The ADNI4 Digital Study: A novel approach to recruitment, screening, and assessment of participants for AD clinical research.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated preliminary feasibility of a digital, culturally-informed approach to recruit and screen participants for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI4). METHODS: Participants were recruited using digital advertising and completed digital surveys (e.g., demographics, medical exclusion criteria, 12-item Everyday Cognition Scale [ECog-12]), Novoic Storyteller speech-based cognitive test). Completion rates and assessment performance were compared between underrepresented populations (URPs: individuals from ethnoculturally minoritized or low education backgrounds) and non-URPs. RESULTS: Of 3099 participants who provided contact information, 654 enrolled in the cohort, and 595 completed at least one assessment. Two hundred forty-seven participants were from URPs. Of those enrolled, 465 met ADNI4 inclusion criteria and 237 evidenced possible cognitive impairment from ECog-12 or Storyteller performance. URPs had lower ECog and Storyteller completion rates. Scores varied by ethnocultural group and educational level. DISCUSSION: Preliminary results demonstrate digital recruitment and screening assessment of an older diverse cohort, including those with possible cognitive impairment, are feasible. Improving engagement and achieving educational diversity are key challenges. HIGHLIGHTS: A total of 654 participants enrolled in a digital cohort to facilitate ADNI4 recruitment. Culturally-informed digital ads aided enrollment of underrepresented populations. From those enrolled, 42% were from underrepresented ethnocultural and educational groups. Digital screening tools indicate > 50% of participants likely cognitively impaired. Completion rates and assessment performance vary by ethnocultural group and education.

Development of a machine learning algorithm to predict the residual cognitive reserve index.

Elucidating the mechanisms by which late-life neurodegeneration causes cognitive decline requires understanding why some individuals are more resilient than others to the effects of brain change on cognition (cognitive reserve). Currently, there is no way of measuring cognitive reserve that is valid (e.g. capable of moderating brain-cognition associations), widely accessible (e.g. does not require neuroimaging and large sample sizes), and able to provide insight into resilience-promoting mechanisms. To address these limitations, this study sought to determine whether a machine learning approach to combining standard clinical variables could (i) predict a residual-based cognitive reserve criterion standard and (ii) prospectively moderate brain-cognition associations. In a training sample combining data from the University of California (UC) Davis and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative-2 (ADNI-2) cohort (N = 1665), we operationalized cognitive reserve using an MRI-based residual approach. An eXtreme Gradient Boosting machine learning algorithm was trained to predict this residual reserve index (RRI) using three models: Minimal (basic clinical data, such as age, education, anthropometrics, and blood pressure), Extended (Minimal model plus cognitive screening, word reading, and depression measures), and Full [Extended model plus Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and Everyday Cognition (ECog) scale]. External validation was performed in an independent sample of ADNI 1/3/GO participants (N = 1640), which examined whether the effects of brain change on cognitive change were moderated by the machine learning models' cognitive reserve estimates. The three machine learning models differed in their accuracy and validity. The Minimal model did not correlate strongly with the criterion standard (r = 0.23) and did not moderate the effects of brain change on cognitive change. In contrast, the Extended and Full models were modestly correlated with the criterion standard (r = 0.49 and 0.54, respectively) and prospectively moderated longitudinal brain-cognition associations, outperforming other cognitive reserve proxies (education, word reading). The primary difference between the Minimal model-which did not perform well as a measure of cognitive reserve-and the Extended and Full models-which demonstrated good accuracy and validity-is the lack of cognitive performance and informant-report data in the Minimal model. This suggests that basic clinical variables like anthropometrics, vital signs, and demographics are not sufficient for estimating cognitive reserve. Rather, the most accurate and valid estimates of cognitive reserve were obtained when cognitive performance data-ideally augmented by informant-reported functioning-was used. These results indicate that a dynamic and accessible proxy for cognitive reserve can be generated for individuals without neuroimaging data and gives some insight into factors that may promote resilience.

Vietnamese Insights into Cognitive Aging Program (VIP): Objectives, study design, and cohort description.

