Plasma ADAM10 Levels and Their Association with Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis in Older Adults with Fewer Years of Formal Education.

INTRODUCTION: Low educational attainment is a potential risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) development. Alpha-secretase ADAM10 plays a central role in AD pathology, attenuating the formation of beta-amyloid peptides and, therefore, their aggregation into senile plaques. This study seeks to investigate ADAM10 as a blood-based biomarker in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD in a diverse group of community-dwelling older adults, focusing on those with limited educational attainment. METHODS: Participants were recruited from public health services. Cognition was evaluated using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination - Revised (ACE-R) batteries. Blood samples were collected to analyze plasma ADAM10 levels. A logistic regression was conducted to verify the influence of plasma ADAM10 on the AD diagnosis. RESULTS: Significant differences in age, years of education, prescribed medications, and cognitive test scores were found between the MCI and AD groups. Regarding cognitive performance, both ACE-R and MMSE scores displayed significant differences between groups, with post hoc analyses highlighting these distinctions, particularly between AD and cognitively unimpaired individuals. Elevated plasma ADAM10 levels were associated with a 4.5-fold increase in the likelihood of a diagnosis of MCI and a 5.9-fold increase in the likelihood of a diagnosis of AD. These findings suggest ADAM10 levels in plasma as a valuable biomarker for assessing cognitive status in older individuals with low education attainment. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the potential utility of plasma ADAM10 levels as a blood-based biomarker for cognitive status, especially in individuals with low educational backgrounds, shedding light on their relevance in AD development and diagnosis.

Performance of older adults in a digital change detection task: The role of heterogeneous education.

The influence of education on traditional paper-and-pen cognitive assessments is widely reported. However, a minimal amount of evidence is available regarding the role of education in digital tasks. This study aimed to compare the performance of older adults with different educational attainment in a digital change detection task, as well as to relate their performance on the digital task and traditional paper-based tests. Participants (n = 180) were recruited in primary health care settings from a countryside city in the state of Sao Paulo-Brazil and were assigned to three different groups according to their educational background. Traditional paper-based neuropsychological instruments (i.e., ACE-R, Digit Span, Bells test) were used in addition to a digital change detection task. There was no difference in reaction time on the change detection task between the groups; however, participants with higher educational levels performed better than illiterates or lower education groups. The digital test was correlated to ACE-R total score as well as to its language domain. Our results suggested that the performance in the digital task was different for older adults with heterogeneous educational attainment. Technology is a promising pathway in cognitive assessment, and education should be considered in the interpretation of the results.

Musculoskeletal symptoms in formal and informal caregivers of elderly people / Sintomas musculoesqueléticos em cuidadores formais e informais de idosos / Síntomas musculoesqueléticos en cuidadores formales e informales de ancianos

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms in formal and informal caregivers of elderly people, and check association with personal and work-related factors. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study. Instruments for assessment were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20, Borg's effort perception scale and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Results: informal caregivers had been working for a longer time (60.2% vs. 41%), had more hours of work (37.4% >12h for day), less time off (85.4% vs. 2.5%) and lack of care guidelines (90.2%). The region with the most musculoskeletal symptoms was the spine and the greater dependence of the elderly, the greater the chances of developing musculoskeletal symptoms (OR= 1.3, 95% CI= 1.1-1.6, p <0.05). Conclusion: personal and work-related factors were more prevalent in informal group and the elderly person's dependence interferes with the increase in musculoskeletal symptoms of caregivers.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar sintomas musculoesqueléticos em cuidadores formais e informais de idosos e verificar a associação com fatores pessoais e relacionados ao trabalho. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal. Os instrumentos para avaliação foram o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ), Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20, Escala de Percepção de Esforço de Borg e o Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Musculoesqueléticos. Resultados: Cuidadores informais trabalhavam há mais tempo (60,2% vs. 41%), tinham mais horas de trabalho (37,4% >12 h por dia), menos tempo de folga (85,4% vs. 2,5%) e falta de orientações de cuidado (90,2%). A região com mais sintomas musculoesqueléticos foi a coluna vertebral; e, quanto maior a dependência dos idosos, maiores foram as chances de desenvolver sintomas musculoesqueléticos (OR= 1,3, 95% CI= 1,1-1,6, p <0,05). Conclusão: Fatores pessoais e relacionados ao trabalho foram mais prevalentes em cuidadores informais, e a dependência do idoso interferiu no aumento dos sintomas musculoesqueléticos dos cuidadores.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar los síntomas musculoesqueléticos en cuidadores formales e informales de los ancianos y verificar la asociación con factores personales y laborales. Métodos: Estudiotransversal. Los instrumentos para la evaluación fueron el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física (IPAQ), Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20, Escala de Percepción del Esfuerzo de Borg y el Cuestionario Nórdico de Síntomas Musculoesqueléticos. Resultados: Los cuidadores informales trabajaron más tiempo (60,2% vs. 41%), tuvieron más horas de trabajo (37,4% >12h por día), menos tiempo libre (85,4% vs. 2,5%) y falta de pautas de atención (90,2%). La región con más síntomas musculoesqueléticos fue la columna vertebral y, cuanto mayor la dependencia de los ancianos, mayores son las posibilidades de desarrollar síntomas musculoesqueléticos (OR= 1.3, 95% CI= 1.1-1.6, p <0.05). Conclusión: Factores personales y relacionados con el trabajo fueron más frecuentes en los cuidadores informales y la dependencia de los ancianos interfiere con el aumento de los síntomas musculoesqueléticos en cuidadores.