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Alzola P, Carnero C, Bermejo-Pareja F, Sánchez-Benavides G, Peña-Casanova J, Puertas-Martín V, Fernández-Calvo B, Contador I. Neuropsychological Assessment for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Dementia: Current Knowledge and New Insights. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3442. [PMID: 38929971 PMCID: PMC11204334 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Dementia remains an underdiagnosed syndrome, and there is a need to improve the early detection of cognitive decline. This narrative review examines the role of neuropsychological assessment in the characterization of cognitive changes associated with dementia syndrome at different states. The first section describes the early indicators of cognitive decline and the major barriers to their identification. Further, the optimal cognitive screening conditions and the most widely accepted tests are described. The second section analyzes the main differences in cognitive performance between Alzheimer's disease and other subtypes of dementia. Finally, the current challenges of neuropsychological assessment in aging/dementia and future approaches are discussed. Essentially, we find that current research is beginning to uncover early cognitive changes that precede dementia, while continuing to improve and refine the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders that cause dementia. However, neuropsychology faces several barriers, including the cultural diversity of the populations, a limited implementation in public health systems, and the adaptation to technological advances. Nowadays, neuropsychological assessment plays a fundamental role in characterizing cognitive decline in the different stages of dementia, but more efforts are needed to develop harmonized procedures that facilitate its use in different clinical contexts and research protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Alzola
- Department of Basic Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37005 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Cristóbal Carnero
- Neurology Department, Granada University Hospital Complex, 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Félix Bermejo-Pareja
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Research i+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Israel Contador
- Department of Basic Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37005 Salamanca, Spain;
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Savage SA, Suárez-González A, Stuart I, Christensen I. Successful word retraining, maintenance and transference of practice to everyday activities: A single case experimental design in early onset alcohol-induced brain damage. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2023; 33:1488-1511. [PMID: 35984770 DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2022.2107545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Word retraining programs have been shown to improve naming ability post-stroke and in progressive aphasias. Here, we investigated benefits for a 22-year-old Danish man (DJ), whose difficulties followed brain damage from heavy alcohol misuse. Using a multiple baseline-across-behaviours design (target behaviour: retrieval of word list items), DJ completed a 4-week "Look, Listen, Repeat" program on a computer. Ninety personally relevant target words were selected to create three matched lists. List 1 was trained for 10 sessions over 2 weeks, followed by 9 sessions for List 2 over 2 weeks, while the third list remained untrained. Naming performance was evaluated at baseline, during the intervention, and at 1 and 4 months post-training. Naming improved following each intervention block (p < .001), with only one data point overlapping between the baseline and treatment phases for trained items. Untrained words remained unchanged (p = 1.00), with 50% of data points non-overlapping across baseline to treatment phases. Performance was maintained over time, and appeared to generalize, with DJ naming more trained objects in their natural setting (85%) than untrained items (64%). While more evidence is needed, brief (20-minute), intensive (5-day/week) word retraining programs may assist word retrieval for people with brain damage associated with alcohol misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon A Savage
- School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- Psychology Department, University of Exeter , Exeter, UK
| | - Aida Suárez-González
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ida Stuart
- Neurorehabilitation Selma Marie, Ølstykke, Denmark
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Barbosa BJAP, Siqueira Neto JI, Alves GS, Sudo FK, Suemoto CK, Tovar-Moll F, Smid J, Schilling LP, Balthazar MLF, Frota NAF, Souza LCD, Vale FAC, Caramelli P, Bertolucci PHF, Brucki SMD, Nitrini R, Engelhardt E, Chaves MLF. Diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment: recommendations of the scientific department of cognitive neurology and aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology. Dement Neuropsychol 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2022-s104en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Since the publication of the latest recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of Vascular Dementia by the Brazilian Academy of Neurology in 2011, significant advances on the terminology and diagnostic criteria have been made. This manuscript is the result of a consensus among experts appointed by the Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology (2020-2022). We aimed to update practical recommendations for the identification, classification, and diagnosis of Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI). Searches were performed in the MEDLINE, Scopus, Scielo, and LILACS databases. This guideline provides a comprehensive review and then synthesizes the main practical guidelines for the diagnosis of VCI not only for neurologists but also for other professionals involved in the assessment and care of patients with VCI, considering the different levels of health care (primary, secondary and tertiary) in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breno José Alencar Pires Barbosa
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brasil; Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira, Brasil; Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lucas Porcello Schilling
- Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil; Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil; Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
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Barbosa BJAP, Siqueira Neto JI, Alves GS, Sudo FK, Suemoto CK, Tovar-Moll F, Smid J, Schilling LP, Balthazar MLF, Frota NAF, Souza LCD, Vale FAC, Caramelli P, Bertolucci PHF, Brucki SMD, Nitrini R, Engelhardt E, Chaves MLF. Diagnóstico do comprometimento cognitivo vascular: recomendações do Departamento Científico de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. Dement Neuropsychol 2022; 16:53-72. [DOI: 10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2022-s104pt] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
RESUMO Desde a publicação das últimas recomendações para o diagnóstico e tratamento da Demência Vascular pela Academia Brasileira de Neurologia em 2011, avanços significativos ocorreram na terminologia e critérios diagnósticos. O presente manuscrito é resultado do consenso entre especialistas indicados pelo Departamento Científico de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (2020-2022). O objetivo foi atualizar as recomendações práticas para a identificação, classificação e diagnóstico do Comprometimento Cognitivo Vascular (CCV). As buscas foram realizadas nas plataformas MEDLINE, Scopus, Scielo e LILACS. As recomendações buscam fornecer uma ampla revisão sobre o tema, então sintetizar as evidências para o diagnóstico do CCV não apenas para neurologistas, mas também para outros profissionais de saúde envolvidos na avaliação e nos cuidados ao paciente com CCV, considerando as diferentes realidades dos níveis de atenção à saúde (primário, secundário e terciário) no Brasil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breno José Alencar Pires Barbosa