Introduction: There is a dearth of research on cognitive aging and dementia in Asian Americans, particularly in Vietnamese Americans, the fourth largest Asian subgroup in the United States. Methods: The Vietnamese Insights into Cognitive Aging Program (VIP) investigates early life adversity and war-related trauma and their associations with cognitive health in a community-based sample of older Vietnamese Americans in Northern California (i.e., Sacramento and Santa Clara counties). Baseline measurements include a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, including measures of global cognition along with executive function, semantic memory, and episodic memory. Data also include measures of functioning, early life adversity and trauma exposure, and psychosocial and traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Cognitive assessments will be repeated twice over the course of the data collection period, approximately 12- and 24- months post-baseline. Blood samples collected during Wave 2 will be assayed for biochemical risk factors. Results: Baseline assessments were conducted from January 2022 to November 2023, with N = 548 Vietnamese Americans; mean age ± SD was 73 ± 5.31 years and 55% of participants were women. There were significant differences in social factors by site, with Santa Clara participants having higher education (some college or higher: Sacramento, ≈25%; Santa Clara: ≈48%) and marginally higher incomes compared to Sacramento participants. A higher percentage of Santa Clara participants reported speaking English well or very well (24%) compared to Sacramento participants (13%), although the majority of the entire sample (81%) reported speaking some to no English (response options: not at all; some/a little bit; well/very well). Discussion: This longitudinal study providea a unique opportunity to more fully delineate psychosocial factors that contribute to dementia disparities in diverse and under-engaged populations. Future work will examine cognition, the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and other health outcomes, while controlling for site differences in all analyses. Highlights: Vietnamese Insights into Cognitive Aging Program (VIP) is a new study.VIP has detailed early life and health data on 548 older Vietnamese Americans.History of war and trauma may contribute to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD)-related burden.VIP may provide insight into ADRD burden in other understudied groups.

Linalool-rich rosewood essential oil (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) mitigates emotional and neurochemical impairments induced by ethanol binge-like exposure during adolescence in female rats.

Linalool-rich Rosewood oil (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) is a natural compound widely used in perfumery industry. Evidence suggests that linalool exerts antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Conversely, ethanol binge drinking (i.e., intermittent and episodic consumption) during adolescence elicits neurobehavioral alterations associated with brain damage. Here, we investigated whether linalool-rich Rosewood oil administration can improve the emotional and molecular impairments associated with ethanol binge-like exposure during adolescence in female rats. Rosewood oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and posteriorly analyzed. Adolescent female Wistar rats received four-cycles of ethanol binge-like pattern (3 g/kg/day, 3 days on/4 days off) and daily Rosewood oil (35 mg/kg, intranasally) for 28 days. Twenty-four hours after treatments, it was evaluated the impact of ethanol exposure and Rosewood oil treatment on the putative emotional impairments assessed on the splash and forced swimming tests, as well as the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), S100B, oxidative parameters, and inflammatory cytokines in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Results indicated that Rosewood oil intranasal administration mitigated emotional impairments induced by ethanol exposure accompanied by a marked increase in BDNF, S100B, glutathione (GSH), and antioxidant activity equivalent to Trolox (TEAC) levels in brain areas. Rosewood oil treatment also prevented the ethanol-induced increase of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels. These findings provide the first evidence that Rosewood oil intranasal administration exerts protective effects against emotional and molecular impairments associated with adolescent ethanol binge-like exposure, possibly due to linalool actions triggering neurotrophic factors, rebalancing antioxidant status, and attenuating proinflammatory process.

The mobile everyday cognition scale (mECog): development and pilot testing.

