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We evaluated whether memory recall following an extended (1 week) delay predicts cognitive and brain structural trajectories in older adults.
Method:
Clinically normal older adults (52–92 years old) were followed longitudinally for up to 8 years after completing a memory paradigm at baseline [Story Recall Test (SRT)] that assessed delayed recall at 30 min and 1 week. Subsets of the cohort underwent neuroimaging (N = 134, mean age = 75) and neuropsychological testing (N = 178–207, mean ages = 74–76) at annual study visits occurring approximately 15–18 months apart. Mixed-effects regression models evaluated if baseline SRT performance predicted longitudinal changes in gray matter volumes and cognitive composite scores, controlling for demographics.
Results:
Worse SRT 1-week recall was associated with more precipitous rates of longitudinal decline in medial temporal lobe volumes (p = .037), episodic memory (p = .003), and executive functioning (p = .011), but not occipital lobe or total gray matter volumes (demonstrating neuroanatomical specificity; p > .58). By contrast, SRT 30-min recall was only associated with longitudinal decline in executive functioning (p = .044).
Conclusions:
Memory paradigms that capture longer-term recall may be particularly sensitive to age-related medial temporal lobe changes and neurodegenerative disease trajectories.
The national priority to advance early detection and intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has not reduced the late age of ASD diagnosis in the US over several consecutive Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance cohorts, with traditionally under-served populations accessing diagnosis later still. In this review, we explore a potential perceptual barrier to this enterprise which views ASD in terms that are contradicted by current science, and which may have its origins in the current definition of the condition and in its historical associations. To address this perceptual barrier, we propose a re-definition of ASD in early brain development terms, with a view to revisit the world of opportunities afforded by current science to optimize children's outcomes despite the risks that they are born with. This view is presented here to counter outdated notions that potentially devastating disability is determined the moment a child is born, and that these burdens are inevitable, with opportunities for improvement being constrained to only alleviation of symptoms or limited improvements in adaptive skills. The impetus for this piece is the concern that such views of complex neurodevelopmental conditions, such as ASD, can become self-fulfilling science and policy, in ways that are diametrically opposed to what we currently know, and are learning every day, of how genetic risk becomes, or not, instantiated as lifetime disabilities.
Keeping and maintaining mental health in a community or at a large in a soceity is a difficult,but promising task.Mental health is a dynamic state as that of state of health which is also going to be redefined than a state of complete physical, mental and soceial health. A positive mental health is not merely absence of any mental disorders, rather a flourishng environment where an individual can grow,work, and fulfil his dreams & aspiration & also nurcher own imagination in a fruitful manner.
Objectives
Here it was a comparism between a rural and a community catchment area of 2 different places and mental health questionories were distributed among 2 high scool students who are derived fom 2 different socioeconomic status.
Methods
50 male & 50 female student of 2 catchment area in rural,as well in city school were collected in same proforma.Facilities in village school includes large playing ground,more joint family stucture & more choseveness.In city per capita income, library facility, playing facility,rcreationalsopes are more flourishly arranged.Mental disorders noted are early diagonosed and early intervenation done in city school.In rural scools all 12 known cases of some mentaldisturbances were takencare of in late.
Results
From the questinary itself, from the reports of teachers and fellow student it shows mental health is more in positively maintanned state in city environment scools, as well early diagnosis & care.In rural settings good library and liberal friend ship & chosive pattern of family & soceity helps.
Schizophrenia is a leading cause of disability. People living with schizophrenia (PLWS) present unemployment, social isolation, excess mortality and morbidity, and poor quality of life. Early recognition and appropriate treatment reduce the risk of chronicity and comorbidity. Personalization and integration of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions, as well as accurate identification and management of psychiatric and somatic comorbidities, can significantly improve mental and physical health of PLWS, promoting recovery.
Methods.
A three-step Delphi approach was used to explore consensus on the essential components of early recognition and intervention, personalization, and integration of care to improve schizophrenia outcome, and on barriers and challenges to close treatment gaps. The consensus involved 8 Italian experts of schizophrenia, 100 psychiatrists from academic and nonacademic settings, including representatives of Italian Society of Psychiatry, and 65 trainees in psychiatry.
Results.
