Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and White Matter Hyperintensities in Older Adults without Dementia

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) status in older adults without dementia under the hypothesis that WMH increased the odds of having NPS.

DESIGN

Longitudinal analysis of data acquired from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set.

SETTINGS

Data were derived from 46 National Institute on Aging - funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers.

PARTICIPANTS

NACC participants aged ≥50 years with available data on WMH severity with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or who were cognitively unimpaired (CU) were studied. Among 4617 CU participants, 376 had moderate and 54 extensive WMH. Among 3170 participants with MCI, 471 had moderate and 88 had extensive WMH.Measurements: Using Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) scores, WMH were coded as no to mild (CHS score: 0-4), moderate (score: 5-6) or extensive (score: 7-8). NPS were quantified on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression models estimated the odds of reporting each of 12 NPS by WMH status separately for individuals with MCI or who were CU.

RESULTS

Compared to CU individuals with no to mild WMH, the odds of having elation [9.87,(2.63-37.10)], disinhibition [4.42,(1.28-15.32)], agitation [3.51,(1.29-9.54)] or anxiety [2.74,(1.28-5.88)] were higher for the extensive WMH group, whereas the odds of having disinhibition were higher for the moderate WMH group [1.94,(1.05-3.61)]. In the MCI group, he odds of NPS did not vary by WMH status.

CONCLUSIONS

Extensive WMH were associated with higher odds of NPS in CU older adults but not in those with MCI.

Umbrella review and Delphi study on modifiable factors for dementia risk reduction

A 2013 systematic review and Delphi consensus study identified 12 modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia, which were subsequently merged into the "LIfestyle for BRAin health" (LIBRA) score. We systematically evaluated whether LIBRA requires revision based on new evidence. To identify modifiable risk and protective factors suitable for dementia risk reduction, we combined an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses with a two-round Delphi consensus study. The review of 608 unique primary studies and opinions of 18 experts prioritized six modifiable factors: hearing impairment, social contact, sleep, life course inequalities, atrial fibrillation, and psychological stress. Based on expert ranking, hearing impairment, social contact, and sleep were considered the most suitable candidates for inclusion in updated dementia risk scores. As such, the current study shows that dementia risk scores need systematic updates based on emerging evidence. Future studies will validate the updated LIBRA score in different cohorts. HIGHLIGHTS: An umbrella review was combined with opinions of 18 dementia experts. Various candidate targets for dementia risk reduction were identified. Experts prioritized hearing impairment, social contact, and sleep. Re-assessment of dementia risk scores is encouraged. Future work should evaluate the predictive validity of updated risk scores.

WarpDrive: Improving spatial normalization using manual refinements

Spatial normalization-the process of mapping subject brain images to an average template brain-has evolved over the last 20+ years into a reliable method that facilitates the comparison of brain imaging results across patients, centers & modalities. While overall successful, sometimes, this automatic process yields suboptimal results, especially when dealing with brains with extensive neurodegeneration and atrophy patterns, or when high accuracy in specific regions is needed. Here we introduce WarpDrive, a novel tool for manual refinements of image alignment after automated registration. We show that the tool applied in a cohort of patients with Alzheimer's disease who underwent deep brain stimulation surgery helps create more accurate representations of the data as well as meaningful models to explain patient outcomes. The tool is built to handle any type of 3D imaging data, also allowing refinements in high-resolution imaging, including histology and multiple modalities to precisely aggregate multiple data sources together.

Cognitive Performance and Incident Alzheimer's Dementia in Men Versus Women

BACKGROUND

The utility of neuropsychological measurements as forerunners of Alzheimer's Disease Dementia (AD) in individuals with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is undeniable.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the differential prognostic value of cognitive performance in older men versus women.

DESIGN

Longitudinal analysis of data acquired from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set.

SETTINGS

Data on older adults (≥60 years) were derived from 43 National Institute on Aging - funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers.

PARTICIPANTS

10,073 cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults followed for 5.5±3.8 years and 3,925 participants with amnestic MCI monitored for 3.5±2.8 years.

MEASUREMENTS

The domains of episodic memory, verbal fluency, naming, attention, processing speed and executive function were assessed. Cox proportional hazards models examined associations between individual cognitive domains and AD incidence separately for each participant set. CU and MCI. These predictive models featured individual neuropsychological measures, sex, neuropsychological measure by sex interactions, as well as a number of crucial covariates.

RESULTS

Episodic memory and verbal fluency were differentially related to future AD among CU individuals, explaining a larger proportion of risk variance in women compared to men. On the other hand, naming, attention and executive function were differentially related to future AD among participants with MCI, accounting for a greater fraction of risk variance in men than women.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive performance is differentially related to risk of progressing to AD in men versus women without dementia.

Generation and Characterization of a Human-Derived and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Line from an Alzheimer's Disease Patient with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Agitation is one of the most eminent characteristics of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) affecting people living with Alzheimer's and Dementia and has serious consequences for patients and caregivers. The current consensus is that agitation results, in part, from the disruption of ascending monoamine regulators of cortical circuits, especially the loss of serotonergic activity. It is believed that the first line of treatment for these conditions is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), but these are effective in only about 40% of patients. Person-specific biomarkers, for example, ones based on in vitro iPSC-derived models of serotonin activity, which predict who with Agitation responds to an SSRI, are a major clinical priority. Here, we report the generation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a 74-year-old AD patient, the homozygous APOE ε4/ε4 carrier, who developed Agitation. His iPSCs were reprogrammed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using the transient expression of pluripotency genes. These display typical iPSC characteristics that are karyotypically normal and attain the capacity to differentiate into three germ layers. The newly patient-derived iPSC line offers a unique resource to investigate the underlying mechanisms associated with neuropsychiatric symptom progression in AD.

Endogenous and Exogenous Thyrotoxicosis and Risk of Incident Cognitive Disorders in Older Adults

Importance

Thyroid hormone is among the most common prescriptions in the US and up to 20% may be overtreated. Endogenous hyperthyroidism may be a risk factor for dementia, but data are limited for iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis.

Objective

To determine whether thyrotoxicosis, both endogenous and exogenous, is associated with increased risk of cognitive disorders.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study performed a longitudinal time-varying analysis of electronic health records for patients receiving primary care in the Johns Hopkins Community Physicians Network between January 1, 2014, and May 6, 2023. Patients 65 years and older with at least 2 visits 30 days apart to their primary care physicians were eligible. None of the 65 931 included patients had a history of low thyrotropin (TSH) level or cognitive disorder diagnoses within 6 months of their first visit. Data analysis was performed from January 1 through August 5, 2023.

Exposure

The exposure variable was a low TSH level, characterized based on the clinical context as due to endogenous thyrotoxicosis, exogenous thyrotoxicosis, or unknown cause, excluding those attributable to acute illness or other medical factors such as medications.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The outcome measure was cognitive disorders, including mild cognitive impairment and all-cause dementia, to improve sensitivity and account for the underdiagnosis of dementia in primary care.

Results

A total of 65 931 patients were included in the analysis (median [IQR] age at first visit, 68.0 [65.0-74.0] years; 37 208 [56%] were female; 46 106 [69.9%] were White). Patients exposed to thyrotoxicosis had cognitive disorder incidence of 11.0% (95% CI, 8.4%-14.2%) by age 75 years vs 6.4% (95% CI, 6.0%-6.8%) for those not exposed. After adjustment, all-cause thyrotoxicosis was significantly associated with risk of cognitive disorder diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.18-1.64; P < .001) across age groups. When stratified by cause and severity, exogenous thyrotoxicosis remained a significant risk factor (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.10-1.63; P = .003) with point estimates suggestive of a dose response.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study among patients 65 years and older, a low TSH level from either endogenous or exogenous thyrotoxicosis was associated with higher risk of incident cognitive disorder. Iatrogenic thyrotoxicosis is a common result of thyroid hormone therapy. With thyroid hormone among the most common prescriptions in the US, understanding the negative effects of overtreatment is critical to help guide prescribing practice.

