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Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline, is the most common form of dementia. Currently, there is no single test that can diagnose AD, especially in understudied populations and developing countries. Instead, diagnosis is based on a combination of medical history, physical examination, cognitive testing, and brain imaging. Exosomes are extracellular nanovesicles, primarily composed of RNA, that participate in physiological processes related to AD pathogenesis such as cell proliferation, immune response, and neuronal and cardiovascular function. However, the identification and understanding of the potential role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in AD diagnosis remain largely unexplored. Here, we clinically, cognitively, and genetically characterized a sample of 15 individuals diagnosed with AD (cases) and 15 controls from Barranquilla, Colombia. Advanced bioinformatics, analytics and Machine Learning (ML) techniques were used to identify lncRNAs differentially expressed between cases and controls. The expression of 28,909 lncRNAs was quantified. Of these, 18 were found to be differentially expressed and harbored in pivotal genes related to AD. Two lncRNAs, ENST00000608936 and ENST00000433747, show promise as diagnostic markers for AD, with ML models achieving > 95% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in both the training and testing datasets. These findings suggest that the expression profiles of lncRNAs could significantly contribute to advancing personalized AD diagnosis in this community, offering promising avenues for early detection and follow-up.

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INTRODUCTION: While Latin America (LatAm) is facing an increasing burden of dementia due to the rapid aging of the population, it remains underrepresented in dementia research, diagnostics, and care. METHODS: In 2023, the Alzheimer's Association hosted its eighth satellite symposium in Mexico, highlighting emerging dementia research, priorities, and challenges within LatAm. RESULTS: Significant initiatives in the region, including intracountry support, showcased their efforts in fostering national and international collaborations; genetic studies unveiled the unique genetic admixture in LatAm; researchers conducting emerging clinical trials discussed ongoing culturally specific interventions; and the urgent need to harmonize practices and studies, improve diagnosis and care, and use affordable biomarkers in the region was highlighted. DISCUSSION: The myriad of topics discussed at the 2023 AAIC satellite symposium highlighted the growing research efforts in LatAm, providing valuable insights into dementia biology, genetics, epidemiology, treatment, and care.

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INTRODUCTION: Twelve modifiable risk factors (RFs) account for 40% of dementia cases worldwide. However, limited data exist on such factors in middle- and low-income countries. We aimed to estimate the population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for the 12 RFs in Argentina, assessing changes over a decade and exploring socioeconomic and sex influences. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the 12 RFs from Argentinian surveys conducted in 2009, 2015, and 2018, including 96,321 people. We calculated PAFs and stratified estimates based on sex and income. RESULTS: We estimated an overall PAF of 59.6% (95% CI = 58.9-60.3%). The largest PAFs were hypertension = 9.3% (8.7-9.9%), physical inactivity = 7.4% (6.8-8.2%), and obesity = 7.4% (6.8-7.9%). Men were more impacted by excessive alcohol, while women by isolation and smoking. Lower income linked to higher PAFs in education, hypertension, and obesity. DISCUSSION: Argentina has a higher PAF for dementia than the world population, with distinct RF distribution. PAF varied by sex and economic status, advocating tailored prevention strategies.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the continuity of cognitive rehabilitation worldwide. However, the use of teleneuropsychology to provide cognitive rehabilitation has contributed significantly to the continuity of the treatment. Objectives: To measure the effects of cognitive telerehabilitation on cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and memory strategies in a cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: A sample of 60 patients with mild cognitive impairment according to Petersen's criteria was randomly divided into two groups: 30 treatment cases and 30 controls (waiting list group). Subjects were matched by age, sex, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The treatment group received ten cognitive telerehabilitation sessions of 45 minutes duration once a week. Pre-treatment (week 0) and post-treatment (week 10) measures were assessed for both groups. Different linear mixed models were estimated to test treatment effect (cognitive telerehabilitation vs. controls) on each outcome of interest over time (pre/post-intervention). Results: A significant group (control/treatment) x time (pre/post) interaction revealed that the treatment group at week 10 had better scores in cognitive variables: memory (RAVLT learning trials p=0.030; RAVLT delayed recall p=0.029), phonological fluency (p=0.001), activities of daily living (FAQ p=0.001), satisfaction with memory performance (MMQ satisfaction p=0.004) and use of memory strategies (MMQ strategy p=0.000), as well as, and a significant reduction of affective symptomatology: depression (GDS p=0.000), neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI-Q p=0.045), forgetfulness (EDO-10 p=0.000), and stress (DAS stress p=0.000). Conclusions: Our study suggests that CTR is an effective intervention.

