Neurosciences Commons^™

Discriminative Performance Of Externally Validated Dementia Risk Prediction Models: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Blossom C.M. Stephan, Jacob Brain, Kaarin J. Anstey, Tanya Buchanan, Claire V. Burley, Elissa Burton, Jennifer Dunne, Linda Errington, Matthew Gorringe, Zhongyang Guan, Bronwyn Myers, Serena Sabatini, Marc Sim, William Stephan, Eugene Yee Hing Tang, Narelle Warren, Mario Siervo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Data on the external validation of current dementia risk prediction models has not yet been systematically synthesised. This systematic review and meta-analysis collated results from three previous reviews to evaluate the predictive discriminative performance of dementia risk models when validated in population-based settings. Methods: Embase (via Ovid), Medline (via Ovid), Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to June 2022 with an updated search conducted up to November 2024. Included studies (1) had a population-based cohort design; (2) assessed incident late-life (i.e. ≥ 60 years) dementia; and (3) reported predictive performance of at least one dementia risk …

Sarcopenic Obesity And Dementia Risk: Primary Associations And Landmark Analyses Of Muscle Strength And Body Composition Trajectories, Zhongyang Guan, Blossom C.M. Stephan, Lorenzo M. Donini, Justyna Godos, Giuseppe Grosso, Leticia Radin Pereira, Carla M. Prado, Carlos J. Toro-Huamanchumo, Jonathan C.K. Wells, Marc Sim, Mario Siervo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aims: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) has been proposed as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Yet evidence is inconsistent and often limited by heterogeneous definitions and lack of longitudinal assessments. This study aimed to examine associations of SO with all-cause and subtype-specific dementia, and to assess dose–response patterns and how longitudinal changes in body composition and muscle strength relate to dementia risk. Methods: We included 489,972 adults (mean age 56.5 ± 8.1 years) followed for a median of 13.6 years. SO was defined using the Sarcopenic Obesity Global Leadership Initiative (SOGLI) criteria. Cox models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for …

Mapping The Neuroexposome: Integrative Analysis Of Dementia Risk Factors Through Multi-Omics And Environmental Profiling In The Egyptian Population., Mai Ahmed Saadzaghloul Othman

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Dementia represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of the twenty-first century, with the global burden projected to reach 153 million cases by 2050. Egypt, as the most populous Arab nation, faces a corresponding rise in age-related diseases, yet comprehensive data from low- and middle-income countries remain severely limited. The neuroexposome framework, integrating genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and metabolic alterations, offers a powerful strategy to characterize the complex interplay between internal and external risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Alzheimer's disease Related Dementias (ADRD).

Objectives: This thesis aimed to: (1) examine the distribution of APOE alleles …

Decentralizing Dementia Research To The Us–Mexico Border: The Rio Grande Valley Ad-Rcmar As A Model For Translational Equity, Gladys E. Maestre, John Blangero, Eron Manusov, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Francisco Fernandez, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Vincent P. Diego, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Claudia Alaniz, Neyra García, Rosa V. Pirela, Andrew Tsin, Michael Mahaney

School of Medicine Publications

Translational equity means ensuring that diagnostics, treatments, care models, and prevention strategies are developed and implemented so they work for populations with the greatest burden and least access to care. In Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), where most evidence derives from highly educated, non-Hispanic White participants at large academic centers, translational equity is critical to prevent misclassification, limited access, and widening disparities and to ensure that underrepresented communities shape how new knowledge moves into practice. Hispanic and other populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by ADRD yet remain underrepresented in research, with gaps especially pronounced in high-poverty …

Mitigating Disparities In Diagnosis Of Dementia, Lycia Tramujas Vasconcellos Neumann, Simin Mahinrad, Erin L. Abner, Soo Borson, Goldie S. Byrd, Maria Carrillo, Lindsay Clark, Anthony N. Correro Ii, Kacie D. Deters, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

The field of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) is undergoing a transformative shift with a better understanding of disease biology, biomarker-based diagnostics, and disease-modifying therapies. Yet, these advancements risk exacerbating existing disparities in diagnosis and care. The 2024 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) Advancements: Exploring Equity in Diagnosis convened interdisciplinary experts to address these inequities and chart a path toward population-generalizable research and practice. This article synthesizes key insights from the conference, highlighting considerations for inclusive and representative research design, ethical approaches in diagnostic disclosure, as well as challenges and solutions at individual, community, and systemic levels to advance …