Malnutrition and neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia: the Cache County Dementia Progression Study

OBJECTIVES

Among people with dementia, poor nutritional status has been associated with worse cognitive and functional decline, but few studies have examined its association with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS). We examined this topic in a population-based sample of persons with dementia.

DESIGN

Longitudinal, observational cohort study.

SETTING

Community.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred ninety-two persons with dementia (71.9% Alzheimer's disease, 56.2% women) were followed up to 6 years.

MEASUREMENTS

We used a modified Mini-Nutritional Assessment (mMNA) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) to evaluate nutritional status and NPS, respectively. Individual linear mixed effects models examined the associations between time-varying mMNA total score or clinical categories (malnourishment, risk for malnourishment, or well-nourished) and NPI total score (excluding appetite domain) or NPI individual domain or cluster (e.g. psychosis) scores. Covariates tested were dementia onset age, type, and duration, medical comorbidities, sex, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, and education.

RESULTS

Compared to the well-nourished, those at risk for malnourishment and those malnourished had higher total NPI scores [b (95% CI) = 1.76 (0.04, 3.48) or 3.20 (0.62, 5.78), respectively], controlling for significant covariates. Higher mMNA total score (better nutritional status) was associated with lower total NPI [b (95% CI) = -0.58 (-0.86, -0.29)] and lower domain scores for psychosis [b (95% CI) = -0.08 (-0.16, .004)], depression [b (95% CI = -0.11 (-0.16, -0.05], and apathy [b (95% CI = -0.19 (-0.28, -0.11)].

CONCLUSIONS

Worse nutritional status is associated with more severe NPS. Dietary or behavioral interventions to prevent malnutrition may be beneficial for persons with dementia.

Association of common infections with cognitive performance in the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area study follow-up

INTRODUCTION

Growing evidence suggests that some common infections are causally associated with cognitive impairment; however, less is known about the burden of multiple infections.

METHODS

We investigated the cross-sectional association of positive antibody tests for herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and Toxoplasma gondii (TOX) with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and delayed verbal recall performance in 575 adults aged 41-97 from the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study.

RESULTS

In multivariable-adjusted zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression models, positive antibody tests for CMV (p = .011) and herpes simplex virus (p = .018) were individually associated with poorer MMSE performance (p = .011). A greater number of positive antibody tests among the five tested was associated with worse MMSE performance (p = .001).

DISCUSSION

CMV, herpes simplex virus, and the global burden of multiple common infections were independently associated with poorer cognitive performance. Additional research that investigates whether the global burden of infection predicts cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease biomarker changes is needed to confirm these findings.

Utility of amyloid PET Imaging in a Memory Clinic

There is greater interest in amyloid biomarker for the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) with the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of amyloid-targeted therapy. The goal of this study was to assess the clinical utility of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) in clinically ambiguous cases of cognitive impairment by examining outcomes of patients enrolled in the Imaging Dementia-Evidence of Amyloid Scanning study at 2 academic institutions. Of the 112 patients in the study, 66.1% (n=74) of patients had a positive amyloid PET scan, and 33.96% (n=38) had a negative amyloid PET scan. Lower cognitive test scores were predictive of positive amyloid PET scan ( P =0.001). Eighty-two percent (92/112) of the patients were seen for follow-up. Of the 30 patients with negative amyloid PET scan results, 90% had a diagnosis of non-AD etiology after receiving the negative results, suggesting a negative amyloid scan can be used to rule out AD diagnosis.

Comparative assessment of Alzheimer's disease-related biomarkers in plasma and neuron-derived extracellular vesicles: a nested case-control study

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently defined according to biomarkers reflecting the core underlying neuropathological processes: Aβ deposition, Tau, and neurodegeneration (ATN). The soluble phase of plasma and plasma neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs) are increasingly being investigated as sources of biomarkers. The aim of this study was to examine the comparative biomarker potential of these two biofluids, as well as the association between respective biomarkers. Methods: We retrospectively identified three distinct diagnostic groups of 44 individuals who provided samples at baseline and at a mean of 3.1 years later; 14 were cognitively unimpaired at baseline and remained so (NRM-NRM), 13 had amnestic MCI that progressed to AD dementia (MCI-DEM) and 17 had AD dementia at both timepoints (DEM-DEM). Plasma NDEVs were isolated by immunoaffinity capture targeting the neuronal markers L1CAM, GAP43, and NLGN3. In both plasma and NDEVs, we assessed ATN biomarkers (Aβ42, Aβ40, total Tau, P181-Tau) alongside several other exploratory markers. Results: The Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio in plasma and NDEVs was lower in MCI-DEM than NRM-NRM at baseline and its levels in NDEVs decreased over time in all three groups. Similarly, plasma and NDEV-associated Aβ42 was lower in MCI-DEM compared to NRM-NRM at baseline and its levels in plasma decreased over time in DEM-DEM. For NDEV-associated proBDNF, compared to NRM-NRM, its levels were lower in MCI-DEM and DEM-DEM at baseline, and they decreased over time in the latter group. No group differences were found for other exploratory markers. NDEV-associated Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio and proBDNF achieved the highest areas under the curve (AUCs) for discriminating between diagnostic groups, while proBDNF was positively associated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. No associations were found between the two biofluids for any assessed marker. Discussion: The soluble phase of plasma and plasma NDEVs demonstrate distinct biomarker profiles both at a single time point and longitudinally. The lack of association between plasma and NDEV measures indicates that the two types of biofluids demonstrate distinct biomarker signatures that may be attributable to being derived through different biological processes. NDEV-associated proBDNF may be a useful biomarker for AD diagnosis and monitoring.

Excitatory Neurons Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Show Transcriptomic Differences in Alzheimer's Patients from Controls

The recent advances in creating pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells and differentiating them into a variety of cell types is allowing us to study them without the caveats associated with disease-related changes. We generated induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from eight Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and six controls and used lentiviral delivery to differentiate them into excitatory glutamatergic neurons. We then performed RNA sequencing on these neurons and compared the Alzheimer's and control transcriptomes. We found that 621 genes show differences in expression levels at adjusted p < 0.05 between the case and control derived neurons. These genes show significant overlap and directional concordance with genes reported from a single-cell transcriptome study of AD patients; they include five genes implicated in AD from genome-wide association studies and they appear to be part of a larger functional network as indicated by an excess of interactions between them observed in the protein-protein interaction database STRING. Exploratory analysis with Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) suggests distinct clusters of patients, based on gene expression, who may be clinically different. Our research outcomes will enable the precise identification of distinct biological subtypes among individuals with Alzheimer's disease, facilitating the implementation of tailored precision medicine strategies.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis of 56,241 individuals identifies LRRC4C, LHX5-AS1 and nominates ancestry-specific loci PTPRK , GRB14 , and KIAA0825 as novel risk loci for Alzheimer's disease: the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium

Limited ancestral diversity has impaired our ability to detect risk variants more prevalent in non-European ancestry groups in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We constructed and analyzed a multi-ancestry GWAS dataset in the Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Genetics Consortium (ADGC) to test for novel shared and ancestry-specific AD susceptibility loci and evaluate underlying genetic architecture in 37,382 non-Hispanic White (NHW), 6,728 African American, 8,899 Hispanic (HIS), and 3,232 East Asian individuals, performing within-ancestry fixed-effects meta-analysis followed by a cross-ancestry random-effects meta-analysis. We identified 13 loci with cross-ancestry associations including known loci at/near CR1 , BIN1 , TREM2 , CD2AP , PTK2B , CLU , SHARPIN , MS4A6A , PICALM , ABCA7 , APOE and two novel loci not previously reported at 11p12 ( LRRC4C ) and 12q24.13 ( LHX5-AS1 ). Reflecting the power of diverse ancestry in GWAS, we observed the SHARPIN locus using 7.1% the sample size of the original discovering single-ancestry GWAS (n=788,989). We additionally identified three GWS ancestry-specific loci at/near ( PTPRK ( P =2.4×10 -8 ) and GRB14 ( P =1.7×10 -8 ) in HIS), and KIAA0825 ( P =2.9×10 -8 in NHW). Pathway analysis implicated multiple amyloid regulation pathways (strongest with P adjusted =1.6×10 -4 ) and the classical complement pathway ( P adjusted =1.3×10 -3 ). Genes at/near our novel loci have known roles in neuronal development ( LRRC4C, LHX5-AS1 , and PTPRK ) and insulin receptor activity regulation ( GRB14 ). These findings provide compelling support for using traditionally-underrepresented populations for gene discovery, even with smaller sample sizes.

