The effects of noise exposure on hippocampal cognition in C57BL/6 mice via transcriptomics.

BACKGROUND: Noise is an important environmental stressor in the industrialized world and has received increasing attention in recent years. Although epidemiological research has extensively demonstrated the relationship between noise and cognitive impairment, the specific molecular mechanisms and targets remain to be fully explored and understood. METHODS: To address this issue, 5-month-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups, with one group exposed to white noise at 98 dB. The effects of noise on cognition in mice were investigated through molecular biology and behavioral experiments. Subsequently, transcriptomic sequencing of the hippocampus in both groups of mice was performed and enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was conducted using KEGG and GO databases. Furthermore, LASSO analysis was used to further narrow down the relevant DEGs, followed by enrichment analysis of these genes using KEGG and GO databases. The DEGs were further validated by rt-qPCR. RESULTS: Following noise exposure, the hippocampus levels of inflammation-related factors increased, the phosphorylation of Tau protein increased, the postsynaptic density protein decreased, the number of Nissl bodies decreased, and cell shrinkage in the hippocampus increased. Moreover, the behavioral experiments manifest characteristics indicative of a decline in cognitive.A total of 472 DEGs were identified through transcriptomic analysis, and seven relevant genes were screened by the LASSO algorithm, which were further validated by PCR to confirm their consistency with the omics results. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, noise exposure affects cognitive function in mice through multiple pathways, and the omics results provide new evidence for the cognitive impairment induced by noise exposure.

Specific and cumulative infection burden and mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A population-based study.

Infection by pathogenic microbes is widely hypothesized to be a risk factor for the development of neurocognitive disorders and dementia, but evidence remains limited. We analyzed the association of seropositivity to 11 common pathogens and cumulative infection burden with neurocognitive disorder (mild cognitive impairment and dementia) in a population-based cohort of 475 older individuals (mean age = 67.6 y) followed up over 3-5 years for the risk of MCI-dementia. Specific seropositivities showed a preponderance of positive trends of association with MCI-dementia, including for Plasmodium, H. pylori, and RSV (p < 0.05), as well as Chickungunya, HSV-2, CMV and EBV (p > 0.05), while HSV-1 and HHV-6 showed equivocal or no associations, and Dengue and VZV showed negative associations (p < 0.05) with MCI-dementia. High infection burden (5 + cumulated infections) was significantly associated with an increased MCI-dementia risk in comparison with low infection burden (1-3 cumulative infections), adjusted for age, sex, and education. Intriguingly, for a majority (8 of 11) of pathogens, levels of antibody titers were significantly lower in those with MCI-dementia compared to cognitive normal individuals. Based on our observations, we postulate that individuals who are unable to mount strong immunological responses to infection by diverse microorganisms, and therefore more vulnerable to infection by greater numbers of different microbial pathogens or repeated infections to the same pathogen in the course of their lifetime are more likely to develop MCI or dementia. This hypothesis should be tested in more studies.

Perspectives on the diagnosis and management of functional cognitive disorder: An international Delphi study.

BACKGROUND: Current proposed criteria for functional cognitive disorder (FCD) have not been externally validated. We sought to analyse the current perspectives of cognitive specialists in the diagnosis and management of FCD in comparison with neurodegenerative conditions. METHODS: International experts in cognitive disorders were invited to assess seven illustrative clinical vignettes containing history and bedside characteristics alone. Participants assigned a probable diagnosis and selected the appropriate investigation and treatment. Qualitative, quantitative and inter-rater agreement analyses were undertaken. RESULTS: Eighteen diagnostic terminologies were assigned by 45 cognitive experts from 12 countries with a median of 13 years of experience, across the seven scenarios. Accurate discrimination between FCD and neurodegeneration was observed, independently of background and years of experience: 100% of the neurodegenerative vignettes were correctly classified and 75%-88% of the FCD diagnoses were attributed to non-neurodegenerative causes. There was <50% agreement in the terminology used for FCD, in comparison with 87%-92% agreement for neurodegenerative syndromes. Blood tests and neuropsychological evaluation were the leading diagnostic modalities for FCD. Diagnostic communication, psychotherapy and psychiatry referral were the main suggested management strategies in FCD. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates the feasibility of distinguishing between FCD and neurodegeneration based on relevant patient characteristics and history details. These characteristics need further validation and operationalisation. Heterogeneous labelling and framing pose clinical and research challenges reflecting a lack of agreement in the field. Careful consideration of FCD diagnosis is advised, particularly in the presence of comorbidities. This study informs future research on diagnostic tools and evidence-based interventions.

