Medical Sciences Commons^™

Investigating The Genetic Makeup Of The Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) In The United Arab Emirates Population Through Next-Generation Sequencing, Nour A. D. Marzouka, Halima Alnaqbi, Amira Al-Aamri, Guan Tay, Habiba Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules are central to immune response and have associations with the phenotypes of various diseases and induced drug toxicity. Further, the role of HLA molecules in presenting antigens significantly affects the transplantation outcome. The objective of this study was to examine the extent of the diversity of HLA alleles in the population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using Next-Generation Sequencing methodologies and encompassing a larger cohort of individuals. A cohort of 570 unrelated healthy citizens of the UAE volunteered to provide samples for Whole Genome Sequencing and Whole Exome Sequencing. The definition of the …

The Role Of Diet And Gut Microbiota In Alzheimer’S Disease, D. M.Sithara Dissanayaka, Vijay Jayasena, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (A ) plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau tangles. Currently, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) impacts 50 million individuals, with projections anticipating an increase to 152 million by the year 2050. Despite the increasing global prevalence of AD, its underlying pathology remains poorly understood, posing challenges for early diagnosis and treatment. Recent research suggests a link between gut dysbiosis and the aggregation of A , the development of tau proteins, and the occurrence of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are associated with AD. However, investigations into the gut–brain axis …

Editorial: Neurotoxins In Alzheimer's Disease And Other Dementias, Alexandre Henriques, Philippe L. L. Poindron, Binosha Fernando, Kevin N. Hascup

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by a progressive decline in cognition and independence from activities of daily living. Dementia is multifactorial with numerous risk factors including age, genes, molecules, lifestyle, and environmental contributions to disease onset and progression. In recent years, an emerging focus on neurotoxins has added a new layer of complexity to our understanding of dementia. This editorial aims to discuss recent updates regarding the role of neurotoxins in the pathogenesis of dementia.

Fluid Biomarkers In Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Seyed M. Savar, Bin Ma, Eugene Hone, Farzana Jahan, Shaun Markovic, Steve Pedrini, Soudabeh Shemehsavar, Vandhana Easwaran, Kevin Taddei, Samantha Gardener, Jasmeer P. Chhatwal, Ellis S. Van Etten, Matthias J. P. Van Osch, Daniel Clarke, Anastazija Gnjec, Mark A. Van Buchem, Marieke J. H. Wermer, Graeme J. Hankey, Steven M. Greenberg, Ralph N. Martins, Hamid R. Sohrabi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a type of cerebrovascular disorder characterised by the accumulation of amyloid within the leptomeninges and small/medium-sized cerebral blood vessels. Typically, cerebral haemorrhages are one of the first clinical manifestations of CAA, posing a considerable challenge to the timely diagnosis of CAA as the bleedings only occur during the later disease stages. Fluid biomarkers may change prior to imaging biomarkers, and therefore, they could be the future of CAA diagnosis. Additionally, they can be used as primary outcome markers in prospective clinical trials. Among fluid biomarkers, blood-based biomarkers offer a distinct advantage over cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers …

Excitatory Drive To Spinal Motoneurones Is Necessary For Serotonin To Modulate Motoneurone Excitability Via 5-Ht2 Receptors In Humans, Tyler T. Henderson, Janet L. Taylor, Jacob R. Thorstensen, Justin J. Kavanagh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Serotonin modulates corticospinal excitability, motoneurone firing rates and contractile strength via 5-HT2 receptors. However, the effects of these receptors on cortical and motoneurone excitability during voluntary contractions have not been explored in humans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how 5-HT2 antagonism affects corticospinal and motoneuronal excitability with and without descending drive to motoneurones. Twelve individuals (aged 24 ± 4 years) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, whereby the 5-HT2 antagonist cyproheptadine was administered. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was delivered to the motor cortex to produce motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and electrical stimulation at the cervicomedullary …

Predicting Neurodegeneration From Sleep Related Biofluid Changes, Yue Yang, Woojin S. Kim, Johannes C. Michaelian, Simon J. G. Lewis, Craig L. Phillips, Angela L. D'Rozario, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Ralph N. Martins, Ron Grunstein, Glenda M. Halliday, Sharon L. Naismith