The glymphatic system's role in traumatic brain injury-related neurodegeneration

In at least some individuals who suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), there exists a risk of future neurodegenerative illness. This review focuses on the association between the brain-based paravascular drainage pathway known as the "glymphatic system" and TBI-related neurodegeneration. The glymphatic system is composed of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flowing into the brain parenchyma along paravascular spaces surrounding penetrating arterioles where it mixes with interstitial fluid (ISF) before being cleared along paravenous drainage pathways. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels on astrocytic end-feet appear essential for the functioning of this system. The current literature linking glymphatic system disruption and TBI-related neurodegeneration is largely based on murine models with existing human research focused on the need for biomarkers of glymphatic system function (e.g., neuroimaging modalities). Key findings from the existing literature include evidence of glymphatic system flow disruption following TBI, mechanisms of this decreased flow (i.e., AQP4 depolarization), and evidence of protein accumulation and deposition (e.g., amyloid β, tau). The same studies suggest that glymphatic dysfunction leads to subsequent neurodegeneration, cognitive decline, and/or behavioral change although replication in humans is needed. Identified emerging topics from the literature are as follows: link between TBI, sleep, and glymphatic system dysfunction; influence of glymphatic system disruption on TBI biomarkers; and development of novel treatments for glymphatic system disruption following TBI. Although a burgeoning field, more research is needed to elucidate the role of glymphatic system disruption in TBI-related neurodegeneration.

Translating clinical notes into quantitative measures-a real-world observation on the response to cholinesterase inhibitors or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors prescribed to outpatients with dementia using electronic medical records

Objective: Cholinesterase inhibitors (CEIs) are prescribed for dementia to maintain or improve memory. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also prescribed to manage psychiatric symptoms seen in dementia. What proportion of outpatients actually responds to these drugs is still unclear. Our objective was to investigate the responder rates of these medications in an outpatient setting using the electronic medical record (EMR). Methods: We used the Johns Hopkins EMR system to identify patients with dementia who were prescribed a CEI or SSRI for the first time between 2010 and 2021. Treatment effects were assessed through routinely documented clinical notes and free-text entries in which healthcare providers record clinical findings and impressions of patients. Responses were scored using a three-point Likert scale named the NOte-based evaluation method for Treatment Efficacy (NOTE) in addition to the Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus caregiver input (CIBIC-plus), a seven-point Likert scale used in clinical trials. To validate NOTE, the relationships between NOTE and CIBIC-plus and between NOTE and change in MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) before and after medication were examined. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated using Krippendorff's alpha. The responder rates were calculated. Results: NOTE showed excellent inter-rater reliability and correlated well with CIBIC-plus and changes in MMSEs. Out of 115 CEI cases, 27.0% reported improvement and 34.8% reported stable symptoms in cognition; out of 225 SSRI cases, 69.3% reported an improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms. Conclusion: NOTE showed high validity in measuring the pharmacotherapy effects based on unstructured clinical entries. Although our real-world observation included various types of dementia, the results were remarkably similar to what was reported in controlled clinical trials of Alzheimer's disease and its related neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Associations between neuropsychiatric symptoms and incident Alzheimer's dementia in men versus women

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether associations between individual neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and incident Alzheimer's dementia (AD) differ in men versus women.

METHODS

Data were acquired from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set. Two sets of older (≥ 60 years) participants were formed: one of cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals, and one of participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). NPS were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards models examined associations between individual NPS and AD incidence separately for each participant set. These models featured individual NPS, sex, NPS by sex interactions as well as a number of covariates.

RESULTS

The analysis involved 9,854 CU individuals followed for 5.5 ± 3.8 years and 6,369 participants with MCI followed for 3.8 ± 3.0 years. NPS were comparably associated with future AD in men and women with MCI. Regarding CU participants, the following significant sex by NPS interactions were noted: female sex moderated the risk conferred by moderate/severe apathy (HR = 7.36, 3.25-16.64) by 74%, mitigated the risk conferred by moderate/severe depression (HR = 3.61, 2.08-6.28) by 52%, and augmented the risks conferred by mild depression (HR = 1.00, 0.60-1.68) and agitation (HR = 0.81, 0.40-1.64) by 83% and 243%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Apathy, depression and agitation were differentially associated with incident AD in CU men and women. No individual NPS was associated with different risks of future AD in men versus women with MCI.

Economic Analysis of the Tailored Activity Program: A Nonpharmacological Approach to Improve Quality of Life in People Living With Dementia and their Caregivers

We investigated costs of delivering the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) and cost savings from two perspectives (health sector and societal) for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers (dyads) compared to attention control (AC) using data from a randomized controlled trial. The evaluation assessed intervention delivery costs and caregiver reported health care utilization. The total intervention cost of TAP was $1707/dyad versus $864/dyad for AC, and total costs over 6 months for TAP dyads as compared to AC were $1299 (CI: -$10,496, $7898) less from the healthcare perspective, and $761 (CI: -$10,133, $8611) less from the societal perspective. TAP cost savings are driven by lower use of healthcare services among participating dyads, but further analyses with larger samples is warranted to confirm its financial impact.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease: An Anatomic-Genetic Framework for Treatment Development

BACKGROUND

Despite the burden on patients and caregivers, there are no approved therapies for the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (NPS-AD). This is likely due to an incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE

To review the neurobiological mechanisms of NPS-AD, including depression, psychosis, and agitation.

METHODS

Understanding that genetic encoding gives rise to the function of neural circuits specific to behavior, we review the genetics and neuroimaging literature to better understand the biological underpinnings of depression, psychosis, and agitation.

RESULTS

We found that mechanisms involving monoaminergic biosynthesis and function are likely key elements of NPS-AD and while current treatment approaches are in line with this, the lack of effectiveness may be due to contributions from additional mechanisms including neurodegenerative, vascular, inflammatory, and immunologic pathways.

CONCLUSION

Within an anatomic-genetic framework, development of novel effective biological targets may engage targets within these pathways but will require a better understanding of the heterogeneity in NPS-AD.

Precision Medicine for Preventing Alzheimer's Disease: Analysis of the ADAPT Study

BACKGROUND

The Alzheimer's Disease Anti-inflammatory Prevention Trial (ADAPT) was the first-ever large-scale anti-inflammatory prevention trial targeting Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE

The overall goal of this study was to evaluate predictive blood biomarker profiles that identified individuals most likely to be responders on NSAID treatment or placebo at 12 and 24 months.

METHODS

Baseline (n = 193) and 12-month (n = 562) plasma samples were assayed. The predictive biomarker profile was generated using SVM analyses with response on treatment (yes/no) as the outcome variable.

RESULTS

Baseline (AUC = 0.99) and 12-month (AUC = 0.99) predictive biomarker profiles were highly accurate in predicting response on Celecoxib arm at 12 and 24 months. The baseline (AUC = 0.95) and 12-month (AUC = 0.9) predictive biomarker profile predicting response on Naproxen were also highly accurate at 12 and 24 months. The baseline (AUC = 0.93) and 12-month (AUC = 0.99) predictive biomarker profile was also highly accurate in predicting response on placebo. As with our prior work, the profiles varied by treatment arm.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results provide additional support for a precision medicine model for treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Optimal deep brain stimulation sites and networks for stimulation of the fornix in Alzheimer's disease

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) to the fornix is an investigational treatment for patients with mild Alzheimer's Disease. Outcomes from randomized clinical trials have shown that cognitive function improved in some patients but deteriorated in others. This could be explained by variance in electrode placement leading to differential engagement of neural circuits. To investigate this, we performed a post-hoc analysis on a multi-center cohort of 46 patients with DBS to the fornix (NCT00658125, NCT01608061). Using normative structural and functional connectivity data, we found that stimulation of the circuit of Papez and stria terminalis robustly associated with cognitive improvement (R = 0.53, p < 0.001). On a local level, the optimal stimulation site resided at the direct interface between these structures (R = 0.48, p < 0.001). Finally, modulating specific distributed brain networks related to memory accounted for optimal outcomes (R = 0.48, p < 0.001). Findings were robust to multiple cross-validation designs and may define an optimal network target that could refine DBS surgery and programming.

