Sex Differences Among Older Adults With Bipolar Disorder: Results From the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) Project.

OBJECTIVE: Sex-specific research in adult bipolar disorder (BD) is sparse and even more so among those with older age bipolar disorder (OABD). Knowledge about sex differences across the bipolar lifespan is urgently needed to target and improve treatment. To address this gap, the current study examined sex differences in the domains of clinical presentation, general functioning, and mood symptoms among individuals with OABD. METHODS: This Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) study used data from 19 international studies including BD patients aged ≥50 years (N = 1,185: 645 women, 540 men).A comparison of mood symptoms between women and men was conducted initially using two-tailed t tests and then accounting for systematic differences between the contributing cohorts by performing generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). Associations between sex and other clinical characteristics were examined using GLMM including: age, BD subtype, rapid cycling, psychiatric hospitalization, lifetime psychiatric comorbidity, and physical health comorbidity, with study cohort as a random intercept. RESULTS: Regarding depressive mood symptoms, women had higher scores on anxiety and hypochondriasis items. Female sex was associated with more psychiatric hospitalizations and male sex with lifetime substance abuse disorders. CONCLUSION: Our findings show important clinical sex differences and provide support that older age women experience a more severe course of BD, with higher rates of psychiatric hospitalization. The reasons for this may be biological, psychological, or social. These differences as well as underlying mechanisms should be a focus for healthcare professionals and need to be studied further.

Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of people with oldest older age bipolar disorder in a global sample: Results from the global aging and geriatric experiments in bipolar disorder project.

OBJECTS: Studies of older age bipolar disorder (OABD) have mostly focused on "younger old" individuals. Little is known about the oldest OABD (OOABD) individuals aged ≥70 years old. The Global Aging and Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) project provides an opportunity to evaluate the OOABD group to understand their characteristics compared to younger groups. METHODS: We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the GAGE-BD database, an integrated, harmonized dataset from 19 international studies. We compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of those aged <50 (YABD, n = 184), 50-69 (OABD, n = 881), and ≥70 (OOABD, n = 304). To standardize the comparisons between age categories and all characteristics, we used multinomial logistic regression models with age category as the dependent variable, with each characteristic as the independent variable, and clustering of standard errors to account for the correlation between observations from each of the studies. RESULTS: OOABD and OABD had lower severity of manic symptoms (Mean YMRS = 3.3, 3.8 respectively) than YABD (YMRS = 7.6), and lower depressive symptoms (% of absent = 65.4%, and 59.5% respectively) than YABD (18.3%). OOABD and OABD had higher physical burden than YABD, especially in the cardiovascular domain (prevalence = 65% in OOABD, 41% in OABD and 17% in YABD); OOABD had the highest prevalence (56%) in the musculoskeletal domain (significantly differed from 39% in OABD and 31% in YABD which didn't differ from each other). Overall, OOABD had significant cumulative physical burden in numbers of domains (mean = 4) compared to both OABD (mean = 2) and YABD (mean = 1). OOABD had the lowest rates of suicidal thoughts (10%), which significantly differed from YABD (26%) though didn't differ from OABD (21%). Functional status was higher in both OOABD (GAF = 63) and OABD (GAF = 64), though only OABD had significantly higher function than YABD (GAF = 59). CONCLUSIONS: OOABD have unique features, suggesting that (1) OOABD individuals may be easier to manage psychiatrically, but require more attention to comorbid physical conditions; (2) OOABD is a survivor cohort associated with resilience despite high medical burden, warranting both qualitative and quantitative methods to better understand how to advance clinical care and ways to age successfully with BD.

Bipolar symptoms, somatic burden and functioning in older-age bipolar disorder: A replication study from the global aging & geriatric experiments in bipolar disorder database (GAGE-BD) project.