Objective: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an important part of the aging process and may be a sign of neurodegenerative disease. Current measures of SCD are subject to the limits of retrospective recall of symptoms over a long span of time, which might be addressed by using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods. However, there are no currently available measures of SCD validated for use in EMA. Thus, our goal was to develop and pilot test the mobile Everyday Cognition Scale (mECog). Method: 31 community-dwelling older adults completed in lab measures of cognition and mental health symptoms, followed by daily mECog ratings on a smart phone for 28 days. Results: Most participants completed at least 75% of mECog assessments (n = 27, 87%), and the average number of assessments completed was 22. Further, respondents rated the mobile assessment platform and measures as easy to use and non-interfering with daily life. Test-retest reliability of mECog scores was very strong (RKRN = .99), and within-person reliability was moderate (RCN = .41). mECog scores demonstrated strong positive associations with scores from the original ECog (ρ = .62-69, p < .001) and short form ECog (ρ = .63-.69, p < .001) and non-significant associations with demographics (ρ = -0.25-.04, p = .21-.94) and mental health symptoms (ρ = -0.06-.34, p = .08-.99). mECog scores also exhibited small-to-moderate negative correlations with objective cognitive test scores, though these relationships did not reach statistical significance (ρ = -0.32 to -0.22, p = .10-.27). Conclusions: Results suggest that mobile assessment of SCD via the mECog is feasible and acceptable. Further, mECog scores demonstrated good psychometric properties, including evidence of strong reliability, convergent validity, and divergent validity.

The Association Between Physical Activity and Cognition in a Racially/Ethnically Diverse Cohort of Older Adults: Results From the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences Study.

OBJECTIVE: Most prior research on physical activity (PA) and cognition is based on predominantly white cohorts and focused on associations of PA with mean (average) cognition versus the distribution of cognition. Quantile regression offers a novel way to quantify how PA affects cognition across the entire distribution. METHODS: The Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences study includes 30% white, 19% black, 25% Asian, and 26% Latinx adults age 65+ living in Northern California (n = 1600). The frequency of light or heavy PA was summarized as 2 continuous variables. Outcomes were z-scored executive function, semantic memory, and verbal episodic memory. We tested associations of PA with mean cognition using linear regression and used quantile regression to estimate the association of PA with the 10th-90th percentiles of cognitive scores. RESULTS: Higher levels of PA were associated with higher mean semantic memory (b = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.14) and executive function (b = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.09). Associations of PA across all 3 cognitive domains were stronger at low quantiles of cognition. CONCLUSION: PA is associated with cognition in this racially/ethnically diverse sample and may have larger benefits for individuals with low cognitive scores, who are most vulnerable to dementia.

Associations between personality and psychological characteristics and cognitive outcomes among older adults.

Prior research has shown that some personality traits are associated with cognitive outcomes and may confirm risk or protection against cognitive decline. The present study expands on previous work to examine the association between a more comprehensive set of psychological characteristics and cognitive performance in a diverse cohort of older adults. We also examine whether controlling for brain atrophy influences the association between psychological characteristics and cognitive function. A total of 157 older adults completed a battery of psychological questionnaires (Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Extraversion, positive affect, negative affect-sadness, negative affect-anger, sense of purpose, loneliness, grit, and self-efficacy). Cognitive outcomes were measured across multiple domains: episodic memory, semantic memory, executive function, and spatial ability. Baseline brain (MRI) variables included gray matter, hippocampus, and total white matter hyperintensity volume. Parallel process, multilevel models yielded intercept (individual cognitive domain scores) and linear slope (global cognitive change) random effects for the cognitive outcomes. Positive affect (ß = 0.013, SE = 0.005, p = .004) and Openness (ß = 0.018, SE = 0.007, p = .009) were associated with less cognitive change, independent of baseline brain variables and covariates. Greater sadness predicted more cognitive decline when controlling for covariates, but not brain atrophy. A variety of psychological characteristics were associated with the cross-sectional measures of cognition. This study highlights the important impact of positive and negative affect on reducing or enhancing the risk of longitudinal cognitive decline. Such findings are especially important, given the available efficacious interventions that can improve affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Study design and methods: U.S. study to protect brain health through lifestyle intervention to reduce risk (U.S. POINTER).