Effect of traumatic brain injury on mild behavioral impairment domains prior to all-cause dementia diagnosis and throughout disease progression

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may alter dementia progression, although co-occurring neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) have received less attention. Originally designed to evaluate behavioral disruption prior to dementia diagnosis, the mild behavioral impairment (MBI) construct relates NPS to underlying neural circuit disruptions, with probable relevance across the progression of neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, the MBI construct may represent a valuable tool to identify and evaluate related NPS both preceding diagnosis of all-cause dementia throughout the progression of disease, representing an important area of inquiry regarding TBI and dementia. This investigation sought to evaluate the effect of TBI on NPS related by the MBI construct in participants progressing from normal cognitive status to all-cause dementia.

Methods

Using National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center data, individuals progressing from normal cognition to all-cause dementia (clinician diagnosed) over 7.6 ± 3.0 years were studied to estimate prevalence of MBI domains in 124 participants with prior TBI history (57 with loss of consciousness [LOC] <5 minutes, 22 with LOC >5 min, 45 unknown severity) compared to 822 without. MBI domain prevalence was evaluated (1) prior to dementia onset (including only time points preceding time at dementia diagnosis, as per MBI's original definition) and (2) throughout dementia progression (evaluating all available time points, including both before and after dementia diagnosis).

Results

More severe TBI (LOC >5 minutes) was associated with the social inappropriateness MBI domain (adjusted odds ratio = 4.034; P = 0.024) prior to dementia onset, and the abnormal perception/thought content domain looking across dementia progression (adjusted hazard ratio [HR_adj] = 3.703; P = 0.005). TBI (all severities) was associated with the decreased motivation domain looking throughout dementia progression (HR_adj. = 1.546; P = 0.014).

Discussion

TBI history is associated with particular MBI profiles prior to onset and throughout progression of dementia. Understanding TBI's impact on inter-related NPS may help elucidate underlying neuropathology with implications for surveillance, detection, and treatment of behavioral concerns in aging TBI survivors.

Highlights

The mild behavioral impairment (MBI) construct links related neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) by probable underlying neural network dysfunction.Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with loss of consciousness (LOC) > 5 minutes was associated with pre-dementia social inappropriateness.TBI was associated with decreased motivation looking across dementia progression.TBI with LOC > 5 minutes was associated with abnormal perception/thought content.The MBI construct may be useful for examining related NPS across dementia progression.

Graphical methods for understanding changes in states: Understanding medication use pathways

OBJECTIVES

As epidemiological studies become longer and larger, the field needs novel graphical methods to visualize complex longitudinal data. The aim of this study was to present the Slinkyplot, a longitudinal crosstabulation, to illustrate patterns of antidepressant use in a large prospective cohort of older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

METHODS

Data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center are used to track switches between different states and types of antidepressant use. A Slinkyplot is populated with rows representing the state of medication use at each timepoint and columns representing the state at each subsequent visit.

RESULTS

The constructed Slinkyplots display the common practice of switching on and off different antidepressants over time, with citalopram, sertraline, and bupropion most commonly used followed by switching to another SSRI or SNRI as second-line treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Slinkyplots are an innovative graphical means of visualizing complex patterns of transitions between different states over time for large longitudinal studies.

Association between Motor Signs and Cognitive Performance in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the NACC Database

Aiming to examine whether specific motor signs are associated with worse performance in specific cognitive domains among cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the baseline evaluations of older, CU participants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set. In total, 8149 CU (≥60 years) participants were included. Of these, 905 individuals scored ≥ 2 on at least one of the motor domains of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRSIII). Cognitively impaired individuals, participants with psychiatric disorders and/or under treatment with antipsychotic, anxiolytic, sedative or hypnotic agents were excluded. Nine motor signs were examined: hypophonia, masked facies, resting tremor, action/postural tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, impaired chair rise, impaired posture/gait and postural instability. Their association with performance on episodic memory, semantic memory, language, attention, processing speed or executive function was assessed using crude and adjusted linear regression models. Individuals with impaired chair rise had worse episodic memory, semantic memory, processing speed and executive function, while those with bradykinesia had worse language, processing speed and executive function. Sensitivity analyses, by excluding participants with cerebrovascular disease or PD, or other Parkinsonism, produced similar results with the exception of the relationship between bradykinesia and language performance.

Reasons for Hospitalization while Receiving Dementia Care Coordination through Maximizing Independence at Home

OBJECTIVES

Persons living with dementia (PLWD), particularly those with higher levels of functional impairment, are at increased risk of hospitalization and higher hospital-associated health care costs. Our objective was to provide a nuanced description of reasons for hospitalizations over a 12-month period among community-living persons with dementia taking part in a dementia care coordination study using caregiver-reported data and to describe how reasons varied by disease stage.

DESIGN

Retrospective descriptive analysis of pooled data from 2 concurrent studies of PLWD receiving the MIND at Home dementia care coordination program.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Four hundred ninety-four community-dwelling PLWD with a family caregiver in the Greater Baltimore and Central Maryland region, 2015‒2019.

METHODS

PLWD sociodemographic, clinical, functional, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics were assessed during an in-home baseline visit. Caregiver-reported hospitalizations and primary reasons for events were recorded every 4.5 months by research staff and by memory care coordinators during program delivery for a 12-month period. Hospitalization event data were subsequently reviewed, reconciled, and coded by a trained investigator.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy PLWD (34.4%) had at least 1 hospitalization within 12 months of enrollment, with 316 separate events. The most common primary reason for hospitalization according to caregivers was infection (22.4%), falls (16.5%), and cardiovascular/pulmonary (12.4%). Top reasons for hospitalization were falls among persons with mild and moderate functional impairment (17.7% and 21.9% respectively) and infection among PLWD with severe impairment (30.3%).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Infections and falls were the most common caregiver-reported reasons for hospitalization in PLWD receiving dementia care coordination. Reasons for hospitalization varied based on severity of functional impairment. Greater understanding of reasons for hospitalization among PLWD receiving dementia care management interventions, from multiple important perspectives, may help programs more effectively address and prevent hospitalization.

Cognitive Dysfunction, Psychiatric Distress, and Functional Decline After COVID-19

BACKGROUND

There is a limited understanding of the cognitive and psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 during the post-acute phase, particularly among racially and ethnically diverse patients.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to prospectively characterize cognition, mental health symptoms, and functioning approximately four months after an initial diagnosis of COVID-19 in a racially and ethnically diverse group of patients.

METHODS

Approximately four months after COVID-19 diagnosis, patients in the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team Pulmonary Clinic underwent a clinical telephone-based assessment of cognition, depression, anxiety, trauma, and function.

RESULTS

Most Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team patients assessed were women (59%) and members of racial/ethnic minority groups (65%). Of 82 patients, 67% demonstrated ≥1 abnormally low cognitive score. Patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) stays displayed greater breadth and severity of impairment than those requiring less intensive treatment. Processing speed (35%), verbal fluency (26%-32%), learning (27%), and memory (27%) were most commonly impaired. Among all patients, 35% had moderate symptoms of depression (23%), anxiety (15%), or functional decline (15%); 25% of ICU patients reported trauma-related distress. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional decline did not differ by post-ICU versus non-ICU status and were unrelated to global cognitive composite scores.

