Differentiating the effect of antipsychotic medication and illness on brain volume reductions in first-episode psychosis: A Longitudinal, Randomised, Triple-blind, Placebo-controlled MRI Study.

Changes in brain volume are a common finding in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies of people with psychosis and numerous longitudinal studies suggest that volume deficits progress with illness duration. However, a major unresolved question concerns whether these changes are driven by the underlying illness or represent iatrogenic effects of antipsychotic medication. In this study, 62 antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) received either a second-generation antipsychotic (risperidone or paliperidone) or a placebo pill over a treatment period of 6 months.

Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Mood Effects.

This meta-analysis examines mood changes after bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Deep brain stimulation improves motor outcomes in Parkinson's disease but there appears to be conflicting reports as to subsequent mood outcomes. Pubmed, PsychINFO and SCOPUS were searched for studies assessing mood outcomes in PD patients who had undergone STN-DBS published between January 2003 and the end of January 2019.

Plant-based Medicines (Phytoceuticals) in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Meta-review of Meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials: Les médicaments à base de plantes (phytoceutiques) dans le traitement des troubles psychiatriques: une méta-revue des méta-analyses d'essais randomisés contrôlés.

Objectives: Plant-based medicines have had a long-standing history of use in psychiatric disorders. Highly quantified and standardized extracts or isolates may be termed "phytoceuticals," in a similar way that medicinal nutrients are termed as "nutraceuticals." Over the past 2 decades, several meta-analyses have examined the data for a range of plant-based medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Assessment of the DTI-ALPS Parameter Along the Perivascular Space in Older Adults at Risk of Dementia.

Background And Purpose: Recently, there has been growing interest in the glymphatic system (the functional waste clearance pathway for the central nervous system and its role in flushing solutes (such as amyloid ß and tau), metabolic, and other cellular waste products in the brain. Herein, we investigate a recent potential biomarker for glymphatic activity (the diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space [DTI-ALPS] parameter) using diffusion MRI imaging in an elderly cohort comprising 10 cognitively normal, 10 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 16 Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: All 36 participants imaged on a Siemens 3.

Short-term neuropsychiatric outcomes and quality of life in COVID-19 survivors.

Background: The general medical impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) are increasingly appreciated. However, its impact on neurocognitive, psychiatric health and quality of life (QoL) in survivors after the acute phase is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate neurocognitive function, psychiatric symptoms and QoL in COVID-19 survivors shortly after hospital discharge.

Nutrition-based interventions for mood disorders.

: 'Nutritional Psychiatry' is an emerging area of research that has great potential as an adjunctive tool for the prevention and treatment of diverse neuropsychiatric disorders. Several nutrition-related aspects, such as obesity, dietary patterns, gut microbiome composition and gut permeability, bioactive food compounds, and nutrients can influence pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.: Here, the authors review the current evidence on nutrition-mood interaction and nutrition-based treatments for the two main mood disorders, i.

Prebiotic and probiotic supplementation and the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway: A systematic review and meta analysis.

This systematic review aimed to synthesise the results from studies investigating the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on kynurenine pathway metabolism. Thirteen studies were identified for inclusion, comprising 12 probiotic and two prebiotic arms. Participants included healthy individuals and individuals with various clinical conditions.

iPSC for modeling neurodegenerative disorders.

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, are fundamental health concerns all around the world. The development of novel treatments and new techniques to address these disorders, are being actively studied by researchers and medical personnel. In the present review we will discuss the application of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for cell-therapy replacement and disease modelling.

Increasing Nrf2 Activity as a Treatment Approach in Neuropsychiatry.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor encoded by NFE2L2. Under oxidative stress, Nrf2 does not undergo its normal cytoplasmic degradation but instead travels to the nucleus, where it binds to a DNA promoter and initiates transcription of anti-oxidative genes. Nrf2 upregulation is associated with increased cellular levels of glutathione disulfide, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferases, thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase.

Differential effects of sex on longitudinal patterns of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Cognitive impairment is an important and diverse symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). Sex is a purported risk variable for cognitive decline in PD, but has not been comprehensively investigated.

Objectives: This cross-sectional and longitudinal study examined sex differences in global and domain-specific cognitive performance in a large PD cohort.

Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in low-income and middle-income countries: systematic review and theory of change.

