Biomarkers for dementia in Latin American countries: Gaps and opportunities.

Limited knowledge on dementia biomarkers in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries remains a serious barrier. Here, we reported a survey to explore the ongoing work, needs, interests, potential barriers, and opportunities for future studies related to biomarkers. The results show that neuroimaging is the most used biomarker (73%), followed by genetic studies (40%), peripheral fluids biomarkers (31%), and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (29%). Regarding barriers in LAC, lack of funding appears to undermine the implementation of biomarkers in clinical or research settings, followed by insufficient infrastructure and training. The survey revealed that despite the above barriers, the region holds a great potential to advance dementia biomarkers research. Considering the unique contributions that LAC could make to this growing field, we highlight the urgent need to expand biomarker research. These insights allowed us to propose an action plan that addresses the recommendations for a biomarker framework recently proposed by regional experts.

Psychological distress and mental health trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: a longitudinal study.

Psychological-distress increased at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina. Longitudinal studies in developing countries are scarce. Particularly, Argentina had one of the longest lockdowns. Differences in preventive measures against the virus spread between countries may differentially affect the mental health of the populations. Here we aimed to characterize distinct psychological-distress and related-symptoms trajectories associated with the pandemic and explore risk/protective factors. In this longitudinal study, data from 832 Argentineans were collected every 3-5 months, between April 2020-August 2021. Mean psychological-distress levels and related-symptoms tended to increase over time. However, latent-class analysis identified four distinct psychological-distress trajectories. Most individuals had consistently good mental health (Resilient). Two classes showed psychological-distress worsening during the initial phase of the pandemic and recovered at different time points (Fast Recovery; Slow Recovery). The remaining class maintained a mild -level of psychological-distress and began to deteriorate in March 2021 (Deteriorating) continuously. Individuals who are younger, female, have pre-existing psychiatric diagnoses, or have high neuroticism or lower resilience were more likely to experiencing fluctuations in psychological-distress. The mental health trajectory during the pandemic had a complex dynamic. Although most participants remained resilient, a vulnerable group was detected, which deteriorated over time and should be considered by health-services.

Spanish version of the Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale: adaptation and validation.

BACKGROUND: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease and is one of the most common causes of dementia in people under 65. There is often a significant diagnostic delay, as FTD can be confused with other psychiatric conditions. A lack of knowledge regarding FTD by health professionals is one possible cause for this diagnostic confusion. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale (FTDKS) in Spanish. METHODS: A translation was done, following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, which consisted of forward translation, blind back translation, and an analysis by a committee of experts. For the present study, 134 professionals from different health areas responded the Spanish version of the FTDKS. The statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.0.0 "Arbor day" and the Psych, sjPlot packages. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the FTDKS had good reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha 0.74.). The sample's mean score was 19.78 (range = 4-32, SD 6.3) out of a maximum of 36 points. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show that the Spanish version has good psychometric properties. The FTDKS is applicable in our environment and can be a useful tool to evaluate the knowledge of health professionals regarding frontotemporal dementia.

Psychological distress associated with COVID-19 quarantine: Latent profile analysis, outcome prediction and mediation analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mental health of the population during COVID-19 quarantine could be at risk. Previous studies in short quarantines, found mood-related and anxiety symptomatology. Here we aimed to characterize the subtypes of psychological distress associated with quarantine, assess its prevalence, explore risk/protective factors, and possible mechanisms. METHODS: Online cross-sectional data (n = 4408) was collected during the Argentine quarantine, between 1st-17th April 2020 along a small replication study (n = 644). Psychological distress clusters were determined using latent profile analysis on a wide-range of symptoms using the complete Brief-Symptom Inventory-53. Multinomial and Elastic-net regression were performed to identify risk/protective factors among trait-measures (Personality and Resilience) and state-measures (COVID-19 related fear and coping-skills). RESULTS: Three latent-classes defined by symptom severity level were identified. The majority of individuals were classified in the mild (40.9%) and severe classes (41.0%). Participants reported elevated symptoms of Phobic-Anxiety (41.3%), Anxiety (31.8%), Depression (27.5%), General-Distress (27.1%), Obsession-Compulsion (25.1%) and Hostility (13.7%). Logistic-regressions analyses mainly revealed that women, young individuals, having a previous psychiatric diagnosis or trauma, having high levels of trait-neuroticism and COVID-related fear, were those at greater risk of psychological distress. In contrast, adults, being married, exercising, having upper-class income, having high levels of trait-resilience and coping-skills, were the most protected. Mediation analysis, showed that state-measures mediated the association between trait-measures and class-membership. CONCLUSIONS: Quarantine was associated intense psychological distress. Attention should be given to COVID-19-related fear and coping-skills as they act as potential mediators in emotional suffering during quarantine.

