The worldwide burden of dementia is immense, and set to increase to unprecedented levels in the coming decades, due to population aging. In the absence of disease-modifying treatment, there is ...therefore a strong rationale to support the assumption that acting on modifiable risk factors, especially in midlife, is a good strategy for reducing the burden of dementia. Among these risk factors, nutrition is key, as it is fundamental to healthy aging, and has interrelated benefits on a number of organ systems, metabolic processes and health states that can all contribute to modifying the risk of dementia. In this paper, we review the methodological challenges of comparing studies of dietary interventions. We then discuss the effect of genetics and the environment on brain health, and review in particular the literature data on the effect of nutrition on cognition. We summarize the body of data reporting the largely beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on brain health, and the possible mechanisms that mediate these effects. Finally, we discuss future perspectives for further research in the field, notably the “gut-brain axis”, thought to be a key mediator of the effect of nutrition on brain health.
•The burden of dementia is huge and will affect 130 million persons by 2050.•Acting on modifiable risk factors, e.g. diet, is key to delaying or preventing AD.•Consistent evidence shows that the Mediterranean-type diet benefits brain health.•The “gut-brain axis” may mediate the effect of nutrition on brain health.
Background
Polypharmacy has been associated with worse cognitive performance, but its impact on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression to dementia has not been explored.
Aims
The aims of the ...study were to investigate the association between multidrug regimens and MCI progression, and the possible mediation of drug–drug interactions and drugs’ anticholinergic effect in such association.
Methods
This work included 342 older adults with MCI, who were involved in an Italian multicenter population-based cohort study. Information on drugs taken was derived from general practitioners’ records and data on drug–drug interactions and anticholinergic burden evaluated through the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden and the Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS) were extracted. Multinomial logistic regressions assessed the associations between mild polypharmacy (≥ 3 drugs/day), drug–drug interactions, and anticholinergic burden with MCI changes after 1-year follow-up. Mediation analysis evaluated potential mediators of that relationship.
Results
Approximately, 50% of participants took ≥ 3 drugs/day. During the follow-up, 4.1% of MCI patients progressed to dementia. The odds of developing dementia was sixfold higher in those who took ≥ 3drugs/day (OR = 6.04, 95% CI 1.19–30.74), eightfold higher in those with ≥ 1 drug–drug interaction/s (OR = 8.45, 95% CI 1.70–41.91), and fivefold higher in those with ARS ≥ 1 (OR = 5.10, 95% CI 1.04–24.93). Drug–drug interactions mediated 70.4% of the association between medication number and MCI progression to dementia (
p
= 0.07).
Discussion
Our study suggests that even mild polypharmacy may increase the risk of MCI progression to dementia, probably due to the presence of drug–drug interactions, which often occur in multidrug regimens.
Conclusions
Older people require careful management of pharmacological treatments, with special attention to drug–drug interactions and drug-related anticholinergic effects.
Poor comprehension and medication adherence are common in older people, especially after hospitalizations, in case of changes or prescriptions of new therapeutic regimes. This randomized controlled ...trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated approach in improving older individuals' adherence to medical recommendations after hospital discharge.
Data from an expected sample of 360 older inpatients (and their caregivers) will be collected. Medical recommendations' understanding will be tested before and after the routine explanation received by in-charge physicians. Participants will be randomized in the control (usual care) and intervention group. The intervention consists of educational training by a multidisciplinary team (occupational therapist, dietician, and physician, in consultation with a pharmacologist) at hospital discharge and, after hospital discharge, receiving a phone recall checking for therapy adherence and having the possibility to contact the study team for potential related concerns. After 7 days, medication adherence will be assessed through structured phone interviews comparing ongoing and prescribed medications and by administering the 4-item validated Morisky, Green, Levine scale and the Medication adherence report scale (MARS-5). At 30 and 90 days from discharge, data on medication adherence, falls, rehospitalizations, and vital status will be collected through phone interviews and hospital records.
Registration: NCT05719870 (clinicaltrial.gov). https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05719870.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to explore changes in sleep quality and sleep disturbances in the general population from before to during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The protocol was ...registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021256378) and the PRISMA guidelines were followed. The major databases and gray literature were systematically searched from inception to 28/05/2021 to identify observational studies evaluating sleep changes in the general population during the lockdown with respect to the pre-lockdown period. A random effects meta-analysis was undertaken for studies reporting (a) the means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global scores or the means of the sleep onset latency (SOL) times (minutes - min) before and during the lockdown, (b) the percentages of poor sleep quality before and during the lockdown, or (c) the percentages of changes in sleep quality. Subgroup analysis by risk of bias and measurement tool utilized was carried out. A narrative synthesis on sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, insomnia and sleep medication consumption was also performed.
