Risk factors and cognitive correlates of white matter hyperintensities in ethnically diverse populations without dementia: The COSMIC consortium.

Introduction: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are an important imaging marker for cerebral small vessel diseases, but their risk factors and cognitive associations have not been well documented in populations of different ethnicities and/or from different geographical regions.

Methods: We investigated how WMHs were associated with vascular risk factors and cognition in both Whites and Asians, using data from five population-based cohorts of non-demented older individuals from Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Sweden ( = 1946). WMH volumes (whole brain, periventricular, and deep) were quantified with UBO Detector and harmonized using the ComBat model.

Risk factors and cognitive correlates of white matter hyperintensities in ethnically diverse populations without dementia: the COSMIC consortium.

Introduction: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are an important imaging marker for cerebral small vessel diseases, but their risk factors and cognitive associations have not been well-documented in populations of different ethnicities and/or from different geographical regions.

Method: Magnetic resonance imaging data of five population-based cohorts of non-demented older individuals from Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Sweden (N = 1,946) were examined for WMH and their associations with vascular risk factors and cognition.

Result: Factors associated with larger whole brain WMH volumes included diabetes, hypertension, stroke, current smoking, body mass index, higher alcohol intake and insufficient physical activity.

Distinguishing apathy from depression: A review differentiating the behavioral, neuroanatomic, and treatment-related aspects of apathy from depression in neurocognitive disorders.

Objectives: This narrative review describes the clinical features of apathy and depression in individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), with the goal of differentiating the two syndromes on the basis of clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, neuropathological features, and contrasting responses to treatments.

Methods: Literature was identified using PubMed, with search terms to capture medical conditions of interest; additional references were also included based on our collective experience and knowledge of the literature.

Results: Evidence from current literature supports the distinction between the two disorders; apathy and depression occur with varying prevalence in individuals with NCDs, pose different risks of progression to dementia, and have distinct, if overlapping, neurobiological underpinnings.

The impact of mild cognitive impairment on decision-making under explicit risk conditions: Evidence from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life longitudinal study.

Objective: Previous research has indicated that cognition and executive function are associated with decision-making, however the impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on decision-making under explicit risk conditions is unclear. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of MCI, and MCI subtypes, on decision-making on the Game of Dice Task (GDT), among a cohort of older adults.

Method: Data from 245 older adult participants (aged 72-78 years) from the fourth assessment of the Personality and Total Health Through Life study were analyzed.

Psychosis as a Treatment Target in Dementia: A Roadmap for Designing Interventions.

Psychotic phenomena are among the most severe and disruptive symptoms of dementias and appear in 30% to 50% of patients. They are associated with a worse evolution and great suffering to patients and caregivers. Their current treatments obtain limited results and are not free of adverse effects, which are sometimes serious.

Mixed Evidence of an Association between Self-Rated Hearing Difficulties and Falls: Prospective Analysis of Two Longitudinal Studies.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the extent to which a single item of self-reported hearing difficulties is associated with future risk of falling among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: We used data from two Australian population-based cohorts: three waves from the PATH Through Life study (PATH; n = 2,048, 51% men, age 66.5 ± 1.

Sex differences in neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease dementia: a meta-analysis.

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, but substantial heterogeneity exists in the manifestation of NPS. Sex differences may explain this clinical variability. We aimed to investigate the sex differences in the prevalence and severity of NPS in AD dementia.

Non-pharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in residential aged care settings: An umbrella review.

Background: Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms amongst people living with dementia in residential aged care is high. Their presence is associated with poorer quality of life for residents and higher burden of care for staff. Existing reviews have not focused on the evaluation of efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in specific population settings (community vs.

Who displays dementia-related stigma and what does the general public know about dementia? Findings from a nationally representative survey.

Objectives: To identify the characteristics of those who tend to hold stigmatising beliefs and behaviours towards people living with dementia to inform dementia education and the targeting of interventions to reduce dementia-related stigma.