A strong consensus (from mostly agree to totally agree) emerged on the importance of early diagnosis (97%), standardized assessments (91%), correct management of somatic and psychiatric comorbidities (99%), and personalization and integration of care (94%). Lack of time, human resources, and training were identified as the main barriers and challenges to the translation of knowledge into clinical practice.
Conclusions.
The results of this Delphi study demonstrated a strong consensus on main components of schizophrenia care, as well as on unmet needs to promote best practice and gaps between knowledge and clinical practice. The involvement of a large group of professionals and trainees in this in-depth consensus process might contribute to raise awareness and stimulate innovative strategies to improve the outcome of PLWS.
Although early identification and management services for dementia have become more widespread, their efficacy and the clinical characteristics of service have yet to be fully evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study is to clarify these issues.
Measurements:
The subjects were 164 Japanese users of an early identification and management program for dementia, known as the Initial-phase Intensive Support Team (IPIST), between 2013 and 2015. Nonhierarchical cluster analysis was used to derive subgroups based on cognitive status and ability in activities of daily living (ADL) and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). One-way analysis of variance was performed to evaluate differences among the groups derived by the cluster analysis. A paired t test was used to assess how the clinical status of the groups changed between baseline and follow-up.
Results:
Four groups were identified by cluster analysis, i.e. a mild group, a moderate group, a BPSD group with moderate cognitive impairment and severe BPSD, and a severe group with severe cognitive impairment and severe BPSD. Although there were no significant improvements in cognitive impairment or ADL in any group, significant improvements were found in BPSD in the BPSD and severe BPSD groups. Caregiver burden was significantly lessened in all groups. Clinical diagnosis and long-term care insurance service utilization rates were significantly improved overall.
Conclusion:
The users of IPIST were classified into four subgroups based on their clinical characteristics. The IPIST program could improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their caregivers.
Rapid diagnosis of dementia is essential to ensure optimum patient care. This study used real-world data to quantify the dementia diagnostic pathway in Australia.
Design:
A real-world, cross-sectional survey of physicians and patients.
Setting:
Clinical practice.
Participants:
Primary care or specialist physicians managing patients with cognitive impairment (CI).
Measurements:
Descriptive analyses focused on key events in the diagnostic pathway. Regression modeling compared the duration between first consultation and formal diagnosis with various factors.
Results:
Data for 600 patients were provided by 60 physicians. Mean time from initial symptoms to first consultation was 6.1 ± 4.4 months; 20% of patients had moderate or severe CI at first consultation. Mean time from first consultation to formal diagnosis was 4.0 ± 7.4 months (1.2 ± 3.6 months if not referred to a secondary physician, and 5.3 ± 8.3 months if referred). Time from first consultation to diagnosis was significantly associated with CI severity at first consultation; time was shorter with more severe CI. There was no association of disease severity and referral to a secondary physician; 69.5% of patients were referred, the majority (57.1%) to a geriatrician. The highest proportion of patients were diagnosed by geriatricians (47.4%). Some form of test or scale was used to aid diagnosis in 98.8% of patients.
Conclusions:
A substantial number of Australians experience cognitive decline and behavioral changes some time before consulting a physician or being diagnosed with dementia. Increasing public awareness of the importance of early diagnosis is essential to improve the proportion of patients receiving comprehensive support prior to disease progression.