OBJECTIVES: The Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE-BD) project pools archival datasets on older age bipolar disorder (OABD). An initial Wave 1 (W1; n = 1369) analysis found both manic and depressive symptoms reduced among older patients. To replicate this finding, we gathered an independent Wave 2 (W2; n = 1232, mean ± standard deviation age 47.2 ± 13.5, 65% women, 49% aged over 50) dataset. DESIGN/METHODS: Using mixed models with random effects for cohort, we examined associations between BD symptoms, somatic burden and age and the contribution of these to functioning in W2 and the combined W1 + W2 sample (n = 2601). RESULTS: Compared to W1, the W2 sample was younger (p < 0.001), less educated (p < 0.001), more symptomatic (p < 0.001), lower functioning (p < 0.001) and had fewer somatic conditions (p < 0.001). In the full W2, older individuals had reduced manic symptom severity, but age was not associated with depression severity. Age was not associated with functioning in W2. More severe BD symptoms (mania p ≤ 0.001, depression p ≤ 0.001) were associated with worse functioning. Older age was significantly associated with higher somatic burden in the W2 and the W1 + W2 samples, but this burden was not associated with poorer functioning. CONCLUSIONS: In a large, independent sample, older age was associated with less severe mania and more somatic burden (consistent with previous findings), but there was no association of depression with age (different from previous findings). Similar to previous findings, worse BD symptom severity was associated with worse functioning, emphasizing the need for symptom relief in OABD to promote better functioning.

Demographic and clinical associations to employment status in older-age bipolar disorder: Analysis from the GAGE-BD database project.

OBJECTIVE: The current literature on employment in older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) is limited. Using the Global Aging and Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE-BD), we examined the relationship of occupational status in OABD to other demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: Seven hundred and thirty-eight participants from 11 international samples with data on educational level and occupational status were included. Employment status was dichotomized as employed versus unemployed. Generalized linear mixed models with random intercepts for the study cohort were used to examine the relationship between baseline characteristics and employment. Predictors in the models included baseline demographics, education, psychiatric symptom severity, psychiatric comorbidity, somatic comorbidity, and prior psychiatric hospitalizations. RESULTS: In the sample, 23.6% (n = 174) were employed, while 76.4% were unemployed (n = 564). In multivariable logistic regression models, less education, older age, a history of both anxiety and substance/alcohol use disorders, more prior psychiatric hospitalizations, and higher levels of BD depression severity were associated with greater odds of unemployment. In the subsample of individuals less than 65 years of age, findings were similar. No significant association between manic symptoms, gender, age of onset, or employment status was observed. CONCLUSION: Results suggest an association between educational level, age, psychiatric severity and comorbidity in relation to employment in OABD. Implications include the need for management of psychiatric symptoms and comorbidity across the lifespan, as well as improving educational access for people with BD and skills training or other support for those with work-life breaks to re-enter employment and optimize the overall outcome.

Bipolar I and bipolar II subtypes in older age: Results from the Global Aging and Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) project.

OBJECTIVES: The distinction between bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and bipolar II disorder (BD-II) has been a topic of long-lasting debate. This study examined differences between BD-I and BD-II in a large, global sample of OABD, focusing on general functioning, cognition and somatic burden as these domains are often affected in OABD. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted with data from the Global Aging and Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) database. The sample included 963 participants aged ≥50 years (714 BD-I, 249 BD-II). Sociodemographic and clinical factors were compared between BD subtypes including adjustment for study cohort. Multivariable analyses were conducted with generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and estimated associations between BD subtype and (1) general functioning (GAF), (2) cognitive performance (g-score) and (3) somatic burden, with study cohort as random intercept. RESULTS: After adjustment for study cohort, BD-II patients more often had a late onset ≥50 years (p = 0.008) and more current severe depression (p = 0.041). BD-I patients were more likely to have a history of psychiatric hospitalization (p < 0.001) and current use of anti-psychotics (p = 0.003). Multivariable analyses showed that BD subtype was not related to GAF, cognitive g-score or somatic burden. CONCLUSION: BD-I and BD-II patients did not differ in terms of general functioning, cognitive impairment or somatic burden. Some clinical differences were observed between the groups, which could be the consequence of diagnostic definitions. The distinction between BD-I and BD-II is not the best way to subtype OABD patients. Future research should investigate other disease specifiers in this population.

