plan.
Lipidomic signatures for APOE genotypes provides new insights about mechanisms of resilience in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wang Tingting , Huynh Kevin , Giles Corey , Lim Wei Ling Florence , Duong Thy , Mellett Natalie A. , Smith Alexander , Olshansky Gavriel , Drew Brian G. , Cadby Gemma , Melton Phillip E. , Hung Joseph , Beilby John , Watts Gerald F. , Chatterjee Pratishtha , Martins Ian , Laws Simon M. , Bush Ashley I. , Rowe Christopher C. , Villemagne Victor L. , Ames David , Masters Colin L. , Arnold Matthias , Kastenmüller Gabi , Nho Kwangsik , Saykin Andrew J. , Baillie Rebecca , Han Xianlin , Martins Ralph N. , Moses Eric , Kaddurah‐Daouk Rima F. , Meikle Peter J 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) genotype is the first and strongest genetic risk factor for late‐onset Alzheimer’s disease and has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for AD. The encoded protein (Apolipoprotein E, APOE) is well‐known to be involved in lipoprotein transport and metabolism, but its effect on lipid metabolic pathways and the potential mediating effect of these on disease risk have not been fully defined.MethodWe performed lipidomic analysis on three independent cohorts (AIBL, n = 693; ADNI, n=207; BHS, n=4,384) and defined the association between APOE polymorphisms (ε4 and ε2) and plasma lipid species. To identify associations independent of lipoprotein metabolism, the analyses was performed with adjustment for clinical lipids (total cholesterol, HDL‐C and triglycerides). Causal mediation analysis was performed to estimate the proportion of risk in the outcome model explained by a direct effect of APOE genotype on prevalent AD — the average direct effect (ADE) — and the proportion that was mediated by lipid species or lipidomic risk models — the average causal mediation effect (ACME).ResultWe identified multiple associations of species from lipid classes such as ceramide, hexosylceramide, sphingomyelin, plasmalogens, alkyldiacylglycerol and cholesteryl esters with APOE polymorphisms (ε4 and ε2) that were independent of clinical lipoprotein measurements. There were 104 and 237 lipid species associated with APOE ε4 and ε2 respectively which were largely discordant. Of these 116 were also associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Individual lipid species (notably the alkyldiacylglycerol subspecies) or lipidomic risk models of APOE genotypes mediated up to 10% and 30% of APOE ε4 and ε2 treatment effect on AD risks respectively.ConclusionWe demonstrate a strong relationship between APOE polymorphisms and peripheral lipid species. Lipids species mediate a proportion of the effects of APOE genotypes in risk of AD, particularly resilience with e2. Our results highlight the involvement of lipids in how APOE e2 mediates its resilience to AD and solidify their involvement with the disease pathway.
Brain structure in subjective cognitive decline: A replication study
Authors: Parker Ashleigh F. , Szoeke Cassandra , Gawryluk Jodie 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder, which disproportionately affects women (Erol et al., 2015). Given that the current treatments for AD aim to prevent symptom progression, the primary objective of emerging research is to identify pre‐clinical biological markers. Investigating such biomarkers would be appropriate in those experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Individuals with SCD are thought to be the earliest along the cognitive continuum between healthy aging and AD, as their reported change in cognition is not yet measurable using standard neuropsychological assessment measures. Previous research has found differences to exist in brain function, but not structure between healthy controls and those with SCD (Parker et al., 2020). The current study represents a preliminary analysis of structural brain images in healthy women compared to women with SCD; no structural differences between groups were hypothesized.MethodThe 3T T1 anatomical magnetic resonance images (MRI) used in this analysis was a subset of participants obtained from the Women’s Healthy Ageing Project collected in 2012 (N = 170). This subset included 30 healthy women (mean age = 71.4; SD = 3.12) and 30 women with SCD (mean age = 70.5; SD = 2.23). Voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) analyses were conducted using FMRIB’s Software Library to examine cross sectional differences between healthy women and women with SCD.ResultWhole brain VBM analyses did not reveal any significant differences in grey matter tissue density between healthy women and women with SCD at p < 0.05 level with threshold free cluster enhancement (corrected for multiple comparisons).ConclusionAlthough the current findings did not reveal differences in grey matter between healthy women and women with SCD, this result replicates our previous findings and other reports in the literature that structural differences may not be detectable between healthy individuals and those with SCD. Follow‐up work will include investigation of differences in functional connectivity between these two groups using resting‐state functional MRI with the total sample collected in 2012 (N = 170). Identifying changes in brain function prior to structural atrophy and measurable decline on neuropsychological measures would represent a major advance in AD biomarker research.