Higher Sodium Intake Is Associated With Episodic Memory Decline In Cognitively Unimpaired Older Males: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study, Francisca Chuwa, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Hilal Salim Said Al Shamsi, Hamid Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, Samantha L. Gardener

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Recent evidence has suggested an association between high sodium intake and development of cognitive impairment. However, while animal studies demonstrate consistent relationships between sodium intake and cognitive impairment, this relationship remains less clear in humans. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between self-reported baseline sodium intake and cognitive decline over 72 months. Cognitively unimpaired participants (n = 1208) from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study were included (70.87 years of age; 41 % male). Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire to quantify sodium intake and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment at baseline and four additional timepoints, 18 months apart. …

Impact Of Plasma Ptau181 Levels On Clinician Diagnostic Confidence And Management In Memory And Cognition Clinics: A Multi-Site Before-And-After Study, Johannes C. Michaelian, Azadeh Feizpour, James C. Vickers, Jane E. Alty, Jessica M. Collins, Vincent Doré, Catriona Ireland, Anna E. King, Ralph N. Martins, Michael Woodward, Sharon L. Naismith, Christopher C. Rowe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Recent advances allow blood tests to detect key proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: In this before-and-after study across three Australian memory and cognition clinics, we evaluated the impact on clinicians' diagnostic confidence and management following disclosure of routine patients' AD probability, using predefined plasma phosphorylated tau 181 (pTau181) thresholds set at 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity for amyloid-beta (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET) positivity. Results: One hundred thirteen participants (mean age: 71.2 ± 8.4; mean Mini-Mental State Examination score: 27.7 ± 2.5) with dementia (n = 17, 15.0%), mild cognitive impairment (n = 48, 42.5%), and subjective …

Prevalence Of Dementia In Selected Middle East And North Africa (Mena) Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohsen Sedighi, Mohammad Hasan Shahabi, Alireza Amanollahi, Khurshid Alam, Soudabeh Shemehsavar, Zahra Shirzadi, Serena Sabatini, Ahmad R. Khatoonabadi, Matthew Prina, Akram A. Hosseini, Claire V. Burley, Jennifer Dunne, Simin Mahinrad, Iman Dajani, Ralph N. Martins, Blossom C.M. Stephan, Ali Chaari, Hamid R. Sohrabi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Data on dementia epidemiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined dementia prevalence across MENA. Databases were searched up to October 2024. Analyses were stratified by country and sex. Pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Fifty-two studies on the selected countries met inclusion criteria, covering 87,219 individuals with dementia from a total population of 1,045,908. The pooled prevalence was 12.16% (95% CI: 9.61–14.96) for the region and the Israel had the highest prevalence (17.00%), followed by Iran (13.20%), Turkey (11.40%), Saudi Arabia …

Pain In People With Dementia Is A Significant Contributor To Increased Professional Caregiver Burden: Results Of An Observation Study, Kreshnik Hoti, Ipsit Vahia, Paola Chivers, Jeffery Hughes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To investigate the association between the presence of neuropsychological symptoms, professional caregiver burden and pain intensity.

Methods: Eleven neuropsychiatric symptoms reportedly associated with caregiver burden which are included within the PainChek® pain assessment tool were identified: aggressiveness, inappropriate behavior, distressed, verbally offensive, confusion, restlessness, pacing and wandering, crying, screaming, altered sleep and resisting care. A caregiver burden score based on binary scoring of the presence of these indicators was calculated (summative score range from 0 to 11). Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the relationships between (1) pain score and sum of caregiver indicators present and (2) pain …

“For Haitian Culture, Being Older [Is] A Blessing”: Perceptions Of Aging, Elderhood, And Dementia In A Haitian Born Sample, Melissa K. Eustache

