Differential Effect of Demographics, Processing Speed, and Depression on Cognitive Function in 755 Non-demented Community-dwelling Elderly Individuals.

Background: Several factors may account for inter- and intra-individual variability in cognitive functions, including age, gender, education level, information processing speed, and mood.

Objective: To evaluate the combined contribution of demographic factors, information processing speed, and depressive symptoms to scores on several diagnostic cognitive measures that are commonly used in geriatric neuropsychological practice in Greece.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional study, we established a multivariate general linear model and analyzed the predictive role of age, gender, education, information processing speed (Trail Making Test-Part A), and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15 Items) on measures of general cognitive status (Mini-Mental State Examination), verbal memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), language (Confrontation Naming), and executive functions (Category and Phonemic Fluency, Trail Making Test-Part B) for a sample of 755 healthy, community-dwelling Greek individuals aged 50 to 90 years.

CADASIL and autoimmunity: coexistence in a family with the R169C mutation at exon 4 of the NOTCH3 gene.

Background: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an inherited small vessel disease caused by mutations of the NOTCH3 gene, which result in degeneration of vascular smooth muscle cells, arteriolar stenosis, and impaired cerebral blood flow. For clinicians this is the commonest hereditary adult-onset condition causing stroke and vascular dementia at middle age. Atypical phenotypes have been recognized, and the disease is probably underdiagnosed in the wider stroke population.

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in Greece: the Arcadia Rural Study on Atrial Fibrillation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major factor for stroke and stroke-associated mortality, and its incidence is increasing during the last decades. There are only scarce data about its prevalence in Greece. We designed an epidemiological cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of AF in Greece and evaluate the adequacy of anticoagulant treatment in AF patients.

Low triiodothyronine: a strong predictor of outcome in acute stroke patients.

Background: Low triiodothyronine (T3) has been associated with increased short-term mortality in intensive care unit patients and long-term mortality in patients with heart disease. The objective of this study was to investigate possible associations of thyroid hormone status with clinical outcome in patients admitted for acute stroke.

Materials And Methods: A total of 737 consecutive patients with acute first ever stroke who presented within 24 h from symptoms' onset were studied.

Hypothyroidism as a protective factor in acute stroke patients.

Objective: It has been reported that hypothyroidism is associated with better survival in elderly persons. We investigated possible associations of thyroid status with clinical outcome in patients with acute stroke.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Stroke etiology is associated with symptom onset during sleep.

Background And Objectives: Almost every fifth stroke occurs during sleep. Data about characteristics and etiology of stroke during sleep are conflicting. We investigated the association of the activity at stroke onset (onset during night sleep vs.