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brasil; Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira, Brasil; Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lucas Porcello Schilling
- Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil; Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil; Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
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Vecchio F, Miraglia F, Alú F, Orticoni A, Judica E, Cotelli M, Rossini PM. Contribution of Graph Theory Applied to EEG Data Analysis for Alzheimer's Disease Versus Vascular Dementia Diagnosis. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 82:871-879. [PMID: 34092648 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most common progressive brain diseases in the elderly are Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). They present with relatively similar clinical symptoms of cognitive decline, but the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are different. OBJECTIVE The aim is to explore the brain connectivity differences between AD and VaD patients compared to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normal elderly (Nold) subjects applying graph theory, in particular the Small World (SW) analysis. METHODS 274 resting state EEGs were analyzed in 100 AD, 80 MCI, 40 VaD, and 54 Nold subjects. Graph theory analyses were applied to undirected and weighted networks obtained by lagged linear coherence evaluated by eLORETA tool. RESULTS VaD and AD patients presented more ordered low frequency structure (lower value of SW) than Nold and MCI subjects, and more random organization (higher value of SW) in low and high frequency alpha rhythms. Differences between patients have been found in high frequency alpha rhythms in VaD (higher value of SW) with respect to AD, and in theta band with a trend which is more similar to MCI and Nold than to AD. MCI subjects presented a network organization which is intermediate, in low frequency bands, between Nold and patients. CONCLUSION Graph theory applied to EEG data has proved very useful in identifying differences in brain network patterns in subjects with dementia, proving to be a valid tool for differential diagnosis. Future studies will aim to validate this method to diagnose especially in the early stages of the disease and at single subject level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Vecchio
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Miraglia
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Alú
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Orticoni
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Elda Judica
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa Cura Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Cotelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paolo Maria Rossini
- Brain Connectivity Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
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Durepos P, Wickson-Griffiths A, Hazzan AA, Kaasalainen S, Vastis V, Battistella L, Papaioannou A. Assessing Palliative Care Content in Dementia Care Guidelines: A Systematic Review. J Pain Symptom Manage 2017; 53:804-813. [PMID: 28063859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.10.368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Families of persons with dementia continue to report unmet needs during end of life (EOL). Strategies to improve care and quality of life for persons with dementia include development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and an integrative palliative approach. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess palliative care content in dementia CPGs to identify the presence or limitations of recommendations and discussion pertaining to common issues or domains affected by illness as described by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association "Square of Care." DESIGN A systematic review of databases and gray literature was conducted for recent CPGs. Guidelines meeting inclusion criteria were evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument. Quality CPGs were analyzed through organizational template analysis using illness domains described by the "Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Model." The study protocol is registered at PROSPERO (CRD 42015025369). RESULTS Eleven CPGs were selected and analyzed from 3779 citations. Nine guidelines demonstrated the maximum level of content regarding physical, psychological, and social care. Conversely, spiritual care was either absent (three) or minimal (three) in CPGs. Six CPGs did not address loss or grief, and seven CPGs did not address or had minimal content regarding EOL care. CONCLUSIONS The lack of content surrounding grief represents a gap for this population at high risk for complicated grief and chronic sorrow. Results of this review require attention by CPG developers and researchers to develop evidence-based recommendations surrounding spiritual care, EOL, and grief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Durepos
- School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
| | | | - Afeez Abiola Hazzan
- Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Canada; Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Sciences (GERAS) Centre at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences/St. Peter's Hospital, Hamilton, Canada
| | | | | | - Lisa Battistella
- Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Canada; Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Sciences (GERAS) Centre at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences/St. Peter's Hospital, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Alexandra Papaioannou
- Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Canada; Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Sciences (GERAS) Centre at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences/St. Peter's Hospital, Hamilton, Canada
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Sudo FK, Alves GS, Moreira DM, Laks J, Engelhardt E. Subcortical Vascular Cognitive Impairment staged through cdr's functional subsum (cdr-func): Preliminary results from an outpatient sample. eNeurologicalSci 2016; 5:7-10. [PMID: 29430551 PMCID: PMC5803105 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Methods Results Discussion The CDR's Functional Subsum is proposed for staging vascular cognitive impairment. CDR-FUNC correlated with scores in executive tasks, whereas CDR total score did not. CDR-FUNC might be a better tool for staging vascular cognitive impairment than CDR.
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Brucki SMD, Machado MF, Rocha MSG. Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) after non-embolic ischemic stroke during a 12-month follow-up in Brazil. Dement Neuropsychol 2012; 6:164-169. [PMID: 29213791 PMCID: PMC5618964 DOI: 10.1590/s1980-57642012dn06030009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
VCI represents a spectrum of cognitive impairments associated with stroke,
vascular brain injury, or subclinical disease ranging from the least to most
severe manifestations. Few studies are available on the prevalence of
post-stroke VCI and none have been conducted in Brazil.
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