Functional cognitive disorder affects reaction time, subjective mental effort and global metacognition.

We previously hypothesized that functional cognitive disorder is characterized by heightened subjective mental effort, exhausted attentional reserve and metacognitive failure. To test this hypothesis, we administered a Stroop colour-word task in which attentional demand was varied by task difficulty (congruent versus incongruent cues) and the presence of a secondary auditory stimulus (passive or active listening to an oddball-type paradigm). We measured subjective mental effort, objective performance (reaction times and accuracy), metacognition and EEG-based biomarkers of mental workload. We tested 19 functional cognitive disorder patients and 23 healthy controls. Patients reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, fatigue, pain, sleep disruption, dissociation and obsessiveness. They rated their memory as significantly poorer than healthy controls; however, accuracy did not differ between groups in any condition. In contrast to healthy controls, patients rated their performance as poorer on the congruent Stroop task with background noise compared to silent conditions. Functional cognitive disorder was consistently associated with slower reaction times but this was not exacerbated by increased attentional demand. Patients but not healthy controls reported greater mental workload in noisy conditions but EEG biomarkers were similar between groups, regardless of task difficulty. Functional cognitive disorder has significant syndromic overlap with mood disorders and chronic fatigue and pain. It is associated with global metacognitive failure whereas local (task-specific) metacognition is only selectively impaired. Patients were slower than healthy controls, which might contribute to the 'brain fog' reported in this condition. Although subjective mental effort was increased in noisy conditions, we found no evidence of attentional exhaustion in functional cognitive disorder. Our results indicate that functional cognitive disorder is a multisystem condition affecting reaction time, subjective mental effort and global metacognition.

Proteomic Landscape Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Individuals with Long-term Methamphetamine Dependence.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive drug that directly affects the central nervous system. METH use not only harms the user's health but also poses risks and costs to society. Prolonged METH dependence has been shown to impair cognition, which may be the primary factor in impulsive drug-seeking behaviors and high relapse rates. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying METH addiction and METH-induced cognitive decline remain poorly understood. METHODS: To illuminate the potential molecular mechanisms underpinning METH addiction, we compared serum protein expression levels between 12 long-term METH users and 12 healthy controls using label-free quantitative proteomics. Bioinformatic analyses were conducted to determine functional networks and protein-protein interactions. RESULTS: In total, 23 differentially expressed proteins were identified between the two groups. The differentially expressed proteins were related to cognitive dysfunction, neuroinflammation, immune impairment, metabolic disturbances, and calcium binding and regulation. CONCLUSIONS: These 23 proteins may underpin the multi-system damage induced by chronic METH exposure. Our findings provide novel insights into the molecular basis of METH addiction and inform potential prevention and treatment strategies for individuals with METH dependence.

Biotypes of Central Nervous System Complications in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Virology, Immunology, and Neuropathology.

Despite viral suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continue to experience central nervous system (CNS) complications, primarily in the form of mild cognitive impairment and mental health disorders (eg, depression, anxiety, other neuropsychiatric problems). The multifactorial pathogenesis and heterogeneity of mechanisms likely underlying CNS complications must be addressed in the development of preventive interventions and effective treatments. The biotyping approach has previously been useful to define phenotypes of other CNS diseases based on underlying mechanisms and could be translated to the field of neuroHIV. The purpose of the Biotype Workshop series, and the Virology, Immunology and Neuropathology Working Group in particular, is to capitalize on current and new technologies and guide future research efforts using the wealth of available immunological, virologic, and neuropathological data collected from people with HIV on and off ART.