A pandemia do COVID-19 afetou a continuidade da reabilitação cognitiva em todo o mundo. No entanto, o uso de tele neuropsicologia para a reabilitação cognitiva tem contribuído significativamente para a continuidade do tratamento. Objetivos: Medir os efeitos da tele reabilitação cognitiva na cognição, nos sintomas neuropsiquiátricos e nas estratégias de memória em uma coorte de pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve. Métodos: Uma amostra de 60 pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve de acordo com os critérios de Petersen foi dividida aleatoriamente em dois grupos: 30 casos de tratamento e 30 controles (grupo de lista de espera). Os assuntos foram pareados por idade, sexo e Avaliação Cognitiva de Montreal. O grupo de tratamento recebeu dez sessões de tele reabilitação cognitiva de 45 minutos de duração uma vez por semana. As medidas pré-tratamento (semana 0) e pós-tratamento (semana 10) foram avaliadas para ambos os grupos. Diferentes modelos lineares mistos foram estimados para testar o efeito do tratamento (tele reabilitação cognitiva vs. controles) em cada desfecho de interesse ao longo do tempo (pré-/pós-intervenção). Resultados: Uma interação significativa grupo (controle/tratamento) x tempo (pré/pós) revelou que o grupo de tratamento teve melhores pontuações em variáveis cognitivas na semana 10: memória (ensaios de aprendizagem RAVLT p = 0,030; RAVLT recordação tardia p=0,029), fluência fonológica (p=0,001), atividades da vida diária (FAQ p=0,001), satisfação com o desempenho da memória (satisfação MMQ p=0,004) e uso de estratégias de memória (estratégia MMQ p=0,000), bem como uma significativa redução da sintomatologia afetiva: depressão (GDS p=0,000), sintomas neuropsiquiátricos (NPI-Q p=0,045), esquecimento (EDO-10 p=0,000) e estresse (DAS estresse p=0,000). Conclusões: Nosso estudo sugere que a CTR é uma intervenção eficaz.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a substantial burden to patients, their caregivers, health systems, and society in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This impact is exacerbated by limited access to diagnosis, specialized care, and therapies for AD within and among nations. The region has varied geographic, ethnic, cultural, and economic conditions, which create unique challenges to AD diagnosis and management. To address these issues, the Americas Health Foundation convened a panel of eight neurologists, geriatricians, and psychiatrists from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru who are experts in AD for a three-day virtual meeting to discuss best practices for AD diagnosis and treatment in LAC and create a manuscript offering recommendations to address identified barriers. In LAC, several barriers hamper diagnosing and treating people with dementia. These barriers include access to healthcare, fragmented healthcare systems, limited research funding, unstandardized diagnosis and treatment, genetic heterogeneity, and varying social determinants of health. Additional training for physicians and other healthcare workers at the primary care level, region-specific or adequately adapted cognitive tests, increased public healthcare insurance coverage of testing and treatment, and dedicated search strategies to detect populations with gene variants associated with AD are among the recommendations to improve the landscape of AD.

