Sleep and Perivascular Spaces.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The glymphatic system is hypothesized to act as the brain's filtration system to remove toxic solutes that accumulate throughout the day. Perivascular spaces (PVSs) play a fundamental role in the ability of the glymphatic system to function, and sleep influences the effectiveness of this system. This article reviews the complexity of the interplay between sleep, the glymphatic system, and PVS. RECENT FINDINGS: New imaging techniques have illuminated the structure of PVS and their associations with differing disease states. Research has shown that sleep may play a key role in the function of PVS and the influence of adenosine, astrocyte, and aquaporin-4 channel in the function of the glymphatic system. Emerging data suggest that differing pathological states such as neuroinflammatory conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, and cognitive dysfunction may be associated with underlying glymphatic system dysfunction, and sleep disorders could be a potential intervention target.

Dietary oily fish intake reduces the risk of all-cause mortality in frequent fish consumers of Amerindian ancestry living in coastal Ecuador: the Atahualpa project.

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between dietary oily fish intake and all-cause mortality in a population of frequent fish consumers of Amerindian ancestry living in rural Ecuador. METHODS: Individuals aged ≥ 40 years enrolled in the prospective population-based Atahualpa Project cohort received annual questionnaires to estimate their dietary oily fish intake. Only fish served broiled or cooked in the soup were included for analysis. Poisson regression and Cox-proportional hazards models adjusted for demographics, education level and cardiovascular risk factors were obtained to estimate mortality risk according to the amount of oily fish intake stratified in tertiles. RESULTS: Analysis included 909 individuals (mean age: 55.1 ± 12.8 years) followed by a median of 7.5 ± 3 years. Mean oily fish intake was 9.4 ± 5.7 servings per week. A total of 142 (16%) individuals died during the follow-up. The mortality rate for individuals in the first tertile de oily fish intake (0.0-6.29 servings) was 2.87 per 100 person-years, which decreased to 1.78 for those in the third tertile (10.59-35.0 servings). An adjusted Cox-proportional hazards model showed that individuals allocated to the second (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.41-0.92) and third (HR 0.60; 95% CI 0.40-0.91) tertiles of dietary oily fish intake had significantly lower mortality risk than those in the first tertile. CONCLUSION: Sustained oily fish intake of more than six servings per week reduces mortality risk in middle-aged and older adults of Amerindian ancestry.

The association between white matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin and disability is mediated by age: a population-based study in stroke-free older adults.

BACKGROUND: Information on the association between disability and severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) among stroke-free individuals is limited. We aimed to assess this association in apparently healthy older adults. METHODS: Following a population-based cross-sectional design, community-dwelling older adults received a brain MRI to grade WMH severity and the Functional Activities Questionnaire to assess the ability to perform activities of daily living. Demographics, clinical risk factors and other markers of cerebral small vessel disease were taken into consideration for analysis. RESULTS: Unadjusted analysis showed a significant association between moderate-to-severe WMH and disability (p = 0.003) that was tempered by the effect of age. Causal mediation analysis showed that age took away 65.9% of the effect of WMH severity on disability. An interaction model showed that disability was higher only among subjects with moderate-to-severe WMH above the median age. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing age mediates the probability of WMH-related disability in stroke-free individuals.

Incompleteness of the Circle of Willis and progression of white matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin. A longitudinal prospective study in community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the association between anatomical variants of the circle of Willis (CoW) and severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) of presumed vascular origin is inconclusive, and no study has evaluated the role of incompleteness of CoW on WMH progression in the follow-up. This study aims to assess the impact of incomplete configurations of the CoW on WMH progression in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Following a prospective longitudinal study design, individuals aged ≥60 years enrolled in the Atahualpa Project Cohort from 2012 to 2019 were invited to receive baseline brain MRI and MRA of intracranial vessels, and those who also had brain MRIs at the end of the study (May 2021) were included in the analysis. Poisson regression models, adjusted for demographics and cardiovascular risk factors, were fitted to assess the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of WMH progression according to incompleteness of CoW. RESULTS: This study included 254 individuals (mean age: 65.4±5.9 years; 55% women). An incomplete CoW was detected in 99 (39%) subjects. Follow-up MRIs showed WMH progression in 103 (41%) individuals after a median follow-up of 6.5±1.4 years. WMH progression was observed in 58/155 subjects with complete and in 45/99 with incomplete CoW (37% versus 45%; p=0.203). There was no association between incomplete CoW and WMH progression in a multivariate Poisson regression model (IRR: 1.21; 95% C.I.: 0.81 - 1.82). CONCLUSIONS: Study results show that incompleteness of CoW is not involved in WMH progression.