Purpose: To synthesise the evidence on effectiveness, acceptability and the delivery mechanisms of psychosocial interventions for self-harm in low and middle income countries and to develop a pathway of change specific for self-harm interventions.

Method: Studies reporting one or more patient or implementation outcomes of a psychosocial intervention targeting self-harm and conducted in low- and middle-income countries were included. Taxonomy of treatment components and a theory of change map was created using information from the studies.

Adjunctive Linn. (Mangosteen) Pericarp for Schizophrenia: A 24-Week Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Efficacy Trial: Péricarpe d'appoint Garcinia mangostana Linn (mangoustan) pour la schizophrénie : un essai d'efficacité de 24 semaines, à double insu, randomisé et contrôlé par placebo.

Objectives: Linn. ("mangosteen") pericarp contains bioactive compounds that may target biological pathways implicated in schizophrenia. We conducted a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of adjunctive mangosteen pericarp, compared to placebo, in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation for the treatment of diseases other than infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The intestinal microbiome has been identified as a key modifier for a variety of health conditions. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a fast, safe, and effective means by which to modify the intestinal microbiome and potentially treat a variety of health conditions. Despite extensive research of FMT for CDI, there is a lack of clarity informed by systematic synthesis of data regarding the safety and efficacy of FMT for other health conditions.

Brain Health Living Labs.

We call on geriatric brain health care providers, executives and entrepreneurs to embrace our Brain Health Living Lab model-a user-centered, iterative ecosystem, integrating concurrent clinical care, research and innovation processes.

Study protocol for the systematic review and meta-analyses of the association between schizophrenia and bone fragility.

Introduction: Individuals with schizophrenia are known to be at higher risk of comorbid conditions, both physical and psychological. Osteoporosis is possibly one of these, leading to public health concerns due to higher rates of associated mortality and morbidity. We aim to systematically search all available evidence across electronic databases regarding the relationship between schizophrenia and bone fragility.

The feasibility of delivering first suspected seizure care using telehealth: A mixed methods controlled study.

Purpose: Prompt access to specialist assessment is critical after a first suspected seizure. We aimed to test the feasibility of providing this service via telehealth, compared with usual care (face-to-face appointment) in patients referred to a first seizure clinic.

Method: This feasibility study was a prospective mixed-methods non-randomised controlled design in a single centre.

Objectively measured physical activity and all cause mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Current physical activity recommendations have been based on evidence from systematic reviews of questionnaire-based data. Questionnaire-based physical activity data are subject to both random and non-random error. If the estimated association between physical activity and health outcomes was different when a more accurate, objective measure was used, this would have important health policy implications for physical activity.

Combined physical and cognitive training for older adults with and without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Combining physical exercise with cognitive training is a popular intervention in dementia prevention trials and guidelines. However, it remains unclear what combination strategies are most beneficial for cognitive and physical outcomes. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the three main types of combination strategies (simultaneous, sequential or exergaming) to either intervention alone or control in older adults.

The prevalence, odds and predictors of lifespan comorbid eating disorder among people with a primary diagnosis of bipolar disorders, and vice-versa: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There are scarce and discrepant data about the prevalence and correlates of co-occurring eating disorders (EDs) among people with a primary diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD), and vice-versa, compelling a systematic review and meta-analysis on the matter.

Methods: MEDLINE/PsycINFO databases were systematically searched for original studies documenting BD⇌ED comorbidity across the lifespan, from inception up until April 20, 2020. Random-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses were conducted, accounting for multiple moderators.

Ultra-high-field MRI using composite RF (STEP) pulses.

Ultra-high field MRI offers many opportunities to expand the applications of MRI. In order for this to be realized, the technical problems associated with MRI at field strengths of 7 T and greater need to be solved or mitigated. This paper explores the use of new variations of composite RF pulses, named serial transmit excitation pulses (STEP), in contrast to parallel pulse techniques, in order to remove and/or mitigate the effects of non-uniform B excitation fields associated with the subject (eg the human brain).

A study protocol for a phase II randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sodium selenate as a disease-modifying treatment for behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia.

Introduction: Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder often neuropathologically associated with the accumulation of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau, for which there is currently no disease-modifying treatment. Previous work by our group has shown sodium selenate upregulates the activity of protein phosphatase 2 in the brain, increasing the rate of tau dephosphorylation. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium selenate as a disease-modifying treatment for bvFTD.