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sleep-wake disturbances are common in neurodegenerative diseases and may occur years before the clinical diagnosis, potentially either representing an early stage of the disease itself or acting as a pathophysiological driver. Therefore, discovering biomarkers that identify individuals with sleep-wake disturbances who are at risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases will allow early diagnosis and intervention. Given the association between sleep and neurodegeneration, the most frequently analyzed fluid biomarkers in people with sleep-wake disturbances to date include those directly associated with neurodegeneration itself, such as neurofilament light chain, phosphorylated tau, amyloid-beta and alpha-synuclein. Abnormalities in these biomarkers in patients with sleep-wake disturbances …

Unveiling The Link Between Systemic Inflammation Markers And Cognitive Performance Among Older Adults In The Us: A Population-Based Study Using Nhanes 2011–2014 Data, Zheng Guo, Yulu Zheng, Jian Geng, Zhiyuan Wu, Tao Wei, Guangle Shan, Yahong Zhu, Yuanyuan Zheng, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the association between systemic inflammation markers and cognitive performance among older US adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 3,632 older participants from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The main analysis included participants aged over 60 years. Systemic inflammation markers were quantified by calculating the composite inflammation indicators from the blood routine count, and cognitive performance was assessed using Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) test, Animal Fluency test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution test (DSST). Results: There were 2,743 individuals enrolled in the current analysis. The overall …

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Of Dementia In Those With And Without A Recorded History Of Psychological Trauma: A Comparative Study From An Australian Dementia Support Service, Monica Cations, Mustafa Atee, Thomas Morris, Daniel Whiting

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To compare the number and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and associated caregiver distress between those with and without a noted history of psychological trauma among those referred to a specialised national dementia NPS support service. Methods: This was a 5-year retrospective observational study of records from the Dementia Support Australia NPS support service. NPS were reported by formal or informal caregivers at service entry using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home version or Questionnaire version. A history of psychological trauma was recorded in the person's social or medical history and/or endorsed as a contributor to NPS by a trained …

A Systematic Review Of Dementia Research Priorities, Manonita Ghosh, Pelden Chejor, Melanie Baker, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Patient involvement is a critical component of dementia research priority-setting exercises to ensure that research benefits are relevant and acceptable to those who need the most. This systematic review synthesises research priorities and preferences identified by people living with dementia and their caregivers. Methods: Guided by Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, we conducted a systematic search in five electronic databases: CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus. The reference lists of the included studies were also manually searched. We combined quantitative and qualitative data for synthesis and descriptive thematic …

Changes In Sleep Effort Mediate Insomnia Severity In Older Adults Following Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Yvonne Kutzer, Lisa Whitehead, Eimear Quigley, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background

To examine treatment mechanisms of digitally delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), this study assessed the mediating effects of dysfunctional beliefs, hyperarousal, locus of control, self-efficacy, sleep effort, and safety behaviours on self-reported insomnia severity in older adults before and following the completion of a self-guided, online CBT-I program.

Methods

The baseline and follow-up measurements were completed by 62 older adults (55 female, 89%). This was a two-condition within-participant design. Mediation analysis using a parallel mediation model was conducted using the MEMORE macro for repeated measure designs.

Results

Out of all the included mediator variables, only a reduction …

Multi-Domain Interventions For Dementia Prevention–A Systematic Review, C. B. Castro, L. M. Costa, C. Max B. Dias, J. Chen, H. Hillebrandt, Samantha L. Gardener, B. M. Brown, R. L. Loo, M. L. Garg, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, Hamid R. Sohrabi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: There is a growing incidence of cognitive decline and dementia associated with the ageing population. Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, and cognitive activities may individually or collectively be undertaken to increase one’s odds of preventing cognitive decline and future dementia. This study will examine whether clinical trials using multidomain lifestyle intervention can significantly decrease the risk of cognitive decline and therefore dementia. Design, Setting and Participants: This systematic literature review of multidomain lifestyle interventions for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia followed the PRISMA guidelines. Clinical trials involving multidomain intervention (i.e., diet and physical activity, or …

A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study Of Atherosclerosis And Dementia, Qiaoyun Zhang, Guangheng Wu, Xiaoyu Zhang, Sheng Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The causality between atherosclerosis and dementia remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the causal effect of atherosclerosis related indicators on dementia risk based on two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using summary statistics of genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was performed as the main analysis, supplemented by different sensitivity analyses. Suggestive evidence indicated that peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (odds ratio (OR): 0.864, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.797–0.937), coronary atherosclerosis (CoAS) (OR: 0.927, 95% CI: 0.860–0.998) and atherosclerosis, excluding cerebral, coronary, and PAD (ATHSCLE) (OR: 0.812, 95% CI: 0.725–0.909) were inversely associated with the risk of AD. …