Objective: Detection of cognitive impairment suggestive of risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression is crucial to the prevention of incipient dementia. This study was performed to determine if performance on a novel object discrimination task improved identification of earlier deficits in older adults at risk for AD. Method: In total, 135 participants from the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center [cognitively normal (CN), Pre-mild cognitive impairment (PreMCI), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and dementia] completed a test of object discrimination and traditional memory measures in the context of a larger neuropsychological and clinical evaluation. Results: The Object Recognition and Discrimination Task (ORDT) revealed significant differences between the PreMCI, aMCI, and dementia groups versus CN individuals. Moreover, relative risk of being classified as PreMCI rather than CN increased as an inverse function of ORDT score. Discussion: Overall, the obtained results suggest that a novel object discrimination task improves the detection of very early AD-related cognitive impairment, increasing the window for therapeutic intervention. (JINS, 2019, 25, 688–698)
The Prime Minister's challenge on dementia called for improved dementia diagnosis rates, based on assumptions of benefit to individuals and those who care for them. Subsequent policies have led to increased target drives for clinical practice to achieve early diagnosis of dementia through intense case identification. However, the current evidence base and treatment options do not support screening for dementia, and there is little empirical evidence that such intensive case identification and early diagnosis for dementia is justified without a better understanding of the benefits, costs and potential harms to individuals and services.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the Hayling test (HT-S) and its clinical utility in a group of patients with different frontotemporal dementia (FTD) syndromes. Early diagnosis of FTD is a challenge and requires a broad arsenal of assessment methods, neuropsychological tests not the least. The Hayling test assesses executive functions including initiation, efficiency and response inhibition. Methods: Seventy-six healthy controls were included as well as patients with the behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD; n = 17), semantic dementia (SD, n = 6), and progressive supranuclear palsy (n = 12). The Color Word Interference Test was administered to examine the construct validity. Results: Age showed a correlation with better performances in younger participants whereas the importance of sex and education were less evident. The split half reliability and internal consistency were equal to, or better, than reported for the original version. The interrater reliability was excellent. The construct validity was supported, nevertheless indicating partly different processes behind the performances of the two tests. The FTD group performed significantly worse than healthy controls on efficiency and response inhibition and there were also significant differences in performances between the syndromes despite small samples. Conclusions: The psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Swedish version are satisfactory for measuring efficiency and response inhibition with results indicating dissimilar profiles in the performances in the different syndromes. These results need to be corroborated in larger samples. (JINS, 2019, 25, 195–203)
Olfactory disorders increase with age and often affect elderly people who have pre-dementia or dementia. Despite the frequent occurrence of olfactory changes at the early stages of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, olfactory disorders are rarely assessed in daily clinical practice, mainly due to a lack of standardised assessment tools. The aims of this review were to (1) summarise the existing literature on olfactory disorders in ageing populations and patients with neurodegenerative disorders; (2) present the strengths and weaknesses of current olfactory disorder assessment tools; and (3) discuss the benefits of developing specific olfactory tests for neurodegenerative diseases.
Methods:
A systematic review was performed of literature published between 2000 and 2015 addressing olfactory disorders in elderly people with or without Alzheimer's disease or other related disorders to identify the main tools currently used for olfactory disorder assessment.
Results:
Olfactory disorder assessment is a promising method for improving both the early and differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the current lack of consensus on which tests should be used does not permit the consistent integration of olfactory disorder assessment into clinical settings.
Conclusion:
Otolaryngologists are encouraged to use olfactory tests in older adults to help predict the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Olfactory tests should be specifically adapted to assess olfactory disorders in Alzheimer's disease patients.
This study aimed to develop a simple and accurate method to diagnose paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnea syndrome.
Methods:
A total of 311 children with suspected paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnea syndrome were included in the study. Multiple clinical parameters, including sex, age, body mass index, history of snoring or gasping, history of nasal obstruction, history of running nose, palatine tonsil size, adenoid to nasopharynx ratio, and tympanogram type, were compared with polysomnography results using relevant correlation and regression analyses. A diagnostic scale was established using the regression equation and the correlation between the polysomnography result and scale result was determined.
Results:
The apnoea–hypopnea index correlated significantly with a history of snoring or gasping, palatine tonsil size, and tympanogram type. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that the polysomnography result correlated significantly with a history of snoring or gasping, palatine tonsil size, and the adenoid to nasopharynx ratio. The percentage correlation between the scale and polysomnography results was 77.8 per cent.
Conclusion:
The diagnostic scale can be used to diagnose paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnea syndrome for clinical application when polysomnography cannot be performed. However, it is not suitable for assessing the severity of paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnea syndrome.
Early diagnosis of dementia allows people to access effective treatment and make advance decisions while they still have capacity. We aimed to encourage people to attend memory clinic, in order to boost rates of diagnosis. We created a patient information video about Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Memory Clinics, to inform and empower those awaiting assessment and to promote early diagnosis.
Fourteen people (patients, carers, and staff) were approached prior to developing the video to ascertain their views on the themes the video should cover. The video consisted of unscripted interviews with patients, carers, and staff. We surveyed participants and new patients attending memory clinic to get feedback on the video and to assess patients’ level of understanding and confidence about a memory assessment before and after watching the video. The video content was refined based on this feedback and a final version was produced.
Patient feedback demonstrated that confidence and understanding increased after watching the video.
