Publications by authors named "S T Dekosky"

Background: Transcutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (tVNS) was administered to participants diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to improve word-list memory (primary outcome) and other cognitive skills.

Method: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design was used for this trial. Participants with MCI (n = 59) were sorted into one of two sequences: Sham-tVNS or tVNS-Sham.

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Cognitive aging has become a public health concern as the mean age of the population is ever-increasing. It is a naturalistic and common process of degenerative and compensatory changes that may result in neurocognitive disorders. While heterogeneous, cognitive aging mostly affects executive functions that may be associated with functional losses during activities of daily living.

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The goal of the current study was to learn about the role of cerebral mitochondrial function on cognition. Based on established cognitive neuroscience, clinical neuropsychology, and cognitive aging literature, we hypothesized mitochondrial function within a focal brain region would map onto cognitive behaviors linked to that brain region. To test this hypothesis, we used phosphorous (P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to derive indirect markers of mitochondrial function and energy metabolism across two regions of the brain (bifrontal, left temporal).

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examined the effects of education, smoking, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) on dementia risk in older adults, aiming to understand how these factors might influence dementia differently among various subgroups.
  • - Using data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (2005-2021), researchers found that a college education was linked to a decreased risk of dementia, particularly in people without hypertension, while smoking and AUD had varying effects based on specific health conditions.
  • - The findings highlight the need for a personalized approach in addressing dementia risk, as different factors significantly impact certain groups, suggesting that interventions should be tailored to individual health profiles.
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  • - The study investigated the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
  • - Analysis of Medicare data from 2016 to 2020 revealed that GLP-1RA users had a lower incidence of PD (2.85 vs. 3.92 per 1000 person-years) and a 23% reduced risk of PD compared to DPP4i users.
  • - The findings suggest that GLP-1RAs may have a protective effect against PD in
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