Environmental factors between normal and superagers in an Argentine cohort.

Normal aging usually brings age-related cognitive decline. However, there is a group of aged individuals who have exceptional memory performance: the superagers. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to identify the environmental factors that could influence exceptional memory performance in a cohort of Argentine individuals. METHODS: Forty healthy volunteers >80 years of age were classified into two groups, superagers (SA, n=20) and normal agers (NA, n=20), according to the Northwestern SuperAging Program criteria. Participants were neuropsychologically tested and evaluated on environmental aspects: working status, education, bilingualism, cognitive reserve, physical activity, social networking, clinical comorbidities, and longevity of parents and siblings. RESULTS: Both groups were highly educated (NA=16.3±3 years; SA 15.85±2.6; p=0.6), 11.8% of the sample was still working without differences between groups. There were no differences in cognitive reserve inventory (p=0.7), physical activity engagement (p=0.423), or social network index (p=0.73). As for longevity, 44% of the siblings lived longer than 80 years of age (p=0.432) and maternal longevity was linked to SA (NA=46.7%; SA=80%; p=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: This study is a pilot approximation to the superaging population in Argentina. Our results suggest that environmental factors related to successful aging do not differentiate superaging. SA may depend on variables yet to be identified, probably of a genetic/metabolic order.

O envelhecimento normal geralmente traz declínio cognitivo relacionado à idade. No entanto, existe um grupo de idosos com desempenho excepcional de memória: os superidosos. OBJETIVO: Nosso objetivo foi identificar os fatores ambientais que podem influenciar o desempenho excepcional da memória em uma coorte de indivíduos argentinos. MÉTODOS: Quarenta voluntários saudáveis com idade >80 anos foram classificados em dois grupos: superidosos (SI, n=20) e idosos normais (IN, n=20), de acordo com os critérios do Programa de Superidosos da Universidade Northwestern. Os participantes foram testados neuropsicologicamente e avaliados nos aspectos ambientais: situação de trabalho, escolaridade, bilinguismo, reserva cognitiva, atividade física e rede social, comorbidades clínicas e longevidade de pais e irmãos. RESULTADOS: Ambos os grupos tinham alto nível de escolaridade (IN=16,3±3 anos; SI=15,85±2,6; p=0,6), 11,8% da amostra ainda trabalhava sem diferença entre os grupos. Não houve diferenças no inventário de reserva cognitiva (p=0,7), prática de atividade física (p=0,423) ou índice de rede social (p=0,73). Quanto à longevidade, 44% dos irmãos viviam mais de 80 anos (p=0,432) e a longevidade materna estava associada a SI (IN=46,7%; SI=80%; p=0,045). CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo é uma aproximação piloto ao super envelhecimento da população na Argentina. Nossos resultados sugerem que os fatores ambientais relacionados ao envelhecimento bem-sucedido não diferenciam os superidosos. Ser superidoso pode depender de variáveis ainda não identificadas, provavelmente de ordem genética/metabólica.

Spanish version of the frontotemporal dementia knowledge scale: adaptation and validation / Versión en español de la escala de conocimiento sobre demencia frontotemporal: adaptación y validación

