Saint Paul, the Apostle, and the Gastaut-Geschwind syndrome.

The interface between epilepsy and religiosity has been a long-standing matter of debate. Epilepsy has affected several religious leaders throughout history. Hyperreligiosity may be observed in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy as a component of the so-called Gastaut-Geschwind syndrome which involves other behavioral and personality traits such as hyposexuality, viscosity, philosophical concerns, sense of personal destiny, hypergraphy, emotionality, and irritability.

Gaps in biomedical research in frontotemporal dementia: A call for diversity and disparities focused research.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the leading causes of young-onset dementia before age 65, typically manifesting as abnormal behavior (in behavioral variant FTD) or language impairment (in primary progressive aphasia). Although FTD affects all populations across the globe, knowledge regarding the pathophysiology and genetics derives primarily from studies conducted in North America and Western Europe. Globally, biomedical research for FTD is hindered by variable access to diagnosis, discussed in this group's earlier article, and by reduced access to expertise, funding, and infrastructure.

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in clinical practice in Brazil: recommendations from the Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology.

In recent years, the diagnostic accuracy of Alzheimer's disease has been enhanced by the development of different types of biomarkers that indicate the presence of neuropathological processes. In addition to improving patient selection for clinical trials, biomarkers can assess the effects of new treatments on pathological processes. However, there is concern about the indiscriminate and poorly supported use of biomarkers, especially in asymptomatic individuals or those with subjective cognitive decline.

Use of anti-amyloid therapies for Alzheimer's disease in Brazil: a position paper from the Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology.

Novel therapies for Alzheimer's disease, particularly anti-amyloid drugs like lecanemab and donanemab, have shown modest clinical benefits but also significant risks. The present paper highlights the challenges of access to diagnosis, cost-effectiveness, safety, and the need for more representation of diverse populations in clinical trials. Recommendations include careful patient selection, risk-benefit analysis, and the importance of proven amyloid pathology for treatment.

Health literacy, but not memory, is associated with hippocampal connectivity in adults with low levels of formal education.

Introduction: The influence of hippocampal connectivity on memory performance is well established in individuals with high educational attainment. However, the role of hippocampal connectivity in illiterate populations remains poorly understood.

Methods: Thirty-five illiterate adults were administered a literacy assessment (Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults [TOFHLA]), structural and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and an episodic memory test (Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test).

Improved Accuracy of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised in the Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Mild Dementia Due to Alzheimer's Disease and Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Using Mokken Scale Analysis.

Background: The Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) is an accessible cognitive tool that supports the early detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD).

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of the ACE-R in MCI, AD, and bvFTD through the identification of novel coefficients for differentiation between these diseases.

Methods: We assessed 387 individuals: 102 mild AD, 37 mild bvFTD, 87 with amnestic MCI patients, and 161 cognitively unimpaired controls.

Memory complaint in a middle-income country: a four-year longitudinal study in a cohort with low-education.

Background:  Memory complaints are frequent in older adults and are associated with higher risk of cognitive decline.

Objective:  To investigate the functional outcome of individuals with memory complaints followed up at primary care centers.

Methods:  Data were collected between 2016 e 2020 in primary health care centers in Brazil.

The path to next-generation disease-modifying immunomodulatory combination therapies in Alzheimer's disease.

The cautious optimism following recent anti-amyloid therapeutic trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD) provides a glimmer of hope after years of disappointment. Although these encouraging results represent discernible progress, they also highlight the need to enhance further the still modest clinical efficacy of current disease-modifying immunotherapies. Here, we highlight crucial milestones essential for advancing precision medicine in AD.

Advancements in dementia research, diagnostics, and care in Latin America: Highlights from the 2023 Alzheimer's Association International conference satellite symposium in Mexico City.

Introduction: While Latin America (LatAm) is facing an increasing burden of dementia due to the rapid aging of the population, it remains underrepresented in dementia research, diagnostics, and care.

Methods: In 2023, the Alzheimer's Association hosted its eighth satellite symposium in Mexico, highlighting emerging dementia research, priorities, and challenges within LatAm.

Results: Significant initiatives in the region, including intracountry support, showcased their efforts in fostering national and international collaborations; genetic studies unveiled the unique genetic admixture in LatAm; researchers conducting emerging clinical trials discussed ongoing culturally specific interventions; and the urgent need to harmonize practices and studies, improve diagnosis and care, and use affordable biomarkers in the region was highlighted.