High Social Risk Influence Progression of White Matter Hyperintensities of Presumed Vascular Origin: A Prospective Study in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Information on cerebrovascular consequences of high social risk, as determined by the social determinants of health, is limited. We sought to evaluate the impact of high social risk on the progression of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of presumed vascular origin. METHODS: Following a longitudinal prospective study design, participants of the Atahualpa Project Cohort received baseline social risk determinations by means of social determinants of health components included in the Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale together with clinical interviews and brain magnetic resonance imagings. Those who also received follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging at the end of the study were included. We used Poisson regression models adjusted for demographics, education levels and traditional cardiovascular risk factors to assess the incidence rate ratio of WMH progression according to the Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale score. RESULTS: The study included 263 individuals aged ≥60 years (mean age, 65.7±6.2 years; 57% women). The Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale mean score was 8.9±2.2 points. Follow-up magnetic resonance imagings revealed WMH progression in 103 (39%) individuals after a mean follow-up of 6.5 years (SD±1.4 years). Poisson regression models showed increased WMH progression rate among individuals in the third tertile of the Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale score compared with those in the first tertile (incidence rate ratio, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.05-2.61]; P=0.032). Separate Poisson regression models using individual social determinants of health components showed that poor social relationships (incidence rate ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.10-1.77]; P=0.006) and deficient support networks (incidence rate ratio, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.19-2.69]; P=0.005) were independently associated with WMH progression, whereas family situation, economic status, and housing did not. CONCLUSIONS: Poor social relationships and deficient support networks were significantly associated with WMH progression in community-dwelling older adults living in a rural setting. Our findings may help planning cost-effective preventive policies to reduce progression of cerebral small vessel disease among vulnerable populations.

Cognitive sequelae of long COVID may not be permanent: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive decline is a recognized manifestation of long COVID, even among patients who experience mild disease. However, there is no evidence regarding the length of cognitive decline in these patients. This study aimed to assess whether COVID-19-related cognitive decline is a permanent deficit or if it improves over time. METHODS: Cognitive performance was evaluated by means of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in COVID-19 survivors and noninfected individuals. All study participants had four cognitive evaluations, two of them before the pandemic and the other two, 6 and 18 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 outbreak infection in the village. Linear mixed effects models for longitudinal data were fitted to assess differences in cognitive performance across COVID-19 survivors and noninfected individuals. RESULTS: The study included 78 participants, 50 with history of mild COVID-19 and 28 without. There was a significant-likely age-related-decline in MoCA scores between the two prepandemic tests (ß = -1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.14 to -0.92, p < 0.001), which did not differ across individuals who later developed COVID-19 when compared to noninfected individuals. Six months after infection, only COVID-19 survivors had a significant decline in MoCA scores (ß = -1.37, 95% CI = -2.14 to -0.61, p < 0.001), which reversed after 1 additional year of follow-up (ß = 0.66, 95% CI = -0.11 to 1.42, p = 0.092). No differences were noticed among noninfected individuals when both postpandemic MoCA scores were compared. CONCLUSIONS: Study results suggest that long COVID-related cognitive decline may spontaneously improve over time.

Social determinants of health and cognitive performance of older adults living in rural communities: The Three Villages Study.

OBJECTIVES: There is limited information on factors associated with poor cognitive performance in rural settings of Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Using the Three Villages Study Cohort, we assessed whether social determinants of health (SDH) play a role in cognitive performance among older adults living in rural Ecuador. METHODS: Atahualpa, El Tambo and Prosperidad residents aged ≥60 years received measurement of SDH by means of the Gijon Scale together with a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The association between SDH and cognitive performance (dependent variable) was assessed by generalized linear models, adjusted for demographics, years of education, cardiovascular risk factors, symptoms of depression and biomarkers of structural brain damage. RESULTS: We included 513 individuals (mean age: 67.9 ± 7.3 years; 58% women). The mean score on the Gijon scale was 9.9 ± 2.9 points, with 237 subjects classified as having a high social risk (≥10 points). The mean MoCA score was 19.6 ± 5.4 points. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing showed an inverse linear relationship between SDH and MoCA scores. SDH and MoCA scores were inversely associated in linear models adjusted for clinical covariates (ß: -0.17; 95% C.I.: -0.32 to -0.02; p = 0.020), neuroimaging covariates (ß: -0.17; 95% C.I.: -0.31 to -0.03; p = 0.018), as well as in the most parsimonious model (ß: -0.16; 95% C.I.: -1.30 to -0.02; p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Study results provide robust evidence of an inverse association between SDH and cognitive performance. Interventions and programs aimed to reduce disparities in the social risk of older adults living in underserved rural populations may improve cognitive performance in these individuals.