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INTRODUCTION: Three Words-Three Shapes (3W3S) is a bedside test that assesses verbal and non-verbal memory and has proven useful in staging memory decline in amnestic disorders and primary progressive aphasia. Given its simple structure, the 3W3S can be easily adapted to other languages maintaining the original shapes and only modifying the words. We aim to validate a Spanish version of the 3W3S test and establish whether memory loss patterns present in amnesic disorders associated with Alzheimer's etiology and PPA were correctly characterized. METHOD: The translation and adaptation of the 3W3S were performed according to standardized guidelines and applied to a cohort of patients with Dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT = 20), mild cognitive impairment (aMCI= 20), primary progressive aphasia (PPA = 20), and healthy controls (HC = 20). RESULTS: In verbal memory performance, PPA patients' score was lower than that of MCI and HC and similar to DAT's in the effortless encoding (p < 0.001), delayed recall (p < 0.001), and recognition (p < 0.012). For non-verbal performance, PPA patients performed better than DAT and similar to HC and MCI subjects (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Results show good applicability of 3W3S to determine memory function in PPA patients, independently from language ability. Visual and verbal components of memory are dissociated in PPA.

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ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the continuity of cognitive rehabilitation worldwide. However, the use of teleneuropsychology to provide cognitive rehabilitation has contributed significantly to the continuity of the treatment. Objectives: To measure the effects of cognitive telerehabilitation on cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and memory strategies in a cohort of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: A sample of 60 patients with mild cognitive impairment according to Petersen's criteria was randomly divided into two groups: 30 treatment cases and 30 controls (waiting list group). Subjects were matched by age, sex, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The treatment group received ten cognitive telerehabilitation sessions of 45 minutes duration once a week. Pre-treatment (week 0) and post-treatment (week 10) measures were assessed for both groups. Different linear mixed models were estimated to test treatment effect (cognitive telerehabilitation vs. controls) on each outcome of interest over time (pre/post-intervention). Results: A significant group (control/treatment) x time (pre/post) interaction revealed that the treatment group at week 10 had better scores in cognitive variables: memory (RAVLT learning trials p=0.030; RAVLT delayed recall p=0.029), phonological fluency (p=0.001), activities of daily living (FAQ p=0.001), satisfaction with memory performance (MMQ satisfaction p=0.004) and use of memory strategies (MMQ strategy p=0.000), as well as, and a significant reduction of affective symptomatology: depression (GDS p=0.000), neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPI-Q p=0.045), forgetfulness (EDO-10 p=0.000), and stress (DAS stress p=0.000). Conclusions: Our study suggests that CTR is an effective intervention.

RESUMO A pandemia do COVID-19 afetou a continuidade da reabilitação cognitiva em todo o mundo. No entanto, o uso de tele neuropsicologia para a reabilitação cognitiva tem contribuído significativamente para a continuidade do tratamento. Objetivos: Medir os efeitos da tele reabilitação cognitiva na cognição, nos sintomas neuropsiquiátricos e nas estratégias de memória em uma coorte de pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve. Métodos: Uma amostra de 60 pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve de acordo com os critérios de Petersen foi dividida aleatoriamente em dois grupos: 30 casos de tratamento e 30 controles (grupo de lista de espera). Os assuntos foram pareados por idade, sexo e Avaliação Cognitiva de Montreal. O grupo de tratamento recebeu dez sessões de tele reabilitação cognitiva de 45 minutos de duração uma vez por semana. As medidas pré-tratamento (semana 0) e pós-tratamento (semana 10) foram avaliadas para ambos os grupos. Diferentes modelos lineares mistos foram estimados para testar o efeito do tratamento (tele reabilitação cognitiva vs. controles) em cada desfecho de interesse ao longo do tempo (pré-/pós-intervenção). Resultados: Uma interação significativa grupo (controle/tratamento) x tempo (pré/pós) revelou que o grupo de tratamento teve melhores pontuações em variáveis cognitivas na semana 10: memória (ensaios de aprendizagem RAVLT p = 0,030; RAVLT recordação tardia p=0,029), fluência fonológica (p=0,001), atividades da vida diária (FAQ p=0,001), satisfação com o desempenho da memória (satisfação MMQ p=0,004) e uso de estratégias de memória (estratégia MMQ p=0,000), bem como uma significativa redução da sintomatologia afetiva: depressão (GDS p=0,000), sintomas neuropsiquiátricos (NPI-Q p=0,045), esquecimento (EDO-10 p=0,000) e estresse (DAS estresse p=0,000). Conclusões: Nosso estudo sugere que a CTR é uma intervenção eficaz.

