A self-guided e-learning program improves metamemory outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Aging brings memory changes that can be concerning for some older adults. Whereas in-person memory interventions can positively impact knowledge, mental health, and behavioural outcomes, self-guided e-learning programs may offer scalable and accessible alternatives to in-person programming. The current study aimed to evaluate efficacy of an e-learning program compared to no treatment.

Homocysteine, neurodegenerative biomarkers, and APOE ε4 in neurodegenerative diseases.

Introduction: Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases; however, its relationship with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele has not been well characterized.

Methods: Participants clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment (AD/MCI), frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease, or cerebrovascular disease were stratified by the presence of the APOE ε4 allele. Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging, plasma amyloid/tau/neurodegeneration biomarkers, and cognitive performance were quantified.

Creation and Validation of the MMQ-9: A Short Version of the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire for Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Objectives: Memory concerns are common among older adults. The Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) is a well-validated participant-reported measure consisting of 57 items across three subscales assessing satisfaction with memory, self-perceived memory ability, and memory strategy use, respectively. Because short scales are often desired to accommodate clinical time constraints and reduce respondent burden, we created and evaluated 9-item versions of each subscale (MMQ-9).

Sex Matters: Association with Superager Classification and Risk Factors.

Superagers are 80 to 89-year-olds with average or better cognition and memory equivalent to individuals 20 to 30 years younger. As sex and modifiable lifestyle/health factors influence cognitive aging and dementia risk, we examined their impact on superager status. Data from participants (n = 469; 67% female) aged 80-89 years old were analyzed from an online database that included demographic and dementia risk factors, and performance on tasks assessing working memory, cognitive inhibition, associative memory, and set shifting.

Evaluating functional abilities within the context of memory assessment: A practice survey of neuropsychologists.

Functioning in daily life is an important consideration when differentiating between individuals with normal cognition, mild neurocognitive disorder, and major neurocognitive disorder. Despite this, there is no gold standard measurement approach for assessing functional abilities and few guidelines on how to do so. The objective of this study was to examine neuropsychologists' practices regarding the assessment of functional abilities across the spectrum of memory ability.

White matter hyperintensity burden predicts cognitive but not motor decline in Parkinson's disease: results from the Ontario Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Initiative.

Background And Purpose: The pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) negatively affects brain network connectivity, and in the presence of brain white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) cognitive and motor impairments seem to be aggravated. However, the role of WMHs in predicting accelerating symptom worsening remains controversial. The objective was to investigate whether location and segmental brain WMH burden at baseline predict cognitive and motor declines in PD after 2 years.

Neuropsychiatric Symptom Burden across Neurodegenerative Disorders and its Association with Function.

Objective: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are prevalent in neurodegenerative disorders, however, their frequency and impact on function across different disorders is not well understood. We compared the frequency and severity of NPS across Alzheimer's disease (AD) (either with mild cognitive impairment or dementia), Cerebrovascular disease (CVD), Parkinson's disease (PD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and explored the association between NPS burden and function.

Methods: We obtained data from Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI) that included following cohorts: AD ( = 111), CVD ( = 148), PD ( = 136), FTD ( = 50) and ALS ( = 36).

Characteristics of the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative cohort.

Introduction: Understanding synergies between neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular pathologies that modify dementia presentation represents an important knowledge gap.

Methods: This multi-site, longitudinal, observational cohort study recruited participants across prevalent neurodegenerative diseases and cerebrovascular disease and assessed participants comprehensively across modalities. We describe univariate and multivariate baseline features of the cohort and summarize recruitment, data collection, and curation processes.

The adverse effect of modifiable dementia risk factors on cognition amplifies across the adult lifespan.

Background: Reversible lifestyle behaviors (modifiable risk factors) can reduce dementia risk by 40%, but their prevalence and association with cognition throughout the adult lifespan is less well understood.

