Effects of music therapy on cognition, quality of life, and neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Dementia is a major cause of disability and dependency. Pharmacological interventions are commonly provided to patients with dementia to delay the deterioration of cognitive functions but cannot alter the course of disease. Nonpharmacological interventions are now attracting increasing scholarly interest. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, we aim to assess the effectiveness of music-based therapies on the cognition, quality of life (QoL), and neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients with dementia through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for reports of RCTs examining the effectiveness of music-based therapies for dementia published as of April 2023. A total of 674 articles were screened, and 22 trials from 21 studies (1780 patients) met the eligibility criteria. In 15 trials, music-based therapies significantly improved the cognition of patients with dementia compared with non-music therapies. In 11 trials, music-based therapies also significantly improved the QoL of patients with dementia compared with non-music therapies. In six trials, music-based therapies significantly improved patients' neuropsychiatric symptoms compared with non-music therapies. In conclusion, music-based therapy is recognized as a safe and effective alternative approach for patients with dementia.

Coffee consumption and the risk of cerebrovascular disease: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a crucial health threat to adults worldwide. Despite extensive knowledge of risk-factor mitigation, no primary prevention exists for healthy people. Coffee is a widely consumed beverage globally. Health benefit of coffee for several neurological diseases has been identified; however, the association between stroke risk and coffee consumption in healthy people has not been determined. We investigated the effect of coffee on stroke risk by conducting a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. METHODS: Electronic databases, namely PubMed, BioMed Central, Medline, and Google Scholar, were searched using terms related to stroke and coffee. Articles that described clear diagnostic criteria for stroke and details on coffee consumption were included. The reference lists of relevant articles were reviewed to identify eligible studies not shortlisted using these terms. Enrolled studies were grouped into three outcome categories: overall stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Seven studies were included and all of them were large-scale, long-term, follow-up cohort studies of a healthy population. Upon comparing the least-coffee-consuming groups from each study, the meta-analysis revealed a reduction in the risk of overall stroke during follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] for overall stroke = 0.922, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.855-0.994, P = 0.035). In studies with a clear definition of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, coffee consumption reduced the risk of ischemic stroke more robustly than that of hemorrhagic stroke (hemorrhagic, HR = 0.895, 95% CI = 0.824-0.972, P = .008; ischemic, HR = 0.834, 95% CI = 0.739-0.876, P < .001). No obvious dose-dependent or U-shaped effect was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Coffee consumption reduces the risk of overall stroke, especially ischemic stroke. Further investigation is required to identify beneficial components in coffee, including caffeine and phenolic acids, to develop preventive medication for stroke.

The Effect of Caffeine on the Risk and Progression of Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Coffee and caffeine are speculated to be associated with the reduced risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study aimed to investigate the disease-modifying potential of caffeine on PD, either for healthy people or patients, through a meta-analysis. The electronic databases were searched using terms related to PD and coffee and caffeinated food products. Articles were included only upon fulfillment of clear diagnostic criteria for PD and details regarding their caffeine content. Reference lists of relevant articles were reviewed to identify eligible studies not shortlisted using these terms. In total, the present study enrolled 13 studies, nine were categorized into a healthy cohort and the rest into a PD cohort. The individuals in the healthy cohort with regular caffeine consumption had a significantly lower risk of PD during follow-up evaluation (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.797, 95% CI = 0.748-0.849, p < 0.001). The outcomes of disease progression in PD cohorts included dyskinesia, motor fluctuation, symptom onset, and levodopa initiation. Individuals consuming caffeine presented a significantly lower rate of PD progression (HR = 0.834, 95% CI = 0.707-0.984, p = 0.03). In conclusion, caffeine modified disease risk and progression in PD, among both healthy individuals or those with PD. Potential biological benefits, such as those obtained from adenosine 2A receptor antagonism, may require further investigation for designing new drugs.

