Effects of Circadian Phase Tailored Light Therapy on Sleep, Mood, and Cognition in Alzheimer's Disease: Preliminary Findings in a Pivotal Study.

It is shown that the circadian system is affected in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) even at an early stage of the disease and that such dysfunction may be detrimental to sleep, mood, and cognitive functioning. Light is a strong central modulator of the circadian rhythms and is potentially beneficial to mood and cognitive functioning a direct effect or indirectly its modulating effects on circadian rhythms. This study focuses on tracking the effect of light therapy on sleep quality, mood, and cognition in AD of mild/moderate severity.

HomeCoRe for Telerehabilitation in Mild or Major Neurocognitive Disorders: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Given the limited effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for cognitive decline, non-pharmacological interventions have gained increasing attention. Evidence exists on the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation in preventing elderly subjects at risk of cognitive decline and in reducing the progression of functional disability in cognitively impaired individuals. In recent years, telerehabilitation has enabled a broader application of cognitive rehabilitation programs.

A double-blind randomized controlled trial combining cognitive training (CoRe) and neurostimulation (tDCS) in the early stages of cognitive impairment.

Background: The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is expected to increase over the next years, therefore, new methods able to prevent and delay cognitive decline are needed.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined treatment protocol associating a computerized cognitive training (CoRe) with anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 33 patients in the early stage of cognitive impairment were assigned to the experimental group (CoRE + real tDCS) or control group (CoRE + sham tDCS).

Evaluation of the efficacy of physical therapy on cognitive decline at 6-month follow-up in Parkinson disease patients with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In Parkinson's disease (PD), physical activity may represent a possible non-pharmacological intervention not only for improving motor symptoms but also for modulating cognitive impairment.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of an intensive physical program on cognitive functions in mid-stage PD patients with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) over a 6-month follow-up.

Methods: This is a 6-month randomized controlled follow-up study.

The Smart Aging Platform for Assessing Early Phases of Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Smart Aging is a serious game (SG) platform that generates a 3D virtual reality environment in which users perform a set of screening tasks designed to allow evaluation of global cognition. Each task replicates activities of daily living performed in a familiar environment. The main goal of the present study was to ascertain whether Smart Aging could differentiate between different types and levels of cognitive impairment in patients with neurodegenerative disease.

Cognitive Telerehabilitation for Older Adults With Neurodegenerative Diseases in the COVID-19 Era: A Perspective Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health problem that is radically transforming public and private healthcare organizations around the world, negatively affecting the rehabilitative treatments of non-COVID pathologies as well. In this situation, it becomes crucial to be able to guarantee the continuity of care also to all those patients with neurodegenerative diseases unable to reach healthcare services. Remote communication technologies are gaining momentum as potentially effective options to support health care interventions-including cognitive rehabilitation-while patients can stay safely at home.

Frontal and Cerebellar Atrophy Supports FTSD-ALS Clinical Continuum.

Background: Frontotemporal Spectrum Disorder (FTSD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) are neurodegenerative diseases often considered as a continuum from clinical, epidemiologic, and genetic perspectives. We used localized brain volume alterations to evaluate common and specific features of FTSD, FTSD-ALS, and ALS patients to further understand this clinical continuum.

Methods: We used voxel-based morphometry on structural magnetic resonance images to localize volume alterations in group comparisons: patients (20 FTSD, seven FTSD-ALS, and 18 ALS) versus healthy controls (39 CTR), and patient groups between themselves.

Multicenter Study on Sleep and Circadian Alterations as Objective Markers of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Reveals Sex Differences.

Background: Circadian and sleep disturbances are associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Wearable activity trackers could provide a new approach in diagnosis and prevention.

Objective: To evaluate sleep and circadian rhythm parameters, through wearable activity trackers, in MCI and AD patients as compared to controls, focusing on sex dissimilarities.

NREM sleep arousal-related disorders reflect cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Sleep disorders and cognitive impairment are frequently reported in Parkinson's disease (PD) as non-motor disabling symptoms. While it is known that REM sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD) in PD is associated with motor and cognitive decline, little is known about the neurobiological significance of NREM sleep arousal-related disorders.

Objectives: to evaluate the cognitive and clinical correlates of arousal-related disorders in PD.

A double-blind randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of cognitive training delivered using two different methods in mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: preliminary report of benefits associated with the use of a computerized tool.

Background: The effectiveness of computer-based cognitive training (CCT) remains controversial, especially in older adults with neurodegenerative diseases.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of CCT in patients with Parkinson's disease and mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI).

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 53 patients were randomized to receive CCT delivered by means of CoRe software, traditional paper-and-pencil cognitive training (PCT), or an unstructured activity intervention (CG).

Unsuspected Involvement of Spinal Cord in Alzheimer Disease.

