Sixteen-year predictors of successful aging from a Southern Brazilian cohort The PALA study.

Unlabelled: Successful aging (SA) is a current positive aging-related perspective and it is important to determine the variables associated with this concept. Most longitudinal population-based studies on predictors of SA were carried out in developed countries.

Objective: This investigation evaluated which baseline characteristics predicted successful aging in 16 years of follow-up in a southern Brazilian cohort - the Porto Alegre Longitudinal Aging study.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Serum Levels and Hippocampal Volume in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia due to Alzheimer Disease.

Background/aims: Hippocampal atrophy is a recognized biomarker of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) reduction has been associated with neurodegeneration. We aimed to evaluate BDNF serum levels and hippocampal volume in clinical AD (dementia and mild cognitive impairment [MCI]).

Association between DNA methyltransferase gene polymorphism and Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common and complex neurodegenerative disorder, the second most prevalent, only behind Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies suggest that environmental factors may contribute for neurodegeneration through induction of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, that is carried out by enzymes, such as DNMT1 and DNMT3B. This present study targeted to investigate the association among DNMT1 and DNMT3B polymorphisms with PD.

Validity of the Brazilian version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q).

Unlabelled: The NPI-Q (Neuropsychiatry Inventory-Questionnaire) was developed to facilitate the evaluation of neuropsychiatric symptoms. This study evaluated the internal consistency, the test-retest reliability of the Brazilian NPI-Q version and its convergent validity with the original NPI.

Method: The NPI-Q and the NPI were administered to 64 caregivers of dementia patients.

DNA methyltransferase haplotype is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in syndromes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, but little is known about the role of epigenetics in Alzheimer's disease (AD). DNA methylation, one of the main epigenetic mechanisms, is a complex process carried out by specific enzymes, such as DNMT1 and DNMT3B. This study aimed to investigate the association between DNMT1 and DNMT3B polymorphisms and AD.

Effect of successful aging on mortality in older individuals: The PALA study.

Unlabelled: The definition of successful aging and identification of predictors have been extensively reviewed, less attention however, has been given to the role of this condition on mortality.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of aging status (normal or successful) on mortality in a South Brazilian population-based cohort, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables, and to report the mortality rate and causes of death in this population.

Methods: The baseline sample comprised 345 community-dwelling, independent and healthy Southern Brazilian older individuals who were followed for 12 years.

Estimation of the risk of conversion of mild cognitive impairment of Alzheimer type to Alzheimer's disease in a south Brazilian population-based elderly cohort: the PALA study.

Background: Higher mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prognostic variability has been related to sample characteristics (community-based or specialized clinic) and to diverse operationalization criteria. The aim of the study was to evaluate the trajectory of MCI of Alzheimer type in a population-based elderly cohort in Southern Brazil. We also estimated the risk for the development of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) in comparison with healthy subjects.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms as the main determinant of caregiver burden in Alzheimer's disease.

Unlabelled: Caregiver burden is common in Alzheimer's disease (AD), decreasing the quality of life among caregivers and patients. Projections of aging and aging-related diseases such as AD in developing countries justify additional data about this issue because people living in these countries have shown similarly high levels of caregiver strain as in the developed world.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the association of AD caregivers' burden with patients' neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), cognitive status, severity of dementia, functional capacity, caregiver sociodemographic characteristics, and the characteristics of care provided by caregivers.

Validation of a telephone screening test for Alzheimer's disease.

Financial constraints, mobility issues, medical conditions, crime in local areas can make cognitive assessment difficult for elders and telephone interviews can be a good alternative. This study was carried out to evaluate the reliability, validity and clinical utility of a Brazilian telephone version of the Mini Mental State Examination (Braztel-MMSE) in a community sample of healthy elderly participants and AD patients. The MMSE and the Braztel-MMSE were applied to 66 AD patients and 67 healthy elderly participants.

Predictors of the progression of dementia severity in brazilian patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.

Introduction. This study evaluates the progression of dementia and identifies prognostic risk factors for dementia. Methods.

Increasing rational use of cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease in Brazil: public health strategy combining guideline with peer-review of prescriptions.

Objectives: Since 2002, the treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors (CHEIs) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been paid for by the public health system of the Brazilian Ministry of Health for any patient that fulfills clinical criteria established by an evidence-based guideline developed and published by the Ministry. The aim of this study was to evaluate compliance of prescription patterns to the national guideline for use of CHEIs' in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Methods: We created a regional expert-committee reference center to review all prescriptions of CHEIs and to send feedback to physicians whenever prescriptions without compliance to the guideline were noted.

Serum levels of S100B and NSE proteins in Alzheimer's disease patients.