INTRODUCTION: The U.S. study to protect brain health through lifestyle intervention to reduce risk (U.S. POINTER) is conducted to confirm and expand the results of the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) in Americans. METHODS: U.S. POINTER was planned as a 2-year randomized controlled trial of two lifestyle interventions in 2000 older adults at risk for dementia due to well-established factors. The primary outcome is a global cognition composite that permits harmonization with FINGER. RESULTS: U.S. POINTER is centrally coordinated and conducted at five clinical sites (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03688126). Outcomes assessments are completed at baseline and every 6 months. Both interventions focus on exercise, diet, cognitive/social stimulation, and cardiovascular health, but differ in intensity and accountability. The study partners with a worldwide network of similar trials for harmonization of methods and data sharing. DISCUSSION: U.S. POINTER is testing a potentially sustainable intervention to support brain health and Alzheimer's prevention for Americans. Impact is strengthened by the targeted participant diversity and expanded scientific scope through ancillary studies.

Self-reported mid- to late-life physical and recreational activities: Associations with late-life cognition.

OBJECTIVE: Physical and recreational activities are behaviors that may modify risk of late-life cognitive decline. We sought to examine the role of retrospectively self-reported midlife (age 40) physical and recreational activity engagement - and self-reported change in these activities from age 40 to initial study visit - in predicting late-life cognition. METHOD: Data were obtained from 898 participants in a longitudinal study of cognitive aging in demographically and cognitively diverse older adults (Age: range = 49-93 years, M = 75, SD = 7.19). Self-reported physical and recreational activity participation at age 40 and at the initial study visit were quantified using the Life Experiences Assessment Form. Change in activities was modeled using latent change scores. Cognitive outcomes were obtained annually (range = 2-17 years) using the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales, which measure verbal episodic memory, semantic memory, visuospatial processing, and executive functioning. RESULTS: Physical activity engagement at age 40 was strongly associated with cognitive performance in all four domains at the initial visit and with global cognitive slope. However, change in physical activities after age 40 was not associated with cognitive outcomes. In contrast, recreational activity engagement - both at age 40 and change after 40 - was predictive of cognitive intercepts and slope. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospectively self-reported midlife physical and recreational activity engagement were strongly associated with late-life cognition - both level of performance and rate of future decline. However, the data suggest that maintenance of recreational activity engagement (e.g., writing, taking classes, reading) after age 40 is more strongly associated with late-life cognition than continued maintenance of physical activity levels.

Association Between Self- and Proxy-Reported Depression and Quality of Life in Mild-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have reported an association between depression and quality of life (QOL) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the effect of self- versus proxy rating of mood and QOL has not been described. DESIGN: In this secondary analysis of data from a cohort study, the authors used a linear mixed-effects model to determine if the association between depression and QOL is affected by whether both measures are assessed by the same member of the patient-caregiver dyad. SETTING: Participants and caregiver informants were recruited from 10 California Alzheimer Disease Centers. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 137 participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. MEASUREMENTS: Self- and proxy-rated scores on both the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale (QoL-AD). Multivariable linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the association between depression and QOL. RESULTS: Results of the multivariable linear mixed-effects models showed a significant association between self-rated QoL-AD and self-rated (B = -0.49, p <0.0001) but not proxy-rated GDS (B = -0.07, p = 0.19) after adjusting for confounders. Likewise, there was a significant association between proxy-rated QoL-AD and proxy-rated GDS (B = -0.48, p <0.0001) but not self-rated GDS (B = 0.05, p = 0.36). CONCLUSION: Depression was associated with QOL in AD over short-term longitudinal follow-up, but the association was not statistically significant if both instruments are not administered to the same member of the patient-caregiver dyad. The choice of self- versus proxy-reported QOL should be intentionally considered in future studies as it may influence reported outcomes.

Evaluation of the effect of the feeding regime on the removal of metals and pathogens in microalgae-bacterial systems.

Microalgae-bacteria systems are used for the treatment of effluents, using a technology that has stood out with excellent results, as reported in the literature. However, investigating these systems in more depth can improve our understanding of the removal mechanisms for a wide range of existing and emerging pollutants and help improve the guidelines for design and operation, in order to improve the treatment efficiency as well as biomass productivity. This work studied the impact of the feeding regime on the removal of metals and pathogens from primary domestic wastewater in high rate algal ponds (HRAPs). For this, one reactor was fed continuously (HRAP1) while two reactors were fed in semi-continuous mode, during 12 h day-1 (HRAP2) and 0.1 h day-1 (HRAP3). Although removal efficiencies of 82 ± 5% for Mn and 90% for E. coli were reached in the semi-continuously fed reactors, there was no significant difference between the conditions studied. On the other hand, for biomass productivity, the semi-continuous feeding regime was more advantageous with a growth of ≈ 22 mg L-1 day-1.