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how first-generation Haitian immigrants in the United States understand and interpret dementia within the intersecting contexts of culture, migration, and biomedicine. While dementia is constructed as a pathological “loss of self” and a public health epidemic, in American biomedical and popular discourse, this study examines how Haitian-born individuals—socialized within a non-Western cultural and spiritual framework—make sense of cognitive decline and impairment in ways that diverge from Western biomedical narratives. Guided by theoretical orientations from medical anthropology, including Mark Nichter’s idioms of distress, Margaret Lock’s local biologies, and neuroanthropology, this research explores how cultural models of illness, aging, …

Addressing Language Challenges In Bilingual Neuropsychological Assessments At The South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (Adrc), Stephanie Santiago-Mejias, Gabrielle Hromas, Ashley Laroche, David A. Gonzalez, Robin C. Hilsabeck, Katya Rascovsky, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Amy Werry-Mcfarlin, Claudia Satizabal, Hector Trevino

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Neuropsychological assessment of bilingual (English/Spanish) individuals presents challenges that can impact test validity. Language proficiency influences cognitive performance, yet clear guidelines for determining the appropriate test language are lacking. We describe our experiences at the South Texas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (STAC) in addressing these challenges within the context of National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set (UDS) assessments and broader Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) protocols. We outline steps toward a structured language assessment approach.

Methods: We implemented a process to assess language proficiency, integrating self-reported and objective measures, including the language dominance index (LDI). Case examples …

Heightened Risk: Childhood Trauma And Anticipatory Grief Exacerbate The Impact Of Loneliness On Depressive Symptoms And Lps-Stimulated Cytokines In Dementia Caregivers, Kelly N Brice, Jensine Paoletti-Hatcher, E Lydia Wu-Chung, Vincent D Lai, Daniel L Argueta, Michelle A Chen, Itee Mahant, Bryan T Denny, Charles Green, Luis D Medina, Paul Schulz, Jennifer Stinson, Samantha K Henry, Cobi Heijnen, Christopher P Fagundes

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Dementia spousal caregivers are at a disproportionate risk for adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Loneliness is associated with depressive symptoms and proinflammatory cytokine production among caregivers. Additionally, childhood trauma, anticipatory grief, and poor sleep quality are all associated with enhanced stress reactivity. This study used a cross-sectional design to investigate whether loneliness is associated with proinflammatory cytokine production and depressive symptoms in caregivers, and whether these relationships are strongest among caregivers who report high levels of childhood trauma, high amounts of anticipatory grief, or poor sleep quality. A sample of 111 dementia spousal caregivers provided blood samples and completed …

Risk Of Major Depression In Partners Of People With Alzheimer's Disease: A National Cohort Study, Casey Crump, Jingkai Wei, Barbara G Vickrey, Alexis C Edwards, Paul E Schulz, Weiva Sieh, Jan Sundquist, Kristina Sundquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) may cause significant psychosocial distress not only in the patient but also their partner. However, long-term risks of major depression in partners of AD patients are largely unknown.

Methods: A national cohort study was conducted of all 145 289 partners of people diagnosed with all-cause dementia, including 57 113 partners of people diagnosed with AD, in Sweden during 1998-2017, and 1 300 561 population-based controls. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) for subsequent risk of major depression identified from nationwide outpatient and inpatient diagnoses through 2018, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and prior mental …

A Protective Role Of Src-1 Against Aging Associated Cognitive Decline, Hesong Liu, Yongjie Yang, Jonathan C Bean, Yang He, Hailan Liu, Rambabu Majji, Chen Liang, Nan Zhang, Meng Yu, Longlong Tu, Qingzhuo Liu, Yue Deng, Kristine M Conde, Na Yin, Mengjie Wang, Yongxiang Li, Junying Han, Sanika Vattakuzhiyil Jossy, Megan Elyse Burt, Hari Krishna Yalamanchili, Chunmei Wang

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Introduction: Research indicates a strong correlation between obesity and the risk of dementia, both are linked to steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), a transcriptional coactivator.

Methods: We used RNA sequencing analysis (RNA-Seq) to investigate the transcriptome of SRC-1-KO mice, and identified S100 calcium-binding protein A6 (S100A6), an AD associated gene, as one target of SRC-1. We tested cognitive behaviors in SRC-1-KO mice and mice with a humanized SRC-1 mutation (SRC-1L1376P), and performed promoter luciferase assays on S100A6.