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Spirituality is a word derived from Greek and is composed of the voice spiritus mean-ing breath, ­alis, which refers to that which relates to and the suffix ­lity indicating quality. Spirituality is the knowledge, acceptance, or cultivation of one's essence. For Aristotle, it is the highest form of activity of the spirit, thinking about thinking, the pleasure of theorizing... Spirituality is the inner life. Expressions and practices of spirituality are personal; it is how you understand the world and the universe within yourself.

Espiritualidad es una palabra derivada del griego y se compone de la voz spiritus, que significa aliento, -alis, que se refiere a aquello con lo que se relaciona, y el sufijo -lity, que indica cualidad. La espiritualidad es el conocimiento, la aceptación o el cultivo de la propia esencia. Para Aristóteles, es la forma más elevada de actividad del espíritu, el pensar sobre el pensar, el placer de teorizar... La espiritualidad es la vida interior. Las expresiones y prácticas de la espiritualidad son personales; es cómo entiendes el mundo y el universo dentro de ti mismo.

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Background and Objectives: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is an acute amnestic disorder with unclear pathophysiology. Although considered a benign phenomenon, the possibility of a recurrence is a major concern for the patient. Our objective is to identify the prevalence and risk factors of relapse to help clinicians counsel patients about it. Methods: According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidance, we screened 1,658 studies from MEDLINE, Lilacs, and Embase databases, published from 1985 to April 2021, in English or Spanish. We included 36 observational case-control and cohort studies that included patients with TGA according to the Caplan or Hodges and Warlow diagnostic criteria. We performed a meta-analysis with a random effect model for proportions and calculation of odds ratio (OR) for identified risk factors. Methodological quality was assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results: We identified 4,514 TGA cases and 544 recurrence events (12.73%). A follow-up had no effect on its variance. We identified a statistically significant association between recurrence and sexual activity as a trigger, a personal history or current state of migraine and depression (OR 1,481 95% CI [1.0341-2.1222] p = 0.04; OR = 2.0795 95% CI [1.3892-3.1128] p = 0.003; and OR = 4.4871 95% CI [1.890-10.651] p = 0.0288, respectively). Discussion: The analysis showed that approximately 1 of 8 participants may experience recurrence, with an increased risk in the case of a history or current state of migraine, depression, or sexual intercourse before the event. A personal history of migraine and depression was associated with 2 and 4 times risk, respectively.

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Resumen El perfil cognitivo de los pacientes con anorexia nerviosa se caracteriza por dificultades en la flexibilidad mental y en la coherencia central. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar si los familiares de primer grado no afectados de los pacientes presentan estas dificultades cognitivas, que podrían representar rasgos endofenotípicos de la enfermedad. Fueron estudiadas 34 mujeres: 17 familiares de primer grado (madres y hermanas) de pacientes con anorexia nerviosa y 17 controles sanos agrupados por edad y escolaridad. Se consideraron el índice de masa corporal, la ansiedad, la depresión, los síntomas obsesivo-compulsivos y los relacionados con los trastornos alimentarios. Se evaluó la coherencia central, mediante la copia de la Figura Compleja de Rey, y la flexibilidad mental, mediante el test de Stroop, el test de los trazos B y el test de fluencia fonológica. Los familiares de pacientes con anorexia nerviosa presentaron un menor rendimiento en las medidas de coherencia central (p < .05) y en fluencia fonológica (p < .05) que los controles sanos. Se observó una correlación entre el test de Stroop y los síntomas de depresión y trastornos alimentarios (p < .05). Los familiares de primer grado no afectados de pacientes con anorexia nerviosa presentaron dificultades en la coherencia central y, en menor grado, en la flexibilidad mental. Los resultados en los familiares indican que este perfil podría ser mediado genéticamente, constituyendo un rasgo característico de la anorexia nerviosa y, por ende, un posible candidato a endofenotipo neuropsicológico de esta enfermedad.