Sixty-three studies were included. A decline in sleep quality, reflected in a pooled increase in the PSQI global scores (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.26; 95% CI 0.17-0.34) and in SOL (SMD = 0.38 min; 95% CI 0.30-0.45) were found. The percentage of individuals with poor sleep quality increased during the lockdown (pooled relative risk 1.4; 95% CI 1.24-1.61). Moreover, 57.3% (95% CI 50.01-61.55) of the individuals reported a change in sleep quality; in 37.3% (95% CI 34.27-40.39) of these, it was a worsening. The studies included in the systematic review reported a decrease in sleep efficiency and an increase in sleep disturbances, insomnia, and in sleep medication consumption.
Timely interventions are warranted in view of the decline in sleep quality and the increase in sleep disturbances uncovered and their potentially negative impact on health. Further research and in particular longitudinal studies using validated instruments examining the long-term impact of the lockdown on sleep variables is needed.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021256378, identifier CRD42021256378.
Given the rising numbers of older people living with dementia, this study focuses on identifying modifiable health-related factors associated with changes in cognitive status. The predictors of ...1-year conversion from Preserved Cognitive Health (PCH) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in older adults were evaluated. Two logistic regression models were performed on data from an Italian multicenter population-based study; both included sociodemographic factors, family history of dementia (FHD), risk behaviors, and depressive symptoms. The first model considered also disease clusters, while the second one included diseases' number and biochemical parameters. The sample involved 459 participants (61.4% women, median age 75 years). Of the 80 PCH individuals at baseline, after 1 year 35 (43.8%) were stable, 44 (55.0%) progressed to MCI, none to dementia, and one to unclassified status. Of the 379 MCI participants at baseline, after 1 year 281 (74.1%) remained stable, 38 (10.0%) reverted to PCH, 15 (4.0%) progressed to dementia, and 45 (11.9%) become unclassifiable. Hypertension/bone and joint diseases cluster was the only predictor of PCH progression to MCI; age and depression were associated with MCI progression to dementia; FHD was associated with MCI reversion to PCH. More diseases and fewer white blood cells were associated with MCI progression to dementia; more diseases and lower platelets were associated with the transition from MCI to unclassifiable; higher Na and lower TSH levels were associated with MCI reversion. The treatment or management of some chronic conditions and electrolyte imbalances may help attenuate cognitive deterioration in older adults with no or MCI.
Background
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a significant risk factor for dementia but there are only a few Italian population studies on its prevalence and its rate of conversion to ...dementia.
Aims
Aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MCI, its subtypes, and rates of conversion to dementia 1 year later in an elderly Italian population.
Methods
The data are based on an Italian multicenter population-based cohort study with both cross-sectional and longitudinal components. Two thousand three hundred thirty-seven individuals over 65 underwent screening, clinical confirmation and 1-year follow-up.
Results
The prevalence of MCI was 21.6% and the amnestic multiple domain was the most frequent subtype (63.2%). The conversion rate to dementia was 4.1% and was found only in the amnestic multiple domain and in the unclassifiable subjects, persons with cognitive deficit but neither demented nor with MCI.
Discussion
The prevalence of MCI in this population sample was similar to that found in other population studies using Petersen’s modified MCI criteria as well as his original criteria. With regard to conversion to dementia, our results emphasize the importance to better classify the unclassifiable subjects at high risk of progression to dementia and also at risk of being undiagnosed and untreated.
Conclusion
MCI is characterized by extreme variability and instability. Data on the prevalence and the rate of conversion from MCI to dementia are difficult to compare given the important differences from study to study especially with regard to the diagnostic criteria utilized and their operationalization.
People with diabetes are at higher risk of serious complications from many vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). Some studies have highlighted the potential impact of glycosylated hemoglobin levels ...(HbA1c), but no systematic review has synthesized these findings. Of the 823 identified studies, 3 were included, for a total of 705,349 participants. Regarding the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ), one study found that higher HbA1c levels at the baseline (>10.3%) were associated with a significantly higher risk of HZ of 44%, compared to those with a good HbA1c control (6.7%). On the contrary, the second one reported that when compared to the reference group (HbA1c of 5.0–6.4%), participants with a HbA1c less than 5.0% were at higher risk of HZ of 63%, whilst participants with a HBA1c more than 9.5% had a similar risk. Finally, the third study observed that diabetes, defined using a value of HbA1c more than 7.5%, was associated with an increased risk of mortality in men with COVID-19. In conclusion, both high and low HBA1c levels appear to be associated with a higher risk of HZ. Regarding COVID-19, a value of HbA1c more than 7.5% was associated with a higher risk of death in COVID-19, but only in men.