Effects Of Jaw Clenching And Mental Stress On Persistent Inward Currents Estimated By Two Different Methods, Ricardo N. O. Mesquita, Janet L. Taylor, Gabriel S. Trajano, Aleš Holobar, Basílio A. M. Gonçalves, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Spinal motoneuron firing depends greatly on persistent inward currents (PICs), which in turn are facilitated by the neuromodulators serotonin and noradrenaline. The aim of this study was to determine whether jaw clenching (JC) and mental stress (MS), which may increase neuromodulator release, facilitate PICs in human motoneurons. The paired motor unit (MU) technique was used to estimate PIC contribution to motoneuron firing. Surface electromyograms were collected using a 32-channel matrix on gastrocnemius medialis (GM) during voluntary, ramp, plantar flexor contractions. MU discharges were identified, and delta frequency ( F), a measure of recruitment–derecruitment hysteresis, was calculated. Additionally, another technique was …

The Influence Of Baseline Sleep On Exercise-Induced Cognitive Change In Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults: A Randomised Clinical Trial, Kelsey R. Sewell, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Jeremiah Peiffer, Hamid R. Sohrabi, James Doecke, Natalie J. Frost, Shaun J. Markovic, Kirk Erickson, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Observational studies consistently demonstrate that physical activity is associated with elevated cognitive function, however, there remains significant heterogeneity in cognitive outcomes from randomized exercise interventions. Individual variation in sleep behaviours may be a source of variability in the effectiveness of exercise-induced cognitive change, however this has not yet been investigated. The current study aimed to (1) investigate the influence of a 6-month exercise intervention on sleep, assessed pre- and post-intervention and, (2) investigate whether baseline sleep measures moderate exercise-induced cognitive changes. Methods: We utilised data from the Intense Physical Activity and Cognition (IPAC) study (n = 89), a 6-month …

Chromosomal Aberrations In Pediatric Patients With Moderate/Severe Developmental Delay/Intellectual Disability With Abundant Phenotypic Heterogeneities: A Single-Center Study, Dan Wu, Yi Wu, Yulong Lan, Shaocong Lan, Zhiwei Zhong, Duo Li, Zexin Zheng, Hongwu Wang, Lian Ma

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: This study aimed to examine the clinical usefulness of chromosome microarray (CMA) for selective implementation in patients with unexplained moderate or severe developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID) and/or combined with different dysphonic features in the Han Chinese population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on 122 pediatric patients with unexplained isolated moderate/severe DD/ID with or without autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, dystonia, and congenital abnormalities from a single-center neurorehabilitation clinic in southern China. Results: A total of 46 probands (37.7%) had abnormal CMA results among the 122 study patients. With the exclusion of aneuploidies, uniparental disomies, and multiple homozygotes, 37 patients harbored …

Contrast Detection Is Enhanced By Deterministic, High-Frequency Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation With Triangle And Sine Waveform, Weronika Potok, Onno Van Der Groen, Sahana Sivachelvam, Marc Bächinger, Flavio Fröhlich, Laszlo B. Kish, Nicole Wenderoth

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Stochastic resonance (SR) describes a phenomenon where an additive noise (stochastic carrier-wave) enhances the signal transmission in a nonlinear system. In the nervous system, nonlinear properties are present from the level of single ion channels all the way to perception and appear to support the emergence of SR. For example, SR has been repeatedly demonstrated for visual detection tasks, also by adding noise directly to cortical areas via transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). When dealing with nonlinear physical systems, it has been suggested that resonance can be induced not only by adding stochastic signals (i.e., noise) but also by adding …