Inclusion of Vietnamese Americans: Opportunities to understand dementia disparities.

There is a dearth of research on cognitive aging and dementia in Asian Americans, particularly Vietnamese Americans, who are the fourth largest Asian subgroup in the United States. The National Institutes of Health is mandated to make certain that racially and ethnically diverse populations are included in clinical research. Despite the widespread recognition to ensure that research findings can be generalizable to all groups, there are no estimates of the prevalence or incidence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in Vietnamese Americans, nor do we understand ADRD risk and protective factors in this group. In this article, we posit that studying Vietnamese Americans contributes to a better understanding of ADRD in general and offers unique opportunities for elucidating life course and sociocultural factors that contribute to cognitive aging disparities. That is, the unique context of Vietnamese Americans may provide understanding in terms of within-group heterogeneity and key factors in ADRD and cognitive aging. Here, we provide a brief history of Vietnamese American immigration and describe the large but often ignored heterogeneity of Asian Americans in the United States, elucidate how early life adversity and stress might influence late-life cognitive aging, and provide a basis for the role of sociocultural and health factors in the study of Vietnamese cognitive aging disparities. Research with older Vietnamese Americans provides a unique and timely opportunity to more fully delineate the factors that contribute to ADRD disparities for all populations.

Vascular Risk Predicts Plasma Amyloid ß 42/40 Through Cerebral Amyloid Burden in Apolipoprotein E ε4 Carriers.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings between established multimodal dementia risk factors and noninvasive blood-based biomarkers may lead to greater precision and earlier identification of older adults at risk of accelerated decline and dementia. We examined whether key vascular and genetic risk impact the association between cerebral amyloid burden and plasma aß (amyloid ß) 42/40 in nondemented older adults. METHODS: We used nondemented older adults from the UCD-ADRC (University of California, Davis-Alzheimer's Disease Research Center) study (n=96) and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (n=104). Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative was examined as confirmatory study cohort. We followed a cross-sectional design and examined linear regression followed by mediation analyses. Vascular risk score was obtained as the sum of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4+ risk was genotyped, and plasma aß42 and aß40 were assayed. Cerebral amyloid burden was quantified using Florbetapir-PET scans. Baseline age was included as a covariate in all models. RESULTS: Vascular risk significantly predicted cerebral amyloid burden in Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative but not in the UCD-ADRC cohort. Cerebral amyloid burden was associated with plasma aß 42/40 in both cohorts. Higher vascular risk increased cerebral amyloid burden was indirectly associated with reduced plasma aß 42/40 in Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative but not in UCD-ADRC cohort. However, when stratified by APOE ε4+ risk, we consistently observed this indirect relationship only in APOE ε4+ carriers across both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular risk is indirectly associated with the level of plasma aß 42/40 via cerebral amyloid burden only in APOE ε4+ carriers. Nondemented older adults with genetic vulnerability to dementia and accelerated decline may benefit from careful monitoring of vascular risk factors directly associated with cerebral amyloid burden and indirectly with plasma aß 42/40.

Perceptions of greenspace and social determinants of health across the life course: The Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ).

We developed the Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ) to query older adults about perceived neighborhood greenspaces across the life course (i.e., distance to park, number of neighborhood parks/playgrounds, and neighborhood greenness) and about characteristics hypothesized to confound or moderate/mediate greenspace-health associations. Six perceived life course indices are derived from the LSNEQ: neighborhood socioeconomic status, neighborhood walking/biking, urbanicity, neighborhood amenities, neighborhood park access, and neighborhood greenness. Older adults from St. Louis, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, completed the LSNEQ in 2020-2021. The indices demonstrated borderline acceptable to good internal consistency (alpha = 0.60-0.79) and good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.71-0.96) and detected different patterns of park access and neighborhood greenness by racialized group and location. Individuals with index scores indicating more neighborhood walking/biking and greater presence of neighborhood amenities over their life course were more likely to report neighborhood-based walking in older age. Overall, the LSNEQ is a reliable instrument to assess perceptions of life course social determinants of health including neighborhood greenspaces.