: Brain atrophy is an established biomarker for dementia, yet spinal cord involvement has not been investigated to date. As the spinal cord is relaying sensorimotor control signals from the cortex to the peripheral nervous system and vice-versa, it is indeed a very interesting question to assess whether it is affected by atrophy due to a disease that is known for its involvement of cognitive domains first and foremost, with motor symptoms being clinically assessed too. We, therefore, hypothesize that in Alzheimer's disease (AD), severe atrophy can affect the spinal cord too and that spinal cord atrophy is indeed an important imaging biomarker contributing to understanding neurodegeneration associated with dementia.

Evening melatonin timing secretion in real life conditions in patients with Alzheimer disease of mild to moderate severity.

Background: Circadian dysfunction is thought to take part in the pathogenesis of sleep disorders in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in AD pathophysiology itself.

Objective: Our study aims to calculate dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) secretion in order to define the circadian phase in patients with AD at an early stage of the disease.

Methods: Twenty-one patients (M/F: 11/10; mean age 74.

HomeCoRe: Bringing Cognitive Rehabilitation at Home.

CoRe is a system for cognitive rehabilitation that has been successfully used for several years in hospital settings. Leveraging on the positive survey results from the potential final users (patients and their home caregivers), we developed HomeCoRe. This new version of the system will allow discharged patients to continue the rehabilitation treatment at home.

A computer-based cognitive training in Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: There is no successful pharmacological treatment for cognitive impairment in Parkinson's Disease, therefore treatments capable of slowing down the progression of cognitive dysfunction are needed.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive training, supported by the CoRe computerized tool, in patients with Parkinson's Disease Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Methods: This is a prospective, open-unblinded, randomized, controlled study.

Cognitive impairment in depression: recent advances and novel treatments.

In the past, little or no attention was paid to cognitive disorders associated with depression (a condition sometimes termed pseudodementia). However, recent years have seen a growing interest in these changes, not only because of their high frequency in acute-stage depression, but also because they have been found to persist, as residual symptoms (in addition to affective and psychomotor ones), in many patients who respond well to antidepressant treatment. These cognitive symptoms seem to impact significantly not only on patients' functioning and quality of life, but also on the risk of recurrence of depression.

Assessment of cognitive profile as a prodromal marker of the evolution of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

Study Objectives: To search for a specific neuropsychological profile in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), able to predict the onset of neurodegenerative disorders.

Methods: In a longitudinal follow-up study of 63 consecutive iRBD patients (follow-up duration 6.7 ± 3.

Role of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers and (18)F-florbetapir PET Imaging in the Diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Retrospective Analysis.

The use of biomarkers has recently supported the association between Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology and the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). We aim to investigate possible differences in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker concentrations in the three PPA variants, and to assess any agreement between CSF biomarkers and (18)F-florbetapir PET. A group of 10 PPA were retrospectively enrolled.

The Multidisciplinary Approach to Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. A Narrative Review of Non-Pharmacological Treatment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia are chronic diseases with progressive deterioration of cognition, function, and behavior leading to severe disability and death. The prevalence of AD and dementia is constantly increasing because of the progressive aging of the population. These conditions represent a considerable challenge to patients, their family and caregivers, and the health system, because of the considerable need for resources allocation.

Curcumin and Novel Synthetic Analogs in Cell-Based Studies of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with the most common type of dementia and is characterized by the presence of deposits of the protein fragment amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain. The natural product mixture of curcuminoids that improves certain defects in innate immune cells of AD patients may selectively enhance Aβ phagocytosis by alteration of gene transcription. In this work, we evaluated the protective effects of curcuminoids in cells from AD patients by investigating the effect on NF-κB and BACE1 signaling pathways.

Disease progression in relation to age at onset in a population with Alzheimer's Dementia.

One thousand and 679 Alzheimer's Disease patients (early onset EO: 152 and late onset LO: 1527) were evaluated after 12, 36 and 60 months. At baseline EO patients have higher Mini Mental State examination (MMSE) and fewer comorbidities in respect to LO group. The MMSE score did not significantly differ after 12, 36 and 60 months; a more marked worsening in instrumental daily activities was observed after 36 months in the EO compared with the LO group.

Evaluation of an ontology-based system for computerized cognitive rehabilitation.

Objectives: This paper describes the results of a randomized clinical trial about the effectiveness of a computerized rehabilitation treatment on a sample of 31 patients affected by Parkinson disease.

Methods: Computerized exercises were administered by the therapists to the intervention group (n = 17) through the CoRe tool, which automatically generates a big variety of exercises leveraging on a stimuli set (words, sounds and images) organized into a dedicated ontology. A battery of standard neuropsychological tests was performed for patients' assessment at baseline, after the treatment (that lasted 1 month), and after 6 months from the treatment stop.