Publications by authors named "D W Merrill"

Dual-task training and exergaming interventions are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance cognitive, physical, and mood outcomes among older adults and individuals with neurological conditions. Despite this, clinical and community programs that use these interventions are limited in availability. This paper presents the "FitBrain" program, an outpatient clinical model that combines dual-task and exergaming interventions to promote cognitive and physical health.

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Background: Lifestyle changes have been demonstrated to impact pathophysiology in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Various diet and exercise protocols have been reported to improve symptoms and function in persons with MS. Evidence is accumulating that interventions as early as possible in the disease course are warranted.

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Article Synopsis
  • Brain MRI with volumetric quantification helps distinguish between neurocognitive disorders by detecting brain atrophy not visible in standard visual assessments.
  • A study with 137 participants revealed MRI volumetry's effectiveness in diagnosing traumatic brain injury and various forms of Alzheimer's disease, highlighting significant differences in brain volumes among the conditions.
  • The results showed that the diagnostic accuracy was highest for traumatic brain injury, with specific brain regions identified as crucial predictive features for distinguishing between the disorders.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examines the safety and outcomes of a long-acting HIV treatment regimen, Cabotegravir (CAB) + Rilpivirine (RPV), focusing on injection site reactions (ISRs) experienced by participants across several trials.
  • - Analysis of injection techniques from healthcare providers revealed that practices such as slow injection speed and bringing the medication to room temperature helped minimize discomfort for patients during the injection process.
  • - Overall, the injections showed good tolerability, with most ISRs being mild to moderate and lasting only a few days, indicating that the CAB + RPV regimen is a viable option for long-term HIV maintenance therapy.
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Background: Medial temporal lobe atrophy has been linked to decline in neuropsychological measures of explicit memory function. While the hippocampus has long been identified as a critical structure in learning and memory processes, less is known about contributions of the amygdala to these functions. We sought to investigate the relationship between amygdala volume and memory functioning in a clinical sample of older adults with and without cognitive impairment.

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