Baseline Characteristics of Participants in STAREE: A Randomized Trial for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Events and Prolongation of Disability-Free Survival in Older People.

Background: The risk-benefit balance of statin use in healthy older people is uncertain. We describe the baseline characteristics of the STAREE (Statins in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial, which is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial among community-dwelling older people; the trial evaluated the effect of atorvastatin 40 mg for the prevention of major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke), and on disability-free survival (survival free of both dementia and persistent physical disability).

Methods And Results: STAREE enrolled people aged ≥70 years from 1583 general practices across Australia with no history of clinical cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or dementia.

The distribution of parent-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and subclinical autistic traits in children with and without an ADHD diagnosis.

Background: Autistic traits are often reported to be elevated in children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the distribution of subclinical autistic traits in children with ADHD has not yet been established; knowing this may have important implications for diagnostic and intervention processes. The present study proposes a preliminary model of the distribution of parent-reported ADHD and subclinical autistic traits in two independent samples of Australian children with and without an ADHD diagnosis.

Combination of gait speed and grip strength to predict cognitive decline and dementia.

Introduction: To determine whether slowed gait and weakened grip strength independently, or together, better identify risk of cognitive decline or dementia.

Methods: Time to walk 3 meters and grip strength were measured in a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial involving community-dwelling, initially cognitively healthy older adults (N = 19,114).

Results: Over a median 4.

The relationship between cognitive engagement and better memory in midlife.

Introduction: Engagement in cognitively stimulating work and activities may slow cognitive decline and dementia. We examined the individual and combined associations of four cognitive engagement indices (educational attainment, occupational complexity, social engagement, and cognitively stimulating leisure activities) with objective and subjective cognition.

Methods: Middle-aged adults (n = 1864) enrolled in the Healthy Brain Project completed the Cogstate Brief Battery, the Cognitive Function Instrument, and self-report questionnaires of cognitive engagement.

The effectiveness of an individualized sleep and shift work education and coaching program to manage shift work disorder in nurses: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Objectives: While insomnia and sleepiness symptoms are common in shift workers, 20%-30% experience more severe symptoms and meet the criteria for shift work disorder (SWD). SWD can lead to impairments in cognitive function, physical and mental health, and reduced productivity and increased risk of workplace injury. The aim of this study was to deliver and evaluate a shift work individual management coaching program, focusing on sleep education, promoting good sleep hygiene, and providing individualized behavioral strategies to cope with shift schedules.

A national harmonised data collection network for neurodevelopmental disorders: A transdiagnostic assessment protocol for neurodevelopment, mental health, functioning and well-being.

Background: Children with neurodevelopmental disorders share common phenotypes, support needs and comorbidities. Such overlap suggests the value of transdiagnostic assessment pathways that contribute to knowledge about research and clinical needs of these children and their families. Despite this, large transdiagnostic data collection networks for neurodevelopmental disorders are not well developed.

Determining the Validity of Conducting Rating Scales in Friedreich Ataxia through Video.

Background: The Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) and the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) are commonly used neurological rating scales in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). The modified Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (mFARS) has been accepted as an appropriate outcome measure for clinical trials in FRDA.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in limited face-to-face interactions with individuals involved in natural history studies and clinical trials.

Soft-shell headgear, concussion and injury prevention in youth team collision sports: a systematic review.

Objectives: To assess the association between soft-shell headgear (HG) use and sports-related concussion (SRC). Secondary objectives were to assess the association between HG and superficial head injury and investigate potential increase in injury risk among HG users.

Design: A systematic search in Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus was conducted in April 2020.

Learning deficit in cognitively normal APOE ε4 carriers with LOW β-amyloid.

Introduction: In cognitively normal (CN) adults, increased rates of amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation can be detected in low Aβ (Aβ-) apolipoprotein E () ε4 carriers. We aimed to determine the effect of ε4 on the ability to benefit from experience (ie, learn) in Aβ- CNs.

Methods: Aβ- CNs (n = 333) underwent episodic memory assessments every 18 months for 108 months.

Agitated Behavior and Activities of Daily Living Retraining During Posttraumatic Amnesia.

Background: Patients in posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) may receive limited rehabilitation due to the risk of overstimulation and agitation. This assumption has not been tested.

Objective: To examine the relationship between agitated behavior and participation in therapy for retraining of activities of daily living (ADL) while in PTA.

White matter integrity of the medial forebrain bundle and attention and working memory deficits following traumatic brain injury.

Background And Objective: The medial forebrain bundle (MFB) contains ascending catecholamine fibers that project to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Damage to these fibers following traumatic brain injury (TBI) may alter extracellular catecholamine levels in the PFC and impede attention and working memory ability. This study investigated white matter microstructure of the medial MFB, specifically the supero-lateral branch (slMFB), following TBI, and its association with performance on attention and working memory tasks.

The direction of the relationship between symptoms of insomnia and psychiatric disorders in adolescents.

Background: This study assessed the direction of the relationship between symptoms of insomnia disorder, depression, various anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in adolescents after controlling for age, gender, chronotype, and outcome variable at baseline.

Methods: Data was collected in eight high schools in Adelaide, South Australia, at two time-points approximately 6 months apart. The study was completed by 318 and 255 high school students at baseline and follow-up, respectively, aged 12-18 (M=14.

Data Analytics from Enroll-HD, a Global Clinical Research Platform for Huntington's Disease.

Background: The study of complex neurodegenerative diseases is moving away from hypothesis-driven biological methods toward large scale multimodal approaches, requiring standardized collaborative efforts. Enroll-HD exemplifies such an integrated clinical research platform, designed and implemented to meet the research and clinical needs of Huntington's disease (HD). The aim of this study was to describe the unique organization of Enroll-HD and report baseline data analyses of its core study.

Prolonged Eyelid Closure Episodes during Sleep Deprivation in Professional Drivers.

Study Objectives: Real life ocular measures of drowsiness use average blink duration, amplitude and velocity of eyelid movements to reflect drowsiness in drivers. However, averaged data may conceal the variability in duration of eyelid closure episodes, and more prolonged episodes that indicate higher levels of drowsiness. The current study aimed to describe the frequency and duration of prolonged eyelid closure episodes during acute sleep deprivation.

Self-Regulation of Driving Behavior in People with Parkinson Disease.

Objective: To determine the extent and nature of driving self-regulation in drivers with Parkinson disease (PD) and factors associated with self-regulatory practices.

Background: Although people with PD have consistently been shown to have driving impairments, few studies have examined self-regulatory driving practices and their relationship to driving performance.

Methods: We used a self-report driving questionnaire to examine driving self-regulation in 37 drivers with PD and 37 healthy age-matched controls.