Eye-tracking-based cognitive assessment efficiently detects mild cognitive decline in the predementia stage.

Introduction: The early detection of cognitive decline is key to maximizing the benefits of preventive and therapeutic interventions against dementia. Generally, dementia is first assessed by interview-based neuropsychological tests, but the lengthy interview and mental stress during the assessment process make screenings inefficient. We previously developed a rapid screening test for dementia using an eye-tracking technology (eye tracking-based cognitive assessment, ETCA) and reported its utility for clinically detecting cognitive impairment in dementia cases.

Validation of the Japanese version of the Social Functioning in Dementia scale and COVID-19 pandemic's impact on social function in mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia.

Objectives: We aimed to psychometrically evaluate and validate a Japanese version of the Social Functioning in Dementia scale (SF-DEM-J) and investigate changes in social function in people with dementia during the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Design: We interviewed people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia and their caregivers during June 2020-March 2021 to validate patient- and caregiver-rated SF-DEM-J and compared their scores at baseline (April 2020 to May 2020) and at 6-8 months (January 2021 to March 2021) during a time of tighter COVID-19 restrictions.

Setting: The neuropsychology clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at Osaka University Hospital and outpatient clinic in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Daini Osaka Police Hospital, Japan.

Characteristics of behavioral symptoms in right-sided predominant semantic dementia and their impact on caregiver burden: a cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aimed to clarify the neuropsychiatric symptoms of right-sided predominant semantic dementia (SD-R) by comparing them with those of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), left-sided predominant SD (SD-L), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study also aimed to identify clinical factors related to caregiver burden for bvFTD, SD-R, and SD-L.

Methods: The neuropsychiatric symptoms of 28 patients with bvFTD, 14 patients with SD-R, 24 patients with SD-L, and 43 patients with AD were evaluated using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Stereotypy Rating Inventory (SRI).

No adverse events were observed in clozapine-treated patients on extended hematologic monitoring intervals during the coronavirus pandemic in four psychiatric centers in Japan.

Aim: As an emergency measure during the coronavirus disease pandemic, the monitoring interval for clozapine use was temporarily extended beyond the regulatory requirement in Japan, which is the safest monitoring interval worldwide. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of this measure on patients undergoing clozapine treatment.

Methods: This retrospective chart review study included patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) who were undergoing clozapine treatment at four psychiatric institutions in Japan.