Depression detection in dementia: A diagnostic accuracy systematic review and meta analysis update.

Background: Depression is common in persons with dementia and is often under-detected and under-treated. It is critical to understand which available tools accurately detect depression in the context of dementia.

Methods: We updated our systematic review completed in 2015.

Psychosis detection in dementia: a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy studies.

Introduction: Symptoms of psychosis, characterized by delusions and hallucinations, are commonly experienced by persons living with dementia. A systematic review was completed to identify tools to evaluate symptoms of psychosis compared to a reference standard in persons with dementia. Articles reporting correlation values between psychosis tools were also identified.

Detection of anxiety symptoms and disorders in older adults: a diagnostic accuracy systematic review.

Background: Anxiety symptoms and disorders are common in older adults and often go undetected. A systematic review was completed to identify tools that can be used to detect anxiety symptoms and disorders in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO were searched using the search concepts anxiety, older adults and diagnostic accuracy in March 2023.

Detecting agitation and aggression in persons living with dementia: a systematic review of diagnostic accuracy.

Objective: 40-60% of persons living with dementia (PLWD) experience agitation and/or aggression symptoms. There is a need to understand the best method to detect agitation and/or aggression in PLWD. We aimed to identify agitation and/or aggression tools that are validated against a reference standard within the context of PLWD.

Maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and early achievement of developmental milestones in infants and young children: A meta-analysis.

Screening for social determinants of health, including maternal depression, is a recommended pediatric practice. However, the magnitude of association between maternal and child screening tools remains to be determined. The current study evaluated the association between maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and child developmental milestones, as well as moderators of these associations.

The relationship of small vessel disease burden on cerebral and regional brain atrophy rates and cognitive performance over one year of follow-up after transient ischemic attack.

Background: Stroke, even when minor, increases the risk of dementia. We aimed to determine whether patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) exhibit higher rates of cerebral and regional atrophy 1-year after first stroke symptoms and evaluate the relationship with small vessel disease and cognitive performance.

Methods: TIA patients and controls without cognitive symptoms underwent high-resolution T1-weighted MRI and cognitive testing at baseline and 1-year.

Efficacy of virtual interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review.

Background: Older adults experience symptoms of depression, leading to suffering and increased morbidity and mortality. Although we have effective depression therapies, physical distancing and other public health measures have severely limited access to in-person interventions.

Objective: To describe the efficacy of virtual interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults.

Detecting depression in persons living in long-term care: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies.

Objective: Depressive disorders are common in long-term care (LTC), however, there is no one process used to detect depressive disorders in this setting. Our goal was to describe the diagnostic accuracy of depression detection tools used in LTC settings.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy measures.

Hippocampal atrophy and cognitive function in transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients over three years.

Introduction: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor ischemic stroke (IS) is associated with a increased risk of late life dementia. In this study we aim to study the extent to which the rates of hippocampal atrophy in TIA/IS differ from healthy controls, and how they are correlated to neuropsychological measurements.

Methods: TIA or minor stroke patients were tested with a neuropsychological battery including tests of executive function, and verbal and non-verbal memory at three time points out to 3 years.

A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Combined Escitalopram and Memantine for Older Adults With Major Depression and Subjective Memory Complaints.

Objective: Geriatric depression is difficult to treat and frequently accompanied by cognitive complaints that increase risk for dementia. New treatment strategies targeting both depression and cognition are urgently needed.

Methods: We conducted a 6-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy and tolerability of escitalopram + memantine (ESC/MEM) compared to escitalopram + placebo (ESC/PBO) for improving mood and cognitive functioning in depressed older adults with subjective memory complaints (NCT01902004).

Health-Promoting Strategies for the Aging Brain.

As the world's population ages and people live longer, the changes in the aging brain present substantial challenges to our health and society. With greater longevity come age-related diseases, many of which have direct and indirect influences on the health of the brain. Although there is some degree of predictable decline in brain functioning with aging, meaningful cognitive decline is not inevitable and is perhaps preventable.

Neurocognitive Correlates of Resilience in Late-Life Depression.

Objective: Increasing understanding of the neurocognitive correlates of resilience in late-life depression (LLD) could inform interventions to promote more sustained remission. We investigated cross-sectional relations between baseline resilience and domains of neurocognitive functioning in depressed older adults enrolled in one of four trials.

Methods: Participants (N = 288) completed neurocognitive tests of memory, language performance, and executive functioning as well as measures of subjective memory performance and components of resilience (grit, active coping self-efficacy, accommodative coping self-efficacy, and spirituality).

Simultaneous Aerobic Exercise and Memory Training Program in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Impairments.

Background: Several modifiable lifestyle factors have been shown to have potential beneficial effects in slowing cognitive decline. Two such factors that may affect cognitive performance and slow the progression of memory loss into dementia in older adults are cognitive training and physical activity. There are currently no effective treatments for dementia; therefore, preventative strategies to delay or prevent the onset of dementia are of critical importance.

CRLX101, a Nanoparticle-Drug Conjugate Containing Camptothecin, Improves Rectal Cancer Chemoradiotherapy by Inhibiting DNA Repair and HIF1α.

Novel agents are needed to improve chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. In this study, we assessed the ability of CRLX101, an investigational nanoparticle-drug conjugate containing the payload camptothecin (CPT), to improve therapeutic responses as compared with standard chemotherapy. CRLX101 was evaluated as a radiosensitizer in colorectal cancer cell lines and murine xenograft models.

Targeting miR-155 restores abnormal microglia and attenuates disease in SOD1 mice.

Objective: To investigate miR-155 in the SOD1 mouse model and human sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: NanoString microRNA, microglia and immune gene profiles, protein mass spectrometry, and RNA-seq analyses were measured in spinal cord microglia, splenic monocytes, and spinal cord tissue from SOD1 mice and in spinal cord tissue of familial and sporadic ALS. miR-155 was targeted by genetic ablation or by peripheral or centrally administered anti-miR-155 inhibitor in SOD1 mice.

Differential roles of microglia and monocytes in the inflamed central nervous system.

In the human disorder multiple sclerosis (MS) and in the model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), macrophages predominate in demyelinated areas and their numbers correlate to tissue damage. Macrophages may be derived from infiltrating monocytes or resident microglia, yet are indistinguishable by light microscopy and surface phenotype. It is axiomatic that T cell-mediated macrophage activation is critical for inflammatory demyelination in EAE, yet the precise details by which tissue injury takes place remain poorly understood.

Identification of a unique TGF-β-dependent molecular and functional signature in microglia.

Microglia are myeloid cells of the CNS that participate both in normal CNS function and in disease. We investigated the molecular signature of microglia and identified 239 genes and 8 microRNAs that were uniquely or highly expressed in microglia versus myeloid and other immune cells. Of the 239 genes, 106 were enriched in microglia as compared with astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons.

Modulating inflammatory monocytes with a unique microRNA gene signature ameliorates murine ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease associated with neuronal cell death that is thought to involve aberrant immune responses. Here we investigated the role of innate immunity in a mouse model of ALS. We found that inflammatory monocytes were activated and that their progressive recruitment to the spinal cord, but not brain, correlated with neuronal loss.

Advance care planning among the oldest old.

Objectives: To describe end-of-life advance care planning among the oldest-old (those >/= 85 years) and to identify patient characteristics and healthcare utilization patterns associated with likelihood of care planning documentation.

Design: Medical charts were abstracted for evidence of advance care planning documentation (including surrogate for health care decisions) and linked to patient demographic, clinical, and health utilization characteristics.

Setting: Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VA GLAHS).