Abstract The cognitive profile of patients with anorexia nervosa is characterized by difficulties in central coherence and mental flexibility. Central coherence is defined by the ability to integrate incoming information in its own context, and weakness in central coherence is characterized by poor overall processing and superior detail processing. Mental flexibility is defined by the ability to change the course of a thought or action according to the demands of the environment. Alterations in this cognitive domain generate rigid and inflexible behavior. An open question in the literature is whether these cognitive characteristics are a transient state derived from the disease or whether they are stable traits associated with anorexia nervosa and endophenotypical features of this disease. The concept of endophenotype refers to the internal phenotype that is not clinically appreciable but can be observed indirectly through deficits that arise in the performance of certain neuropsychological tests. In recent years the search for endophenotypes has been renewed in the field of psychiatry as they would constitute an important route for the understanding of the biological and genetic bases of mental illnesses, constituting markers that allow a diagnosis before the onset of clinical symptomatology. For a cognitive marker to be considered an endophenotype it must meet a series of characteristics such as being measurable, inherited, found in patients with and without active disease and in first-degree relatives not affected by the disease. The aim of the present study was to assess whether difficulties in central coherence and mental flexibility are shared by unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with anorexia nervosa and thus constitute an endophenotypical feature of this disease. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive-comparative study in which 34 women participated: 17 unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with anorexia nervosa (mothers and sisters) and 17 healthy controls matched by age and education. For the study of central coherence the copy of Rey's Complex Figure was used and to assess set-shifting the Stroop test, the Trail Making Test B and the Phonological Fluency test were used. Demographic and clinical aspects such as age, educational level, body mass index, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive and eating disorder related symptoms were also evaluated. First-degree relatives of patients with anorexia nervosa showed lower performance on measures of central coherence (p < .05) and phonological fluency (p < .05) than healthy controls. A correlation was observed between the Stroop test and depression and eating disorders symptoms (p < .05). The results of this study show that unaffected first-degree relatives of patients with anorexia nervosa presented alterations in central coherence and, to a lesser degree, in mental flexibility. These results, in addition to previous research in which difficulties persisted even after recovery, indicate that these alterations could be genetically mediated, constituting a characteristic trait of anorexia nervosa and therefore a possible candidate for neuropsychological endophenotype of this disease. Regarding practical implications of the study, the findings reinforce the importance of cognitive remediation treatments not only for patients with anorexia nervosa but also emphasize that they could be useful for unaffected family members. Taking into account that family intervention is a widely used tool in the psychological treatment of anorexia, improving the perception of the patient and his relatives about cognitive biases, could contribute to raising awareness of the disease, something that patients with anorexia nervosa do not usually have, and generate a positive impact on the response to treatment as a whole.

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We evaluated the effect of the antidiabetic drug metformin on patients enrolled in the ADNI study considering patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Employing data from this observational study, we performed a principal component analysis focusing on the cognitive sphere by evaluating data from neuropsychological tests included in a modified version of the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite (ADCS-PACC). Second, we included the levels of amyloid-ß, tau, and phosphorylated tau in CSF. We found that MCI metformin-treated patients were globally characterized as subjects with a better cognitive performance and CSF biomarkers profile than the mean population of MCI patients. On the other hand, control subjects and type 2 diabetes patients (T2D) were paired by age, gender, ApoE allele, and years of education, defining three groups: MCI, MCI + T2D, and MCI + T2D + metformin. We evaluated the effect of T2D and metformin treatment employing the PACC score and composites defined from standardized ADNI variables to evaluate the memory and learning function. We found that MCI + T2D patients had a worse cognitive performance than MCI patients, but this deleterious effect was not observed in MCI + T2D + metformin patients. These cognitive variations were associated with changes in cortical thickness and hippocampal volume. Finally, no differences were found in metabolic plasmatic parameters (glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides). Our study-employing different strategies for data analysis from the global study ADNI-shows a beneficial effect of metformin treatment on cognitive performance, CSF biomarkers profile, and neuroanatomical measures in MCI due to AD patients.