Positron Emission Tomography And Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods And Datasets Within The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (Dian), Nicole S. Mckay, Brian A. Gordon, Russ C. Hornbeck, Aylin Dincer, Shaney Flores, Sarah J. Keefe, Nelly Joseph-Mathurin, Clifford R. Jack, Robert Koeppe, Peter R. Millar, Beau M. Ances, Charles D. Chen, Alisha Daniels, Diana A. Hobbs, Kelley Jackson, Deborah Koudelis, Parinaz Massoumzadeh, Austin Mccullough, Michael L. Nickels, Farzaneh Rahmani, Laura Swisher, Qing Wang, Ricardo F. Allegri, Sarah B. Berman, Adam M. Brickman, William S. Brooks, David M. Cash, Jasmeer P. Chhatwal, Gregory S. Day, Martin R. Farlow, Christian La Fougère, Nick C. Fox, Michael Fulham, Bernardino Ghetti, Neill Graff-Radford, Takeshi Ikeuchi, William Klunk, Jae-Hong Lee, Johannes Levin, Ralph Martins, Colin L. Masters, Jonathan Mcconathy, Hiroshi Mori, James M. Noble, Gerald Reischl, Christopher Rowe, Stephen Salloway, Raquel Sanchez-Valle, Peter R. Schofield, Hiroyuki Shimada, Mikio Shoji, Yi Su, Kazushi Suzuki, Jonathan Vöglein, Igor Yakushev, Carlos Cruchaga, Jason Hassenstab, Celeste Karch, Eric Mcdade, Richard J. Perrin, Chengjie Xiong, John C. Morris, Randall J. Bateman, Tammie L. S. Benzinger, Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) is an international collaboration studying autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD). ADAD arises from mutations occurring in three genes. Offspring from ADAD families have a 50% chance of inheriting their familial mutation, so non-carrier siblings can be recruited for comparisons in case–control studies. The age of onset in ADAD is highly predictable within families, allowing researchers to estimate an individual’s point in the disease trajectory. These characteristics allow candidate AD biomarker measurements to be reliably mapped during the preclinical phase. Although ADAD represents a small proportion of AD cases, understanding neuroimaging-based changes that occur during …

Plasma Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein In Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease: Associations With Aβ-Pet, Neurodegeneration, And Cognition, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Lisa Vermunt, Brian A. Gordon, Steve Pedrini, Lynn Boonkamp, Nicola J. Armstrong, Chengjie Xiong, Abhay K. Singh, Yan Li, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Mark Molloy, Tammie L. S. Benzinger, John C. Morris, Celeste Karch, Sarah Berman, Jasmeer Chhatwal, Carlos Cruchaga, Neill R. Graff-Radford, Gregory S. Day, Martin Farlow, Nick Fox, Alison Goate, Jason Hassenstab, Jae-Hong Lee, Johannes Levin, Eric Mcdade, Hiroshi Mori, Richard Perrin, Raquel Sanchez-Valle, Peter R. Schofield, Allan Levey, Mathias Jucker, Colin L. Masters, Anne M. Fagan, Randall J. Bateman, Ralph N. Martins, Charlotte Teunissen, Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a promising candidate blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and prognostication. The timing of its disease-associated changes, its clinical correlates, and biofluid-type dependency will influence its clinical utility. Methods: We evaluated plasma, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) GFAP in families with autosomal dominant AD (ADAD), leveraging the predictable age at symptom onset to determine changes by stage of disease. Results: Plasma GFAP elevations appear a decade before expected symptom onset, after amyloid beta (A ) accumulation and prior to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Plasma GFAP distinguished A -positive from A -negative ADAD …

Can Local Vibration Alter The Contribution Of Persistent Inward Currents To Human Motoneuron Firing?, T. Lapole, Ricardo N. O. Mesquita, S. Baudry, R. Souron, C. G. Brownstein, V. Rozand

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The response of spinal motoneurons to synaptic input greatly depends on the activation of persistent inward currents (PICs), which in turn are enhanced by the neuromodulators serotonin and noradrenaline. Local vibration (LV) induces excitatory Ia input onto motoneurons and may alter neuromodulatory inputs. Therefore, we investigated whether LV influences the contribution of PICs to motoneuron firing. This was assessed in voluntary contractions with concurrent, ongoing LV, as well as after a bout of prolonged LV. High-density surface electromyograms (HD-EMG) of the tibialis anterior were recorded with a 64-electrode matrix. Twenty males performed isometric, triangular, dorsiflexion contractions to 20% and 50% …

Prevalence And Management Of Sleep Disturbance In Adults With Primary Brain Tumours And Their Caregivers: A Systematic Review, Jason A. Martin, Nicolas H. Hart, Natalie Bradford, Fiona Naumann, Mark B. Pinkham, Elizabeth P. Pinkham, Justin J. Holland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: The aims of this systematic review were to (1) examine the prevalence, severity, manifestations, and clinical associations/risk factors of sleep disturbance in primary brain tumour (PBT) survivors and their caregivers; and (2) determine whether there are any sleep-focused interventons reported in the literature pertaining to people affected by PBT. Methods: This systematic review was registered with the international register for systematic reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42022299332). PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, PsychINFO, and CINAHL were electronically searched for relevant articles reporting sleep disturbance and/or interventions for managing sleep disturbance published between September 2015 and May 2022. The search strategy included terms focusing on …