Total Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Score and Anthropometric Indices: A Population-Based Study in Older Adults of Amerindian Ancestry.

A total of 590 older adults of Amerindian ancestry living in rural Ecuador received anthropometric measurements and a brain magnetic resonance imaging to estimate the total cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) score. A fully adjusted ordinal logistic regression model, with categories of the total cSVD score as the dependent variable, disclosed significant associations between the waist circumference, the waist-to-hip, and the waist-to-height ratios - but not the body mass index (BMI) - and the cSVD burden. Indices of abdominal obesity may better correlate with severity of cSVD than the BMI in Amerindians. Phenotypic characteristics of this population may account for these results.

Patterns of progression of cerebral small vessel disease markers in older adults of Amerindian ancestry: a population-based, longitudinal prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Progression of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) markers has been studied in different races/ethnic groups. However, information from individuals of Amerindian ancestry is lacking. We sought to evaluate progression patterns of cSVD markers in community-dwelling older adults of Amerindian ancestry. METHODS: Following a longitudinal prospective study design, participants of the Atahualpa Project Cohort aged ≥ 60 years received a baseline brain MRI and clinical interviews. Those who also received a brain MRI at the end of the study were included. Poisson regression models were fitted to assess cSVD markers progression according to their baseline load after a median follow-up of 6.5 ± 1.4 years. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess interrelations in the progression of the different cSVD markers at the end of the study. RESULTS: The study included 263 individuals (mean age: 65.7 ± 6.2 years). Progression of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) was noticed in 103 (39%) subjects, cerebral microbleeds in 25 (12%), lacunes in 12 (5%), and enlarged basal ganglia-perivascular spaces (BG-PVS) in 56 (21%). Bivariate Poisson regression models showed significant associations between WMH severity at baseline and progression of WMH and enlarged BG-PVS. These associations became non-significant in multivariate models adjusted for clinical covariates. Logistic regression models showed interrelated progressions of WMH, cerebral microbleeds and enlarged BG-PVS. The progression of lacunes was independent. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of cSVD marker progression in this population of Amerindians are different than those reported in other races/ethnic groups. The independent progression of lacunes suggests different pathogenic mechanisms with other cSVD markers.

The effect of previous strokes on the relationship between ankle-brachial index determinations and incident strokes: A population-based, longitudinal prospective study in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) determinations may be associated with an increased risk of incident strokes. However, the impact of previous strokes in this relationship is unknown. We estimated the role of previous strokes on the association between abnormal ABI determinations and incident stroke risk in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years received ABI determinations, cardiovascular risk factors assessment, and brain MRIs. ABIs were classified as abnormal if ≤0.9 or ≥1.4. Incident strokes were diagnosed by a certified neurologist with the aid of a post-event MRI. Poisson regression models were fitted to estimate stroke incidence rate ratio (IRR) according to categories of ABI. RESULTS: Analysis included 389 participants (mean age: 68.2 ± 8.1 years). Eighty-six persons (22%) had abnormal ABI determinations. Incident strokes occurred in 38 (9.8%) individuals after a mean follow-up of 6.1 ± 1.9 years. Abnormal ABIs were associated with incident strokes in unadjusted analyses (p = 0.002) as well as in a Poisson regression model adjusted for demographics and clinical covariates (IRR: 2.57; 95% C.I.: 1.29-5.13), but not when the model was adjusted for neuroimaging covariates (IRR: 1.46; 95% C.I.: 0.67-3.20). Interaction models showed that having both abnormal ABI and non-lacunar strokes at baseline made the individual 9.7 times more likely to have an incident stroke (95% C.I.: 3.87-24.4). The risk was reduced to 2.2 (95% C.I.: 0.96-5.13) for those who only had an abnormal ABI. CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal ABI is associated with a doubling the risk of incident strokes, but its importance is superseded by history of non-lacunar strokes.