Associations between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and cognitive domain performance of people living with mild cognitive impairment in the community.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity is known to positively influence cognitive performance. For adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the relationship between physical activity levels and cognitive performance is unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine if cognitive performance [as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)] of people living in the community with MCI is associated with their physical activity levels or sedentary behaviour. METHODS: ActivPAL™ accelerometers were used to objectively measure physical activity and sedentary behaviour for seven full days. Cognitive performance was measured using the MoCA. CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: No involvement other than as research participants RESULTS: Eighty-two participants from the Balance on the Brain randomised controlled trial were included. Most participants were retired (88%), with 33 (40%) reporting a fall in the last year. The median MoCA score was 24 (IQR 22-26). Participants achieved a mean of 6296 (±2420) steps per day and were sedentary for 10.6 (±2) hours per day. The only physical activity outcomes that had a fair, positive correlation were moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity measures of total stepping time and total number of steps (with a cadence of ≥100 steps/min) with the orientation MoCA domain score (r(82) = 0.36, p ≤ 0.001 and r(82) = 0.37, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). Higher total sedentary time had a weak, positive correlation with better visuospatial/executive performance (r(82) = 0.23, p = 0.041). The orientation outcomes remained significant when analysed in an adjusted logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: This study found that performance in the MoCA orientation domain had a fair-positive correlation with moderate-intensity physical activity (i.e., stepping time and step count with a cadence of ≥100 steps/min) as measured by a thigh-worn accelerometer for community-dwelling older adults with MCI. When considering the relationship between cognitive domains and sedentary behaviour, consideration may be needed regarding whether cognitive enhancing activities (such as crosswords and other brain games) are being performed, which may confound this relationship. Further investigation is required to confirm these results.

[The multi-professional alliance in the diagnostic process]. / L'alliance pluriprofessionnelle dans la démarche diagnostique.

Professional support for elderly people suffering from cognitive impairment needs to be comprehensive, and requires the active involvement of a wide range of professionals. Two clinical cases show how the combined support of a therapeutic day-care center and medical specialists can improve the quality of life of patients and their families, by helping to refine diagnoses or adjust treatment.

PSEN1/SLC20A2 double mutation causes early-onset Alzheimer's disease and primary familial brain calcification co-morbidity.

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC; formerly Fahr's disease) and early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) may share partially overlapping pathogenic principles. Although the heterozygous loss-of-function mutation c.1523 + 1G > T in the PFBC-linked gene SLC20A2 was detected in a patient with asymmetric tremor, early-onset dementia, and brain calcifications, CSF ß-amyloid parameters and FBB-PET suggested cortical ß-amyloid pathology. Genetic re-analysis of exome sequences revealed the probably pathogenic missense mutation c.235G > A/p.A79T in PSEN1. The SLC20A2 mutation segregated with mild calcifications in two children younger than 30 years. We thus describe the stochastically extremely unlikely co-morbidity of genetic PFBC and genetic EOAD. The clinical syndromes pointed to additive rather than synergistic effects of the two mutations. MRI data revealed the formation of PFBC calcifications decades before the probable onset of the disease. Our report furthermore exemplifies the value of neuropsychology and amyloid PET for differential diagnosis.

Assessing everyday functional activity in cognitively impaired people with multiple sclerosis: The use of Actual RealityTM.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) who experience cognitive impairments (CIs) are at risk of having significant limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs). However, ADL assessment often consists of proxies or self-report of ADLs. This study examined whether the performance of instrumental ADLs (I-ADL) is impaired in PwMS with and without CI. METHODS: Participants included 72 PwMS and 48 matched healthy controls (HCs). PwMS were divided into MS-CI (n = 25) and MS-not-impaired (n = 47) groups based on the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) scores. All participants performed the Actual RealityTM (AR) test, measuring I-ADL using authentic websites. RESULTS: The MS-CI performed significantly worse on AR compared with HC and MS-not-impaired. In addition, the MS-not-impaired performed significantly worse than HC on AR. AR differentiates well between PwMS with and without CI. CONCLUSIONS: While CI in MS results in significant limitations in the performance of I-ADL, PwMS who do not show evidence of CI can have limitations in I-ADL. AR assessment is a valid and reliable tool sensitive to CI. It should be used in addition to traditional cognitive assessments to detect early functional deterioration through the course of MS.