Suboptimal Baseline Serum Vitamin B12 Is Associated With Cognitive Decline in People With Alzheimer's Disease Undergoing Cholinesterase Inhibitor Treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are the mainstream treatment for delaying cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Low vitamin B12 is associated with cognitive dysfunction, and its supplementation has been applied as the treatment for certain types of reversible dementia. The present study hypothesized that baseline serum vitamin B12 is associated with the deterioration of cognitive function in people with AD undergoing ChEI treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2009 and 2016, medical records from 165 Taiwanese with mild to moderate AD who underwent ChEI treatment for at least 2 years were reviewed. Their baseline serum vitamin B12 levels were measured before treatment initiation. Their cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI). Student's t test and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the association between cognitive decline and vitamin B12 level. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0. RESULTS: Overall, 122 participants were women. Their median age was 76 years (ranging from 54 to 91). For people with optimal baseline vitamin B12 (above the median level of 436 ng/L), the rates of MMSE and CASI decline were 0.78 ± 1.28 and 2.84 ± 4.21 per year, respectively, which were significantly slower than those with suboptimal vitamin B12 (1.42 ± 1.67 and 4.94 ± 5.88 per year; p = 0.007 and 0.009, respectively). After adjustment for age, sex, education level, hypertension, diabetes, history of stroke, and baseline cognitive function, the baseline serum vitamin B12 level was negatively associated with MMSE and CASI decline. CONCLUSION: Suboptimal baseline serum vitamin B12 level is associated with cognitive decline in people with AD undergoing ChEI treatment.

Newly Diagnosed Anemia Increases Risk of Parkinson's disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Anemia and low hemoglobin have been identified to increase Parkinson's disease (PD) risk. This population-based cohort study investigated PD risk in newly diagnosed anemic patients by using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. All newly diagnosed anemic patients (n = 86,334) without a history of stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, major operations, or blood loss diseases were enrolled. A cohort of nonanemic controls, 1:1 matched with anemic patients on the basis of the demographics and pre-existing medical conditions, was also included. Competing risk analysis was used to evaluate PD risk in anemic patients compared with that in their matched controls. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of PD risk in the anemic patients was 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-1.52, p < 0.001). Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients tended to exhibit a higher PD risk (aHR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.24-1.79, p < 0.001). Furthermore, Iron supplement did not significantly affect the PD risk: the aHRs for PD risk were 1.32 (95% CI: 1.07-1.63, p < 0.01) and 1.86 (95% CI: 1.46-2.35, p < 0.001) in IDA patients with and without iron supplementation, respectively. The population-based cohort study indicated newly diagnosed anemia increases PD risk.

Effectiveness of Essence of Chicken in Improving Cognitive Function in Young People Under Work-Related Stress: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial.

Work-related stress (WS) can result in considerable and extensive changes in physiological and psychological performance. WS beyond the optimal levels induces anxiety, confusion, exhaustion, and burnout. Chronic WS affects neurocognitive performance, particularly attention and visuospatial memory. Essence of chicken (EC) has been reported to improve neurocognitive function after mental stress.To investigate the beneficial effects of EC in improving neurocognitive performance under WS, we conducted a randomized, double blind trial. Total 102 young workers in New Taipei City with high WS, evaluated using the Individual Subjective Perception Job Stress Scale scores (>36 for job leaders and 33 for nonleaders) were recruited. Fifty-one participants received 70 mL of EC and 51 received a placebo daily for 2 weeks. Blood tests and neurocognitive assessment were performed before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 2 weeks after treatment.EC improved the performance of participants with high depression scores in the form-color associative memory test, used for assessing short-term memory. Although creatinine and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels increased in week 2, but the levels returned to the baseline in week 4. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels decreased in week 4.EC significantly improved short-term memory in participants with high WS and concomitant depressive mood, although it slightly increased GPT and creatinine levels and reduced BUN levels. The long-term treatment effects of EC warrant further investigation.

Artery of Percheron infarction.

Artery of Percheron (AOP) is small perforating arteries supplying paramedian thalamus and mid-brain. The incidence of infarction is rare. We presented a 62-year-old man found conscious drowsy for 4 days. MRI revealed bilateral thalamic and midbrain infarction due to AOP occlusion.