Reporting of comorbidities and health status of participants in clinical trials testing amyloid- and tau-targeting monoclonal antibodies for Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review.

Background: Controversies exist around the external validity of clinical trials on disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Detailed information on the clinical characteristics of research participants is lacking, hampering the understanding of their representativeness.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review the baseline comorbidities and health status of patients with AD enrolled in clinical trials.

Blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in the community: Variation by chronic diseases and inflammatory status.

Introduction: We explored the variations of blood biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by chronic diseases and systemic inflammation.

Methods: We explored the association of AD blood biomarkers with chronic diseases and systemic inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6]), in 2366 dementia-free participants of the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care-in Kungsholmen, using quantile regression models.

Results: A greater number of co-occurring chronic diseases was associated with higher concentrations of phosphorylated-tau 181 (p-tau181), total-tau (t-tau), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (p < 0.

Association of mild and complex multimorbidity with structural brain changes in older adults: A population-based study.

Introduction: We quantified the association of mild (ie, involving one or two body systems) and complex (ie, involving ≥3 systems) multimorbidity with structural brain changes in older adults.

Methods: We included 390 dementia-free participants aged 60+ from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and after 3 and/or 6 years. Using linear mixed models, we estimated the association between multimorbidity and changes in total brain tissue, ventricular, hippocampal, and white matter hyperintensities volumes.

Sundowning in Patients with Dementia: Identification, Prevalence, and Clinical Correlates.

Background: The term sundowning is used to describe the emergence or worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms in late afternoon or early evening in people with dementia.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate sundowning's prevalence and clinical manifestations among patients attending a tertiary memory clinic and to investigate its clinical and neuropsychological correlates.

Methods: Patients with dementia attending our memory clinic were enrolled in the study.

Multimorbidity patterns and 18-year transitions from normal cognition to dementia and death: A population-based study.

Background: Several chronic diseases accelerate cognitive decline; however, it is still unknown how different patterns of multimorbidity influence individuals' trajectories across the cognitive continuum.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the impact of multimorbidity and of specific multimorbidity patterns on the transitions across cognitive stages (normal cognition, cognitive impairment, no dementia [CIND], dementia) and death.

Methods: We included 3122 dementia-free individuals from the Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen.

A nationwide survey of Italian Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia on the provision of care for international migrants.

Background: More than 500,000 dementia cases can be estimated among migrants living in Europe. There is the need to collect "real world" data on the preparedness of healthcare services to support the inclusion of migrants in the public health response to dementia. The present study aimed (i) to estimate the number of migrants referred to Italian memory clinics (Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia [CCDDs]) and (ii) to identify possible barriers and resources for the provision of diversity-sensitive care.

Supporting and Protecting People with Dementia in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We aimed to explore the awareness and preparedness of dementia caregivers and people with mild cognitive deficits on how to prevent COVID-19 infection and cope with the indirect consequences of the pandemic. A total of 139 patient-caregiver dyads received a telephone survey and 109 completed the survey. The majority of respondents reported having a moderate-to-good knowledge of the typical manifestations of COVID-19.

Use of Biomarkers in Ongoing Research Protocols on Alzheimer's Disease.

The present study aimed to describe and discuss the state of the art of biomarker use in ongoing Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. A review of 222 ongoing phase 1, 2, 3, and 4 protocols registered in the clinicaltrials.gov database was performed.

Race reporting and disparities in clinical trials on Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review.

Introduction: Race is an important health determinant and should adequately be considered in research and drug development protocols targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: A systematic review of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the currently marketed treatments for AD was conducted with the aim of 1) documenting the reporting of race, and 2) exploring the impact of race on the efficacy and safety/tolerability of the considered medications.

Results: Overall, 59.

Counting deficits or diseases? The agreement between frailty and multimorbidity in subjects with cognitive disturbances.

In the present study, we explored the relationship between multimorbidity and frailty in a population of older individuals with cognitive disturbances attending a memory clinic. All subjects consecutively attending the Memory Clinic of the Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, between January 2017 and April 2018 for a first neurological evaluation were considered for the present analysis. Multimorbidity was defined as the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases in the same individual.

Parkinson's disease among migrants in Europe: estimating the magnitude of an emerging phenomenon.

Introduction: The occurrence of age-related pathological conditions among subjects with a migration background and composing ethnic minorities is an emerging challenge for Western countries. Specifically, the onset of neurodegenerative diseases in these populations of individuals might assume special relevance and generate additional complexities for our healthcare systems. The aim of the present study was to estimate the number of Parkinson's disease (PD) cases in migrant subjects living in Europe.

Migrants seeking help for cognitive disturbances: exploratory data from an Italian memory clinic.

Introduction: The phenomenon of dementia occurring in migrants and minority groups constitutes an emerging issue for Western countries. Nevertheless, it has been poorly explored from the perspective of "real-world" clinical services. We aimed to quantify the number of migrants from LMIC attending an Italian university memory clinic and to document its modifications over time.

Estimating dementia cases in the immigrant population living in Italy.

Introduction: The phenomenon of dementia among immigrants and ethnic minorities represents an emerging challenge for Western countries. The aim of the present study was to estimate the number of dementia cases among immigrant subjects residing in Italy and in each Italian region to provide pivotal information on the magnitude of such public health issue.

Method: The number of immigrant individuals, aged 65 years or older, living in Italy and in the 20 Italian regions was derived by the 2017 data of the National Institute for Statistics.

Need to Recalibrate Research Outcomes in Alzheimer's Disease: Focus on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms.

Objectives: To determine whether neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) are adequately considered in clinical research on Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Design: Systematic review.

Setting: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) recruiting individuals with AD and published during the last 10 years in 16 major general medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry journals and RCTs registered on clinicaltrials.

Sundowning in Dementia: Clinical Relevance, Pathophysiological Determinants, and Therapeutic Approaches.

Sundowning means the emergence or worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in the late afternoon or early evening. This syndrome has been recognized since a long time in the field of dementing illnesses and is well known among most of health-care providers involved in the assistance of people with dementia. Indeed, it represents a common manifestation among persons with dementia and is associated with several adverse outcomes (such as institutionalization, faster cognitive worsening, and greater caregiver burden).