Decreased Nighttime Heart Rate Variability and Progression of White Matter Hyperintensities of Presumed Vascular Origin. A Prospective Study in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence on the role of autonomic dysfunction on white matter hyperintensities (WMH) progression is limited. This study aims to assess the impact of a low nighttime heart rate variability (HRV) on WMH progression in community-dwelling older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following a prospective longitudinal study design, all individuals aged ≥60 years enrolled in the Atahualpa Project Cohort from 2012 to 2019 were invited to receive baseline HRV determinations through 24-h Holter monitoring, together with clinical interviews and brain MRIs. These individuals were periodically followed by means of annual door-to-door surveys, and those who also received brain MRIs at the end of the study (May 2021) were included in the analysis. Poisson regression models, adjusted for relevant confounders, were fitted to assess the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of WMH progression according to nighttime standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN). RESULTS: This study included 254 individuals aged ≥60 years (mean age: 65.4 ± 5.9 years; 55% women). The mean nighttime SDNN was 116.8 ± 36.3 ms. Follow-up MRIs showed WMH progression in 103 (41%) individuals after a median follow-up of 6.5 years. In unadjusted analyses, nighttime SDNN was lower among participants who developed WMH progression than in those who did not (p < 0.001). A Poisson regression model, adjusted for relevant covariates, disclosed a significantly inverse association between nighttime SDNN and WMH progression (IRR: 0.99; 95% C.I.: 0.98-0.99; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Study results show an inverse association between nighttime SDNN and WMH progression, and provide support for the role of sympathetic overactivity in this relationship.

Height is Inversely Associated with Biomarkers of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease in Older Adults of Amerindian Ancestry: Exploring the Obesity Paradox.

BACKGROUND: Various anthropometric measurements have been inversely associated with atherosclerosis, giving rise to the concept of an "obesity paradox" However, inconsistent study results make it difficult to determine the best anthropometric measurement with which to assess such inverse relationship. Height has been inversely associated with atherosclerosis and it is unlikely to be associated with unexpected biases. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between height and other anthropometric measurements and intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults enrolled in the Three Villages Study received anthropometric measurements, high-resolution head CT (to evaluate calcium content in carotid siphons) and time-of-flight MRA (to assess stenosis of large intracranial arteries). Logistic regression models were fitted to assess the independent association between each anthropometric measurements and the presence of ICAD, after adjusting for relevant confounders. Estimated adjusted proportions were used to show how increases of different anthropometric measurements impacted ICAD log odds and corresponding odds ratios. RESULTS: A total of 581 individuals were enrolled. Height was the single variable inversely associated with ICAD at the mean of other anthropometric measurements (OR: 0.954; 95% C.I.: 0.918 - 0.991; p=0.016). Every additional cm of height reduced by 4.6% the probability of having ICAD. The significance of other anthropometric measurements vanished in multivariate models with height as an independent variable. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a robust inverse association between height and ICAD in Amerindians and opens new avenues of research for a better understanding of the obesity paradox in diverse ethnic groups.

SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Latin America. A Population-based Study in Coastal Ecuador.

Antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were detected in 303/673 rural Ecuadorian adults (45%), 77% of whom had compatible clinical manifestations. Seropositivity was associated with the use of open latrines. Our findings support the fears of mass spread of SARS-CoV-2 in rural Latin America and cannot exclude a contributing role for fecal-oral transmission.

Frequency and Determinant Factors for Calcification in Neurocysticercosis.

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis is a major cause of acquired epilepsy. Larval cysts in the human brain eventually resolve and either disappear or leave a calcification that is associated with seizures. In this study, we assessed the proportion of calcification in parenchymal neurocysticercosis and risk factors associated with calcification. METHODS: Data for 220 patients with parenchymal NCC from 3 trials of antiparasitic treatment were assessed to determine what proportion of the cysts that resolved 6 months after treatment ended up in a residual calcification at 1 year. Also, we evaluated the risk factors associated with calcification. RESULTS: The overall proportion of calcification was 38% (188/497 cysts, from 147 patients). Predictors for calcification at the cyst level were cysts larger than 14 mm (risk ratio [RR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.75) and cysts with edema at baseline (RR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.05-1.85). At the patient level, having had more than 24 months with seizures (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.46), mild antibody response (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.002-1.27), increased dose albendazole regime (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.14-1.39), lower doses of dexamethasone (RR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.81), not receiving early antiparasitic retreatment (RR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.08-1.93), or complete cure (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.29-1.71) were associated with a increased risk of calcification. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 38% of parenchymal cysts calcify after antiparasitic treatment. Some factors associated with calcification are modifiable and may be considered to decrease or avoid calcification, potentially decreasing the risk for seizure relapses.

