Multi-domain Online Therapeutic Investigation Of Neurocognition (MOTION) - A randomized comparative-effectiveness study of two remotely delivered mind-body interventions for older adults with cognitive decline.

Background: Research suggest that mind-body movement programs have beneficial effects on cognitive outcomes for older adults with cognitive decline. However, few studies have directly compared specific approaches to mind-body movement or studied the impact of remote program delivery.

Methods: In a 3-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) for older adults with cognitive impairment, we are comparing a multidomain mind-body program that emphasizes movement, body awareness, personal meaningfulness, and social connection, and a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise (Tai Chi) to a health and wellness education control condition.

The "FitBrain" program: implementing exergaming & dual-task exercise programs in outpatient clinical settings.

Dual-task training and exergaming interventions are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance cognitive, physical, and mood outcomes among older adults and individuals with neurological conditions. Despite this, clinical and community programs that use these interventions are limited in availability. This paper presents the "FitBrain" program, an outpatient clinical model that combines dual-task and exergaming interventions to promote cognitive and physical health.

Structural MRI correlates of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Long COVID: a pilot study.

Approximately 7% of COVID-19 patients (1.3% children) have exhibited symptoms of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or Long COVID, and 20% of those present with neuropsychiatric symptoms. While a large number of MRI-based neuroimaging studies in this population have shown cortical atrophy in terms of gray matter volume and cortical thickness in patients, there is a growing body of work showing brain volume enlargements or thickness increases in patients compared to COVID negative controls.

Lifestyle intervention improves cognition and quality of life in persons with early Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Lifestyle changes have been demonstrated to impact pathophysiology in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Various diet and exercise protocols have been reported to improve symptoms and function in persons with MS. Evidence is accumulating that interventions as early as possible in the disease course are warranted.

Beyond the hippocampus: Amygdala and memory functioning in older adults.

Background: Medial temporal lobe atrophy has been linked to decline in neuropsychological measures of explicit memory function. While the hippocampus has long been identified as a critical structure in learning and memory processes, less is known about contributions of the amygdala to these functions. We sought to investigate the relationship between amygdala volume and memory functioning in a clinical sample of older adults with and without cognitive impairment.

Variation in benefit among patients with serious mental illness who receive integrated psychiatric and primary care.

Purpose: The population with serious mental illness has high risk for hospitalization or death due to unhealthy behaviors and inadequate medical care, though the level of risk varies substantially. Programs that integrate medical and psychiatric services improve outcomes but are challenging to implement and access is limited. It would be useful to know whether benefits are confined to patients with specific levels of risk.

The Characteristics of People with Serious Mental Illness Who are at High Risk for Hospitalization or Death.

Many individuals with serious mental illness are at high risk for hospitalization or death due to inadequate treatment of medical conditions or unhealthy behaviors. The authors describe demographic and clinical characteristics associated with increased risk in this population. Electronic data were obtained for individuals in treatment at a large Veterans' healthcare system who were at high risk according to a validated model.

The impact of physical exercise on hippocampal atrophy in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis.

Physical activity (PA) is a promising therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Only a handful of meta-analyses have studied the impact of PA interventions on regional brain volumes, and none to date has solely included studies on effect of PA on regional brain volumes in individuals with cognitive impairment (CI). In this meta-analysis, we examined whether there is support for the hypothesis that PA interventions positively impact hippocampal volume (HV) in individuals with CI.

Neurocognitive Effects of an Online Brain Health Program and Weekly Telehealth Support Group in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Loss: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors has the potential to slow cognitive decline in older adults by reducing risks associated with dementia. Curriculum-based group health coaching may aid in establishing behavior change centered for dementia risk factors.

Methods: In this pilot clinical care patient group study ( = 6), we examined the effects of a six-month online Cognitive Health Program combined with a weekly telehealth support group led by the course creator, and personalized health optimization by a collaborating physician, in older adults with subjective cognitive decline.

An open trial of biofeedback for long COVID.

Objective: Biofeedback is a therapeutic treatment model that teaches self-regulation of autonomic functions to alleviate stress-related symptoms. "Long COVID" refers to chronic physical and cognitive sequelae post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study examined the efficacy of a six-week intervention, consisting of weekly one-hour sessions combining heart rate variability and temperature biofeedback, for alleviating mood symptoms, somatic symptoms and sleep disturbance of patients diagnosed with long COVID.

Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer's disease.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) accompanied by cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are known to increase the risk of developing dementia. Mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation, have been recognized as safe techniques with beneficial effects on cognitive functions in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Kundalini yoga training (KY) compared to memory enhancement training (MET) on mood and cognitive functioning in a group of older women with CVRFs and SCD (clinicaltrials.

Effects of Electronic Cigarette Vaping on Cardiac and Vascular Function, and Post-myocardial Infarction Remodeling in Rats.

The effect of electronic cigarette (E-cig) vaping on cardiac and vascular function during the healing phase of myocardial infarction (MI), and post-MI remodeling was investigated. Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to left coronary artery ligation to induce MI. One week later, rats were randomized to receive either 12 weeks of exposure to purified air (n = 37) or E-cig vapor (15 mg/ml of nicotine) (n = 32).

