Language and Cognitive Impairments in Multiple Sclerosis: a Comparative Study of RRMS and SPMS Patients.

Objective: Previous studies have reported that patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) face cognitive difficulties. Much less, however, is known about their language abilities. The present study aims to provide a clear view of the language abilities of adults with MS, considering their cognitive skills and the type of the disorder.

Efficacy of rTMS Combined with Cognitive and Language Training in People Living with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that has been suggested as a possible treatment method for cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's Disease (pwAD), similar to multidomain cognitive training (CT). The effectiveness, however, of combining these techniques for pwAD remains controversial due to the variability in rTMS parameters, differences in CT protocol designs-many of which neglect the language domain-and the inclusion of patients at various stages of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and with different types of dementia. The current review aims to evaluate the cognitive benefits of combining rTMS with CT, including language training, for individuals with mild to moderate AD.

Feasibility and Clinical Effectiveness of Computer-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation in Illiterate and Low-Educated Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Preliminary Data.

Objective: We investigated the feasibility of the RehaCom cognitive rehabilitation software in illiterate and low-educated individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its clinical effectiveness in improving cognitive functions.

Methods: Twenty illiterate or low-educated individuals with MCI were randomly assigned to an intervention (IG; n = 10) and control group (CG; n = 10). The IG participated in the cognitive enhancement program for 6 weeks, twice a week and a duration of 50-60 min for each session, while the CG did not receive any kind of intervention.

Neurocognitive Impairment in Long COVID: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Although Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a respiratory infectious disease, it has also been associated with a wide range of other clinical manifestations. It is widely accepted in the scientific community that many patients after recovery continue to experience COVID-19-related symptoms, including cognitive impairment. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the cognitive profile of patients with long-COVID syndrome.

Language and Communication Interventions in People with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Although language impairment is frequently observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease (pwAD), targeted language rehabilitation is often overlooked. The present study reviews published evidence on the impact of language training, either alone or in combination with cognitive training, on cognitive outcomes in pwAD. A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane was carried out, including studies published from inception to November 2023.

The Contribution of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to the Study of Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an innovative neuroimaging method that offers several advantages over other commonly used modalities. This narrative review investigated the potential contribution of this method to the study of neurodegenerative disorders. Thirty-four studies involving patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Parkinson's disease (PD), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and healthy controls were reviewed.

Adaptation and validation of the Greek version of the Communication and Language Assessment questionnaire for persons with Multiple Sclerosis (CLAMS).

Objective: The aim of the present study was to validate the Communication and Language Assessment questionnaire for persons with Multiple Sclerosis (CLAMS) into the Greek language.

Method: 106 Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) and 51 healthy controls (HCs) participated in this study. We evaluated patients' cognitive abilities with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS).

Face-to-face vs. Telerehabilitation language and cognitive training in patients with multi-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

The recent coronavirus emergency raised the question of whether telerehabilitation could be as effective as conventional face-to-face intervention. The aim of the present study was to compared language and cognitive training delivered to patients from a distance, through telecommunication systems, for the same intervention conducted on a face-to-face mode in patients with multi domain amnestic MCI (md-aMCI). To this end, 30 patients diagnosed with md-aMCI took part in the present study.

Detection and Prevention of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is characterized by cognitive deficits alongside essentially preserved competence in activities of daily living [...

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Post-stroke Aphasia: Comparative Evaluation of Inhibitory and Excitatory Therapeutic Protocols: Narrative Review.

Objective: Aphasia is a serious consequence of stroke resulting in difficulties in using language for communication with negative effects on patients' quality of life. The use of non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a novel approach in aphasia therapy, based on the knowledge gained by functional imaging technics of the brain.

Aim: This review evaluates the effectiveness of rTMS on aphasia therapy according to the results of English language studies that have been published in the databases PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science from 2011 to 2021.

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Literature Review.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a gradually progressive clinical syndrome in which the first and predominant symptoms involve language and/or speech production that interfere with daily activities. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) appear to have a beneficial impact on many neurodegenerative pathologies. The current review investigated the impact of rTMS and tDCS on PPA patients.

Illiteracy, Neuropsychological Assessment, and Cognitive Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review.

Object: Νeuropsychological assessment is particularly important for the accurate discrimination of cognitive abilities and weaknesses of patients in order to determine the appropriate therapeutic intervention. However, the reliability and validity of neuropsychological assessment appears to be influenced by a wide range of factors, including literacy and educational level.