Cognitive decline among individuals with history of mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal prospective study nested to a population cohort.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection are noticed among critically ill patients soon after disease onset. Information on delayed neurological sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection is nil. Following a longitudinal study design, the occurrence of cognitive decline among individuals with a history of mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was assessed. METHODS: Stroke- and seizure-free Atahualpa residents aged ≥40 years, who had pre-pandemic cognitive assessments as well as normal brain magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalogram recordings, underwent repeated evaluations 6 months after a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak infection in Atahualpa. Patients requiring oxygen therapy, hospitalization, and those who had initial neurological manifestations were excluded. Cognitive decline was defined as a reduction in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score between the post-pandemic and pre-pandemic assessments that was ≥4 points greater than the reduction observed between two pre-pandemic MoCAs. The relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and cognitive decline was assessed by fitting logistic mixed models for longitudinal data as well as exposure-effect models. RESULTS: Of 93 included individuals (mean age 62.6 ± 11 years), 52 (56%) had a history of mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Post-pandemic MoCA decay was worse in seropositive individuals. Cognitive decline was recognized in 11/52 (21%) seropositive and 1/41 (2%) seronegative individuals. In multivariate analyses, the odds for developing cognitive decline were 18.1 times higher among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals (95% confidence interval 1.75-188; p = 0.015). Exposure-effect models confirmed this association (ß = 0.24; 95% confidence interval 0.07-0.41; p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of cognitive decline among individuals with mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. The pathogenesis of this complication remains unknown.

Stroke Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: International Expert Panel Review.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed a tremendous strain on healthcare services. This study, prepared by a large international panel of stroke experts, assesses the rapidly growing research and personal experience with COVID-19 stroke and offers recommendations for stroke management in this challenging new setting: modifications needed for prehospital emergency rescue and hyperacute care; inpatient intensive or stroke units; posthospitalization rehabilitation; follow-up including at-risk family and community; and multispecialty departmental developments in the allied professions. SUMMARY: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 uses spike proteins binding to tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-2 receptors, most often through the respiratory system by virus inhalation and thence to other susceptible organ systems, leading to COVID-19. Clinicians facing the many etiologies for stroke have been sobered by the unusual incidence of combined etiologies and presentations, prominent among them are vasculitis, cardiomyopathy, hypercoagulable state, and endothelial dysfunction. International standards of acute stroke management remain in force, but COVID-19 adds the burdens of personal protections for the patient, rescue, and hospital staff and for some even into the postdischarge phase. For pending COVID-19 determination and also for those shown to be COVID-19 affected, strict infection control is needed at all times to reduce spread of infection and to protect healthcare staff, using the wealth of well-described methods. For COVID-19 patients with stroke, thrombolysis and thrombectomy should be continued, and the usual early management of hypertension applies, save that recent work suggests continuing ACE inhibitors and ARBs. Prothrombotic states, some acute and severe, encourage prophylactic LMWH unless bleeding risk is high. COVID-19-related cardiomyopathy adds risk of cardioembolic stroke, where heparin or warfarin may be preferable, with experience accumulating with DOACs. As ever, arteritis can prove a difficult diagnosis, especially if not obvious on the acute angiogram done for clot extraction. This field is under rapid development and may generate management recommendations which are as yet unsettled, even undiscovered. Beyond the acute management phase, COVID-19-related stroke also forces rehabilitation services to use protective precautions. As with all stroke patients, health workers should be aware of symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and/or distress developing in their patients and caregivers. Postdischarge outpatient care currently includes continued secondary prevention measures. Although hoping a COVID-19 stroke patient can be considered cured of the virus, those concerned for contact safety can take comfort in the increasing use of telemedicine, which is itself a growing source of patient-physician contacts. Many online resources are available to patients and physicians. Like prior challenges, stroke care teams will also overcome this one. Key Messages: Evidence-based stroke management should continue to be provided throughout the patient care journey, while strict infection control measures are enforced.

Social Determinants of Health and Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Living in a Rural Latin American Setting.

High social risk, as measured by the social determinants of health (SDH), may increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, this association has not been studied in rural communities. Using the Atahualpa Project cohort, we aimed to assess the association between SDH and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in community-dwelling older adults living in rural Ecuador. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were determined in 319 individuals aged ≥ 60 years that completed a validated field instrument to assess their social risk before the introduction of this novel pandemic. Multivariate models were fitted to assess the independent association between SDH-and each of their components-and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity, after adjusting for relevant covariates. According to the Gijon scale, 102 (32%) individuals had a high social risk (≥ 10 points). A total of 141 (44%) individuals were seropositive to SARS-CoV-2. A fully-adjusted logistic regression model showed an independent) association between social risk and SARS-CoV-2 positivity (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.04-1.27; p = 0.008). For every unit of the total SDH score, the odds of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity increased 15% (95% CI 3.7-27%). In addition, multivariate models showed that the individual component of SDH more strongly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was housing, which suggested that lack of basic home facilities may increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Knowledge on the association between high social risk and SARS-CoV-2 infection is indispensable for the development of cost-effective preventive strategies for controlling modifiable factors that are in the path of SARS-CoV-2 infection among older adults living in underserved communities.

