The Effects of Neuropsychiatric Symptom Clusters in People with Dementia on Family Caregiver Burden.

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are a robust risk factor for caregiver burden in family dementia caregivers. By grouping these symptoms, clinical interpretations regarding neuropsychiatric symptoms may facilitated because different groups of symptoms may require a different approach for intervention, thereby reducing caregiver burden.

Objective: As clustering of neuropsychiatric symptoms could be clinically relevant, we aimed to explore the effects of these clusters on burden in family dementia caregivers.

Cognitive complaints in patients with untreated obstructive sleep apnea versus patients with neurological and respiratory diseases: prevalence, severity and risk factors.

Purpose: Little is known about cognitive complaints (self-reported problems in cognitive functioning) in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). We compared the prevalence and severity of cognitive complaints in patients with untreated OSA to patients with neurological and respiratory diseases. We also studied risk factors for cognitive complaints across these diseases, including OSA.

Age of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis in people with Down syndrome and associated factors: Results from the Horizon 21 European Down syndrome consortium.

Introduction: People with Down syndrome (DS) have high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study examined mean ages of AD diagnosis and associations with co-occurring conditions among adults with DS from five European countries.

Methods: Data from 1335 people with DS from the Horizon 21 European DS Consortium were used for the analysis.

Stimulus material selection for the Dutch famous faces test for older adults.

Worldwide, approximately 22% of all individuals aged 50 years and older are currently estimated to fall somewhere on the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum, which can be roughly divided into preclinical AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD dementia. While episodic memory loss (among other aspects) is typically required for a diagnosis of AD dementia, MCI is said to have occurred when cognitive impairment (including memory loss) is worse than expected for the person's age but not enough to be classified as dementia. On the other hand, preclinical AD can currently only be detected using biomarkers; clinical symptoms are not apparent using traditional neuropsychological tests.

A Systematic Review on the Potential Acceleration of Neurocognitive Aging in Older Cancer Survivors.

As survival rates increase, more emphasis has gone to possible cognitive sequelae in older cancer patients, which could be explained by accelerated brain aging. In this review, we provide a complete overview of studies investigating neuroimaging, neurocognitive, and neurodegenerative disorders in older cancer survivors (>65 years), based on three databases (Pubmed, Web of Science and Medline). Ninety-six studies were included.

Preclinical Alzheimer's dementia: a useful concept or another dead end?

The term, was introduced in 2011 when new guidelines for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) were published. In the intervening 11 years, many studies have appeared in the literature focusing on this early stage. A search conducted in English on Google Scholar on 06.

Influence of Sense of Competence, Empathy and Relationship Quality on Burden in Dementia Caregivers: A 15 Months Longitudinal Study.

The aim is to explore the trajectory of caregiver burden and how this relates to caregiver and contextual factors in community-dwelling dyads. At baseline, 201 family caregivers were included. The multidimensional construct of family caregiver burden and the effects of sense of competence, empathy, and quality of the relationship on this burden were assessed over 15 months using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires.

Can subjective cognitive complaints at three months post stroke predict alteration in information processing speed during the first year?

Cognitive impairment, particularly slowing of information processing speed (IPS), is prevalent after stroke. However, the link between subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) and cognitive deficit remains unclear. This study evaluated the link between SCC at three months post stroke and deficit as well as objective alterations in IPS in the first year post stroke.

Music and Lyric Characteristics of Popular Dutch Funeral Songs.

This study compared the characteristics of 150 songs (Dutch lyrics, = 47, English lyrics, = 103), popular at Dutch funerals, to an equal number of non-funeral songs. The variables explored included those linked with the music (valence, energy, danceability, acousticness, key, and tempo); and lyrics, namely: linguistics-related (first-person singular/plural, second-person pronouns; past, present, future tense; expressed emotion (positive, negative words, and the discrete emotional categories anger, anxiety, sadness); and category words (those relating to family, friends, death, religion). Funeral music was lower in valence, energy, and danceability and higher in acousticness than non-funeral music.

Integration of energy systems.

Abstract: This article in and the framework set out in the introductory article articulate a scenario of renewable electrons and electrification of end use appliances and industrial processes as a plausible paradigm to realize a carbon-free energy economy. The subsequent articles cover specific sectoral or chemical applications of those renewable electrons (e.g.

SMART Recovery International and COVID-19: Expanding the reach of mutual support through online groups.

Background: Mutual support groups play an extremely important role in providing opportunities for people to engage in alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment and support. SMART Recovery groups employ cognitive, behavioural and motivational principles and strategies to offer support for a range of addictive behaviours. COVID-19 fundamentally changed the way that these groups could be delivered.

Motor Impairment Three Months Post Stroke Implies A Corresponding Cognitive Deficit.

Background: While both motor and cognitive impairment are common after stroke, the focus of (early) treatment has always been on motor deficit.

Aims: The objective of the current study was to explore the link between motor and cognitive performance in stroke patients and to examine whether motor performance is associated with cognitive functioning at three months post stroke.

Methods: In both stroke patients (n = 142) and controls (n = 135), with the groups matched on age, gender and premorbid IQ, motor functioning was evaluated using both objective (Purdue Pegboard Test) and subjective measures (specific items from the Frenchay Activities Index and Barthel Index).

The Trajectory of Caregiver Burden and Risk Factors in Dementia Progression: A Systematic Review.