Results: Loss of SRC-1 caused alterations in gene signatures that are commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, and diminished the neural plasticity of …

Baseline Habitual Dietary Nitrate Intake And Alzheimer's Disease Related Neuroimaging Biomarkers In The Australian Imaging, Biomarkers And Lifestyle Study Of Ageing, Anjana Rajendra, Nicola P. Bondonno, Kevin Murray, Liezhou Zhong, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Samantha L. Gardener, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Vincent Doré, Victor L. Villemagne, Simon M. Laws, Belinda M. Brown, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Christopher C. Rowe, Ralph N. Martins, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Catherine P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Dietary nitrate, as a nitric oxide (NO) precursor, may support brain health and protect against dementia. Objective: Our primary aim was to investigate whether dietary nitrate is associated with neuroimaging markers of brain health linked with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Participants: Study participants were cognitively unimpaired individuals from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study of Ageing (AIBL) who had β-amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans (n = 554) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (n = 335) and had completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire at baseline. Methods: Source-specific nitrate intakes were estimated using comprehensive nitrate food composition databases. Rates …

Dabigatran Reduced Acute Microgliosis In A Mouse Model With Tbi, Nicholas R. Eltman, Rashmeena Abbasi, Mary C. Kosciuk, Syed Ahmed, Jose L. Pascual, Randel L. Swanson, Nimish K. Acharya

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Objective:

The study objective was to investigate the acute anti-inflammatory effects of dabigatran in a preclinical mouse controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

Mice were separated into three groups: controlled cortical impact (CCI) with dabigatran (drug treatment, n=5), CCI with saline (positive control, n=5), and sham CCI without saline or dabigatran (negative control, n=3). Dabigatran (80mg/kg) or saline was administered orally at 2, 10, 18, 26, 34, and 42 hours following experimental CCI in the drug treatment or positive control groups, respectively. Animals in the negative control group received sham CCI only. 48h following …

Frontotemporal Dementia And Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case Report And Clinical Insights, Audrey Grigore, Lynne J. Goebel

Internal Medicine

Primary care providers are often the first contact for patients with neurodegenerative illnesses, however, they may not be aware of the relationship of certain diseases that may have an impact on their patients' longevity. This case report reminds clinicians of the association between frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Physicians should be aware of the association, because FTD commonly occurs first and may prepare clinicians to be alert to the signs of ALS in these patients, leading to earlier detection of ALS and the prescription of disease-modifying medication that may extend the lifespan of people with these diseases. …

Identification Of Retinal Microvasculature Associated With Alzheimer’S Disease-Related Disorders Using Optical Tomography Coherence Angiography: A Systematic Review, Giani C. Tah, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Igor Zwir, Lorena Flores-Hernandez, Gladys E. Maestre, Jesus D. Melgarejo

Research Symposium

Introduction: Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) is the most common type of form of dementia in older adults. Detection and diagnosis are based on invasive and expensive procedures including PET scanning and lumbar puncture cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Optical Tomography Coherence (OCT) angiography may be an alternative solution for early, cost-effective non-invasive detection of AD. We aimed to conduct a systematic review to summarize the current evidence describing the association between OCT angiography and AD using PubMed as data source.

Methods: Pubmed was used to compile resources for a systematic review. Keywords used include “Alzheimer’s disease”, “preclinical Alzheimer’s disease”, “OCT”, “OCTA”, “neurovascular degeneration”, …

Predictors Of Bi-Directional Transitions From Mild Cognitive Impairment In A Diverse Cohort, Mitzi M. Gonzales, Roman Fernandez, Sarah Kremen, Zaldy S. Tan, Amy E. Werry, Xueqiu Jian, John Hart, Donald Royall, Gladys Maestre, Sara Espinoza

School of Medicine Publications

Trajectories following a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are varied and may fluctuate over time. Among diverse ethnic and racial groups, social factors, medical comorbidities, and biases in assessment procedures may contribute to greater heterogeneity in the MCI diagnostic category and affect its prognostic significance for dementia. The study goal was to evaluate the frequency and variables associated with MCI transitions among non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Latinx older adults. Multistate Markov models characterized transitions across diagnostic states (cognitively unimpaired (CU), MCI, dementia) over ten years. Variables associated with transitions were assessed using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals …

Gait Variability As A Marker Of White Matter Integrity In Individuals With Down Syndrome, Elizabeth M. Leach, David K. Powell, Amanda C. Glueck, Elizabeth Head, Moaz W. Ibrahim, Amelia J. Anderson-Mooney, Kathryn L. Van Pelt, Jordan P. Harp, Frederick A. Schmitt, Ahmed A. Bahrani

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Introduction: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) face a significant risk of neurodegeneration, and gait variability may serve as a clinical biomarker of neurological health. This longitudinal parent substudy aimed to explore relationships between gait, white matter (WM) integrity, and cognitive function in DS.

