Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is upregulated in activated microglia and may be related to cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is conflicting evidence regarding the association of peripheral TREM2 mRNA expression/soluble TREM2 (the extracellular domain of TREM2) with cognitive function/neuroinflammation in patients with AD. Herein, we studied the TREM2 and TREM2 mRNA expression and their association with the cognitive performance in subjects with mild dementia due to AD and healthy controls. In a subgroup of patients with AD, magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure the myo-inositol level in the posterior cingulate cortex, a surrogate marker for neuroinflammation. The results showed that increased TREM2 and TREM2 mRNA expression is associated with AD pathogenesis at the mild dementia stage, thereby serving as a potential biomarker for early symptomatic stage of AD. TREM2 may exert protective effects on both cognition and central neuroinflammation.

This study investigated a dose-response relationship between Leisure-Time Physical Activity participation (LTPA) and the risk of diabetes and a comparison of the risk across different cognitive function groups among older adults. The Health and Retirement Study data were used from 2012 to 2020 (n = 18 746). This study conducted a Cox Proportional Hazard Regression to investigate the Dose-Response Curve between the prevalence of diabetes and the covariates following a level of LTPA participation. The result presented that the Odds Ratio continuously decreased as the level of LTPA participation increased. Among the three cognitive function groups, the high group (OR = .43, < .05) and the mid group (OR = .71, < .05) had a larger negative slope coefficient than the low group. This study found that LTPA participation reduces the risk of diabetes and gives evidence for the importance of cognitive function in reducing the prevalence of diabetes.

Sleep disturbances may promote the development and advancement of Alzheimer's disease. Our purpose was to determine if sleep disturbances were associated with earlier mortality while accounting for cognition. The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database was used to evaluate mortality risk conferred by sleep, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score determined cognitive status. Demographics, sleep disturbances, cognitive status, and comorbid/other neuropsychiatric conditions were examined as predictors of survival time via Cox regression. The sample (N = 31,110) had a median age [interquartile range] of 72 [66, 79] years, MoCA score of 23 [16, 26], and survival time of 106.0 months [104.0,108.0]; 10,278 (33%) died during follow-up; 21% (n = 6461) experienced sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances impacted survival time depending on cognition, with the greatest effect in transition from normal to cognitive impairment ( < .001). Findings support that sleep disturbances negatively impact survival time, and the impact of sleep disturbances on survival time is interrelated with cognition.

The study aims to identify psychological symptoms (depression and anxiety) and their relationship to the quality of life among dementia patients' caregivers, and whether there are differences in the level of each of them due to the gender variable. The study follows the correlational approach, with a sample of 174 dementia patients' caregivers. To pursue the analysis, the study uses 3 measurement tools: anxiety, depression, and quality of life. The results show that the level of depression, anxiety, and quality of life among dementia patients' caregivers is moderate. It also finds that there is a positive relationship between anxiety and depression, and there is a negative relationship between quality of life and anxiety and depression. There are no differences in the level of depression and anxiety due to gender, as the study finds female caregivers to have a higher level of quality of life.

ObjectivesTo examine the relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function and the mediating role of social isolation and depression. Data came from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study wave. A self-reported item, a composite index, the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Mini-Mental State Exam were used to measure hearing impairment, social isolation, depression, and cognitive function, respectively. Mediation analysis was performed. 6799 participants were included. For participants reporting mild hearing impairment and severe hearing impairment, there were significant direct and indirect effects on cognitive function. Social isolation mediated 2.75% and 6.33% of the relationship between mild hearing impairment, severe hearing impairment, and cognitive function, respectively. The direct effect of hearing impairment outweighed the mediation effect of social isolation on cognitive function. Decreased cognitive function linked to hearing impairment might benefit from addressing hearing impairment and social isolation in older adults.

Neuropsychological test batteries, which accurately and comprehensively assess cognitive functions, are a crucial approach in the early detection of and interventions for cognitive impairments. However, these tests have yet to gain wide clinical application in China owing to their complexity and time-consuming nature. This study aimed to develop the Computerized Neurocognitive Battery for Chinese-Speaking participants (CNBC), an autorun and autoscoring cognitive assessment tool to provide efficient and accurate cognitive evaluations for Chinese-Speaking individuals.