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Spontaneous reactivation of recently acquired memories is a fundamental mechanism of memory stabilization. Re-exposure to specific learned cues during sleep or awake states, namely targeted memory reactivation, has been shown to improve memory retention at long delays. Manipulation of memory reactivation could have potential clinical value in populations with memory deficits or cognitive decline. However, no previous study investigated a target memory reactivation approach on those populations. Here we tested the hypothesis that a reactivation-based intervention would improve episodic memory performance in healthy adults and amnestic patients. On Day 1, young adults, old adults and amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment patients (n = 150) learned face-name pairs and 24 h later either received a reactivation intervention or a reactivation control (Day 2). On Day 3, associative and item memory were assessed. A robust Bayesian Generalized Mixed Model was implemented to estimate intervention effects on groups. Groups that underwent the reactivation-based intervention showed improved associative memory retention. Notably, amnestic patients benefited more from the intervention as they also had better item memory retention than controls. These findings support memory reactivation as stabilization and strengthening mechanism irrespectively of age and cognitive status, and provides proof-of-concept evidence that reactivation-based interventions could be implemented in the treatment and rehabilitation of populations with memory deficits.

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Psychological-distress increased at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina. Longitudinal studies in developing countries are scarce. Particularly, Argentina had one of the longest lockdowns. Differences in preventive measures against the virus spread between countries may differentially affect the mental health of the populations. Here we aimed to characterize distinct psychological-distress and related-symptoms trajectories associated with the pandemic and explore risk/protective factors. In this longitudinal study, data from 832 Argentineans were collected every 3-5 months, between April 2020-August 2021. Mean psychological-distress levels and related-symptoms tended to increase over time. However, latent-class analysis identified four distinct psychological-distress trajectories. Most individuals had consistently good mental health (Resilient). Two classes showed psychological-distress worsening during the initial phase of the pandemic and recovered at different time points (Fast Recovery; Slow Recovery). The remaining class maintained a mild -level of psychological-distress and began to deteriorate in March 2021 (Deteriorating) continuously. Individuals who are younger, female, have pre-existing psychiatric diagnoses, or have high neuroticism or lower resilience were more likely to experiencing fluctuations in psychological-distress. The mental health trajectory during the pandemic had a complex dynamic. Although most participants remained resilient, a vulnerable group was detected, which deteriorated over time and should be considered by health-services.

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BACKGROUND: The Colombian population, as well as those in other Latin American regions, arose from a recent tri-continental admixture among Native Americans, Spanish invaders, and enslaved Africans, all of whom passed through a population bottleneck due to widespread infectious diseases that left small isolated local settlements. As a result, the current population reflects multiple founder effects derived from diverse ancestries. METHODS: We characterized the role of admixture and founder effects on the origination of the mutational landscape that led to neurodegenerative disorders under these historical circumstances. Genomes from 900 Colombian individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) [n = 376], frontotemporal lobar degeneration-motor neuron disease continuum (FTLD-MND) [n = 197], early-onset dementia not otherwise specified (EOD) [n = 73], and healthy participants [n = 254] were analyzed. We examined their global and local ancestry proportions and screened this cohort for deleterious variants in disease-causing and risk-conferring genes. RESULTS: We identified 21 pathogenic variants in AD-FTLD related genes, and PSEN1 harbored the majority (11 pathogenic variants). Variants were identified from all three continental ancestries. TREM2 heterozygous and homozygous variants were the most common among AD risk genes (102 carriers), a point of interest because the disease risk conferred by these variants differed according to ancestry. Several gene variants that have a known association with MND in European populations had FTLD phenotypes on a Native American haplotype. Consistent with founder effects, identity by descent among carriers of the same variant was frequent. CONCLUSIONS: Colombian demography with multiple mini-bottlenecks probably enhanced the detection of founder events and left a proportionally higher frequency of rare variants derived from the ancestral populations. These findings demonstrate the role of genomically defined ancestry in phenotypic disease expression, a phenotypic range of different rare mutations in the same gene, and further emphasize the importance of inclusiveness in genetic studies.