Methods: The associations were investigated between magnetic resonance imaging diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), cognition, and self-paced gait data from 22 DS participants (mean age ± SD 37 ± 7.5 years).

Results: DTI measures, such as lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and higher mean diffusivity, were correlated with greater step time variability but not normalized velocities. Lower cognitive scores …

Developing, Implementing, And Evaluating The First National Memory And Cognition Clinic Guidelines In Australia, Inga Mehrani, Matthew Paradise, Lee Fay Low, Sue Kurrle, Valerie Arsenova, Gemma Jahn, Katrina Fyfe, Johannes C. Michaelian, Katharine Salmon, Jane Alty, Sharon L. Naismith, Perminder S. Sachdev

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: A lack of national consensus on the roles and responsibilities of Australian memory and cognition clinics contributes to the large variability seen across services. The introduction of guidelines and a quality assessment framework could facilitate greater harmonization and quality improvements.

Methods: We used a modified Delphi process to develop the guidelines. Pilot clinics completed a self-assessment, case-note audit, and review meeting to evaluate their service against the guidelines.

Results: The final guidelines included 160 standards on 14 different topics. Standards around maximum waiting times for an assessment and minimum post-diagnostic care responsibilities were particularly controversial. Seven clinics participated in …

Urinary Metal Levels, Cognitive Test Performance, And Dementia In The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis, Arce Domingo-Relloso, Katlyn E Mcgraw, Susan R Heckbert, Jose A Luchsinger, Kathrin Schilling, Ronald A Glabonjat, Irene Martinez-Morata, Melanie Mayer, Yongmei Liu, Alexis C Wood, Jeff Goldsmith, Kathleen M Hayden, Mohamad Habes, Ilya M Nasrallah, R Nick Bryan, Tanweer Rashid, Wendy S Post, Jerome I Rotter, Priya Palta, Linda Valeri, Timothy M Hughes, Ana Navas-Acien

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

IMPORTANCE: Metals are established neurotoxicants, but evidence of their association with cognitive performance at low chronic exposure levels is limited.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of urinary metal levels, individually and as a mixture, with cognitive tests and dementia diagnosis, including effect modification by apolipoprotein ε4 allele (APOE4).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The multicenter prospective cohort Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) was started from July 2000 to August 2002, with follow-up through 2018. A total of 6303 MESA participants were included. Data analysis was performed from October 12, 2023, to June 13, 2024.

EXPOSURE: Urine samples were collected at baseline …

Investigating Neuropsychiatric Symptoms In Asian Subgroups With Dementia Using The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (Nacc) Database, Maria Sophia Zaraspe Malbas, Luis A. Peña Marquez, Ramya Kunta, Astrid-Ines Foamkom, Ney Alliey-Rodriguez

Research Colloquium

Background: The incidence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), such as agitation, depression, anxiety, irritability, and sleeping disturbances, is common among patients with dementia. These symptoms are commonly evaluated with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), a useful tool for studying changes in behavior associated with neurodegenerative disorders for the past couple of decades. Another database utilizing the NPI-Q to assess NPS is the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) Database. This uniform data set aims to store participant information, including neuropsychological tests, demographic information, and medical health history, collected from Alzheimer’s Disease Centers across the United States. To date, no studies using the …

A Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis Of All-Cause And Vascular Dementia, Mega Vascular Cognitive Impairment And Dementia (Megavcid) Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Dementia is a multifactorial disease with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) pathologies making the largest contributions. Yet, most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) focus on AD.

