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Sexton C, Solis M, Aharon-Peretz J, Alexopoulos P, Apostolova LG, Bayen E, Birkenhager B, Cappa S, Constantinidou F, Fortea J, Gerritsen DL, Hassanin HI, Ibanez A, Ioannidis P, Karageorgiou E, Korczyn A, Leroi I, Lichtwarck B, Logroscino G, Lynch C, Mecocci P, Molinuevo JL, Papatriantafyllou J, Papegeorgiou S, Politis A, Raman R, Ritchie K, Sanchez-Juan P, Sano M, Scarmeas N, Spiru L, Stathi A, Tsolaki M, Yener G, Zaganas I, Zygouris S, Carrillo M. Alzheimer's disease research progress in the Mediterranean region: The Alzheimer's Association International Conference Satellite Symposium. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:1957-1968. [PMID: 35184367 PMCID: PMC11066754 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
As research and services in the Mediterranean region continue to increase, so do opportunities for global collaboration. To support such collaborations, the Alzheimer's Association was due to hold its seventh Alzheimer's Association International Conference Satellite Symposium in Athens, Greece in 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held virtually, which enabled attendees from around the world to hear about research efforts in Greece and the surrounding Mediterranean countries. Research updates spanned understanding the biology of, treatments for, and care of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD_ and other dementias. Researchers in the Mediterranean region have outlined the local epidemiology of AD and dementia, and have identified regional populations that may expedite genetic studies. Development of biomarkers is expected to aid early and accurate diagnosis. Numerous efforts have been made to develop culturally specific interventions to both reduce risk of dementia, and to improve quality of life for people living with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Sexton
- Alzheimer's Association, 225 N Michigan Avenue, 17th Fl, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | - Panagiotis Alexopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, Patras University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | - Eléonore Bayen
- Laboratoire d'imagerie biomédicale, Sorbonne Université, department of physical rehabilitation medicine, Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Betty Birkenhager
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Stefano Cappa
- University School for Advanced Studies (IUSS-Pavia) and IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, PV, Italy
| | - Fofi Constantinidou
- Department of Psychology & Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Juan Fortea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Hany I Hassanin
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Geriatric Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Agustin Ibanez
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Latin American Institute for Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Chile
- Universidad de San Andres & National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | | | - Iracema Leroi
- Trinity College Dublin, Global Brain Health Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bjorn Lichtwarck
- The Centre for Age-related Functional Decline and Disease, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Ottestad, Norway
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari at "Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico" Hospital Tricase (Le), Bari, Italy
- Department of Basic Medicine Neuroscience and Sense Organs University Aldo Moro Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Chris Lynch
- Alzheimer's Disease International, London, UK
| | - Patrizia Mecocci
- Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - John Papatriantafyllou
- Third Age Center IASIS, Athens-Glyfada, Athens, Greece
- 1st University Neurology Department, Eginitio Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Ana Aslan International Foundation
| | - Sokratis Papegeorgiou
- 1st University Neurology Department, Eginitio Hospital, Athens, Greece
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Politis
- 1st Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Rema Raman
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, CA, USA
| | | | - Pascual Sanchez-Juan
- Institute for Research Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), CIBERNED, University of Cantabria and Department of Neurology, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain
| | - Mary Sano
- The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nikolas Scarmeas
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luiza Spiru
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Ana Aslan International Foundation
| | - Afroditi Stathi
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Magda Tsolaki
- 1st Department of Neurology, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Makedonia, Greece
| | - Görsev Yener
- Faculty of Medicine, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Neurogenetics Laboratory, Medical School, University of Crete
| | - Stelios Zygouris
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas/ Information Technologies Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Carrillo
- Alzheimer's Association, 225 N Michigan Avenue, 17th Fl, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Tawfik HM, Tsatali M, Hassanin HI. Pilot feasibility study of cognitive training exercises for Egyptian adults: Proof of concept. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2021; 37. [PMID: 34569644 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cognitive training exercises (CTE) are promising and effective interventions to enhance cognitive reserve and slowdown cognitive deterioration in people with subjective memory impairment (SCI) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this pilot study, we aimed to assess the feasibility of CTE among Egyptian adults. METHODS Eighteen participants above 40 years old were recruited. They underwent baseline neuropsychological assessment and functional assessment. However, after receiving a 6 weeks' cognitive training, eight participants (seven with MCI and one was cognitively intact) dropped out from the study. Finally, 10 participants (8 participants with MCI, 1 with SCI and 1 was cognitively intact) completed 12 weeks of CTE and undergone the post-assessment afterward. CTE included visual, verbal, memory, executive function, visuospatial, attention, and psychokinetic exercises through onsite and home-based sessions. RESULTS For the 10 participants who completed 12 weeks of CTE, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a statistically significant change in the scores of mini-mental state examination (Z = -2.546, p = 0.011), semantic fluency test (Z = -2.913, p = 0.004), subjective memory complaint questionnaire (Z = -2.913, p = 0.004), Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Word List (first trial: Z = -2.641, p = 0.008; Word list recall: Z = -2.825, p = 0.005), construction abilities (immediate: Z = -2.121, p = 0.034; delayed recall: Z = -2.414, p = 0.016), and Digit span test (forward: Z = -2.724, p = 0.006; backward: Z = -2.724, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggested that CTE are feasible among Egyptian adults, especially those with MCI, and potentially effective in enhancing global cognition and after 12 weeks of training. Future research should shed light on the efficacy of longitudinal CTE implementation in Arab adults' populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba M Tawfik
- Geriatrics and Gerontology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Ain Shams Ageing Research Center, Ain Shams Cognitive Training Lab, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marianna Tsatali
- Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Thessaloniki, Greece
- City College, University of York Europe campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Hany I Hassanin
- Geriatrics and Gerontology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Ain Shams Ageing Research Center, Ain Shams Cognitive Training Lab, Cairo, Egypt
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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