CONCLUSIONS

At approximately 4 months after acute illness, cognitive dysfunction, emotional distress, and functional decline were common among a diverse clinical sample of COVID-19 survivors varying in acute illness severity. Patients requiring ICU stays demonstrated greater breadth and severity of cognitive impairment than those requiring less intensive treatment. Findings help extend our understanding of the nature, severity, and potential duration of neuropsychiatric morbidity after COVID-19 and point to the need for longitudinal assessment of cognitive and mental health outcomes among COVID-19 survivors of different demographic backgrounds and illness characteristics.

Neuronal-Derived EV Biomarkers Track Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease

The hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology are senile plaques containing amyloid-beta (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau. Additional pathologies often co-exist, whereas multiple pathogenic mechanisms are involved in AD, especially synaptic degeneration, which necessitate the need for synaptic integrity-related biomarkers alongside Aβ- and tau-related biomarkers. Plasma neuron-derived Extracellular Vesicles EVs (NDEVs) provide biomarkers related to Aβ and tau and synaptic degeneration. Here, to further establish the latter as a “liquid biopsy” for AD, we examined their relationship with ante-mortem cognition in pathologically-confirmed AD cases. We immunoprecipitated NDEVs by targeting neuronal marker L1CAM from ante-mortem plasma samples from 61 autopsy-confirmed cases of pure AD or AD with additional pathologies and measured Aβ₄₂, p181-Tau, total Tau, synaptophysin, synaptopodin and three canonical EV markers, CD63, CD81 and CD9. Higher NDEV Aβ₄₂ levels were consistently associated with better cognitive status, memory, fluency, working memory and executive function. Higher levels of NDEV synaptic integrity-related biomarkers were associated with better performance on executive function tasks. Our findings motivate the hypothesis that releasing Aβ₄₂-laden NDEVs may be an adaptive mechanism in AD.

Developing Treatments for Alzheimer's and Related Disorders with Precision Medicine: A Vision

Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is concerned with finding the right treatment for the right patient at the right time. It is a way of thinking focused on parsing heterogeneity ultimately down to the level of the individual. Its main mission is to identify characteristics of heterogeneous clinical conditions so as to target tailored therapies to individuals. Precision Medicine however is not an agnostic collection of all manner of clinical, genetic and other biologic data in select cohorts. This is an important point. Simply collecting as much information as possible on individuals without applying this way of thinking should not be considered Precision Medicine.

Standardizing Electronic Health Record Data on AD/ADRD to Accelerate Health Equity in Prevention, Detection, and Treatment

Improving the prevention, detection, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (AD/ADRD) across racial, ethnic, and other diverse populations is a national priority. To this end, this paper proposes the development of the Standard Health Record for Dementia (SHRD, pronounced "shared") for collecting and sharing AD/ADRD real-world data (RWD). SHRD would replace the current unstandardized, fragmented, or missing state of key RWD with an open source, consensus-based, and interoperable common data standard. This paper describes how SHRD could leverage the best practices of the Minimal Common Oncology Data Elements (mCODETM) initiative to advance prevention, detection, and treatment; gain adoption by clinicians and electronic health record (EHR) vendors; and establish sustainable business and governance models. It describes a range of potential use cases to advance equity, including strengthening public health surveillance by facilitating AD/ADRD registry reporting; improving case detection and staging; and diversifying participation in clinical trials.

Association of Depressive Symptoms With Postoperative Delirium and CSF Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease Among Hip Fracture Patients

OBJECTIVES

While there is growing evidence of an association between depressive symptoms and postoperative delirium, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain unknown. The goal of this study was to explore the association between depression and postoperative delirium in hip fracture patients, and to examine Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology as a potential underlying mechanism linking depressive symptoms and delirium.

METHODS

Patients 65 years old or older (N = 199) who were undergoing hip fracture repair and enrolled in the study "A Strategy to Reduce the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients" completed the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) preoperatively. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was obtained during spinal anesthesia and assayed for amyloid-beta (Aβ) 40, 42, total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181.

RESULTS

For every one point increase in GDS-15, there was a 13% increase in odds of postoperative delirium, adjusted for baseline cognition (MMSE), age, sex, race, education and CSF AD biomarkers (OR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.02-1.25). Both CSF Aβ42/t-tau (β = -1.52, 95%CI = -2.1 to -0.05) and Aβ42/p-tau181 (β = -0.29, 95%CI = -0.48 to -0.09) were inversely associated with higher GDS-15 scores, where lower ratios indicate greater AD pathology. In an analysis to identify the strongest predictors of delirium out of 18 variables, GDS-15 had the highest classification accuracy for postoperative delirium and was a stronger predictor of delirium than both cognition and AD biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

In older adults undergoing hip fracture repair, depressive symptoms were associated with underlying AD pathology and postoperative delirium. Mild baseline depressive symptoms were the strongest predictor of postoperative delirium, and may represent a dementia prodrome.

Effect of Age on Clinical Trial Outcome in Participants with Probable Alzheimer's Disease

Background:

Age may affect treatment outcome in trials of mild probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Objective:

We examined age as a moderator of outcome in an exploratory study of deep brain stimulation targeting the fornix (DBS-f) region in participants with AD.

Methods:

Forty-two participants were implanted with DBS electrodes and randomized to double-blind DBS-f stimulation (“on”) or sham DBS-f (“off”) for 12 months.

Results:

The intervention was safe and well tolerated. However, the selected clinical measures did not differentiate between the “on” and “off” groups in the intent to treat (ITT) population. There was a significant age by time interaction with the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale; ADAS-cog-13 (p = 0.028). Six of the 12 enrolled participants < 65 years old (50%) markedly declined on the ADAS-cog-13 versus only 6.7%of the 30 participants≥65 years old regardless of treatment assignment (p = 0.005). While not significant, post-hoc analyses favored DBS-f “off” versus “on” over 12 months in the < 65 age group but favored DBS-f “on” versus “off” in the≥65 age group on all clinical metrics. On the integrated Alzheimer’s Disease rating scale (iADRS), the effect size contrasting DBS-f “on” versus “off” changed from +0.2 (favoring “off”) in the < 65 group to –0.52 (favoring “on”) in the≥65 age group.

Conclusion:

The findings highlight issues with subject selection in clinical trials for AD. Faster disease progression in younger AD participants with different AD sub-types may influence the results. Biomarker confirmation and genotyping to differentiate AD subtypes is important for future clinical trials.

Diagnostic criteria for apathy in neurocognitive disorders

INTRODUCTION

Apathy is common in neurocognitive disorders (NCD) but NCD-specific diagnostic criteria are needed.

METHODS

The International Society for CNS Clinical Trials Methodology Apathy Work Group convened an expert group and sought input from academia, health-care, industry, and regulatory bodies. A modified Delphi methodology was followed, and included an extensive literature review, two surveys, and two meetings at international conferences, culminating in a consensus meeting in 2019.

RESULTS

The final criteria reached consensus with more than 80% agreement on all parts and included: limited to people with NCD; symptoms persistent or frequently recurrent over at least 4 weeks, a change from the patient's usual behavior, and including one of the following: diminished initiative, diminished interest, or diminished emotional expression/responsiveness; causing significant functional impairment and not exclusively explained by other etiologies.

DISCUSSION

These criteria provide a framework for defining apathy as a unique clinical construct in NCD for diagnosis and further research.