Methods: The associations between the number of modifiable risk factors for dementia (low education, hypertension, hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, alcohol or substance abuse, diabetes, smoking, and depression) and cognition were examined in an online sample ( = 22,117, ages 18-89).

Findings: Older adults (ages 66-89) had more risk factors than middle-aged (ages 45-65) and younger adults (ages 18-44).

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Group Memory Intervention for Healthy Older Adults with Memory Concerns.

This study examines whether memory intervention programs can mitigate health care costs. Research suggests these programs translate to a decreased intention of older adults who are worried about age-normal memory changes to seek traditional outlets for medical/psychiatric help. We employed a cost-benefit analysis approach to analyze the effectiveness of a memory intervention program within Ontario.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Impact of a self-guided e-learning Memory and Brain Health Promotion Program for Healthy Older Adults.

Objectives: To examine the feasibility (e.g., completion rate), acceptability (e.

Caregiving concerns and clinical characteristics across neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders in the Ontario neurodegenerative disease research initiative.

Objectives: Caregiving burdens are a substantial concern in the clinical care of persons with neurodegenerative disorders. In the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative, we used the Zarit's Burden Interview (ZBI) to examine: (1) the types of burdens captured by the ZBI in a cross-disorder sample of neurodegenerative conditions (2) whether there are categorical or disorder-specific effects on caregiving burdens, and (3) which demographic, clinical, and cognitive measures are related to burden(s) in neurodegenerative disorders?

Methods/design: N = 504 participants and their study partners (e.g.

Sex differences and modifiable dementia risk factors synergistically influence memory over the adult lifespan.

Introduction: More women than men develop Alzheimer's disease, yet women perform better and show less decline on episodic memory measures, a contradiction that may be accounted for by modifiable risk factors for dementia.

Methods: Associations among age, sex, modifiable dementia risk factors, and cognition were measured in a cross-sectional online sample (= 21,840, ages 18 to 89).

Results: Across four tests of associative memory and executive functions, only a Face-Name Association task revealed sex differences in associative memory that varied by age.

An Agile Development Cycle of an Online Memory Program for Healthy Older Adults.

Online interventions for older adults should be tailored to their unique needs to increase the efficacy of and adherence to the intervention. The agile development cycle is a dynamic model to solicit and incorporate feedback from older adults during the design process. We combined this approach with the framework of Harvard University's clinical and translational phases that provide a clear structure for evaluating new health programs before they are offered in the community.

Evaluating the effectiveness of compensatory memory interventions in adults with acquired brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis of memory and everyday outcomes.

Objective: Adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) often experience memory impairments that are persistent and difficult to treat. Although evidence has shown that rehabilitation programs may improve cognitive performance in persons with ABI, there is an opportunity to look more closely at the benefits provided by specific interventions. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether compensation-based memory programs improve memory or everyday outcomes (e.

Implicit processes enhance cognitive abilities in mild cognitive impairment.

Previous work has shown that older adults with typical age-related memory changes (i.e., without cognitive impairment) pick up irrelevant information implicitly, and unknowingly use that information when it becomes relevant to a later task.

Interindividual and intraindividual variability in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) measured with an online cognitive assessment.

Introduction: Mean cognitive performance is worse in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) compared to control groups. However, studies on variability of cognitive performance in aMCI have yielded inconclusive results, with many differences in variability measures and samples from one study to another.

Methods: We examined variability in aMCI using an existing older adult sample ( = 91; 51 with aMCI, 40 with normal cognition for age), measured with an online self-administered computerized cognitive assessment (Cogniciti's Brain Health Assessment).

Neurocognitive Outcome Following Recovery from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1).

Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness associated with hypoxia and dyspnea. Many of those who contracted and recovered from SARS during the 2002-2003 outbreak reported persistent physical, psychological, and cognitive difficulties. Here, we investigated the residual influences of SARS on cognition for a subset of healthcare professionals who recovered and were referred for neuropsychological evaluation through their workplace insurance.