Motor Cortical Excitability And Pre-Supplementary Motor Area Neurochemistry In Healthy Adults With Substantia Nigra Hyperechogenicity, Gabrielle Todd, Caroline D. Rae, Janet L. Taylor, Nigel C. Rogasch, Jane E. Butler, Michael Hayes, Robert A. Wilcox, Simon C. Gandevia, Karl Aoun, Adrian Esterman, Simon J. G. Lewis, Julie M. Hall, Elie Matar, Jana Godau, Daniela Berg, Christian Plewnia, Anna-Katharina Von Thaler, Clarence Chiang, Kay L. Double

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity, viewed with transcranial ultrasound, is a risk marker for Parkinson's disease. We hypothesized that SN hyperechogenicity in healthy adults aged 50 – 70 years is associated with reduced short-interval intracortical inhibition in primary motor cortex, and that the reduced intracortical inhibition is associated with neurochemical markers of activity in the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA). Short-interval intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation in primary motor cortex was assessed with paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation in 23 healthy adults with normal (n = 14; 61 ± 7 yrs) or abnormally enlarged (hyperechogenic; n = 9; 60 ± 6 yrs) area …

Corticospinal And Intracortical Responses From Both Motor Cortices Following Unilateral Concentric Versus Eccentric Contractions, Onno Van Der Groen, Christopher Latella, Kazunori Nosaka, Dylan Edwards, Wei Peng Teo, Janet L. Taylor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Cross-education is the phenomenon where training of one limb can cause neuromuscular adaptations in the opposite untrained limb. This effect has been reported to be greater after eccentric (ECC) than concentric (CON) strength training; however, the underpinning neurophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, we compared responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in both motor cortices following single sessions of unilateral ECC and CON exercise of the elbow flexors. Fourteen healthy adults performed three sets of 10 ECC and CON right elbow flexor contractions at 75 % of respective maximum on separate days. Elbow flexor maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torques were …

Episodic Memory Dysfunction And Hypersynchrony In Brain Functional Networks In Cognitively Intact Subjects And Mci: A Study Of 379 Individuals, Brenda Chino, Pablo Cuesta, Javier Pacios, Jaisalmer De Frutos-Lucas, Lucía Torres-Simón, Sandra Doval, Alberto Marcos, Ricardo Bruña, Fernando Maestú

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Delayed recall (DR) impairment is one of the most significant predictive factors in defining the progression to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Changes in brain functional connectivity (FC) could accompany this decline in the DR performance even in a resting state condition from the preclinical stages to the diagnosis of AD itself, so the characterization of the relationship between the two phenomena has attracted increasing interest. Another aspect to contemplate is the potential moderator role of the APOE genotype in this association, considering the evidence about their implication for the disease. 379 subjects (118 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 261 cognitively intact …

Advancement In Human Face Prediction Using Dna, Aamer Alshehhi, Aliya Almarzooqi, Khadija Alhammadi, Naoufel Werghi, Guan Kwang Tay, Habiba Alsafar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The rapid improvements in identifying the genetic factors contributing to facial morphology have enabled the early identification of craniofacial syndromes. Similarly, this technology can be vital in forensic cases involving human identification from biological traces or human remains, especially when reference samples are not available in the deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) database. This review summarizes the currently used methods for predicting human phenotypes such as age, ancestry, pigmentation, and facial features based on genetic variations. To identify the facial features affected by DNA, various two-dimensional (2D)- and three-dimensional (3D)-scanning techniques and analysis tools are reviewed. A comparison between the scanning …

Treatment Integrity And Differentiation In The Very Early Rehabilitation In Speech (Verse) Trial, Emily Brogan, Natalie Ciccone, Erin Godecke

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Key elements of treatment fidelity include treatment integrity (adherence to the treatment protocol) and treatment differentiation (the difference in treatment ingredients in the control and intervention groups). The Very Early Rehabilitation in SpEech (VERSE) trial established treatment fidelity at the macro level for key components of therapy.

Aims:

To complete a detailed analysis of treatment integrity and differentiation at the utterance level of a therapeutic interaction.

