The Cortisol Awakening Response as a Biomarker for Cognitive Side-Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Objective: To test whether the cortisol awakening response (CAR) could be a biomarker for cognitive decline during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Methods: We studied 50 older patients with depression who were treated with ECT from the MODECT cohort. We used linear regression analyses to examine the association between CAR and cognitive change, assessed by the change in Mini Mental State Examination scores between baseline and 1 week after ECT course.

Pharmacological prevention of postictal agitation after electroconvulsive therapy-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postictal agitation (PIA) after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a serious clinical problem estimated to occur in 7-36% of patients and recur in 19-54% of patients. PIA has the potential to cause dangerous situations for the patient and staff members aside from the financial impact. To date, it is unclear which pharmacological interventions should be used in the management of PIA.

Rivastigmine for ECT-induced cognitive adverse effects in late life depression (RECALL study): A multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial in patients with depression aged 55 years or older: Rationale, objectives and methods.

Background: Cognitive side-effects are an important reason for the limited use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Cognitive side-effects are heterogeneous and occur frequently in older persons. To date, insight into these side-effects is hampered due to inconsistencies in study designs and small sample sizes.

Clinical Phenotypes of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia by Age at Onset.

Background: Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is generally considered a young-onset dementia, although age at onset is highly variable. While several studies indicate clinical differences regarding age at onset, no biomarker validated cohort studies with updated clinical criteria have been performed.

Objective: We aimed to examine behavior, cognition, and mortality over the full age spectrum in a cohort of bvFTD patients with neuroimaging, genetic, or histopathological confirmation and exclusion of positive Alzheimer's disease biomarkers or severe cerebrovascular damage.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Sciatica in the Netherlands: A Survey among Neurologists and Anesthesiologists.

Background: This study aimed to assess how Dutch neurologists and anesthesiologists diagnose and treat people with sciatica in secondary care and to evaluate their adherence to the newest guidelines.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey. Respondents were asked about their current clinical practice related to sciatica.

Apathy Is Associated With Greater Decline in Subjective, but not in Objective Measures of Physical Functioning in Older People Without Dementia.

Background: In older people, both apathy and depression (which frequently co-occurs with apathy) have been associated with poor physical functioning, a major health concern. We investigated the association between apathy and physical functioning in older people without dementia and whether this association is modified by depression.

Methods: We used the data from 380 older participants (with and without depression) taking part in the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons, with baseline scores on the Apathy Scale and baseline and 2-year follow-up scores on at least one measure of physical functioning.