METHODS: We conducted a GWAS of all-cause dementia (ACD) and examined the genetic overlap with VaD. Our dataset includes 800,597 individuals, with 46,902 and 8702 cases of ACD and VaD, respectively. Known AD loci for ACD and VaD were replicated. Bioinformatic analyses prioritized genes that are likely functionally relevant and shared with closely related traits and risk factors.

RESULTS: For ACD, novel loci identified were associated with energy transport (SEMA4D), neuronal excitability …

The Relationship Between Diet, Depression, And Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review, Hilal Salim Said Al Shamsi, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Samantha L. Gardener, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Rodrigo Canovas, Ralph N. Martins, Warnakulasuriya Mary Ann Dipika Binosha Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose of Review: This narrative review evaluates the role of diet in the relationship between depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent Findings: AD and depression are often comorbid, and depression appears to independently increase the future risk of AD. Evidence suggests diet influences the risk of both conditions directly and indirectly. Diet impacts neurochemical and biological processes that may affect the development and progression of depression and cognitive dysfunction. The dietary components offering the greatest protection against depression and AD are yet to be determined. Current evidence highlights the importance of polyphenolic compounds, folate, B vitamins, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, …

Verbal Learning And Memory Deficits Across Neurological And Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Insights From An Enigma Mega Analysis, Eamonn Kennedy, Spencer W Liebel, Hannah M Lindsey, Shashank Vadlamani, Pui-Wa Lei, Maheen M Adamson, Martin Alda, Silvia Alonso-Lana, Tim J Anderson, Celso Arango, Robert F Asarnow, Mihai Avram, Rosa Ayesa-Arriola, Talin Babikian, Nerisa Banaj, Laura J Bird, Stefan Borgwardt, Amy Brodtmann, Katharina Brosch, Karen Caeyenberghs, Vince D Calhoun, Nancy D Chiaravalloti, David X Cifu, Benedicto Crespo-Facorro, John C Dalrymple-Alford, Kristen Dams-O'Connor, Udo Dannlowski, David Darby, Nicholas Davenport, John Deluca, Covadonga M Diaz-Caneja, Seth G Disner, Ekaterina Dobryakova, Stefan Ehrlich, Carrie Esopenko, Fabio Ferrarelli, Lea E Frank, Carol E Franz, Paola Fuentes-Claramonte, Helen Genova, Christopher C Giza, Janik Goltermann, Dominik Grotegerd, Marius Gruber, Alfonso Gutierrez-Zotes, Minji Ha, Jan Haavik, Charles Hinkin, Kristen R Hoskinson, Daniela Hubl, Andrei Irimia, Andreas Jansen, Michael Kaess, Xiaojian Kang, Kimbra Kenney, Barbora Keřková, Mohamed Salah Khlif, Minah Kim, Jochen Kindler, Tilo Kircher, Karolina Knížková, Knut K Kolskår, Denise Krch, William S Kremen, Taylor Kuhn, Veena Kumari, Junsoo Kwon, Roberto Langella, Sarah Laskowitz, Jungha Lee, Jean Lengenfelder, Victoria Liou-Johnson, Sara M Lippa, Marianne Løvstad, Astri J Lundervold, Cassandra Marotta, Craig A Marquardt, Paulo Mattos, Ahmad Mayeli, Carrie R Mcdonald, Susanne Meinert, Tracy R Melzer, Jessica Merchán-Naranjo, Chantal Michel, Rajendra A Morey, Benson Mwangi, Daniel J Myall, Igor Nenadić, Mary R Newsome, Abraham Nunes, Terence O'Brien, Viola Oertel, John Ollinger, Alexander Olsen, Victor Ortiz García De La Foz, Mustafa Ozmen, Heath Pardoe, Marise Parent, Fabrizio Piras, Federica Piras, Edith Pomarol-Clotet, Jonathan Repple, Geneviève Richard, Jonathan Rodriguez, Mabel Rodriguez, Kelly Rootes-Murdy, Jared Rowland, Nicholas P Ryan, Raymond Salvador, Anne-Marthe Sanders, Andre Schmidt, Jair C Soares, Gianfranco Spalleta, Filip Španiel, Scott R Sponheim, Alena Stasenko, Frederike Stein, Benjamin Straube, April Thames, Florian Thomas-Odenthal, Sophia I Thomopoulos, Erin B Tone, Ivan Torres, Maya Troyanskaya, Jessica A Turner, Kristine M Ulrichsen, Guillermo Umpierrez, Daniela Vecchio, Elisabet Vilella, Lucy Vivash, William C Walker, Emilio Werden, Lars T Westlye, Krista Wild, Adrian Wroblewski, Mon-Ju Wu, Glenn R Wylie, Lakshmi N Yatham, Giovana B Zunta-Soares, Paul M Thompson, Mary Jo Pugh, David F Tate, Frank G Hillary, Elisabeth A Wilde, Emily L Dennis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Deficits in memory performance have been linked to a wide range of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. While many studies have assessed the memory impacts of individual conditions, this study considers a broader perspective by evaluating how memory recall is differentially associated with nine common neuropsychiatric conditions using data drawn from 55 international studies, aggregating 15,883 unique participants aged 15–90. The effects of dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder on immediate, short-, and long-delay verbal learning and memory (VLM) scores were estimated relative to matched healthy individuals. Random forest …