Unlabelled: A nationally representative telephone survey of 1000 Australians aged 18-93 years was conducted to assess general knowledge of dementia and dementia-related stigma. A single open-ended question was used to assess participants' general knowledge of dementia.

Diastolic Blood Pressure Variability in Later Life May Be a Key Risk Marker for Cognitive Decline.

Background: There is an increasing awareness of the need to understand the interaction between long-term blood pressure patterns and their impact on the brain and cognition.

Methods: Our aim was to investigate the relationship between repeated blood pressure measures and change in cognitive performance over 12 years and imaging data at 12 years using a longitudinal population study. The data consisted of 2 cohorts, one midlife and one later life.

Residential aged care staff perceptions and responses towards neuropsychiatric symptoms: a mixed methods analysis of electronic healthcare records.

Objectives: To investigate electronic care notes to better understand reporting and management of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) by residential aged care (RAC) staff.

Methods: We examined semi-structured care notes from electronic healthcare notes of 77 residents (67% female; aged 67-101; 79% with formal dementia diagnosis) across three RAC facilities. As part of standard clinical practice, staff documented the NPS presentation and subsequent management amongst residents.

Association Between Anxiety and Cognitive Decline Over 12 Years in a Population-Based Cohort.

Background: Findings on the associations between anxiety and cognitive decline are mixed and often confounded.

Objective: We studied whether anxiety symptoms were associated with the risk of cognitive decline after adequate adjustment of confounding factors.

Methods: Our study consists of 2,551 community-dwelling older adults recruited between the ages of 60-64 years and followed up for 12 years in the PATH Through Life cohort study.

Apathy as a Treatment Target in Alzheimer's Disease: Implications for Clinical Trials.

Apathy is one of the most prevalent, stable and persistent neuropsychiatric symptom across the neurocognitive disorders spectrum. Recent advances in understanding of phenomenology, neurobiology and intervention trials highlight apathy as an important target for clinical intervention. We conducted a comprehensive review and critical evaluation of recent advances to determine the evidence-based suggestions for future trial designs.

Diagnostic criteria for apathy in neurocognitive disorders.

Introduction: Apathy is common in neurocognitive disorders (NCD) but NCD-specific diagnostic criteria are needed.

Methods: The International Society for CNS Clinical Trials Methodology Apathy Work Group convened an expert group and sought input from academia, health-care, industry, and regulatory bodies. A modified Delphi methodology was followed, and included an extensive literature review, two surveys, and two meetings at international conferences, culminating in a consensus meeting in 2019.

Association of sex differences in dementia risk factors with sex differences in memory decline in a population-based cohort spanning 20-76 years.

Sex differences in late-life memory decline may be explained by sex differences in dementia risk factors. Episodic memory and dementia risk factors were assessed in young, middle-aged and older adults over 12 years in a population-based sample (N = 7485). For men in midlife and old age, physical, cognitive and social activities were associated with less memory decline, and financial hardship was associated with more.

Agitation and impulsivity in mid and late life as possible risk markers for incident dementia.

To identify knowledge gaps regarding new-onset agitation and impulsivity prior to onset of cognitive impairment or dementia the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment Neuropsychiatric Syndromes (NPS) Professional Interest Area conducted a scoping review. Extending a series of reviews exploring the pre-dementia risk syndrome Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI), we focused on late-onset agitation and impulsivity (the MBI impulse dyscontrol domain) and risk of incident cognitive decline and dementia. This scoping review of agitation and impulsivity pre-dementia syndromes summarizes the current biomedical literature in terms of epidemiology, diagnosis and measurement, neurobiology, neuroimaging, biomarkers, course and prognosis, treatment, and ongoing clinical trials.

Third-Party Impact of Dual Sensory Loss on Neuropsychiatric Symptom-Related Distress among Friends and Family.

Background: Vision loss and hearing loss are common in later life and are associated with cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms. There is a need to better understand how individual characteristics, such as poor sensory functioning, are linked with familial well-being.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether, among persons with neuropsychiatric symptoms, age-related sensory loss is related to increased emotional distress reported by their family and friends.