Aim: This systematic review evaluates neuropsychological tests appropriate for the valid assessment of illiterate individuals and the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation programs for illiterate and/or low-educated individuals according to the results of English language studies that have been published in the PubMed/Medline electronic database until August 2022 (no initiation date).

Adaptation and validation of the Greek version of the Speech Pathology-Specific Questionnaire for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (SMS).

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to adapt and validate the Speech Pathology-Specific Questionnaire for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (SMS) into the Greek language.

Method: The study sample consisted of 124 people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and 50 healthy controls (HCs). All PwMS underwent cognitive assessment using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS).

Lack of Association between and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Microglial activation is considered to assume a role in the pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). To date, the relationship between ALS and the polymorphism of the cluster of differentiation 33 (CD33) has not been explored. The current report aimed to investigate the potential connection between and ALS.

Cognitive Neurorehabilitation in Epilepsy Patients via Virtual Reality Environments: Systematic Review.

Objective: Epilepsy patients could possibly benefit from the remuneration observed in the use of virtual reality (VR) and virtual environments (VEs), especially in cognitive difficulties associated with visuospatial navigation (memory, attention, and processing speed).

Aim: Research questions under consideration in the present systematic review are associated to VEs' efficiency as a cognitive rehabilitation practice in epilepsy and the particular VR methods indicated for epilepsy patients. To meet criteria, studies included participants suffering from any form of epilepsy and a methodological design with a structured rehabilitation program/model.

Undetected language deficits in left or right hemisphere post-stroke patients.

Previous studies have reported that widely used tests for aphasia identification are unable to detect the subtle language deficits of left hemisphere brain damaged (LHBD) individuals. Similarly, the language disorders of individuals with right hemisphere brain damage (RHBD) usually remain undetected, due to the lack of any specialized test for the evaluation of their language processing skills. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the language deficits of 80 individuals suffering from the effects of either a LHBD or RHBD stroke, who were diagnosed as having no aphasia or language deficits based on the application of Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination.

Epilepsy and the "dark" literature of the Greek novelist Demosthenes Voutyras: an outstanding epileptic personality.

Background: The role of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in determining personality traits and neurobehavioral symptoms, collectively known as the interictal behavioral syndrome (also known as Geschwind syndrome or "Gastaut-Geschwind syndrome"), as well as the syndrome's association with the particular artistic expression of many epileptic litterateurs are well known in neurology and psychiatry. A deepening of emotionality along with a serious, highly ethical, and spiritual behavior have been described as positive personality changes among patients with chronic mesial-TLE.

Objectives: Our narrative-based clinical hypothesis aims at contributing to the ongoing debate on the association between TLE and artistic expression, as well as the latter's supposed implication for epileptology in general and the neuropsychology of epilepsy in particular.

Computer-Based Cognitive Training vs. Paper-and-Pencil Training for Language and Cognitive Deficits in Greek Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease: A Preliminary Study.

The purpose of the present study was to explore whether Computer-Based Cognitive Training (C-BCT) versus Paper-Pencil Cognitive Training (P-PCT) is more beneficial in improving cognitive and language deficits in Greek patients living with Alzheimer's disease (pwAD). Twenty pwAD were assigned to two groups: (a) the C-BCT group, receiving a computer-based cognitive training program using the RehaCom software, and (b) the P-PCT group, which received cognitive training using paper and pencil. The cognitive training programs lasted 15 weeks and were administered twice a week for approximately one hour per session.

Targeting Cerebellum with Non-Invasive Transcranial Magnetic or Current Stimulation after Cerebral Hemispheric Stroke-Insights for Corticocerebellar Network Reorganization: A Comprehensive Review.

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has emerged as one of the methods implemented in stroke rehabilitation. Cerebellar stimulation has gained research interest as an alternative strategy to cortical stimulation, based on the role of the cerebellum and corticocerebellar tracts in different motor and cognitive functions. This review investigates the role of the cerebellum in motor and cognitive rehabilitation following cerebral stroke using NIBS techniques combined with other therapies (e.

Analysis of SOD2 rs4880 Genetic Variant in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

A few gene loci that contribute to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) onset have been identified. Few studies have been published about the relationship between SOD2 rs4880 single nucleotide variant and AD, revealing inconsistent results. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to further examine the role of the SOD2 rs4880 in AD.