Selective Patterns of Cognitive Impairment in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 6 and Idiopathic Late-Onset Cerebellar Ataxia.

Purpose: To determine cognitive impairment patterns in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) compared to patients with idiopathic late-onset cerebellar ataxia (ILOCA).

Methods: Neurocognitive testing was conducted on 21 SCA6, nine ILOCA, and 27 controls subjects. Intergroup differences were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-ranked test or Student's t-test.

A potential biomarker in sports-related concussion: brain functional connectivity alteration of the default-mode network measured with longitudinal resting-state fMRI over thirty days.

Current diagnosis and monitoring of sports-related concussion rely on clinical signs and symptoms, and balance, vestibular, and neuropsychological examinations. Conventional brain imaging often does not reveal abnormalities. We sought to assess if the longitudinal change of functional and structural connectivity of the default-mode network (DMN) can serve as a potential biomarker.

How are the experiences and needs of families of individuals with mental illness reflected in medical education guidelines?

Objective: This descriptive study explored the extent that medical education curriculum guidelines contained content about the experiences and needs of family members of people with serious mental illness.

Methods: Key family-focused-literature themes about the experiences and needs of families of individuals with mental illness were drawn from a review of over 6,000 sources in the mental health practice literature that were identified within a systematic search and thematic development process. The study identified the extent and nature of family-focused key literature themes as reflected in medical education curriculum guidelines for psychiatry and primary care practice specialties of family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics.

Cognitive impairment and psychiatric symptoms in 133 patients with diseases associated with cerebellar degeneration.

The authors performed a chart review to determine the frequency with which neurologists detect cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in patients with cerebellar degeneration. Psychopathology, including depression, personality change, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and psychosis was noted in 51% of 133 patients.