Memory for emotional information in sporadic and Type 8 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often shown to cause episodic memory deficits. Here, we investigated whether such memory deficits are differentially expressed according to the emotional valence of stimuli and whether they are similarly reproduced in both individuals with sporadic ALS (sALS) and familial Type 8 ALS (ALS8).

Method: Twenty individuals with sALS, 18 individuals with ALS8, and 19 healthy controls were recruited for the study.

Language impairment in sporadic and familial (type 8) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A comparative study.

Introduction/aims: Language is frequently affected in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS), with reduced performance in naming, syntactic comprehension, grammatical expression, and orthographic processing. However, the language profile of patients with familial type 8 ALS (ALS8), linked to p.P56S VAPB mutation, remains unclear.

Prevalence of orofacial pain in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review investigated the prevalence of orofacial pain in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.

Materials And Methods: The search was conducted in five databases (Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Scopus and LILACS), in three grey literature sources and in included articles' reference lists. Three independent reviewers performed study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction.

The role of brain perfusion SPECT in the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia: A systematic review.

Background And Purpose: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common cause of presenile dementia. The clinical distinction between FTD, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other dementias is a clinical challenge. Brain perfusion SPECT may contribute to the diagnosis of FTD, but its value is unclear.

Diagnostic disclosure of Alzheimer's disease in Brazil: a national survey of specialized physicians.

Background: The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can bring financial and emotional consequences to patients and caregivers. Whether or not the diagnosis should be disclosed to patients is a matter of debate amongst physicians and can be influenced by culture and experience.

Objective: To investigate the current practice of physicians who attend and treat patients with dementia in Brazil regarding the disclosure of dementia diagnosis and compare the practice with what has been performed 15 years ago in the country.

Predicting Dementia Due to Alzheimer's Disease and Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Using Algorithms with the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised Subscores Combined with Sociodemographic Factors.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) are important causes of dementia with challenging differential diagnoses in many cases. Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) is a cognitive battery that may be useful to differentiate the two disorders.

Objective: The objectibe of this study is to investigate the value of the ACE-R combined with sociodemographic factors in the differential diagnosis between AD and bvFTD.

Current clinical and research practices on frontotemporal dementia in Brazil: a national survey.

Background: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a frequent cause of young-onset dementia and represents a major challenge for the diagnosis and clinical management. It is essential to evaluate the difficulties faced by physicians on the diagnostic workup and on patient care.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the current practices and the local limits on the diagnosis and management of FTD in Brazil.

A comparative study of cognitive and behavioral profiles between sporadic and type 8 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Introduction/aims: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type 8 (ALS8) is caused by VAPB gene mutations. The differences between neuropsychological and behavioral profiles of patients with sporadic ALS (sALS) and those with ALS8 are unclear. We aimed to compare cognitive performance and behavioral aspects between sALS and ALS8 patients.

Literacy, but not memory, is associated with hippocampal connectivity in illiterate adults.

Background: The influence of hippocampal connectivity on memory performance is well established in individuals with high educational attainment. However, the role of hippocampal connectivity in illiterate populations remains poorly understood.

Methods: Thirty-five illiterate adults were administered a literacy assessment (Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults - TOFHLA), structural and resting state functional MRI and an episodic memory test (Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test).

Heterogeneous factors influence social cognition across diverse settings in brain health and age-related diseases.

Aging may diminish social cognition, which is crucial for interaction with others, and significant changes in this capacity can indicate pathological processes like dementia. However, the extent to which non-specific factors explain variability in social cognition performance, especially among older adults and in global settings, remains unknown. A computational approach assessed combined heterogeneous contributors to social cognition in a diverse sample of 1063 older adults from 9 countries.

Latin American Initiative for Lifestyle Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline (LatAm-FINGERS): Study design and harmonization.

Introduction: Latin American Initiative for Lifestyle Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline (LatAm-FINGERS) is the first non-pharmacological multicenter randomized clinical trial (RCT) to prevent cognitive impairment in Latin America (LA). Our aim is to present the study design and discuss the strategies used for multicultural harmonization.

Methods: This 1-year RCT (working on a 1-year extension) investigates the feasibility of a multi-domain lifestyle intervention in LA and the efficacy of the intervention, primarily on cognitive function.

Potential Biomarkers of impulsivity in mild traumatic brain injury: A pilot study.

Very few studies have investigated cognition and impulsivity following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the general population. Furthermore, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying post-TBI neurobehavioral syndromes are complex and remain to be fully clarified. Herein, we took advantage of machine learning based-modeling to investigate potential biomarkers of mTBI-associated impulsivity.