Although this study is limited by its small sample size and lack of access to those with undiagnosed dementia, feedback suggested that the video empowered and reassured those awaiting assessment and could be used as a tool to reduce barriers to early diagnosis. Patients and carers involved in making the video found it a therapeutic activity in itself.
This study aimed to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of narrow band imaging and autofluorescence imaging for malignant laryngopharyngeal tumours.
Methods:
Between May 2010 and October 2010, 50 consecutive patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal tumour underwent endoscopic laryngopharynx examination. The morphological characteristics of laryngopharyngeal lesions were analysed using high performance endoscopic systems equipped with narrow band imaging and autofluorescence imaging modes. The diagnostic effectiveness of white light image, narrow band imaging and autofluorescence imaging endoscopy for benign and malignant laryngopharyngeal lesions was evaluated.
Results:
Under narrow band imaging endoscopy, the superficial microvessels of squamous cell carcinomas appeared as dark brown spots or twisted cords. Under autofluorescence imaging endoscopy, malignant lesions appeared as bright purple. The sensitivity of malignant lesion diagnosis was not significantly different between narrow band imaging and autofluorescence imaging modes, but was better than for white light image endoscopy (χ2 = 12.676, p = 0.002). The diagnostic specificity was significantly better in narrow band imaging mode than in both autofluorescence imaging and white light imaging mode (χ2 = 8.333, p = 0.016).
Conclusion:
Narrow band imaging endoscopy is the best option for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal tumours.
It may be assumed that increased public awareness of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) together with the availability of efficacious treatment will result in diagnostic evaluation at earlier stages of cognitive decline and diagnosis of dementia due to AD at earlier stages.
Methods:
All persons that were examined at a university based memory clinic, in Germany, between 1985 and 2009 were included.
Results:
In the 3,951 persons identified, linear regression analysis revealed a positive association between Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and year of initial examination (yearIE) (β = 0.266; p < 0.001). In the 1,821 patients diagnosed with dementia due to AD, a positive association between MMSE score and yearIE (β = 0.230; p < 0.001) was revealed. MMSE scores were higher (β = 0.195; p < 0.001) after the introduction of cholinesterase inhibitors in Germany in 1997.
Conclusions:
Diagnostic evaluation of individuals occurred at progressively earlier stages of cognitive decline. Dementia due to AD was diagnosed at progressively earlier stages, and this trend was associated with the availability of efficacious treatment. This is the first study on changes in patient referral and diagnosis based on a continuous 25 years period.
The purpose of this evaluation was to obtain views from general practitioners (GPs) who piloted the electronic risk assessment tools (eRATs) for suspected lung or colorectal cancer. We wanted to find out whether GPs were able to integrate these tools into their everyday practice. We were also keen to identify facilitators and barriers to their more widespread use.
Background
Cancer remains one of UK’s biggest health problems, in terms of morbidity and mortality. Comparative European data show that five-year survival figures for many cancers are lower in the United Kingdom than in comparable European countries. eRATs are intended to aid recognition of symptoms of lung and colorectal cancers in patients aged 40 years and over.
Methods
This was a qualitative study; telephone interviews were conducted with 23 GPs who piloted the eRATs. A systematic qualitative analysis was applied to the data. The normalisation process model was used after data collection. This theory-driven conceptual framework was used to examine the operationalisation of this intervention in Primary Care.
Findings
Electronic decision-support tools appear to be useful additions to the resources available to GPs in order to assist them with recognizing potential cancer symptoms. However, the tools need to be refined in order to integrate them into GP practice. The tools raised GPs’ awareness about cancer because of the prompt facility of the software, although this also raised the potential of ‘prompt fatigue’. GPs constantly receive alerts via their clinical system, particularly related to the Quality and Outcomes Framework. The integration of eRATs into routine practice could be engendered by improvement to the training packages that accompany them, and by its delivery via a platform compatible with all GP clinical systems.
Studies in memory clinics suggest that the majority of patients would like to know of a diagnosis of dementia. It is less clear what preferences are in the community. Our objective was to review the literature on preferences regarding disclosure of a diagnosis of dementia and to assess key arguments in favor of and against disclosure.
Methods:
Systematic search of empirical studies was performed in Pubmed, Embase, and Psycinfo. We extracted preferences of individuals without cognitive impairment (general population; relatives of dementia patients; and physicians) and preferences of individuals referred to a memory clinic or already diagnosed with dementia. A meta-analysis was done using a random effects model. Our main conclusions are based on studies with a response rate ≥75%.