ABSTRACT Background: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease and is one of the most common causes of dementia in people under 65. There is often a significant diagnostic delay, as FTD can be confused with other psychiatric conditions. A lack of knowledge regarding FTD by health professionals is one possible cause for this diagnostic confusion. Objectives: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Frontotemporal Dementia Knowledge Scale (FTDKS) in Spanish. Methods: A translation was done, following cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, which consisted of forward translation, blind back translation, and an analysis by a committee of experts. For the present study, 134 professionals from different health areas responded the Spanish version of the FTDKS. The statistical analysis was performed using R version 4.0.0 "Arbor day" and the Psych, sjPlot packages. Results: The Spanish version of the FTDKS had good reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha 0.74.). The sample's mean score was 19.78 (range = 4-32, SD 6.3) out of a maximum of 36 points. Conclusions: The results obtained show that the Spanish version has good psychometric properties. The FTDKS is applicable in our environment and can be a useful tool to evaluate the knowledge of health professionals regarding frontotemporal dementia.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: La demencia frontotemporal (DFT) es una enfermedad neurodegenerativa y es una de las causas más comunes de demencia en personas menores de 65 años. A menudo existe un retraso significativo en el diagnóstico, ya que la FTD puede confundirse con otras afecciones psiquiátricas. La falta de conocimientos sobre la DFT por parte de los profesionales de salud es una posible causa de esta confusión diagnóstica. Objetivos: El presente estudio describe nuestros esfuerzos para adaptar y validar la Escala de Conocimiento de la Demencia Frontotemporal (FTDKS) en español. Métodos: Se realizó una traducción, siguiendo las pautas de adaptación transcultural, que consistió en una traducción directa, una traducción inversa ciega y un análisis por parte de un comité de expertos. Para el presente estudio, 134 profesionales de diferentes áreas de la salud respondieron la versión en español del FTDKS. El análisis estadístico se realizó utilizando la versión 4.0.0 de R "Arbor day" y los paquetes Psych, sjPlot. Resultados: La versión en español del FTDKS tiene una buena fiabilidad y consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach 0,74.). La puntuación media de la muestra fue de 19,78 (rango = 4-32, SD 6,3) sobre un máximo de 36 puntos. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la versión española tiene buenas propiedades psicométricas. El FTDKS es aplicable en nuestro medio y puede ser una herramienta útil para evaluar los conocimientos de los profesionales sanitarios sobre la demencia frontotemporal.

Environmental factors between normal and superagers in an Argentine cohort / Diferenças de fatores ambientais entre normais e superidosos em uma coorte argentina

ABSTRACT. Normal aging usually brings age-related cognitive decline. However, there is a group of aged individuals who have exceptional memory performance: the superagers. Objective: Our aim was to identify the environmental factors that could influence exceptional memory performance in a cohort of Argentine individuals. Methods: Forty healthy volunteers >80 years of age were classified into two groups, superagers (SA, n=20) and normal agers (NA, n=20), according to the Northwestern SuperAging Program criteria. Participants were neuropsychologically tested and evaluated on environmental aspects: working status, education, bilingualism, cognitive reserve, physical activity, social networking, clinical comorbidities, and longevity of parents and siblings. Results: Both groups were highly educated (NA=16.3±3 years; SA 15.85±2.6; p=0.6), 11.8% of the sample was still working without differences between groups. There were no differences in cognitive reserve inventory (p=0.7), physical activity engagement (p=0.423), or social network index (p=0.73). As for longevity, 44% of the siblings lived longer than 80 years of age (p=0.432) and maternal longevity was linked to SA (NA=46.7%; SA=80%; p=0.045). Conclusions: This study is a pilot approximation to the superaging population in Argentina. Our results suggest that environmental factors related to successful aging do not differentiate superaging. SA may depend on variables yet to be identified, probably of a genetic/metabolic order.

RESUMO. O envelhecimento normal geralmente traz declínio cognitivo relacionado à idade. No entanto, existe um grupo de idosos com desempenho excepcional de memória: os superidosos. Objetivo: Nosso objetivo foi identificar os fatores ambientais que podem influenciar o desempenho excepcional da memória em uma coorte de indivíduos argentinos. Métodos: Quarenta voluntários saudáveis com idade >80 anos foram classificados em dois grupos: superidosos (SI, n=20) e idosos normais (IN, n=20), de acordo com os critérios do Programa de Superidosos da Universidade Northwestern. Os participantes foram testados neuropsicologicamente e avaliados nos aspectos ambientais: situação de trabalho, escolaridade, bilinguismo, reserva cognitiva, atividade física e rede social, comorbidades clínicas e longevidade de pais e irmãos. Resultados: Ambos os grupos tinham alto nível de escolaridade (IN=16,3±3 anos; SI=15,85±2,6; p=0,6), 11,8% da amostra ainda trabalhava sem diferença entre os grupos. Não houve diferenças no inventário de reserva cognitiva (p=0,7), prática de atividade física (p=0,423) ou índice de rede social (p=0,73). Quanto à longevidade, 44% dos irmãos viviam mais de 80 anos (p=0,432) e a longevidade materna estava associada a SI (IN=46,7%; SI=80%; p=0,045). Conclusões: Este estudo é uma aproximação piloto ao super envelhecimento da população na Argentina. Nossos resultados sugerem que os fatores ambientais relacionados ao envelhecimento bem-sucedido não diferenciam os superidosos. Ser superidoso pode depender de variáveis ainda não identificadas, provavelmente de ordem genética/metabólica.