Treatment of Cognitive Deficits in Alzheimer's disease: A psychopharmacological review.

The growing and aging population has contributed to the increased prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other types of dementia in the world. AD is a progressive and degenerative brain disease with an onset characterized by episodic memory impairments, although progressive deficits can be observed in several domains including language, executive functions, attention and working memory. The relationship between cognitive impairments and the topography and progression of brain neuropathology is well established. The pathophysiologic mechanisms and processes that underline the course of cognitive and clinical decline have been the theoretical support for the development of pharmacological treatments for AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists are the main drugs used in the management of global cognitive impairment and several studies also explore the effects of both in specific cognitive measures. Recent research trends also examine the effects of combination therapy using both compounds. This review aims to update practical recommendations for the treatment of global cognitive functioning and specific neurocognitive deficits in AD using ChEIs, NMDA antagonists and combination therapy with both drugs.

Cognitive function is associated with prison behaviour among women in prison but not with subjective perception of adjustment to prison.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that aspects of cognitive function, especially executive function, are associated with antisocial behaviour and violence, but most research to date has measured current cognition and previous criminal behaviour. Furthermore, this research has been conducted almost exclusively with male offenders. AIM: The aim of this study is to examine relationships between a wide range of cognitive functions and behaviours among women in prison. Our hypotheses were that cognitive functioning would be associated with both more-or-less contemporaneously observed behaviour problems and self-rated adjustment to the environment. METHOD: Forty-five drug-free imprisoned female offenders were individually assessed on a battery of cognitive measures. Prison staff rated their behaviour on the Prison Behaviour Rating Scale and the women rated their own sense of adjustment to the environment on the Prison Adjustment Questionnaire. RESULTS: Stepwise hierarchical regressions indicated that attention was independently associated with behaviours reflecting tension, depression, isolation, fear, victimisation and worry, whereas processing speed was independently associated with behaviours reflecting lack of energy, mental slowness and lack of awareness of the surrounding environment and total Prison Adjustment Questionnaire score. There was no relationship between cognitive functioning and subjective perception of adjustment to prison. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND FUTURE RESEARCH: Results indicate that cognition contributes to some of the behavioural problems displayed by inmates in the prison context. Future studies should evaluate the role of programmes to improve cognitive processes in also improving prison behaviour and also test for continuities and discontinuities with post-release integrative success.

Análise qualitativa do impacto do programa de treino metacognitivo e da cognição social em pessoas com Esquizofrenia / Qualitative analysis of the impact of the metacognitive and social cognition training in patients with Schizophrenia / Análisis cualitativo de los efectos del programa de entrenamiento metacognitivo y de la cognición social en personas con esquizofrenia

Neste estudo procuramos determinar a satisfação e a percepção de mudanças específicas resultantes da participação num programa de treino metacognitivo e da cognição social (TMSC) para pessoas com Esquizofrenia. Participaram 21 participantes com diagnóstico de Esquizofrenia responderam a um inquérito por questionário de administração direta com questões abertas, realizado a meio e no final do TMCS. A partir das categorias (1) Satisfação com o programa, (2) Reestruturação sócio-cognitiva e (3) Mudanças na relação eu-outro, verificamos que o programa é relevante, tem potencial para introduzir mudanças na relação com os outros e parece otimizar a cognição social. Os aspectos negativos apontados estão relacionados com a duração do programa e das sessões, e com a linguagem utilizada...

This study aimed to understand the satisfaction and the perception of specific changes triggered by the participation in a metacognitive and social cognition training program (MSCT) for people with Schizophrenia. Participed 21 participants with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia answered a questionnaire of direct-response with open ended questions applied in the middle-term and at the end of the MSCT. Based on the categories (1) satisfaction with the program, (2) social cognitive restructuring and (3) Changes in the self-other relationship, we found that the program was considered to be relevant, had the potential to improve relationships with others and facilitated the enhancement of social cognition. The most important negative aspects mentioned were the duration of the program and sessions, and the specific language used...

En este estudio hemos tratado de determinar la satisfacción y la percepción de los cambios específicos que resulten de la participación en un programa de entrenamiento metacognitivo y de la cognición social (TMSC) para las personas con esquizofrenia. 21 participantes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia respondieron a un cuestionario de administración directa con preguntas abiertas, realizadas en el medio y al final de TMCS. A partir de las categorías (1) satisfacción con el programa, (2) reestructuración socio-cognitiva, y (3) cambios en la relación yo-otro, constatamos que el programa es relevante, tiene la posibilidad de introducir cambios en la relación con los demás y parece optimizar la cognición social. Los aspectos negativos se refieren a la duración del programa y de las sesiones, y la terminología utilizada...