The effects of synthetic glucocorticoid treatment for inflammatory disease on brain structure, function, and dementia outcomes: A systematic review.

Many regions of the brain have a high density of glucocorticoid receptors, and the prolonged elevation of endogenous glucocorticoids may cause neurotoxicity and increase risk for cognitive decline and dementia. However, despite synthetic glucocorticoids being the first line of treatment for many inflammatory diseases, few studies have addressed whether therapeutic glucocorticoids may have similar undesirable effects on the brain. Thus, our systematic review investigated the impact of long-term glucocorticoid usage on adult brain structure, cognitive function, and dementia risk.

Prevalence and predictors of influenza vaccination in long-term care homes: a cross-national retrospective observational study.

Objective: To compare facility-level influenza vaccination rates in long-term care (LTC) homes from four countries and to identify factors associated with influenza vaccination among residents.

Design And Setting: Retrospective cross-sectional study of individuals residing in LTC homes in New Brunswick (Canada), New Zealand, Switzerland, and the Netherlands between 2017 and 2020.

Participants: LTC home residents assessed with interRAI assessment system instruments as part of routine practice in New Brunswick (n=7006) and New Zealand (n=34 518), and national pilot studies in Switzerland (n=2760) and the Netherlands (n=1508).