Methods:

This was an observational study of therapy videos collected as part of the VERSE trial. Participants were people with aphasia in the very early phase of recovery post stroke (n = 44) …

Tackling Dementia Together Via The Australian Dementia Network (Adnet): A Summary Of Initiatives, Progress And Plans, Sharon L. Naismith, Johannes C. Michaelian, Cherry Santos, Inga Mehrani, Joanne Robertson, Kasey Wallis, Xiaoping Lin, Stephanie A. Ward, Ralph Martins, Colin L. Masters, Michael Breakspear, Susannah Ahern, Jurgen Fripp, Peter R. Schofield, Perminder S. Sachdev, Christopher C. Rowe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In 2018, the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) was established to bring together Australia's leading dementia researchers, people with living experience and clinicians to transform research and clinical care in the field. To address dementia diagnosis, treatment, and care, ADNeT has established three core initiatives: the Clinical Quality Registry (CQR), Memory Clinics, and Screening for Trials. Collectively, the initiatives have developed an integrated clinical and research community, driving practice excellence in this field, leading to novel innovations in diagnostics, clinical care, professional development, quality and harmonization of healthcare, clinical trials, and translation of research into practice. Australia now has a national …

Physical Activity And Brain Amyloid Beta: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults, Michael G. Slee, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Victor L. Villemagne, James D. Doecke, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, David Ames, Vincent Dore, Paul Maruff, Simon M. Laws, Colin L. Masters, Christopher C. Rowe, Ralph N. Martins, Kirk I. Erickson, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The current study evaluated the relationship between habitual physical activity (PA) levels and brain amyloid beta (A ) over 15 years in a cohort of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Methods: PA and A measures were collected over multiple timepoints from 731 cognitively unimpaired older adults participating in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Study of Aging. Regression modeling examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between PA and brain A . Moderation analyses examined apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 carriage impact on the PA-A relationship. Results: PA was not associated with brain A at baseline ( = –0.001, p = 0.72) …

Sixteen-Year Longitudinal Evaluation Of Blood-Based Dna Methylation Biomarkers For Early Prediction Of Alzheimer's Disease, Fernanda Schäfer Hackenhaar, Maria Josefsson, Annelie Nordin Adolfsson, Mattias Landfors, Karolina Kauppi, Tenielle Porter, Lidija Milicic, Simon M. Laws, Magnus Hultdin, Rolf Adolfsson, Sofie Degerman, Sara Pudas, Australian Imaging Biomarkers And Lifestyle Study

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation (DNAm), an epigenetic mark reflecting both inherited and environmental influences, has shown promise for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prediction. OBJECTIVE: Testing long-term predictive ability ( > 15 years) of existing DNAm-based epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) measures and identifying novel early blood-based DNAm AD-prediction biomarkers. METHODS: EAA measures calculated from Illumina EPIC data from blood were tested with linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) in a longitudinal case-control sample (50 late-onset AD cases; 51 matched controls) with prospective data up to 16 years before clinical onset, and post-onset follow-up. Novel DNAm biomarkers were generated with epigenome-wide LMMs, and Sparse Partial Least Squares …

The Effects Of Cognitive-Linguistic Interventions To Treat Aphasia In The First 90 Days Post-Stroke: A Systematic Review, Emily Eley, Maayken Van Den Berg, Miranda L. Rose, John E. Pierce, Abby Foster, Edwina Lamborn, Sarah D’Souza, Erin Godecke, Lucette Lanyon, Ciara Shiggins, Ian Kneebone, Caroline Baker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Cognitive-linguistic interventions for aphasia are behavioural-based approaches to therapy that aim to treat language impairment skills post-acquired brain injury. The purpose of cognitive-linguistic intervention is to restore and rehabilitate language impairment skills through targeting phonologic, semantic and syntactic systems, which may support goals to improve everyday communication. Aims: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of cognitive-linguistic interventions on language processing for aphasia in the first 90 days post-stroke. Secondary aims include the investigation of the effects of these interventions on functional communication and quality of life. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across six …

The Relationships Between Multidimensional Sleep Health And Work Productivity In Individuals With Neurological Conditions, Mitchell Turner, Manja Laws, Madeline Griffiths, Kate Turner, Leah Dempsey, Simon M. Laws, Travis Cruickshank

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Numerous studies have reported the negative impacts of poor sleep on work productivity in the general population. However, despite the known sleep issues that individuals living with neurological conditions experience, no study has explored its impact on their work productivity. Sleep health is a concept that includes multiple domains of sleep, measured with a combination of objective and subjective measures. Therefore, this study aimed to ascertain the associations between sleep health and its domains and work productivity in individuals with neurological conditions. Sleep health domains were determined through actigraphy data collected over 1 week and sleep questionnaires. Work productivity was …