Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Traditional cognitive and daily functioning measures that utilize episodic assessment schedules are less sensitive to subtle within-person change in those at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to evaluate whether longitudinal trajectories of high frequency cognitive assessments (HFA) and passively assessed higher order instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) differ between those with intact cognition (CN, n = 59) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 45). An exploratory aim evaluated whether the use of person-specific distributions would detect differences in longitudinal trajectories not captured by traditional between-group analyses.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Informant reports can complement standardized cognitive assessment and improve accuracy of dementia diagnosis. Although informant reports correlate moderately with objective measures of decline, the influence of informant factors, such as gender, on these relationships is unclear. This study assessed the hypothesis that informant gender would emerge as an independent predictor in the relationship between informant ratings of cognitive function (i.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Subjective cognitive concerns (SCC) are possibly one of the earliest clinical symptoms of dementia. There is growing interest in applying mobile app-based assessment to remotely screen for cognitive status in preclinical dementia, but the relationship between SCC and relevant mobile assessment metrics remains unclear. To address this gap, we characterize the relationship between SCC and adherence, satisfaction, and performance on digital cognitive assessment in cognitively unimpaired older adults.

The bidirectional relationship between subjective visual function and domain-specific cognition in cognitively unimpaired older adults and adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Introduction: Subjective visual impairment (VI) is related to cognition in cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The utility of subjective VI as an indicator for domain-specific cognitive impairment is unknown.

Methods: We used the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25 item) and a neuropsychological battery to assess the relationship between subjective VI and domain-specific cognitive performance in CU older adults ( = 58) and MCI patients ( = 16).

Longitudinal Predictors of Informant-Rated Everyday Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objective: To examine predictors of informant-reported everyday functioning in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and relations between everyday function and conversion to dementia.

Methods: Informants of participants (n = 2614) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were administered the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ). Changes in dimensions of functional ability as determined by an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were examined over 3 years and participant predictors of change were examined using multilevel modeling (MLM).

Outcomes in heart failure patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities with delirium.

Aim: Heart failure (HF) outcomes are disproportionately worse in patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) as opposed to home. We hypothesized that dementia and delirium were key factors influencing these differences. Our aim was to explore the associations of dementia and delirium with risk of hospital readmission and mortality in HF patients discharged to SNF.

OCTA reveals remodeling of the peripheral capillary free zones in normal aging.

The retinal neurovascular unit consists of blood vessel endothelial cells, pericytes, neurons, astrocytes, and Müller cells that form the inner retinal blood barrier. A peripheral capillary free zone (pCFZ) represents the distance that oxygen and nutrients must diffuse to reach the neural retina, and serves as a metric of retinal tissue oxygenation. The pCFZs are formed based on oxygen saturation in the retinal arterioles and venules.

Machine Learning Classification Identifies Cerebellar Contributions to Early and Moderate Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia, marked by progressively degrading cognitive function. Although cerebellar changes occur throughout AD progression, its involvement and predictive contribution in its earliest stages, as well as gray or white matter components involved, remains unclear. We used MRI machine learning-based classification to assess the contribution of two tissue components [volume fraction myelin (VFM), and gray matter (GM) volume] within the whole brain, the neocortex, the whole cerebellum as well as its anterior and posterior parts and their predictive contribution to the first two stages of AD and typically aging controls.

A recommended "minimum data set" framework for SD-OCT retinal image acquisition and analysis from the Atlas of Retinal Imaging in Alzheimer's Study (ARIAS).

Introduction: We propose a minimum data set framework for the acquisition and analysis of retinal images for the development of retinal Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. Our goal is to describe methodology that will increase concordance across laboratories, so that the broader research community is able to cross-validate findings in parallel, accumulate large databases with normative data across the cognitive aging spectrum, and progress the application of this technology from the discovery stage to the validation stage in the search for sensitive and specific retinal biomarkers in AD.

Methods: The proposed minimum data set framework is based on the Atlas of Retinal Imaging Study (ARIAS), an ongoing, longitudinal, multi-site observational cohort study.

Appropriate use criteria for lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid testing in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: The Alzheimer's Association convened a multidisciplinary workgroup to develop appropriate use criteria to guide the safe and optimal use of the lumbar puncture procedure and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing for Alzheimer's disease pathology detection in the diagnostic process.

Methods: The workgroup, experienced in the ethical use of lumbar puncture and CSF analysis, developed key research questions to guide the systematic review of the evidence and developed clinical indications commonly encountered in clinical practice based on key patient groups in whom the use of lumbar puncture and CSF may be considered as part of the diagnostic process. Based on their expertise and interpretation of the evidence from systematic review, members rated each indication as appropriate or inappropriate.