Mapping autonomic, mood, and cognitive effects of hypothalamic region deep brain stimulation

Due to its involvement in a wide variety of cardiovascular, metabolic, and behavioral functions, the hypothalamus constitutes a potential target for neuromodulation in a number of treatment-refractory conditions. The precise neural substrates and circuitry subserving these responses, however, are poorly characterized to date. We sought to retrospectively explore the acute sequalae of hypothalamic region deep brain stimulation and characterize their neuroanatomical correlates. To this end we studied at multiple international centers 58 patients (mean age: 68.5 ± 7.9 years, 26 females) suffering from mild Alzheimer's disease who underwent stimulation of the fornix region between 2007 and 2019. We catalogued the diverse spectrum of acutely induced clinical responses during electrical stimulation and interrogated their neural substrates using volume of tissue activated modelling, voxel-wise mapping, and supervised machine learning techniques. In total 627 acute clinical responses to stimulation - including tachycardia, hypertension, flushing, sweating, warmth, coldness, nausea, phosphenes, and fear - were recorded and catalogued across patients using standard descriptive methods. The most common manifestations during hypothalamic region stimulation were tachycardia (30.9%) and warmth (24.6%) followed by flushing (9.1%) and hypertension (6.9%). Voxel-wise mapping identified distinct, locally separable clusters for all sequelae that could be mapped to specific hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic gray- and white-matter structures. K-nearest neighbor classification further validated the clinico-anatomical correlates emphasizing the functional importance of identified neural substrates with area under the receiving operating characteristic curves (AUROC) between 0.67 - 0.91. Overall, we were able to localize acute effects of hypothalamic region stimulation to distinct tracts and nuclei within the hypothalamus and the wider diencephalon providing clinico-anatomical insights that may help to guide future neuromodulation work.

Multiple Neurodegenerative Pathologies in an Alzheimer's Disease Patient Treated with Fornical Deep Brain Stimulation

As an established treatment for movement disorders, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been adapted for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by modulating fornix activity. Although it is generally regarded as a safe intervention in patients over 65 years of age, the complex neurophysiology and interconnection within circuits connected to the fornix warrants a careful ongoing evaluation of the true benefit and risk potential of DBS on slowing cognitive decline in AD patients. Here we report on a patient who died long after being implanted with a DBS device who donated her brain for neuropathologic study. The autopsy confirmed multiple proteinopathies including AD-related change, diffuse neocortical Lewy body disease, TDP-43 proteinopathy, and a nonspecific tauopathy. We discuss the possible mechanisms of these overlapping neurodegenerative disorders and caution that future studies of DBS for AD will need to take these findings into consideration.

WeCareAdvisor, an Online Platform to Help Family Caregivers Manage Dementia-Related Behavioral Symptoms: an Efficacy Trial in the Time of COVID-19

Dementia-related behavioral and psychology symptoms (BPSD) are undertreated and have negative consequences. However, families do not have access to disease information, tailored problem-solving  and effective management strategies, and with COVID-19, are more socially isolated and distressed. To address this dementia care gap, we describe a Phase III efficacy trial testing an online platform, WeCareAdvisor, and design modifications necessitated by COVID-19. WeCareAdvisor provides caregivers with disease information, daily tips, and a systematic approach for describing behaviors, investigating underlying causes, creating tailored strategies, and evaluating their effectiveness (DICE). The trial will enroll 326 caregivers nationwide, randomly assign them to immediately receive WeCareAdvisor (treatment), or a 3-month waitlist (control) and evaluate short (1- and 3-month) and long-term (6-month) outcomes for caregiver distress with and confidence managing BPSD, and BPSD occurrences. We will also evaluate utilization patterns with different prompting conditions: high-intensity (telephone and email reminders), low-intensity (email reminders), or no reminders to use WeCareAdvisor. COVID-19 necessitated design modifications resulting in greater inclusivity of caregivers from diverse races, ethnicities, and geographic areas. Key modifications include shifting from in-home, in-person interviewing to telephone; adjusting tool functionality from operating on a grant-funded iPad to caregivers’ personal internet-capable devices; and expanding recruitment from one metropolitan area to nationwide. Study modifications necessitated by COVID-19 facilitate national outreach, easier tool adoption, and enable more diverse caregivers to participate. This study addresses a critical dementia care need, and design modifications may shorten timeline from efficacy testing to commercialization.

Longitudinal Course of Agitation and Aggression in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease in a Cohort Study: Methods, Baseline and Longitudinal Results of the A3C Study

BACKGROUND

To present methodology, baseline results and longitudinal course of the Agitation and Aggression in patients with Alzheimer's Disease Cohort (A3C) study.

OBJECTIVES

The central objective of A3C was to study the course, over 12 months of clinically significant Agitation and Aggression symptoms based on validated measures, and to assess relationships between symptoms and clinical significance based on global ratings.

DESIGN

A3C is a longitudinal, prospective, multicenter observational cohort study performed at eight memory clinics in France, and their associated long-term care facilities.

SETTING

Clinical visits were scheduled at baseline, monthly during the first 3 months, at 6 months, at 9 months and at 12 months. The first three months intended to simulate a classic randomized control trial 12-week treatment design.

PARTICIPANTS

Alzheimer's Disease patients with clinically significant Agitation and Aggression symptoms lived at home or in long-term care facilities.

MEASUREMENTS

Clinically significant Agitation and Aggression symptoms were rated on Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), NPI-Clinician rating (NPI-C) Agitation and Aggression domains, and Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Global rating of agitation over time was based on the modified Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change. International Psychogeriatric Association "Provisional Diagnostic Criteria for Agitation", socio-demographics, non-pharmacological approaches, psychotropic medication use, resource utilization, quality of life, cognitive and physical status were assessed.

RESULTS

A3C enrolled 262 AD patients with a mean age of 82.4 years (SD ±7.2 years), 58.4% women, 69.9% at home. At baseline, mean MMSE score was 10.0 (SD±8.0), Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory score was 62.0 (SD±15.8) and NPI-C Agitation and Aggression clinician severity score was 15.8 (SD±10.8). According to the International Psychogeriatric Association agitation definition, more than 70% of participants showed excessive motor activity (n=199, 76.3%) and/or a verbal aggression (n=199, 76.3%) while 115 (44.1%) displayed physical aggression. The change of the CMAI score and the NPI-C Agitation and Aggression at 1-year follow-up period was respectively -11.36 (Standard Error (SE)=1.32; p<0.001) and -6.72 (SE=0.77; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Little is known about the longitudinal course of clinically significant agitation symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease about the variability in different outcome measures over time, or the definition of a clinically meaningful improvement. A3C may provide useful data to optimize future clinical trials and guide treatment development for Agitation and Aggression in Alzheimer's Disease.

Brain structures and networks responsible for stimulation-induced memory flashbacks during forniceal deep brain stimulation for Alzheimer's disease

Introduction

Fornix deep brain stimulation (fx‐DBS) is under investigation for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the anatomic correlates of flashback phenomena that were reported previously during acute diencephalic stimulation.

Methods

Thirty‐nine patients with mild AD who took part in a prior fx‐DBS trial (NCT01608061) were studied. After localizing patients’ implanted electrodes and modeling the volume of tissue activated (VTA) by DBS during systematic stimulation testing, we performed (1) voxel‐wise VTA mapping to identify flashback‐associated zones; (2) machine learning–based prediction of flashback occurrence given VTA overlap with specific structures; (3) normative functional connectomics to define flashback‐associated brain‐wide networks.

Results

A distinct diencephalic region was associated with greater flashback likelihood. Fornix, bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and anterior commissure involvement predicted memory events with 72% accuracy. Flashback‐inducing stimulation exhibited greater functional connectivity to a network of memory‐evoking and autobiographical memory‐related sites.

Discussion

These results clarify the neuroanatomical substrates of stimulation‐evoked flashbacks.

Alzheimer's disease biomarkers as predictors of trajectories of depression and apathy in cognitively normal individuals, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease dementia

OBJECTIVES

To examine trajectories of depression and apathy over a 5-year follow-up period in (prodromal) Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to relate these trajectories to AD biomarkers.

METHODS

The trajectories of depression and apathy (measured with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory or its questionnaire) were separately modeled using growth mixture models for two cohorts (National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, NACC, n = 22 760 and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, ADNI, n = 1 733). The trajectories in ADNI were associated with baseline CSF AD biomarkers (Aβ_42, t-tau, and p-tau) using bias-corrected multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

Multiple classes were identified, with the largest classes having no symptoms over time. Lower Aβ₄₂ and higher tau (ie, more AD pathology) was associated with increased probability of depression and apathy over time, compared to classes without symptoms. Lower Aβ₄₂ (but not tau) was associated with a steep increase of apathy, whereas higher tau (but not Aβ₄₂ ) was associated with a steep decrease of apathy.

