The Role of Cognitive Reserve in Protecting Cerebellar Volumes of Older Adults with mild Cognitive Impairment.

The present study aims to investigate the relationship between cerebellar volumes and cognitive reserve in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). A description of proxies of cerebellar cognitive reserve in terms of different volumes across lobules is also provided. 36 individuals with MCI underwent neuropsychological (MoCA, MMSE, Clock test, CRIq) assessment and neuroimaging acquisition with magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T. Simple linear correlations were applied between cerebellar volumes and cognitive measures. Multiple linear regression models were then used to estimate standardized regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals. Simple linear correlations between cerebellar lobules volumes and cognitive features highlighted a significant association between CRIq_Working activity and specific motor cerebellar volumes: Left_V (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.02), Right_V (r = 0.42, p = 0.002), Vermis_VIIIb (ρ = 0.47, p = 0.003), Left_X (ρ = -0.46, p = 0.002) and Vermis_X (r = 0.35, p = 0.03). Furthermore, CRIq_Working activity scores correlated with certain cerebellar lobules implicated in cognition: Left_Crus_II, Vermis VIIb, Left_IX. MMSE was associated only with the Right_VIIB volume (r = 0.35, p = 0.02), while Clock Drawing Test scores correlated with both Left_Crus_I and Right_Crus_I (r = -0.42 and r = 0.42, p = 0.02, respectively). This study suggests that a higher cognitive reserve is associated with specific cerebellar lobule volumes and that Working activity may play a predominant role in this association. These findings contribute to the understanding of the relationship between cerebellar volumes and cognitive reserve, highlighting the potential modulatory role of Working activity on cerebellum response to cognitive decline.

Frailty, psychological well-being, and social isolation in older adults with cognitive impairment during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: data from the GeroCovid initiative.

BACKGROUND: The containment measures linked to the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the phyco-physical well-being of the population, especially older adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). This study aims to evaluate whether the frailty of NCD patients was associated with different changes in multiple health domains, in particular in relation to loneliness and social isolation, pre- and post-lockdown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were recruited from 10 Italian Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia. Data were collected in the pre-pandemic period (T0), during the pandemic lockdown (T1), and 6-9 months post-lockdown (T2). The UCLA Loneliness Scale-3, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental ADL (IADL), Mini-Mental State Examination, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were administered. Caregivers' burden was also tested. Patients were categorized as non-frail, pre-frail, and frail according to the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and Loss of Weight scale. RESULTS: The sample included 165 subjects (61.9% women, mean age 79.5 ± 4.9 years). In the whole sample, the ADL, IADL, and NPI scores significantly declined between T0 and T2. There were no significative variations in functional and cognitive domains between the frail groups. During lockdown we recorded higher Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and Perceived Stress Scale scores in frail people. In multivariable logistic regression, frailty was associated with an increase in social isolation, and a loss of IADL. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a global deterioration in functional and neuro-psychiatric domains irrespective of the degree of frailty. Frailty was associated with the worsening of social isolation during lockdown. Frail patients and their caregivers seemed to experience more anxiety and stress disorders during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Interrelation between functional decline and dementia: The potential role of balance assessment.

OBJECTIVE: There has been growing interest in the past few years on the relationship between impairment of motor functions and cognitive decline, so that the first can be considered a marker of dementia. In MCI patients, the deficit in processing visual information interferes with postural control, causing oscillations and instability. Postural control is usually evaluated through the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test or Tinetti scale, but, to our knowledge, there are no many studies that considered the Biodex Balance System (BBS) in the evaluation of postural controls in MCI patients. The aim of this study was first to confirm the bi- directional relationship between cognitive and motor performance, and then to compare traditional evaluation scales (SPPB and Tinetti) with a biomechanical tool, the BBS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study. In 45 elderly patients with cognitive impairment we evaluated cognition, assessed with the MMSE and MoCA, malnutrition with the MNA, and sarcopenia with DEXA (ASMMI). Motor performance was assessed with SPPB, Tinetti, and BBS. RESULTS: MMSE correlated more with BBS than with the traditional scales, while MoCA was also correlated with SPPB and Tinetti scores. CONCLUSIONS: BBS had a stronger correlation with cognitive performance compared with the traditional scales. The relationship between MoCA executive items and the BBS tests suggests the usefulness of targeted interventions involving cognitive stimulation to improve motor performance, and motor training to slow the progression of cognitive decline, particularly in MCI.

[Adaptation to Spanish and cross-cultural interpretation of the scale of lucidity and awareness in the subjects (Lucidity and Consciousness in Dreams scale)] / Adaptación al español e interpretación transcultural de la escala de lucidez y consciencia en los sueños (Lucidity and Consciousness in Dreams scale)

Introduction: It is called lucid dreaming, when the dreamer is aware that he is dreaming and can control the dream content. We lack Spanish-speaking tools that assess the presence of lucid dreams, so our objectives were to carry out the adaptation to Spanish and cross-cultural interpretation of the Lucidity and Consciousness in Dreams Scale (LuCID) and to evaluate the presence of lucid dreamers. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out by means of translation and retro-translation of the LuCID scale. The ethics committee approved it with number 3359. Results: 220 surveys, N = 216 were chosen. Age of subjects who completed: 18-76 (mean: 47) years. Women: n = 146 women. Countries: Argentina and Mexico were the ones that mostly participated. The mean and standard deviation of the analyzed subscales were: control: 2.82 / 1.1; introspection: 2.79 / 1.1; positive emotion: 2.66 / 1.3; dissociation: 2.62 / 1.3; memory: 2.51 / 1.1; thoughts: 2.44 / 1.3; realism: 2.34 / 1.2; negative emotion: 2.22 / 1.3. Of those surveyed, 56 individuals (24.5%) presented higher scores on the subscales for lucid dream diagnosis. Conclusion: The transcultural adaptation and interpretation of the lucidity and consciousness in dreams scale (LuCID) was carried out, which allowed us to detect almost a third of lucid dreamers. This scale should be validated in a select population of lucid dreamers for use.

Introducción: Se denomina sueños lúcidos, cuando el soñador es consciente de que esta soñando y puede controlar el contenido onírico. Carecemos de herramientas en habla hispana, que valoren la presencia de sueños lúcidos, por lo que nuestros objetivos fueron realizar la adaptación al español e interpretación transcultural de la escala Lucidity and Consciousness in Dreams Scale (LuCID) y evaluar la presencia de soñadores lúcidos en una población afines a las neurociencias. Material y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal, realizado mediante traducción y retro-traducción de la escala LuCID. El comité de ética, lo aprobó con el número 3359. Resultados: 220 encuestas, se eligieron N=216. Edad de sujetos que completaron: 18-76 (media:47) años. Mujeres: n=146 mujeres. Países: Argentina y México fueron los que mayoritariamente participaron. La media y desvío estándar de las subescalas analizadas fueron: control: 2.82/1.1; introspección: 2.79/1.1; emoción positiva: 2.66/1.3; disociación: 2.62/1.3; memoria: 2.51/1.1; pensamientos: 2.44/1.3; realismo: 2.34/1.2; emoción negativa: 2.22/1.3. De los encuetados, 56 individuos (24.5%), presentaron mayores puntajes en las subescalas para diagnóstico de sueño lúcidos. Conclusión: se realizó la adaptación e interpretación transcultural de la escala de lucidez y consciencia en los sueños (LuCID), que nos permitió detectar casi un tercio de soñadores lúcidos. Esta escala, deberá ser validada en población selecta de soñadores lúcidos para su uso.