Background: Caring for patients with dementia at home is often a long-term process, in which the independence of the patient declines, and more responsibility and supervision time is required from the informal caregiver.

Objective: In order to minimize and reduce caregiver burden, it is important to explore its trajectory and the accompanying risk factors as dementia progresses; the objective of this systematic review.

Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed in this systematic review.

Course and Predictors of Subjective Cognitive Complaints During the First 12 Months after Stroke.

Background: Subjective Cognitive Complaints (SCC) are common after stroke. This study documents the prevalence and course of SCC in the first year after stroke and determines which patient characteristics in the first 3 months predict subsequent SCC at 1-year follow-up.

Methods: Using a longitudinal design, 155 patients (mean age 64.

Personality functioning in adults with refractory epilepsy and community adults: Implications for health-related quality of life.

Introduction: Prior research has shown that people with epilepsy are at risk for a poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, patients differ greatly in how well they adjust to their epilepsy. To better understand these differences, the present study examined the role of personality.

Episodic memory and executive functioning in informal dementia caregivers.

Informal dementia caregivers are thought to experience high levels of depression and burden, which can contribute to worse cognitive functioning. However, poorer cognitive functioning in caregivers is not always found. The current study explored whether caregivers perform better, worse, or similar to non-caregivers on tasks for executive functioning and memory.

User-Driven Living Lab for Assistive Technology to Support People With Dementia Living at Home: Protocol for Developing Co-Creation-Based Innovations.

Background: Owing to no cure for dementia currently, there is an urgent need to look for alternative ways to support these people and their informal caregivers. Carefully designed interventions can answer the unmet needs of both people with dementia and their informal caregivers in the community. However, existing products, systems, and services are often too complex or unsuitable.

Can the Mixed Virtual Reality Simulator Into D'mentia Enhance Empathy and Understanding and Decrease Burden in Informal Dementia Caregivers?

Objective: To evaluate whether the mixed virtual reality dementia simulator training Into D'mentia increased informal caregivers' understanding for people with dementia, their empathy, sense of competence, relationship quality with the care receiver, and/or decreased burden, depression, and anxiety.

Methods: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study with an intervention group ( = 145) and a control group ( = 56) was conducted. All participants were informal caregivers of people with dementia.

Empathy in informal dementia caregivers and its relationship with depression, anxiety, and burden.

Recent interventions aim to heighten informal caregivers' empathy levels assuming that this will lead to better well-being. However, previous studies have explored linear associations between empathy and aspects of well-being and yielded mixed results. We hypothesized that quadratic models may be more fitting to describe these relationships.

Predicting self-esteem in informal caregivers of people with dementia: Modifiable and non-modifiable factors.

While informal caregivers often feel burdened by the care for a person with dementia, they can also experience positive consequences due to caregiving; caregiver gains. One of these, relatively overlooked, caregiver gains is heightened self-esteem. We assessed the predictive ability of non-modifiable (caregiver sociodemographic- and dementia related-) and modifiable (psychological-) factors for caregiver self-esteem).

The Effectiveness of Psychosocial and Behavioral Interventions for Informal Dementia Caregivers: Meta-Analyses and Meta-Regressions.

Background: Many psychosocial and behavioral interventions have been developed for informal dementia caregivers. Because existing meta-analyses only focused on a limited number of interventions and outcomes, how effective these interventions are overall and which interventions components are associated with larger effects has yet to be explored.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive meta-analysis of the effectiveness of psychosocial and behavioral interventions on burden, depression, anxiety, quality of life, stress, and sense of competence in informal dementia caregivers.

Psychological factors and subjective cognitive complaints after stroke: Beyond depression and anxiety.

Subjective Cognitive Complaints (SCC) are common after stroke and adversely affect quality of life. In the present study, we determined the associations of depression, anxiety, perceived stress and fatigue with post-stroke SCC, and whether these associations were independent of objective cognitive functioning, stroke characteristics and individual differences in personality traits and coping styles. Using a cross-sectional design, SCC and psychological measures were obtained in 208 patients (mean 3.

Illness identity in young adults with refractory epilepsy.

Introduction: Refractory epilepsy is an intrusive condition with important implications for daily functioning in emerging and young adulthood. The present study examined the degree to which refractory epilepsy is integrated in one's identity, and examined how such a sense of illness identity was related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: A total of 121 18- to 40-year-old patients with refractory epilepsy (56.

Testing the effectivity of the mixed virtual reality training Into D'mentia for informal caregivers of people with dementia: protocol for a longitudinal, quasi-experimental study.

Introduction: Informal caregivers for people with dementia (hereafter: caregivers) often feel (over)burdened by the care for a loved one with dementia, and this can have various deleterious effects on both caregivers and patients. Support for caregivers is urgently needed, and for this reason, a dementia simulator (Into D'mentia) was developed in which caregivers experience what it is like to have dementia. The simulator attempts to heighten caregivers' empathy and understanding for the patient and, in turn, diminish their own caregiver burden.

Quality of Life after Young Ischemic Stroke of Mild Severity Is Mainly Influenced by Psychological Factors.

Background: Long-term prognosis in terms of quality of life (QoL) in young stroke patients is of importance because they usually have a long life expectancy and extensive daily life demands. We aimed at determining which medical and psychological factors influence the QoL in young stroke patients (<50 years), after long-term follow-up.

Methods: Young ischemic stroke patients admitted to the St.