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INTRODUCTION: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the cognitive effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults with no prior history of cognitive impairment. METHODS: Searches in Medline/Web of Science/Embase from January 1, 2020, to December 13, 2021, were performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.  A meta-analysis of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) total score comparing recovered COVID-19 and healthy controls was performed. RESULTS: Oof 6202 articles, 27 studies with 2049 individuals were included (mean age = 56.05 years, evaluation time ranged from the acute phase to 7 months post-infection). Impairment in executive functions, attention, and memory were found in post-COVID-19 patients.  The meta-analysis was performed with a subgroup of 290 individuals and showed a difference in MoCA score between post-COVID-19 patients versus controls (mean difference = -0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.59, -0.29; P = .0049). DISCUSSION: Patients recovered from COVID-19 have lower general cognition compared to healthy controls up to 7 months post-infection.

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ABSTRACT Background: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease and is one of the most common causes of dementia in people under 65. There is often a significant diagnostic delay, as FTD can be confused with other psychiatric conditions. A lack of knowledge regarding FTD by health professionals is one possible cause for this diagnostic confusion. Objectives: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale (FTDKS) in Spanish. Methods: A translation was done, following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, which consisted of forward translation, blind back translation, and an analysis by a committee of experts. For the present study, 134 professionals from different health areas responded the Spanish version of the FTDKS. The statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.0.0 "Arbor day" and the Psych, sjPlot packages. Results: The Spanish version of the FTDKS had good reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha 0.74.). The sample's mean score was 19.78 (range = 4-32, SD 6.3) out of a maximum of 36 points. Conclusions: The results obtained show that the Spanish version has good psychometric properties. The FTDKS is applicable in our environment and can be a useful tool to evaluate the knowledge of health professionals regarding frontotemporal dementia.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: La demencia frontotemporal (DFT) es una enfermedad neurodegenerativa y es una de las causas más comunes de demencia en personas menores de 65 años. A menudo existe un retraso significativo en el diagnóstico, ya que la FTD puede confundirse con otras afecciones psiquiátricas. La falta de conocimientos sobre la DFT por parte de los profesionales de salud es una posible causa de esta confusión diagnóstica. Objetivos: El presente estudio describe nuestros esfuerzos para adaptar y validar la Escala de Conocimiento de la Demencia Frontotemporal (FTDKS) en español. Métodos: Se realizó una traducción, siguiendo las pautas de adaptación transcultural, que consistió en una traducción directa, una traducción inversa ciega y un análisis por parte de un comité de expertos. Para el presente estudio, 134 profesionales de diferentes áreas de la salud respondieron la versión en español del FTDKS. El análisis estadístico se realizó utilizando la versión 4.0.0 de R "Arbor day" y los paquetes Psych, sjPlot. Resultados: La versión en español del FTDKS tiene una buena fiabilidad y consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach 0,74.). La puntuación media de la muestra fue de 19,78 (rango = 4-32, SD 6,3) sobre un máximo de 36 puntos. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la versión española tiene buenas propiedades psicométricas. El FTDKS es aplicable en nuestro medio y puede ser una herramienta útil para evaluar los conocimientos de los profesionales sanitarios sobre la demencia frontotemporal.