Prevalence, risk factors and effectiveness of falls prevention interventions for adults living with Mild Cognitive Impairment in the community: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To identify falls prevalence, falls risk factors and evaluate the effectiveness of falls prevention interventions for community-dwelling people with Mild Cognitive Impairment. DATA SOURCES: Peer-reviewed articles (inception to 4 August 2022) from PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, EMBASE, Scopus, SportDiscus and the Cochrane library. REVIEW METHODS: All types of methodological approaches were considered. Inclusion criteria were community-dwelling; diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment; aged 50+ years. Interventions needed to include falls prevention programs aiming to reduce falls and/or risk of falls. Outcomes of interest included number and/or rate of falls, falls prevalence and falls risk factors. For controlled trials, any control group was included. Quality assessment was completed using Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool for randomized controlled trials and the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields for all other studies. Where statistical data pooling was not possible, narrative synthesis was used to present data in tables and figures. RESULTS: Forty-seven studies were included. Prevalence of falls was 43% when data were gathered prospectively for 12 months. Confirmed falls risk factors included slow gait, dual-tasking, postural control and non-amnesic Mild Cognitive Impairment. Few studies evaluated interventions to reduce falls. Six meta-analyses were conducted, no significant reduction in falls was found. CONCLUSIONS: Until further high-quality, adequately powered studies are available to guide practice, best practice guidelines recommend balance training as a core component of falls prevention programs for older people generally, as well as people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

"Cinderella was attacked by the big bad wolf, but the police saved her": intrusions and confabulations on story recall in Korsakoff's syndrome and alcohol-related cognitive impairments.

BACKGROUND: The relation between confabulations and intrusions in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome (KS) and patients with alcohol-related cognitive impairments (ARCI) remains under debate. This study examines (1) differences in the production of confabulations and intrusions between patients with KS and ARCI, (2) whether an altered fairy tale induces more intrusions, and (3) whether different types of intrusions were significantly related to confabulations. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with KS and twenty-two patients with ARCI recalled three different types of stories: a novel story, a fairy tale, and a modified fairy tale. Different types of intrusions were correlated with confabulation measures. RESULTS: Patients with KS produced more intrusions in the modified fairy tale condition than patients with ARCI, but these were unrelated to confabulations. Only unrelated intrusions were related to provoked confabulations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that researchers and clinicians must be aware that in general, intrusions on memory tests should not be interpreted as confabulations. Especially spontaneous confabulations appear to be something completely different from intrusions on any type of story recall. When measuring confabulations it is crucial to use validated instruments.

Association between myasthenia gravis and cognitive disorders: a PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis assessed the association between myasthenia gravis (MG) and cognitive disorders. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, OVID, EMBASE, CNKI and Wanfang electronic databases were comprehensively searched from inception to October 2020 for relevant studies. The primary outcomes were scores of the cognitive function battery. A random effects model was used to evaluate the cognitive function of patients with MG. RESULTS: Eight cross-sectional studies containing 381 patients and 220 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. In relation to global cognitive function, patients with MG performed significantly worse than healthy individuals (SMD = -0.4, 95% CI = -0.63 to -0.16, p < 0.001, I2 = 10%). Specifically, the impaired cognitive domains included language, visuospatial function, information processing, verbal immediate and delayed recall memory, visual immediate recall memory, and response fluency, while attention, executive function, and visual delayed recall memory were unimpaired. The patients with early-onset (SMD= -0.527, 95% CI = -0.855 to -0.199, p = 0.002) and generalized MG (SMD= -0.577, 95% CI = -1.047 to -0.107, p = 0.016) had poorer global cognitive performance than the healthy population. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MG may have cognitive disorders, including those associated with the domains of language, visuospatial function, information processing, verbal immediate and delayed recall memory, visual immediate recall memory and response fluency. Furthermore, the age of onset and disease severity may be associated with cognitive disorders in patients with MG.

Oral health and risk of cognitive disorders in older adults: A biannual longitudinal follow-up cohort.