Results:
We included 23 articles (9.065 respondents). In studies with individuals without cognitive impairment, the pooled percentage in favor of disclosure was 90.7% (95%CI: 83.8%–97.5%). In studies with patients who were referred to a memory clinic or already diagnosed with dementia, the pooled percentage that considered disclosure favorable was 84.8% (95%CI: 75.6%–94.0%). The central arguments in favor of disclosure pertained to autonomy and the possibility to plan one's future. Arguments against disclosure were fear of getting upset and that knowing has no use.
Conclusions:
The vast majority of individuals without and with cognitive impairment prefers to be informed about a diagnosis of dementia for reasons pertaining to autonomy.
Myxozoans are metazoan parasites which are highly pathogenic in commercially important
fish, particularly in aquaculture. Enteromyxosis is an economically significant disease
caused by the myxosporean parasite Enteromyxum leei.
Presently, early diagnosis of enteromyxosis in sharpsnout seabream was achieved by
monitoring fish on a time-scale scheduled basis in combination with a validated molecular
diagnostic technique. Two different successive fish batches of a commercial fish farm were
monitored starting from the first month of on-growing in sea cages until fish reached
commercial size. Fish weight and water temperature differentially ranged between them.
E. leei detection was performed both by classical microscopic
observation of fresh smears and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) while
prevalence, mean intensity and mortality rate were calculated. In total, 520 fish were
screened; 320 from the first batch and 200 from the second one. Parasitosis illustrated a
seasonal occurrence pattern (spring and summer). When qPCR was used as a diagnostic
method, enteromyxosis was diagnosed earlier with more increased prevalence compared to the
microscopic observation. In this case, the parasite was detected at the lowest water
temperature that has ever been recorded (14.7 °C), during the first month of on-growing in sea cages. The two-factor
combination of water temperature and fish weight proved to be the most significant factor
that could determine the emergence and development of parasitosis and smaller fish proved
to be more susceptible. Mortality was influenced by both prevalence and intensity of
parasitosis. An earlier diagnosis and identification of all developmental stages of the
parasite throughout its life cycle was verified with qPCR, significantly before any
outbreak occurred. The latter could become a key diagnostic tool for the control of
enteromyxosis, allowing stakeholders and fish farmers to adopt all necessary precautionary
measures minimizing economic loss in sharpsnout seabream intensive farming.
We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of contact endoscopy in evaluating oral and oropharyngeal mucosal lesions.
Methods:
Between January 2010 and December 2011, 34 patients with lesions of the oral and oropharyngeal mucosa were enrolled in the study. Comparison between initial contact endoscopy results and ‘gold standard’ tissue biopsy was undertaken.
Results:
Nine patients had histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, 2 had carcinoma in situ, 3 had dysplastic lesions and 20 patients had various benign lesions. Contact endoscopy demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 89 and 100 per cent respectively in the evaluation of malignant lesions. Benign lesions were correctly categorised in 50 per cent of cases (10/20). The video images from contact endoscopy could not be interpreted in six cases.
Conclusions:
Contact endoscopy demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity in the imaging of malignant lesions with reduced reliability in the evaluation of benign lesions. Significant shortcomings also exist in the design of current technology that we believe represent a significant barrier to the reliable collection of useful video data.
The objective of the current study was to compare the outcomes of rigid endoscopic procedures with those of pre-operative flexible nasoendoscopy.
Methods:
A total of 253 patients who had undergone rigid endoscopic examination under anaesthesia between 6 January 2010 and 31 August 2011 were identified. Their clinical, surgical and histological records were evaluated.
Results:
A total of 213 patients had a flexible nasoendoscopic procedure performed and recorded pre-operatively, and 82 in this cohort had a specific lesion or area of concern identified. There were 21 confirmed malignant biopsy results, the majority of which were squamous cell carcinoma. No patient with a negative pre-operative endoscopy had a malignant lesion discovered on endoscopic biopsy. The sensitivity and specificity of pre-operative nasoendoscopy were 100 per cent and 66.3 per cent, respectively.
Conclusion:
Diagnostic rigid endoscopic examination of the upper aerodigestive tract remains an important tool for excluding malignancy in high-risk patients, but is an unnecessary procedure in those low-risk patients with normal pre-operative findings.