DISCUSSION

The trajectories of depression and apathy in individuals on the AD spectrum are associated with AD biomarkers.

Psychotropic Medication and Cognitive, Functional, and Neuropsychiatric Outcomes in Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

There are growing concerns about the safety and efficacy of psychotropic medications in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We sought to examine associations between psychotropic medication exposure and longitudinal change in cognitive, functional, and neuropsychiatric outcomes in a large clinical AD cohort.

DESIGN

Longitudinal observational study.

SETTING

National Alzheimer's Disease Coordinating Center combining data from 39 Alzheimer's disease centers.

PARTICIPANTS

8,034 participants with AD dementia.

MEASUREMENTS

Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating Scale-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) Total. Probability of exposure to medication (the propensity score, PS) calculated via logistic regression. Medication classes included all antipsychotics (atypical vs conventional), antidepressants (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor [SSRI] vs non-SSRI), and benzodiazepines. Participants treated with a medication class were matched with participants not treated with that class with the closest-matched PS. The effect of medication treatment was assessed using linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

Participants had a mean (SD) age of 75.5 (9.8) years, and mean (SD) scores of MMSE 21.3 (5.7), CDR-SB 5.5 (3.4), and NPI-Q Total 4.5 (4.4). Mean duration of follow-up was 2.9-3.3 years depending on medication class. Non-SSRI antidepressant use was associated with better CDR-SB (2-year difference in change-DIC: -0.38 [-0.61, -0.15], P = .001). Atypical antipsychotic use was associated with greater decline on MMSE (DIC: -0.91 [-1.54, -0.28] P = .005) and CDR-SB scores (DIC: 0.50 [0.14, 0.86], P = .006). Notably, no drug class was associated with better NPI-Q scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of atypical antipsychotics was associated with poorer cognition and function, and no drug class was associated with improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Association of Hearing Loss With Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in persons with dementia (PWD) are common and can lead to poor outcomes, such as institutionalization and mortality, and may be exacerbated by sensory loss. Hearing loss is also highly prevalent among older adults, including PWD.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the association between hearing loss and NPS among community- dwelling patients from a tertiary memory care center.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Participants of this cross-sectional study were patients followed at the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer's Treatment Center who underwent audiometric testing during routine clinical practice between October 2014 and January 2017.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Included measures were scores on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia.

RESULTS

Participants (n = 101) were on average 76 years old, mostly female and white, and had a mean Mini-Mental State Examination score of 23. We observed a positive association between audiometric hearing loss and the number of NPS (b = 0.7 per 10 dB; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2, 1.1; t = 2.86; p = 0.01; df = 85), NPS severity (b = 1.3 per 10 dB; 95% CI: 0.4, 2.5; t = 2.13; p = 0.04; df = 80), and depressive symptom severity (b = 1.5 per 10 dB; 95% CI: 0.4, 2.5; t = 2.83; p = 0.01; df = 89) after adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics. Additionally, the use of hearing aids was inversely associated with the number of NPS (b = -2.09; 95% CI -3.44, -0.75; t = -3.10; p = 0.003; df = 85), NPS severity (b = -3.82; 95% CI -7.19, -0.45; t = -2.26; p = 0.03; df = 80), and depressive symptom severity (b = -2.94; 95% CI: -5.93, 0.06; t = 1.70; p = 0.05; df = 89).

CONCLUSION

Among patients at a memory clinic, increasing severity of hearing loss was associated with a greater number of NPS, more severe NPS, and more severe depressive symptoms, while hearing aid use was associated with fewer NPS, lower severity, and less severe depressive symptoms. Identifying and addressing hearing loss may be a promising, low-risk, non-pharmacological intervention in preventing and treating NPS.

Design and Implementation of a Regional Inpatient Psychiatry Unit for Patients who are Positive for Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2

Background

Patients with psychiatric illnesses are particularly vulnerable to highly contagious, droplet-spread organisms such as SARS-CoV-2. Patients with mental illnesses may not be able to consistently follow up behavioral prescriptions to avoid contagion, and they are frequently found in settings with close contact and inadequate infection control, such as group homes, homeless shelters, residential rehabilitation centers, and correctional facilities. Furthermore, inpatient psychiatry settings are generally designed as communal spaces, with heavy emphasis on group and milieu therapies. As such, inpatient psychiatry services are vulnerable to rampant spread of contagion.

Objective

With this in mind, the authors outline the decision process and ultimate design and implementation of a regional inpatient psychiatry unit for patients infected with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 and share key points for consideration in implementing future units elsewhere.

Conclusion

A major takeaway point of the analysis is the particular expertise of trained experts in psychosomatic medicine for treating patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

History of traumatic brain injury interferes with accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia: a nation-wide case-control study

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) bear a complex relationship, potentially increasing risk of one another reciprocally. However, recent evidence suggests post-TBI dementia exists as a distinct neurodegenerative syndrome, confounding AD diagnostic accuracy in clinical settings. This investigation sought to evaluate TBI's impact on the accuracy of clinician-diagnosed AD using gold standard neuropathological criteria. In this preliminary analysis, data were acquired from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Centre (NACC), which aggregates clinical and neuropathologic information from Alzheimer's disease centres across the United States. Modified National Institute on Aging-Reagan criteria were applied to confirm AD by neuropathology. Among participants with clinician-diagnosed AD, TBI history was associated with misdiagnosis (false positives) (OR = 1.351 [95% CI: 1.091-1.674], p = 0.006). Among participants without clinician-diagnosed AD, TBI history was not associated with false negatives. TBI moderates AD diagnostic accuracy. Possible AD misdiagnosis can mislead patients, influence treatment decisions, and confound research study designs. Further work examining the influence of TBI on dementia diagnosis is warranted.

Age differences in outcome after mild traumatic brain injury: results from the HeadSMART study

This study longitudinally examined age differences across multiple outcome domains in individuals diagnosed with acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). A sample of 447 adults meeting VA/DoD criteria for mTBI was dichotomized by age into older (≥65 years; n = 88) and younger (<65 years; n = 359) sub-groups. All participants presented to the emergency department within 24 hours of sustaining a head injury, and outcomes were assessed at 1-, 3-, and 6-month intervals. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), post-concussive symptoms (PCS) were ascertained with the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire (RPQ), and functional recovery from the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE). Mixed effects logistic regression models showed that the rate of change over time in odds of functional improvement and symptom alleviation did not significantly differ between age groups (p = 0.200-0.088). Contrary to expectation, older adults showed equivalent outcome trajectories to younger persons across time. This is a compelling finding when viewed in light of the majority opinion that older adults are at risk for significantly worse outcomes. Future work is needed to identify the protective factors inherent to sub-groups of older individuals such as this.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms as Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Clinically Normal Older Adults: The Cache County Study

INTRODUCTION

There has been considerable progress in identifying early cognitive and biomarker predictors of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in AD and appear to predict progression after the onset of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between NPS in clinically normal older adults and subsequent cognitive decline in a population-based sample.

METHODS

The Cache County Study on Memory in Aging consists of a population-based sample of 5,092 older adults. We identified 470 clinically normal adults who were followed for an average period of 5.73 years. NPS were evaluated at the baseline clinical assessment using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). NPI domain scores were quantified as the product of frequency X severity in individual NPI domains, and then summed for the NPI-Total. Neuropsychological measures were collected at baseline and at each subsequent follow-up wave. Linear mixed-effects models assessed the association of NPI-Total, NPI-Depression, and NPI-Anxiety scores (obtained at baseline) on longitudinal change in neuropsychological performance, controlling for age, sex, and education.

RESULTS

Baseline NPI-Total score was associated with a more rapid rate of decline in word list memory, praxis recall, and animal fluency. Baseline NPI-Depression was not associated with later decline on any of the cognitive tests, while baseline NPI-Anxiety was associated with decline in Symbol Digit Modality.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, among clinically normal older adults derived from this population-based study, total burden of NPS was associated with longitudinal cognitive decline. These results add to the evidence that NPS are risk factors for or clinical indicators of preclinical dementia syndrome. Our study was an exploratory study and we did not control for multiple comparisons.