BACKGROUND: Oral health may be associated with cognitive disorders such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia. OBJECTIVE: This study elucidates the effects of oral health conditions on the progression of cognitive disorders. METHODS: Data were collected from 153 participants of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia cohort who completed the longitudinal dental examinations and cognitive function assessments using the three-wave biannual survey. We analysed the relationship between dental factors and the conversion of cognitive function. RESULTS: The ratio of maxillary removable partial denture use (p = .03) was high in the converter and mild cognitive impairment/dementia groups. The low-grade ratio of posterior masticatory performance increased in the converter and mild cognitive impairment/dementia groups (modified Eichner index 2, p = .04). The mild cognitive impairment/dementia group had a higher rate of complete mandibular denture use (p < .001). The converter and mild cognitive impairment/dementia groups had fewer remaining teeth (p < .05) or removable prostheses (p < .01) than the normal group. CONCLUSIONS: Masticatory performance is associated with the conversion of cognitive disorders. Our findings suggest that oral health management can help delay the progression of cognitive disorders.

Network Proximity Analysis Deciphers the Pharmacological Mechanism of Osthole against D-Galactose Induced Cognitive Disorder in Rats.

Osthole, a natural coumarin found in various medicinal plants, has been previously reported to have neuroprotective effects. However, the specific mechanism by which Osthole alleviates dysmnesia associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective properties of Osthole against cognitive impairment in rats induced by D-galactose and elucidate its pharmacological mechanism. The rat model was established by subcutaneously injecting D-galactose at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day for 56 days. The effect of Osthole on cognitive impairment was evaluated by behavior and biochemical analysis. Subsequently, a combination of in silico prediction and experimental validation was performed to verify the network-based predictions, using western blot, Nissl staining, and immunofluorescence. The results demonstrate that Osthole could improve memory dysfunction induced by D-galactose in Sprague Dawley male rats. A network proximity-based approach and integrated pathways analysis highlight two key AD-related pathological processes that may be regulated by Osthole, including neuronal apoptosis, i.e., neuroinflammation. Among them, the pro-apoptotic markers (Bax), anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2), the microgliosis (Iba-1), Astro-cytosis (GFAP), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-R1) were evaluated in both hippocampus and cortex. The results indicated that Osthole significantly ameliorated neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation in D-galactose-induced cognitive impairment rats. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the pharmacological mechanism of Osthole in mitigating D-galactose-induced memory impairment and identifies Osthole as a potential drug candidate for AD treatment, targeting multiple signaling pathways through network proximity and integrated pathways analysis.

[The analysis of problems of supporting long-term nursing of individuals who lost their ability to self-care in Russia].

The article presents results of research study intended for identifying degree of cognitive impairment in elderly citizen residing in conditions of institution of stationary social support. The study was conducted in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation institution of social services. The obtained results confirmed necessity to organize primary preventive work and permitted to test program of correctional classes with elderly people having cognitive impairments. The comparative analysis of results of primary and control diagnostics testifies that efficiency of corrective impact depends on degree of cognitive impairment and beginning time of correctional work. The early correction of cognitive abnormality of light and moderate degree is the most successful. It actualizes issues of timely diagnosis of cognitive abnormalities in elderly people and necessity to develop activities of primary prevention of dementia.

Can habitual tea drinking be an effective approach against age-related neurodegenerative cognitive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence.

Our present knowledge about the efficacy of tea consumption in improving age-related cognitive disorders is incomplete since previous epidemiological studies provide inconsistent evidence. This unified systematic review and meta-analysis based on updated epidemiological cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evidence aimed to overcome the limitations of previous reviews by examining the efficacy of distinct types of tea consumption. PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE were searched up to May 20, 2022, and 23 cohorts and 12 cross-sectional studies were included. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to obtain pooled RRs or mean differences with 95% CIs. The pooled RRs of the highest versus lowest tea consumption categories were 0.81 (95% CIs: 0.75-0.88) and 0.69 (95% CIs: 0.61-0.77), respectively. The pooled mean difference of four included RCTs revealed a beneficial effect of tea on cognitive dysfunction (MMSE ES: 1.03; 95% CI, 0.14-1.92). Subgroup analyses further demonstrated that green and black tea intake was associated with a lower risk of cognitive disorders in eastern countries, especially in women. The evidence quality was generally low to moderate. The present review provides insight into whether habitual tea consumption can be an effective approach against age-related neurodegenerative cognitive disorders and summarizes potential mechanisms based on currently published literature.