Differences in cerebral oxygenation between healthy older and younger adults during the Multi‐Source Interference Task
Authors: Kwan Heather , Scarapicchia Vanessa , Halliday Drew , MacDonald Stuart , Gawryluk Jodie 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundCognitive changes that accompany normal aging include declines in processing speed and executive function. Further research is needed to characterize the neurobiological underpinnings of these cognitive changes in older adulthood. The current study used functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a neuroimaging technique that measures oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO), to examine differences in cerebral oxygenation between healthy younger adults (YA) and older adults (OA) during a measure of cognitive interference.MethodThere were 34 participants sampled from two age group: YA (Mean age =28.1 years, SD=2.8, F=9) and OA (Mean age =70.9 years, SD=5.4, F=9). All participants were native English speakers, neurologically healthy, and had normal or corrected to normal vision. Participants completed the Multi‐Source Interference Task, a measure of cognitive interference with high and low‐demand conditions, while undergoing fNIRS recordings by a TechEn CW6 system with 34‐source‐detector channels over the PFC. The functional activation patterns, accuracy, and reaction time were compared between groups for each condition.ResultThe functional results demonstrated a significant age‐related increase in HbO for OA in both conditions (p < 0.05). In the control condition, OA demonstrated increased HbO in 10 channels covering the left and mid‐anterior PFC in comparison to YA. In the interference condition, OA demonstrated increased HbO in 6 channels covering the mid‐anterior PFC in comparison to YA. During the control condition, OA and YA had the same accuracy (YA Mean= 0.99, OA Mean= 0.99, p>0.33), but OA were significantly slower (YA Mean= 545.63, OA Mean= 768.04, p<0.0001). During the interference condition, OA had lower accuracy (YA Mean=0.97, OA Mean=0.9, p< 0.0001) and were significantly slower (YA Mean=891.31, OA Mean=1114.5, p< 0.0001) than YA.ConclusionThe results from this study show that OA require greater activation in mid‐PFC regions, across both low and high‐demand conditions, relative to YA. These results are consistent with cognitive aging theories such as the compensation‐related utilization of neural circuits hypothesis (CRUNCH). Specifically, the findings suggest that OA recruit additional neural resources to achieve similar behavioural performance during low‐levels of cognitive interference, but that this same compensation may be insufficient to support behavioural performance at higher levels of interference.
Structural connectome and machine learning for Alzheimer’s disease detection
Authors: Francis Farah , Cabez Manuel Blesa , Smith Keith , Luz Saturnino 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is hypothesised as a disconnection syndrome where degenerating white matter fibre bundles leads to deterioration in the integration and communication between brain regions. Connectomics allows the study of in vivo brain connectivity and elucidates how the disease changes the brain network. Although some studies have shown evidence of alteration of structural connectivity between AD and cognitively normal individuals (CN), a large proportion of research focused on functional connectomics in AD. Emerging connectomics studies explored the use of machine learning (ML) to distinguish brain structural connectivity differences in AD with promising results. This project aims to identify changes in the structural connectome using novel image processing techniques to generate network metrics and utilise ML to classify between AD and CN.MethodWe examined data from 143 age‐matched subjects (AD mean: 71.1 ± 2.79 and CN mean: 71.09 ± 2.72) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort 2 (ADNI2). We used magnetic resonance images (T1‐weighted and diffusion‐weighted images) combined with the latest state‐of‐the‐art imaging processing tools to generate structural connectomes. Relevant network metrics were used to measure and compare brain connectivity, while ML algorithms were used to distinguish network metrics between AD and CN.ResultWe found significant connectivity changes in clustering coefficient (p < 0.05), normalised degree variance (p < 0.0001), hierarchical complexity (p < 0.005) and rich club (p < 0.0001) in AD (table 1). We also established and compared classification performances within our ML model. Random forest yielded sensitivity of 53.06% and specificity of 82.98% (table 2) for imbalanced data (AD=49, CN=94). On balanced data (AD=CN=49), the model was 81.63% specific and 69.39% sensitive (table 3) in detecting AD.ConclusionThe results show the feasibility of a connectome analysis of structural imaging combining the latest network metrics with ML for AD detection. While previous ML studies achieved promising results with balanced data, we reported both balanced and imbalanced models. As real‐world AD data are more likely to be imbalanced, the lower performance of the ML models on imbalanced data suggests that further improvement is needed for clinical implementation.