Epidemiological studies show increasing prevalence rates of cognitive decline and hearing loss with age, particularly after the age of 65 years. These conditions are reported to be associated, ...although conclusive evidence of causality and implications is lacking. Nevertheless, audiological and cognitive assessment among elderly people is a key target for comprehensive and multidisciplinary evaluation of the subject's frailty status. To evaluate the use of tools for identifying older adults at risk of hearing loss and cognitive decline and to compare skills and abilities in terms of hearing and cognitive performances between older adults and young subjects, we performed a prospective cross-sectional study using supraliminal auditory tests. The relationship between cognitive assessment results and audiometric results was investigated, and reference ranges for different ages or stages of disease were determined. Patients older than 65 years with different degrees of hearing function were enrolled. Each subject underwent an extensive audiological assessment, including tonal and speech audiometry, Italian Matrix Sentence Test, and speech audiometry with logatomes in quiet. Cognitive function was screened and then verified by experienced clinicians using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and further investigations in some. One hundred twenty-three subjects were finally enrolled during 2016-2019: 103 were >65 years of age and 20 were younger participants (as controls). Cognitive functions showed a correlation with the audiological results in post-lingual hearing-impaired patients, in particular in those affected by slight to moderate hearing loss and aged more than 70 years. Audiological testing can thus be useful in clinical assessment and identification of patients at risk of cognitive impairment. The study was limited by its sample size (CI 95%; CL 10%), strict dependence on language, and hearing threshold. Further investigations should be conducted to confirm the reported results and to verify similar screening models.
Objective
To examine the role of comorbidity and pain in the associations of hand osteoarthritis (OA) with self‐reported and performance‐based physical function in a general population of elderly ...persons.
Methods
We studied data from 2,942 participants ages 65–85 years in the European Project on OSteoArthritis, a collaborative observational study of 6 European cohorts (from Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK). Outcome measures included self‐reported physical function of the hands measured by the AUStralian/CANadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) for hand OA physical function subscale and performance‐based grip strength measured using a strain gauge dynamometer.
Results
Comorbidity was not a confounder in the association of hand OA with self‐reported and performance‐based functional limitations, while the role of pain as a mediator was confirmed. Anxiety, depression, stroke, and osteoporosis were associated with AUSCAN scores reflecting more impairment. Depression and osteoporosis were associated with less grip strength.
Conclusion
Although comorbidity was decidedly and independently associated with hand functional limitation, it had no effect on the relationship of hand OA with physical function. Hand OA was found to be associated with both self‐reported and performance‐based physical function impairment; the association was found to be partially mediated by pain, which reduced its impact.
The Australian/Canadian hand Osteoarthritis Index (AUSCAN) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities knee and hip Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) are the most commonly used clinical tools to ...manage and monitor osteoarthritis (OA). Few studies have as yet reported longitudinal changes in the AUSCAN index regarding the hand. While there are published data regarding WOMAC assessments of the hip and the knee, the two sites have always evaluated separately. The current study therefore sought to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in decline in the AUSCAN hand and WOMAC hip/knee physical function scores over 1 year using anchor-based and distribution-based methods.
The study analysed data collected by the European Project on Osteoarthritis, a prospective observational study investigating six adult cohorts with and without OA by evaluating changes in the AUSCAN and WOMAC physical function scores at baseline and 12-18 months later. Pain and stiffness scores, the performance-based grip strength and walking speed and health-related quality of life measures were used as the study's anchors. Receiver operating characteristic curves and distribution-based methods were used to estimate the MCID in the AUSCAN and WOMAC physical function scores; only the data of those participants who possessed paired (baseline and follow up-measures) AUSCAN and WOMAC scores were included in the analysis.
Out of the 1866 participants who were evaluated, 1842 had paired AUSCAN scores and 1845 had paired WOMAC scores. The changes in the AUSCAN physical function score correlated significantly with those in the AUSCAN pain score (r = 0.31). Anchor- and distribution-based approaches converged identifying 4 as the MCID for decline in the AUSCAN hand physical function. Changes in the WOMAC hip/knee physical function score were significantly correlated with changes in both the WOMAC pain score (r = 0.47) and the WOMAC stiffness score (r = 0.35). The different approaches converged identifying two as the MCID for decline in the WOMAC hip/knee physical function.
The most reliable MCID estimates of decline over 1 year in the AUSCAN hand and WOMAC hip/knee physical function scores were 4 and 2 points, respectively.
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