Dexmedetomidine Use in Intensive Care Unit Sedation and Postoperative Recovery in Elderly Patients Post-Cardiac Surgery (DIRECT).

Objective: This study examined recovery, delirium, and neurocognitive outcome in elderly patients receiving dexmedetomidine or propofol sedation after undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design: Open-label randomized trial.

Setting: Single center.

The relationship between theory of mind and cognition in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review.

: Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to an individual's ability to attribute mental states to others. It is well established that the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia can undermine ToM. However, there is no consensus on how Alzheimer's disease affects ToM.

A 9-year neuropsychological report of a patient with LGI1-associated limbic encephalitis.

: Anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 limbic encephalitis (LGI1-LE) is an autoimmune disorder associated with antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels (VGKC). It is a non-paraneoplastic and partially reversible encephalitis that can be diagnosed via serological testing. Untreated LGI1-LE can be associated with neurocognitive as well as neuropsychiatric sequelae.

Cognitive functioning and late-life depression.

This brief report provides an introduction to the topic of cognitive functioning in late-life depression (LLD). In addition to providing a review of the literature, we present a framework for understanding the heterogeneity of cognitive outcomes in this highly prevalent disorder. In addition, we discuss the relationship between LLD and dementia, and highlight the importance of regularly assessing cognitive functioning in older adults who present with depressive symptoms.

Changes in neuropsychological functioning following treatment for late-life generalised anxiety disorder.

Background: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults is associated with neuropsychological impairment. Aims We examined neuropsychological functioning in older adults with GAD in comparison with psychiatrically healthy older adults at baseline, and we examined changes following a 12-week placebo-controlled trial of escitalopram.

Method: A total of 160 participants without dementia aged ≥60 with current GAD and 37 individuals in a comparison group without psychiatric history underwent neuropsychological assessment.

Patterns of mild cognitive impairment after treatment of depression in the elderly.

Objectives: Late-life depression (LLD) is associated with persistent cognitive impairment in a subset of individuals. The purpose of this study was to 1) examine the frequency and characteristics of cognitive diagnoses (Mild Cognitive Impairment [MCI], dementia) among remitted elderly depressed subjects and 2) to compare the prevalence rate and correlates of cognitive diagnoses with those of comparison subjects.

Design: Crosssectional.

Neuropsychological correlates of self-reported depression and self-reported cognition among patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) frequently experience significant depressive symptomatology and report cognitive disturbances. To date, no studies have examined the relationship between MCI patients' neuropsychologic functioning, self-reported depressive symptoms, and self-reported cognitive difficulties. In this study, 82 MCI patients completed a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation that included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Cognitive functioning and instrumental activities of daily living in late-life bipolar disorder.

Objective: The authors report on the relationship between cognitive functioning and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in elderly, clinically euthymic adults with bipolar disorder.

Methods: Twenty patients with bipolar disorder (age range: 61-86 years) were administered comprehensive neuropsychologic testing. Structured in-home performance-based assessments of IADLs were performed in 19 of these patients.

Anxiety of Alzheimer's disease patients before and after a standardized on-road driving test.

Background: A large number of licensed elderly drivers are demented or are likely to become demented. On-road driving tests, a method often used to assess driver competency, are likely anxiety-provoking for elderly individuals. This article examines the relationship between anxiety and driving performance in a mildly demented and elderly control (EC) sample.

Persistence of neuropsychologic deficits in the remitted state of late-life depression.

Objective: Cognitive impairment in late-life depression (LLD) is prevalent, disabling, and persists despite the remission of depressive symptoms. This article characterizes neuropsychologic functioning during remission in LLD.

Methods: The authors examined longitudinal performance on a comprehensive neuropsychologic battery in 56 nondemented subjects age 60 or older who initially presented with an episode of nonpsychotic unipolar major depression and 40 nondemented, age- and education-equated comparison subjects with no history of depression.

Does education moderate neuropsychological impairment in late-life depression?

Objective: The increased resistance of better-educated individuals to the cognitive effects of neuropathology has been conceptualized as reflecting brain reserve. This study examined whether educational level influences the degree of neuropsychological impairment associated with late-life depression.

Methods: The neuropsychological performances of 115 older depressed patients and of 44 comparison subjects of similar age and education were compared as a function of educational level.

Executive functioning, illness course, and relapse/recurrence in continuation and maintenance treatment of late-life depression: is there a relationship?

Objective: The authors tested the hypothesis that impaired executive functioning leads to high rates of relapse and recurrence in late-life depression.

Methods: They analyzed data from subjects participating in two independent intervention trials. Study I included 53 elderly depressed patients who participated in an open trial comparing the efficacy of paroxetine and nortriptyline and recurrence prevention over 18 months.

The nature and determinants of neuropsychological functioning in late-life depression.

Context: Cognitive impairment in late-life depression (LLD) is highly prevalent, disabling, poorly understood, and likely related to long-term outcome.

Objectives: To determine the characteristics and determinants of neuropsychological functioning LLD.

Design: Cross-sectional study of groups of LLD patients and control subjects.

A preliminary analysis of EMG variance as an index of change in EMG biofeedback treatment of tension-type headache.

The effectiveness of EMG biofeedback training for tension headache has been well established. Previous studies evaluating changes in an average EMG activity score from pre- to posttreatment have not consistently found a relationship between a reduction in average EMG activity and headache improvement at posttreatment. The current study is a preliminary analysis of the utility of EMG variance as another possible mechanism of change.