Grey matter volume predicts improvement in geriatric depression in response to Tai Chi compared to Health Education.

Objectives: Geriatric depression (GD) is associated with cognitive impairment and brain atrophy. Tai-Chi-Chih (TCC) is a promising adjunct treatment to antidepressants. We previously found beneficial effects of TCC on resting state connectivity in GD.

Nature-themed video intervention may improve cardiovascular safety of psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder.

Introduction: Psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin has shown promise in Phase 2 trials for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Set and setting, particularly factors facilitating a connection with nature, may positively influence the psychedelic experience and therapeutic outcomes. But to date, randomized controlled trials of interventions to enhance set and setting for psychedelic-assisted therapy are lacking.

Impact of Eating a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet on Cortical Atrophy in a Cross-Section of Amyloid Positive Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Small Sample Study.

Background: A carbohydrate-restricted diet aimed at lowering insulin levels has the potential to slow Alzheimer's disease (AD). Restricting carbohydrate consumption reduces insulin resistance, which could improve glucose uptake and neural health. A hallmark feature of AD is widespread cortical thinning; however, no study has demonstrated that lower net carbohydrate (nCHO) intake is linked to attenuated cortical atrophy in patients with AD and confirmed amyloidosis.

Membrane-localized neoantigens predict the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

Immune checkpoint immunotherapy (ICI) can re-activate immune reactions against neoantigens, leading to remarkable remission in cancer patients. Nevertheless, only a minority of patients are responsive to ICI, and approaches for prediction of responsiveness are needed to improve the success of cancer treatments. While the tumor mutational burden (TMB) correlates positively with responsiveness and survival of patients undergoing ICI, the influence of the subcellular localizations of the neoantigens remains unclear.

Impact of Yoga Versus Memory Enhancement Training on Hippocampal Connectivity in Older Women at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Yoga may be an ideal early intervention for those with modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) development.

Objective: To examine the effects of Kundalini yoga (KY) training versus memory enhancement training (MET) on the resting-state connectivity of hippocampal subregions in women with subjective memory decline and cardiovascular risk factors for AD.

Methods: Participants comprised women with subjective memory decline and cardiovascular risk factors who participated in a parent randomized controlled trial (NCT03503669) of 12-weeks of KY versus MET and completed pre- and post-intervention resting-state magnetic resonance imaging scans (yoga: n = 11, age = 61.

Preliminary validation of a structural magnetic resonance imaging metric for tracking dementia-related neurodegeneration and future decline.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive decline and atrophy in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and subsequent brain regions. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) has been widely used in research and clinical care for diagnosis and monitoring AD progression. However, atrophy patterns are complex and vary by patient.

Neuroprotection in Cerebral Cortex Induced by the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol.

In multiple sclerosis (MS), demyelination occurs in the cerebral cortex, and cerebral cortex atrophy correlates with clinical disabilities. Treatments are needed in MS to induce remyelination. Pregnancy is protective in MS.

Second-line cannabis therapy in patients with epilepsy.

Objective: Marijuana-based therapies (MBTs) have been shown to reduce seizure frequency in patients with severe and drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Pharmaceutical-grade CBD (Epidiolex) was approved by the FDA in 2018 for the treatments of Dravet Syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and subsequently in 2020 for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). It is unclear what the utility would be in prescribing one type of MBT if a previous, alternative type failed.

Effects of Electronic Cigarette Exposure on Myocardial Infarction and No-Reflow, and Cardiac Function in a Rat Model.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of exposure to electronic cigarettes (E-cig) vapor on the sizes of the no-reflow and myocardial infarction regions, and cardiovascular function compared to exposure to purified air and standard cigarette smoke.

Methods And Results: Sprague Dawley rats (both male and female, 6 weeks old) were successfully exposed to filtered air (n = 32), E-cig with nicotine (E-cig Nic, n = 26), E-cig without nicotine (E-cig Nic, n = 26), or standard cigarette smoke (1R6F reference, n = 31). All rats were exposed to inhalation exposure for 8 weeks, prior to being subjected to 30 minutes of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion.

Handgrip Strength Is Related to Hippocampal and Lobar Brain Volumes in a Cohort of Cognitively Impaired Older Adults with Confirmed Amyloid Burden.

Background: Strength and mobility are essential for activities of daily living. With aging, weaker handgrip strength, mobility, and asymmetry predict poorer cognition. We therefore sought to quantify the relationship between handgrip metrics and volumes quantified on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Differentiation of Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia Using qEEG/ERP-Based Cognitive Testing and Volumetric MRI in an Outpatient Specialty Memory Clinic.

Background: Distinguishing between subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia in a scalable, accessible way is important to promote earlier detection and intervention.

Objective: We investigated diagnostic categorization using an FDA-cleared quantitative electroencephalographic/event-related potential (qEEG/ERP)-based cognitive testing system (eVox® by Evoke Neuroscience) combined with an automated volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (vMRI) tool (Neuroreader® by Brainreader).

Methods: Patients who self-presented with memory complaints were assigned to a diagnostic category by dementia specialists based on clinical history, neurologic exam, neuropsychological testing, and laboratory results.