Background: Alzheimer's disease is the most common dementia in the elderly, and the potential of peripheral biochemical markers as complementary tools in the neuropsychiatric evaluation of these patients has claimed further attention.

Methods: We evaluated serum levels of S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in 54 mild, moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and in 66 community-dwelling elderly. AD patients met the probable NINCDS-ADRDA criteria.

Predictors of normal and successful aging among urban-dwelling elderly Brazilians.

The association of successful aging with demographic, socioeconomic, and medical characteristics in healthy community-dwelling Brazilian individuals aged 60 years and older (N = 345) was investigated. Participants were classified as successful (n = 214, 62%) or normal (n = 131, 38%) agers. Successful agers participated in significantly more leisure activities (34%) than did normal agers (21%).

Relationship between depressive mood and chronotype in healthy subjects.

Aim: The endogenous circadian clock generates daily variations of physiological and behavior functions such as the endogenous interindividual component (morningness/eveningness preferences). Also, mood disorders are associated with a breakdown in the organization of ultradian rhythm. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assessed the association between chronotype and the level of depressive symptoms in a healthy sample population.

Incidence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease in Southern Brazil.

The objective of the study was to evaluate incident cases of Alzheimer disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in an elderly community cohort in a major city of southern Brazil and to determine the variables associated with the development of cognitive dysfunction. Data were drawn from a cohort to investigate healthy aging among community elderly (N = 345) and were derived from the follow-up for a maximum of 8 years. Sociodemographic, psychiatric and medical information, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Clinical Dementia Rating scale were obtained in each assessment.

(Pre)diabetes, brain aging, and cognition.

Cognitive dysfunction and dementia have recently been proven to be common (and underrecognized) complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). In fact, several studies have evidenced that phenotypes associated with obesity and/or alterations on insulin homeostasis are at increased risk for developing cognitive decline and dementia, including not only vascular dementia, but also Alzheimer's disease (AD). These phenotypes include prediabetes, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome.

Comparison of the Mini Mental State Examination and depressive symptoms between high cardiovascular risk and healthy community elderly groups.

Unlabelled: The aging of the population is a universal phenomenon with direct consequences upon the public health system. One of the main repercussions of the growth in this sector of the population is the increased prevalence of disorders such as dementia and depression which are very frequent among the elderly. The relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, dementia and depression have been addressed in many recent investigations.

General psychiatric or depressive symptoms were not predictive for mortality in a healthy elderly cohort in Southern Brazil.

Unlabelled: General psychiatric symptoms may interfere with the ability of individuals to take care of their health, to get involved with activities and develop social abilities, thereby increasing risk of death.

Objective: To evaluate general psychiatric symptoms as predictive factors for mortality in a community elderly cohort in Southern Brazil.

Methods: 345 healthy elderly, aged .

Reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) for patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

Background: Behavioral symptoms and caregivers' responses may differ among various ethnic and cultural groups. Therefore it is important to have a reliable instrument to assess behavioral disturbances of dementia in various cultures. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) has been widely used in many countries.

Cognitive complaints compared to performance on a mental state screening test in elderly outpatients.

Unlabelled: Memory and other cognitive complaints are common in the elderly population. However, the clinical meaning of these complaints remains controversial.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the association between cognitive complaints and performance on a mental state screening test in elderly patients attended for the first time at the Neurogeriatric and Dementia (NGA) Outpatient Clinic within a major University hospital.

Association among items from the self-report version of the Hamilton Depression Scale (Carroll Rating Scale) and respondents' sex.

The association among items of the self-reported version of the Hamilton Depression Scale (Carroll Rating Scale), answered according to a memory of a maximally disturbing event experienced, and respondents' sex was examined in a nonclinical sample of 320 college students, 164 women (M age=21.7 yr., SD=3.

Validity of the clinical dementia rating scale for the detection and staging of dementia in Brazilian patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value and agreement analyses between Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and dementia diagnostic criteria (gold standard), Blessed Dementia Rating scale (BDRS), and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Edition, Revised (DSM III-R) criteria for severity. In a sample of 343 Southern Brazilian participants, CDR was consecutively assessed in 295 dementia patients (Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, and questionable) and 48 healthy elderly. The National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria for probable Alzheimer disease and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Association Internationale pour la Recherché et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN) for probable vascular dementia were the gold standard.

How many items from a word list can Alzheimer's disease patients and normal controls recall? Do they recall in a similar way?

Unlabelled: The serial position effect occurs when individuals are asked to recall a list of information that exceeds normal attention span. Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients show lower scores on word span recall tests when compared to healthy aging subjects, younger individuals or depressed patients.

Objective: To evaluate the immediate free recall and the serial position effect of a 10-word list, emotionally neutral in tone, in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and two age-groups of healthy controls.