The Crosstalk Between Amyloid-Β, Retina, And Sleep For The Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review, Isaiah Lorenzo De Guia, Shaun Eslick, Sharon L. Naismith, Swathi Kanduri, Tejal M. Shah, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, which is characterised by progressive memory loss and accumulation of hallmark markers amyloid-β (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles in the diseased brain. The current gold standard diagnostic methods have limitations of being invasive, costly, and not easily accessible. Thus, there is a need for new avenues, such as imaging the retina for early AD diagnosis. Sleep disruption is symptomatically frequent across preclinical and AD subjects. As circadian activity, such as the sleep-wake cycle, is linked to the retina, analysis of their association may be useful additions for achieving predictive AD diagnosis. …

The Australian Multidomain Approach To Reduce Dementia Risk By Protecting Brain Health With Lifestyle Intervention Study (Au-Arrow): A Study Protocol For A Single-Blind, Multi-Site, Randomized Controlled Trial, Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie J. Fuller, Sharon L. Naismith, Laura Baker, Miia Kivipelto, Victor L. Villemagne, Stuart M. Grieve, Paul Yates, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Juliana Chen, Belinda Thompson, Nicola J. Armstrong, Malika G. Fernando, Carolina B. Castro, Silochna Meghwar, Rema Raman, Andrew Gleason, Catriona Ireland, Roger Clarnette, Kaarin J. Anstey, Kevin Taddei, Manohar Garg, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study (FINGER) led to the global dementia risk reduction initiative: World-Wide FINGERS (WW-FINGERS). As part of WW-FINGERS, the Australian AU-ARROW study mirrors aspects of FINGER, as well as US-POINTER.

Method: AU-ARROW is a randomized, single-blind, multisite, 2-year clinical trial (n = 600; aged 55–79). The multimodal lifestyle intervention group will engage in aerobic exercise, resistance training and stretching, dietary advice to encourage MIND diet adherence, BrainHQ cognitive training, and medical monitoring and health education. The Health Education and Coaching group will receive occasional health education sessions. The primary outcome measure is the change in a …

Cognitive Reserve In Individuals With Frontotemporal Dementia And Primary Progressive Aphasia, Lauren A. Grebe

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to efficiently adapt in the presence of neuropathological disease. This is an active process influenced by individual differences (e.g., genetics) and lifetime experiences (e.g., education, occupation, leisure) (Cabeza et al., 2018; Stern et al., 2020). The cognitive reserve theory has recently been investigated in individuals with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which refers to various disorders leading to frontotemporal neurodegenerative decline (Young et al., 2018); e.g., behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD) and variants of Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA): semantic (svPPA), nonfluent/agrammatic (nfvPPA), and logopenic (lvPPA). However, a clear consensus on the relationship among cognitive reserve, …

Targeting The Renin-Angiotensin System (Ras) For Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Aline Silva De Miranda, Danielle S Macedo, Natalia P Rocha, Antonio L Teixeira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias, are associated to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders remain to be fully elucidated, which has hampered the development of effective therapies. The Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) is classically viewed as a key regulator of cardiovascular and renal homeostasis. The discovery that RAS components are expressed in the brain pointed out a potential role for this system in central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. The understanding of RAS involvement in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders may contribute to identifying novel therapeutic …