Dietary Oily Fish Intake is Inversely Associated with Severity of White Matter Hyperintensities of Presumed Vascular Origin. A Population-Based Study in Frequent Fish Consumers of Amerindian Ancestry.

BACKGROUND: Oily fish is a major dietary source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients that may reduce the expression of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) biomarkers, including white matter hyperintensities (WMH) of presumed vascular origin. However, information on this relationship is limited. We aimed to assess the association between oily fish intake and WMH severity in a population of frequent fish consumers. METHODS: The study included 572 individuals aged ≥60 years living in three neighboring rural villages of coastal Ecuador. Dietary oily fish intake was calculated and all participants received a brain MRI. Logistic regression models, adjusted for demographics, level of education, cardiovascular risk factors and other cSVD biomarkers, were fitted to assess the independent association between amounts of oily fish intake and WMH severity. RESULTS: Overall, the mean intake of oily fish was 8.5 ± 4.7 servings per week, and 164 individuals (29%) had moderate-to-severe WMH (according to the modified Fazekas scale). A multivariate logistic regression model disclosed a significant inverse association between the amount of oily fish intake and the presence of moderate-to-severe WMH (OR: 0.89; 95% C.I.: 0.85-0.94; p < 0.001). Predictive margins revealed an almost linear inverse relationship between quartiles of oily fish intake and probabilities of WMH severity, which became significant when the 1st quartile was compared with the 3rd and 4th quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: Increased amounts of oily fish intake are inversely associated with WMH severity. Further studies are warranted to determine whether oily fish intake reduces the risk of cSVD-related cerebrovascular complications.

Dawson Fingers in Older Adults with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Population Study.

Dawson fingers are used to differentiate multiple sclerosis (MS) from other conditions that affect the subcortical white matter. However, there are no studies evaluating the presence of Dawson fingers in subjects with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). We aimed to assess prevalence and -correlates of Dawson fingers in older adults with cSVD-related moderate-to-severe white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Community-dwelling older adults residing in rural Ecuador - identified by means of door-to-door surveys - underwent a brain MRI. Exams of individuals with cSVD-related moderate-to-severe WMH were reviewed with attention to the presence of Dawson fingers. Of 590 enrolled individuals, 172 (29%) had moderate-to-severe WMH. Of these, 18 (10.5%) had Dawson fingers. None had neurological manifestations suggestive of MS. Increasing age was independently associated with Dawson fingers (p = 0.017). Dawson fingers may be less specific for MS than previously thought. Concomitant damage of deep medullary veins may explain the presence of Dawson fingers in cSVD.

Cardiovascular Health Status Among Community-Dwelling Ecuadorian Natives Living in Neighboring Rural Communities: The Three Villages Study.

Knowledge of cardiovascular health (CVH) status in rural communities is essential to implement cost-effective strategies aimed to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in these settings. Here, we report on the CVH status and health metrics of 1508 community-dwellers aged ≥ 40 years in three neighboring rural villages of Coastal Ecuador (Atahualpa, El Tambo, and Prosperidad). According to the American Heart Association, a poor CVH status is designated when at least one cardiovascular health metric is in the poor range. About 70% of individuals in the villages studied had a poor CVH status, with no overall differences across villages. However, the relative prevalence of poor health metrics varied. Using Atahualpa as the referent village, a multinomial logistic regression model showed that El Tambo residents were more often smokers and had a worse diet, while Prosperidad residents had more high blood pressure but better fasting glucose levels. Probabilities of having poor health metrics were lower in Atahualpa than in El Tambo (p < 0.001), but not better than in Prosperidad (p = 0.097). Predictive estimates of having poor health metrics were significantly higher in El Tambo than in Atahualpa or in Prosperidad. This comparative study demonstrates that the CVH status of rural populations of coastal Ecuador is basically similar. However, individual health metrics in the poor range were found to vary across villages. While the three villages are generally comparable, interventions should be tailored according to local priorities. The same may occur in other rural communities, but more studies are needed to confirm our findings.