The goals of this exploratory pre-post pilot and feasibility study (NCT04916964) were to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of an adapted Test-and-Exercise home-based exercise program on basic functional mobility and executive functions in persons with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's disease. Participants followed an 8 week exercise program at home, once per week with a physiotherapist and twice per week with their usual caregiver or independently. Functional mobility and executive functions were assessed before and after the intervention. Feasibility criteria were recruitment opportunity, participation agreement rate, cost adequacy, and drop-out rate. Twelve participants aged 80.83 ± 4.65 years took part in the study. All the basic functional mobility measures showed small effect sizes. Concerning executive functions, 5 measures showed small to moderate effect sizes. The 4 feasibility criteria were met. A larger scale study would, however, need adaptations and prior research on the ability of this population to use touch-screen technology.

The staff working at day-care centers and nursing homes are in a key frontline for early detection of older people living with dementia, however, whether the staff were well prepared and if they were appropriately trained were still little known.

Several risk factors contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including genetics, metabolic health, cardiovascular history, and diet. It has been observed that women appear to face a higher risk of developing AD. Among the various hypotheses surrounding the gender disparity in AD, one pertains to the potential neuroprotective properties of estrogen. Compared to men, women are believed to be more susceptible to neuropathology due to the significant decline in circulating estrogen levels following menopause. Studies have shown, however, that estrogen replacement therapies in post-menopausal women do not consistently reduce the risk of AD. While menopause and estrogen levels are potential factors in the elevated incidence rates of AD among women, this review highlights the possible roles estrogen has in other pathways that may also contribute to the sex disparity observed in AD such as olfaction, sleep, and glymphatic functionality.

This study aimed to examine the effects of location-tracking devices on persons living with cognitive impairment, investigate facilitators of and barriers to using the devices, and provide future directions for the use of the devices.

To assess the role of Machine Learning (ML) in identification critical factors of dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

Study recruitment of persons with dementia is challenging. We aimed to assess facilitators, barriers, and strategies to identify and approach persons with dementia for recruitment to dementia care studies. We systematically searched MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and other sources (ORRCA [Online Resource for Research in Clinical triAls]; pertinent evidence syntheses; citation searching) and narratively summarised the results (PROSPERO CRD42022342600). Facilitators and barriers consisted of "characteristics of participants, researchers, clinical contact persons", "study characteristics", and "communication with participants". The highest number of participants were recruited by study information in electronic and print formats, as well as by networking and collaboration. Advertisements proved to be the most expensive way of recruitment. There is limited evidence on the impact of recruitment strategies to identify persons with dementia for recruitment to dementia care studies. Our analysis of facilitators and barriers may inform research teams in designing strategies to identify persons with dementia for recruitment purposes.

Home-dwelling people with dementia rely on their family members to be able to stay at home. This affects the family caregivers' quality of life (QoL). However, less is known about how male and female caregivers differ in their QoL. Our study aimed to investigate gender differences in caregivers' quality of life (QoL), whether emotional relationships influence QoL, and how their QoL changes over time. The study applied a cross-sectional and a longitudinal design to examine a total of 208 caregivers, 158 female and 50 male caregivers, and their family member with dementia. Regression analysis and t-tests were performed to identify what characteristics about caregivers and care receivers influence male and female QoL, and whether caregivers' QoL developed after one year. Both male and female caregivers' depression influenced their QoL. For females, their own social distress influenced their QoL, and for males, their experience of their care receivers' overemotional attitude influenced their QoL. From baseline to one-year follow-up their QoL decreased while their distress and experience of care receivers' emotional attitudes was stable. Significant gender-specific differences were found, indicating that gender must be considered when approving caregivers' needs and planning interventions for caregivers.

This study examined the acceptability and usefulness of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) training in enhancing the capabilities of support staff and family members providing behaviour support to residents with dementia in residential aged care (RAC).

While regular physical-activity (PA) is beneficial, multimorbid individuals at increased dementia risk may exhibit reduced PA levels. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of mediating factors responsible for inactivity in this population is needed. This study investigated the impact of a multimodal intervention on PA changes at 24-month follow-up and associated mediating factors among community-dwelling patients aged 60-77, with increased dementia risk determined by the CAIDE Dementia Risk Score. Of 1030 participants recruited, 819 completed the assessment. Thus, a generalized estimating equations model initially assessed differences in PA over 24 months, followed by a tree analysis identifying mediating factors influencing PA changes post-intervention. While no significant effect on regular PA was found during the follow-up ( = .674), subgroup analysis revealed improved self-efficacy ( = .000) associated with increased engagement in PA. Incorporating self-efficacy elements into future strategies is crucial for promoting PA among individuals with multimorbidity and at increased dementia risk.