One binge-type cycle of alcohol plus ketamine exposure induces emotional-like disorders associated with oxidative damage in adolescent female rats.

Drug abuse is a global public health problem among adolescents, with alcohol often used in association with other psychotropic drugs, such as ketamine. Considering the scarcity of evidence, this study aimed to investigate emotional behavioral effects induced by ethanol plus ketamine co-abuse, as well as oxidative biochemistry, and neurotrophic mediator in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in the early withdrawal of adolescent female rats. Animals were divided into control, ethanol, ketamine, and ethanol plus ketamine groups. The protocol administration was performed for 3 consecutive days (binge-like pattern). Behavioral assays of open field, elevated plus maze, and forced swim test were performed. After that, the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were collected to evaluate oxidative biochemistry (reactive oxygen species-ROS; Antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals-ACAP; and lipid peroxidation). We found that isolated or combined ethanol and ketamine exposure displayed anxiety- and depressive-like profile, in a non-synergistically manner during early withdrawal. However, oxidative damage was aggravated in the co-administered animals than in isolated exposed subjects. We concluded that ethanol plus ketamine co-abuse may intensify oxidative damage in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in the early withdrawal of adolescent female rats, which was not reflected in the emotional behavioral phenotype. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current investigation are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Toward a statistical validation of brain signatures as robust measures of behavioral substrates.

The "brain signature of cognition" concept has garnered interest as a data-driven, exploratory approach to better understand key brain regions involved in specific cognitive functions, with the potential to maximally characterize brain substrates of behavioral outcomes. Previously we presented a method for computing signatures of episodic memory. However, to be a robust brain measure, the signature approach requires a rigorous validation of model performance across a variety of cohorts. Here we report validation results and provide an example of extending it to a second behavioral domain. In each of two discovery data cohorts, we derived regional brain gray matter thickness associations for two domains: neuropsychological and everyday cognition memory. We computed regional association to outcome in 40 randomly selected discovery subsets of size 400 in each cohort. We generated spatial overlap frequency maps and defined high-frequency regions as "consensus" signature masks. Using separate validation datasets, we evaluated replicability of cohort-based consensus model fits and explanatory power by comparing signature model fits with each other and with competing theory-based models. Spatial replications produced convergent consensus signature regions. Consensus signature model fits were highly correlated in 50 random subsets of each validation cohort, indicating high replicability. In comparisons over each full cohort, signature models outperformed other models. In this validation study, we produced signature models that replicated model fits to outcome and outperformed other commonly used measures. Signatures in two memory domains suggested strongly shared brain substrates. Robust brain signatures may therefore be achievable, yielding reliable and useful measures for modeling substrates of behavioral domains.

Effects of early-life environment and adulthood SES on cognitive change in a multiethnic cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Early-life socioeconomic status (SES) and adversity are associated with late-life cognition and risk of dementia. We examined the association between early-life SES and adversity and late-life cross-sectional cognitive outcomes as well as global cognitive decline, hypothesizing that adulthood SES would mediate these associations. METHODS: Our sample (N = 837) was a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of non-Hispanic/Latino White (48%), Black (27%), and Hispanic/Latino (19%) participants from Northern California. Participant addresses were geocoded to the level of the census tract, and US Census Tract 2010 variables (e.g., percent with high school diploma) were extracted and combined to create a neighborhood SES composite. We used multilevel latent variable models to estimate early-life (e.g., parental education, whether participant ever went hungry) and adult (participant's education, main occupation) SES factors and their associations with cross-sectional and longitudinal cognitive outcomes of episodic memory, semantic memory, executive function, and spatial ability. RESULTS: Child and adult factors were strongly related to domain-specific cognitive intercepts (0.20-0.48 SD per SD of SES factor); in contrast, SES factors were not related to global cognitive change (0.001-0.01 SD per year per SD of SES factor). Adulthood SES mediated a large percentage (68-75%) of the total early-life effect on cognition. CONCLUSIONS: Early-life sociocontextual factors are more strongly associated with cross-sectional late-life cognitive performance compared to cognitive change; this effect is largely mediated through associations with adulthood SES.