Homicide and Dementia: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Homicide by older offenders is rare and devastating. It likely occurs due to a complex interaction of personal, social, and environmental factors. Dementia is a progressive neurological condition which may amplify behavioural disturbances such as aggression. This systematic review aims to evaluate the factors associated with homicide committed by people with dementia in order to inform clinical practice. SUMMARY: MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched in accordance with PRISMA guidelines for empirical studies examining the characteristics and circumstances of people with dementia who committed homicides. Data on factors associated with the homicide were extracted and the quality of each study rated using standardized criteria. A total of 499 papers were screened and thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Study design included case reports (seven studies), case series (four studies), and two retrospective cohort studies, indicative of low levels of evidence. Sample sizes were 1-70. Study findings were predominantly descriptive. Quality ratings ranged from 50 to 100%. Factors associated with disinhibition such as dysexecutive syndrome, alcohol use, and delirium may predispose to severe impulsive aggression. Psychosis and personality pathology appeared to influence targeted assaults resulting in homicide by people with dementia. Victim vulnerability was also a key element. KEY MESSAGES: The current evidence examining risk factors for homicide committed by people with dementia is limited. However, there are common characteristics reported in these descriptive studies including psychiatric factors and cognitive states causing disinhibition. Recommendations for clinical practice include early assessment of older people with dementia and changed behaviours to allow management of comorbidities and reversible risk factors, alongside education, and advice to carers (who may be targets of aggression). Specialized geriatric forensic psychiatry services and care settings should be developed.

Artemisinin Attenuates Amyloid-Induced Brain Inflammation and Memory Impairments by Modulating TLR4/NF-κB Signaling.

The abnormal immune response is an early change in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglial activation is a crucial regulator of the immune response, which contributes to progressive neuronal injury by releasing neurotoxic products. Therefore, finding effective drugs to regulate microglial homeostasis and neuroinflammation has become a new AD treatment strategy. Artemisinin has potent anti-inflammatory and immune activities. However, it is unclear whether Artemisinin contributes to the regulation of microglial activation, thereby improving AD pathology. This study found that Artemisinin significantly reduced amyloid beta-peptide 1-42 (Aß1-42)-induced increases in nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors in BV2 cells. In addition, Artemisinin inhibited the migration of microglia and prevented the expansion of the inflammatory cascade. The mechanical studies showed Artemisinin inhibited neuroinflammation and exerted neuroprotective effects by regulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Similar results were obtained in AD model mice, in which Artemisinin administration attenuated Aß1-42-induced neuroinflammation and neuronal injury, reversing spatial learning and memory deficits. The anti-inflammatory effect of Artemisinin is also accompanied by the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in the animal model. Our results indicate that Artemisinin attenuated Aß1-42-induced neuroinflammation and neuronal injury by stimulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that Artemisinin is a potential therapeutic agent for AD.

Prevalence and prospective evaluation of cognitive dysfunctions after SARS due to SARS-CoV-2 virus. The COgnitiVID study.

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2 virus is a new cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Little is known about the short-term cognitive prognosis for these patients. We prospectively evaluated basic cognitive functions shortly after care in the intensive care unit (ICU) and three months later in post-ICU COVID-19 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective single-center study in our institution in Paris. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 SARS were prospectively recruited via our ICU. Patients were evaluated using standardized cognitive tests at baseline and at three months' follow-up. Our primary endpoint was the evolution of the following five global tests: MMSE, FAB, oral naming test, Dubois five words test and MADRS. RESULTS: We explored 13 patients at baseline and follow-up. All patients had cognitive impairment at baseline but they all improved at three months, significantly on two of the five global tests after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing: MMSE (median 18 (IQR [15-22]) and 27 (IQR [27-29]) respectively, P=0.002) and FAB test (median 14 (IQR [14-17]) and 17 (IQR [17,18]) respectively, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: We report here the first longitudinal data on short-term cognitive impairment after intensive care in COVID-19 patients. We found acute and short-term cognitive impairment but significant improvement at three months. This pattern does not seem to differ from other causes of post-intensive care syndrome.