Dysregulation of the peripheral immune system is be involved in the neuroinflammation in Alzheimer disease (AD) and accelerate the disease progression. The contribution of immune cells, particularly B cells, to AD pathogenesis has gained attention in recent research. In this study, we investigated the role of Peripheral Blood Memory B cells (PBMBs) and their secreted Migration Inhibition Factor (MIF) in driving macrophage behavior in AD based on the scRNA-seq technique, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. We discovered that MIF binds to the CD74-CD44 receptor complex on macrophages, influencing their behavior. The dysregulated macrophage response hampers the clearance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, exacerbating AD pathology. Targeting the MIF-CD74-CD44 signal pathway may hold therapeutic potential in modulating macrophage activity and mitigating neuroinflammation in AD. This study provides a further understanding of peripheral immune cells dysregulated in AD.

Multimodal non-pharmacological interventions (MNPI) have been determined as effective in delaying cognitive deterioration. The effectiveness of timing of such interventions in elderly is less discussed. We compared the different effectiveness of MNPI in cognitive preservation in elderly subjects with and without dementia.

Institutionalized persons with dementia often lack access to meaningful activity, which can lead to agitation, loneliness, and depression. Engagement in activity may improve negative symptoms but is difficult in most settings. In this study, we investigated the degree to which the Reading Buddies Program, in which occupational therapy graduate students read books with residents with dementia, engaged residents. We further assessed whether the level of engagement was affected by various parameters, including those related to interaction, environment, attention, attitude, and activity. The primary outcome measure was engagement percentage-duration of time the book was read divided by duration of time the person with dementia engaged with the book. As expected, increased attention, attitude, and activity parameters were associated with increased engagement. None of the environmental parameters significantly affected engagement. Overall, we found that reading with persons with dementia led to a very high level of engagement and appeared to reduce negative symptoms.

The Lifestyle Medicine Program (CLMP) was found to enhance the memory and executive functions of older adults with or without subjective memory complaints. The present study investigated whether similar beneficial effects can be extended to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Twenty-four older adults with MCI were randomly assigned to receive the CLMP (the experimental group) or strategic memory training (SMT; the active control group) for 10 weeks. They were assessed by neuropsychological tests at baseline and post-intervention. Older adults showed similar visual and verbal memory improvements after receiving the CLMP and SMT. Yet, only those who received the CLMP showed distinct improvements in planning/organization, working memory, and attention in terms of accuracy, with greater cognitive gains associated with older age and lower levels of education and baseline cognitive functions. This study provides preliminary evidence for the effects of the CLMP on improving memory, attention, and executive functions in MCI.

To evaluate whether both acute and chronic low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) affect brain functions of healthy male and female mice. Ultrasound (frequency: 1.5 MHz; pulse: 1.0 kHz; spatial average temporal average (SATA) intensity: 25 mW/cm; and pulse duty cycle: 20%) was applied at mouse head in acute test for 20 minutes, and in chronic experiment for consecutive 10 days, respectively. Behaviors were then evaluated. Both acute and chronic LIPUS at 25 mW/cm exposure did not affect the abilities of movements, mating, social interaction, and anxiety-like behaviors in the male and female mice. However, physical restraint caused struggle-like behaviors and short-time memory deficits in chronic LIPUS groups in the male mice. LIPUS at 25 mW/cm itself does not affect brain functions, while physical restraint for LIPUS therapy elicits struggle-like behaviors in the male mice. An unbound helmet targeted with ultrasound intensity at 25-50 mW/cm is proposed for clinical brain disease therapy.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Epileptic seizures or epileptic activity have been detected in AD, and people with epilepsy have a higher risk of dementia compared to the general population. This suggests that seizures or epileptic activity might often coexist with AD. It is increasingly evident that epileptic activity or seizures are common but often overlooked comorbidities of AD. However, the causal relationship between seizures, epileptic activity and cognitive decline remains uncertain. Experimental data show that amyloid-β (Aβ) and Tau protein can cause neuronal hyperexcitability and has epileptogenic effects. Neural network hyperexcitation regulates the ratio of Aβ isoforms and is linked to the initiation of AD, indicating a shared mechanism. Clinical studies suggest that cognitive impairment accelerates in AD patients with seizures or epileptic activity. This review discusses the relationship between epileptic seizures and AD, the impact of epileptic activity in AD, and potential treatments.