Macro and microscopic characteristics of the placenta and its relationship with the weight and the Apgar score of canine neonates.

The placenta is the main organ of pregnancy and is directly related to the proper development of the fetus. The correlation among some placental measurements and their respective neonates is widely studied in the human species. However, the studies regarding bitches are still limited. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate if there is a relationship between placental weight and volume and the weight of neonates at birth in the canine species, as well as its influence on their viability. In this work, 7 bitches, 18 neonates and their placentas were evaluated. The weight of the placentas was measured using an analytical balance and the volume was calculated by measuring the volume of water displaced after placing it in a container of water. The neonates were weighed and classified according to the Apgar score after birth. Samples from each placenta were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin, then placed on slides and stained in hematoxylin and eosin. From these samples, the microvascular density (MVD) was calculated, as well as the presence or absence of necrosis, calcification and haemorrhage, classified in scores from 0 to 2. Data were analyzed using Kendall's test. The mean weight of the placentas was 29.11 ± 11.06 g and the volume was 21.33 ± 10.65 cm³. The mean weight of the neonates was 282.94 ± 123.28 g and the Apgar score was 8.83 ± 2.06. The mean MVD of the placentas was 0.04 ± 0.01. A positive correlation was observed between birth weight and placental weight and volume. Placental weight also positively correlated with placental volume. Also, no significant correlation was found between MVD and alterations with placental weight and volume and with the weight and Apgar score of neonates. Among the microscopic changes, only necrosis showed a moderate correlation with placental weight and volume. It can be concluded that the placenta has an influence on the weight of neonates, which is essential for its development in intra and extrauterine life. However, more studies are required in the described species, to better elucidate these questions.

Neighborhood socioeconomic status and segregation linked to cognitive decline.

Introduction: Few longitudinal studies have examined the joint impact of neighborhood segregation and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) in cognitive decline over time. Methods: This study included non-Hispanic White (NHW, n = 209) and Black participants (n = 118) whose cognition was evaluated as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. Four distinct categories of segregation and NSES were evaluated for their association with cognitive outcomes (episodic memory, semantic memory, executive function, and spatial ability) using race-specific mixed-effects models. Results: Compared to Black participants living in higher segregation-lower NSES areas, Black participants living in lower segregation-lower NSES areas or higher segregation-higher NSES areas experienced slower decline in episodic memory over time. Compared to NHW participants living in higher segregation-lower NSES areas, NHWs living in lower segregation-higher NSES areas experienced faster decline in spatial ability. Discussion: Segregation and NSES are differentially associated with cognition depending on participant race. Further research is needed to replicate study results.

A randomized control trial of a behavioral intervention for older adults with subjective cognitive complaints that combines cognitive rehabilitation strategies and lifestyle modifications.

This study examined the effectiveness of a 10-week cognitive rehabilitation and lifestyle modifying intervention that integrated compensation strategies, engagement in brain activities, and improving everyday function. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03549078). Older adults with subjective cognitive concerns and normal performance on a cognitive screener were randomized into the intervention (n = 28) or waitlist control (n = 29) groups. The total sample comprised 57 individuals (age, mean = 74.8, SD = 6.5), mostly female (80.4% of the total sample), and well educated (education years: mean = 15.9, SD = 2.1). Outcome measures were completed at baseline, and immediately and 3- and 6-months post-intervention. Intervention participants reported significant improvements in aspects of everyday functioning and select compensation strategies and brain health activities. Increased compensation strategy use was maintained at 6-month follow up. This intervention has benefits for improving everyday functioning and increasing engagement with compensation strategies and brain health activities.