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BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is commonly associated with decision-making, neurocognitive impairments, and mood and motivational symptoms. However, their relationship may be obscured by traditional scoring methods. OBJECTIVES: To study the computational basis underlying decision-making impairments in MS and their interaction with neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric measures. METHODS: Twenty-nine MS patients and 26 matched control subjects completed a computer version of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Participants underwent neurocognitive evaluation using an expanded version of the Brief Repeatable Battery. Hierarchical Bayesian Analysis was used to estimate three established computational models to compare parameters between groups. RESULTS: Patients showed increased learning rate and reduced loss-aversion during decision-making relative to control subjects. These alterations were associated with: (1) reduced net gains in the IGT; (2) processing speed, executive functioning and memory impairments; and (3) higher levels of depression and current apathy. CONCLUSION: Decision-making deficits in MS patients could be described by the interplay between latent computational processes, neurocognitive impairments, and mood/motivational symptoms.

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BACKGROUND: Neurological and psychiatric manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported throughout the scientific literature. However, studies on post-COVID cognitive impairment in people with no previous cognitive complaint are scarce. OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions in adults without cognitive complaints before infection and to study cognitive dysfunction according to disease severity and cognitive risk factors. METHODS: Forty-five post-COVID-19 patients and forty-five controls underwent extensive neuropsychological evaluation, which assessed cognitive domains such as memory, language, attention, executive functions, and visuospatial skills, including psychiatric symptomatology scales. Data were collected on the severity of infection, premorbid medical conditions, and functionality for activities of daily living before and after COVID-19. RESULTS: Significant differences between groups were found in cognitive composites of memory (p=0.016, Cohen's d= 0.73), attention (p<0.001, Cohen's d=1.2), executive functions (p<0.001, Cohen's d=1.4), and language (p=0.002, Cohen's d=0.87). The change from premorbid to post-infection functioning was significantly different between severity groups (WHODAS, p=0.037). Self-reported anxiety was associated with the presence of cognitive dysfunction in COVID-19 subjects (p=0.043). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the presence of cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients may persist for months after disease remission and argue for the inclusion of cognitive assessment as a protocolized stage of the post-COVID examination. Screening measures may not be sufficient to detect cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 patients.

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OBJECTIVE: Increased life expectancy and exponential growth of adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) worldwide, has led to biomarkers incorporation for diagnosis in early stages. Use of neuropsychological testing remains limited. This study aimed to identify which neuropsychological tests best indicated underlying AD pathophysiology. METHODS: One hundred and forty-one patients with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) were studied. A neuropsychological test battery based on the Uniform Data Set (UDS) from the Alzheimer's Disease Centers program of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) was performed and amyloid markers recorded; according to presence or absence of amyloid identified by positive PIB-PET findings, or low CSF Aß42 levels, patients were separated into MCI amyloid-(n:58) and MCI amyloid + (n = 83) cases. RESULTS: Statistical differences were found in all memory tests between groups. Delayed recall score at thirty minutes on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) was the best predictor of amyloid pathology presence (AUC 0.68), followed by AVLT total learning (AUC 0.66) and AVLT Recognition (AUC 0.59) scores, providing useful cut off values in the clinical setting. CONCLUSIONS: Use of neuropsychological testing, specifically AVLT scores with cutoff values, contributed to the correct diagnosis of MCI due to AD in this SouthAmerican cohort.

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BACKGROUND: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease and is one of the most common causes of dementia in people under 65. There is often a significant diagnostic delay, as FTD can be confused with other psychiatric conditions. A lack of knowledge regarding FTD by health professionals is one possible cause for this diagnostic confusion. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale (FTDKS) in Spanish. METHODS: A translation was done, following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, which consisted of forward translation, blind back translation, and an analysis by a committee of experts. For the present study, 134 professionals from different health areas responded the Spanish version of the FTDKS. The statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.0.0 "Arbor day" and the Psych, sjPlot packages. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the FTDKS had good reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha 0.74.). The sample's mean score was 19.78 (range = 4-32, SD 6.3) out of a maximum of 36 points. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show that the Spanish version has good psychometric properties. The FTDKS is applicable in our environment and can be a useful tool to evaluate the knowledge of health professionals regarding frontotemporal dementia.

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