Cost-Effective Care Coordination for People With Dementia at Home

Background and Objectives

People with dementia (PWD) represent some of the highest-need and highest-cost individuals living in the community. Maximizing Independence (MIND) at Home is a potentially cost-effective and scalable home-based dementia care coordination program that uses trained, nonclinical community workers as the primary contact between the PWD and their care partner, supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team with expertise in dementia care.

Research Design and Methods

Cost of care management services based on actual time spent by care management personnel over first 12 months of MIND at Home intervention was calculated for 342 MIND at Home recipients from Baltimore, Maryland and surrounding areas participating in a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) funded Health Care Innovation Award demonstration project. Difference-in-differences analysis of claims-based Medicaid spending of 120 dually-eligible MIND at Home participants with their propensity score matched comparison group (n = 360).

Results

The average cost per enrollee per month was $110, or $1,320 per annum. Medicaid expenditures of dually-eligible participants grew 1.12 percentage points per quarter more slowly than that of the matched comparison group. Most savings came from slower growth in inpatient and long-term nursing home use. Net of the cost of the 5-year MIND at Home intervention, 5-year Medicaid savings are estimated at $7,052 per beneficiary, a 1.12-fold return on investment.

Discussion and Implications

Managed care plans with the flexibility to engage community health workers could benefit from a low-cost, high-touch intervention to meet the needs of enrollees with dementia. Limitations for using and reimbursing community health workers exist in Medicare fee-for-service, which CMS should address to maximize benefit for PWD.

Time course of neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive diagnosis in National Alzheimer's Coordinating Centers volunteers

INTRODUCTION

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) are nearly universal in cognitive disorders. The mild behavioral impairment construct postulates that NPS may be the first symptom of impending dementia.

METHODS

Participants were cognitively normal volunteers followed up approximately annually at Alzheimer's Disease Centers, who were assessed on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and had at least one follow-up visit during which they were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Descriptive statistics were used to determine sequencing of NPS presence with cognitive diagnoses.

RESULTS

Data were available for 1998 participants who progressed to MCI or dementia. Over 59% developed NPS before the diagnosis of any cognitive disorder. Depression and irritability were the most common NPSs to precede cognitive diagnoses (24 and 21%, respectively).

DISCUSSION

NPSs precede a cognitive diagnosis in most people who develop cognitive decline, both MCI and dementia. These individuals are an important group to focus clinical and research efforts.

Trajectories of neuropsychiatric symptoms over time in healthy volunteers and risk of MCI and dementia

OBJECTIVES

To identify subtypes of neuropsychiatric symptom (NPS) course among cognitively normal individuals and to assess the association between these subtypes and hazard of later mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia diagnosis.

METHODS

We modeled neuropsychiatric inventory questionnaire (NPI-Q) scores from 4184 volunteers over approximately 4 years using growth mixture models, generating latent classes of trajectory. We then fit Cox proportional hazard models to determine if membership in trajectory classes was associated with increased hazard of diagnosis of MCI or dementia.

RESULTS

We identified four trajectory classes: the majority of the sample (65%) would be expected to belong to a class with consistently low or zero NPS. The next most prevalent class, (16%) showed a decrease over time in NPI-Q total score but, compared with the majority class had an almost threefold increase in hazard of MCI or dementia (HR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.82-4.68). Another class (14%) showed an increase in NPS over time and was also associated with greater hazard of MCI or dementia (HR: 3.96; CI: 2.61-6.03). The smallest class (5%) had high and fluctuating NPI-Q total scores and had the greatest hazard (HR: 4.57; CI: 2.72-7.63).

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated that it is possible to identify meaningful groups of NPS trajectories and that trajectory of NPS can convey information beyond a single cross-sectional measure. While even those whose NPS improved were at increased hazard of MCI or dementia, hazard increased as a function of the severity of the NPS trajectory.

ADDRESSING DEMENTIA CLINICAL SYMPTOMS USING NONPHARMACOLOGICAL STRATEGIES: WHAT WORKS AND FOR WHOM?

People living with dementia experience behavioral symptoms and functional decline and their caregivers (CG), reduced wellbeing. In an RCT (N=250 dyads), we tested whether tailoring activities to interests/abilities and providing CGs with instruction in their use (Tailored Activity Program, TAP) reduced clinically significant agitation/aggression (main outcome), functional decline and improved CG wellbeing (secondary outcomes) compared to CG education/support alone; with both groups receiving 8-sessions over 3-months. At 3-months,TAP had no effects on agitation/aggression compared to CG education/support but reduced functional decline (p=0.03), improved CG wellbeing (p=0.01) and confidence using activities (p=0.02). In secondary analyses, black vs. white CGs reported reduced agitation/aggression (p=0.01); female CGs reported reduced burden with TAP whereas male CGs reported reduced burden from education/support (p=0.04); spouses vs. non-spouses reported slower functional decline in participants (p=0.01). This trial suggests outcomes vary by subgroups. Different nonpharmacological approaches are needed for specific clinical characteristics: one size will not fit all.

Association of Extracellular Vesicle Biomarkers With Alzheimer Disease in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Importance

Blood biomarkers able to diagnose Alzheimer disease (AD) at the preclinical stage would enable trial enrollment when the disease is potentially reversible. Plasma neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicles (nEVs) of patients with AD were reported to exhibit elevated levels of phosphorylated (p) tau, Aβ42, and phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1).

Objective

To validate nEV biomarkers as AD predictors.

Design, Setting, Participants

This case-control study included longitudinal plasma samples from cognitively normal participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) cohort who developed AD up to January 2015 and age- and sex-matched controls who remained cognitively normal over a similar length of follow-up. Repeated samples were blindly analyzed over 1 year from participants with clinical AD and controls from the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer Disease Research Center (JHADRC). Data were collected from September 2016 to January 2018. Analyses were conducted in March 2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Neuronal-enriched extracellular vesicles were immunoprecipitated; tau, Aβ42, and IRS-1 biomarkers were quantified by immunoassays; and nEV concentration and diameter were determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis. Levels and longitudinal trajectories of nEV biomarkers between participants with future AD and control participants were compared.

Results

Overall, 887 longitudinal plasma samples from 128 BLSA participants who eventually developed AD and 222 age and sex-matched controls who remained cognitively normal were analyzed. Participants were followed up (from earliest sample to AD symptom onset) for a mean (SD) of 3.5 (2.31) years (range, 0-9.73 years). Overall, 161 participants were included in the training set, and 80 were in the test set. Participants in the BLSA cohort with future AD (mean [SD] age, 79.09 [7.02] years; 68 women [53.13%]) had longitudinally higher p-tau181, p-tau231, pSer312-IRS-1, pY-IRS-1, and nEV diameter than controls (mean [SD] age, 76.2 [7.36] years; 110 women [50.45%]) but had similar Aβ42, total tau, TSG101, and nEV concentration. In the training BLSA set, a model combining preclinical longitudinal data achieved 89.6% area under curve (AUC), 81.8% sensitivity, and 85.8% specificity for predicting AD. The model was validated in the test BLSA set (80% AUC, 55.6% sensitivity, 88.7% specificity). Preclinical levels of nEV biomarkers were associated with cognitive performance. In addition, 128 repeated samples over 1 year from 64 JHADRC participants with clinical AD and controls were analyzed. In the JHADRC cohort (35 participants with AD: mean [SD] age, 74.03 [8.73] years; 18 women [51.43%] and 29 controls: mean [SD] age, 72.14 [7.86] years; 23 women [79.31%]), nEV biomarkers achieved discrimination with 98.9% AUC, 100% sensitivity, and 94.7% specificity in the training set and 76.7% AUC, 91.7% sensitivity, and 60% specificity in the test set.

Conclusions and Relevance

We validated nEV biomarker candidates and further demonstrated that their preclinical longitudinal trajectories can predict AD diagnosis. These findings motivate further development of nEV biomarkers toward a clinical blood test for AD.