Essential data dimensions for prospective international data collection in older age bipolar disorder (OABD): Recommendations from the GAGE-BD group.

BACKGROUND: By 2030, over 50% of individuals living with bipolar disorder (BD) are expected to be aged ≥50 years. However, older age bipolar disorder (OABD) remains understudied. There are limited large-scale prospectively collected data organized in key dimensions capable of addressing several fundamental questions about BD affecting this subgroup of patients. METHODS: We developed initial recommendations for the essential dimensions for OABD data collection, based on (1) a systematic review of measures used in OABD studies, (2) a Delphi consensus of international OABD experts, (3) experience with harmonizing OABD data in the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE-BD, n ≥ 4500 participants), and (4) critical feedback from 34 global experts in geriatric mental health. RESULTS: We identified 15 key dimensions and variables within each that are relevant for the investigation of OABD: (1) demographics, (2) core symptoms of depression and (3) mania, (4) cognition screening and subjective cognitive function, (5) elements for BD diagnosis, (6) descriptors of course of illness, (7) treatment, (8) suicidality, (9) current medication, (10) psychiatric comorbidity, (11) psychotic symptoms, (12) general medical comorbidities, (13) functioning, (14) family history, and (15) other. We also recommend particular instruments for capturing some of the dimensions and variables. CONCLUSION: The essential data dimensions we present should be of use to guide future international data collection in OABD and clinical practice. In the longer term, we aim to establish a prospective consortium using this core set of dimensions and associated variables to answer research questions relevant to OABD.

Balance and Gait: Associations With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Individuals With Down Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Atypical aging in Down syndrome (DS) is associated with neuropathological characteristics consistent with Alzheimer disease. Gait abnormalities have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of dementia for the general population. The aim of this study was to determine whether gait disorders are associated with worse cognitive performance and dementia in adults with DS. METHODS: We evaluated 66 individuals with DS (≥20 y of age), divided into 3 groups: stable cognition, prodromal dementia, and dementia (presumed Alzheimer disease). Each individual was evaluated with the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), Timed Up and Go test, and Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's Syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS), in addition to a comprehensive clinical protocol to ascertain the occurrence of medical or psychiatric comorbidities. RESULTS: The score on the POMA-Gait subscale score and body mass index were found to be independent predictors of prodromal dementia and dementia ( P <0.001 for both). With the exception of perception, all cognitive domains correlated with the POMA-Total score ( P <0.05). CONCLUSION: A lower POMA-Gait score increases the chance of prodromal dementia and dementia in adults with DS. Unlike other research, in this study higher body mass index was also found to increase the chance of prodromal dementia and dementia. In those individuals, applying the POMA could facilitate the early diagnosis of dementia, help identify fall risks, and promote the adoption of geriatric interventions focused on improving functional mobility.

Association between chemosensory impairment with neuropsychiatric morbidity in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: results from a multidisciplinary cohort study.

Preliminary methodologically limited studies suggested that taste and smell known as chemosensory impairments and neuropsychiatric symptoms are associated in post-COVID-19. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether chemosensory dysfunction and neuropsychiatric impairments in a well-characterized post-COVID-19 sample. This is a cohort study assessing adult patients hospitalized due to moderate or severe forms of COVID-19 between March and August 2020. Baseline information includes several clinical and hospitalization data. Further evaluations were made using several different reliable instruments designed to assess taste and smell functions, parosmia, and neuropsychiatric disorders (using standardized psychiatric and cognitive measures). Out of 1800 eligible individuals, 701 volunteers were assessed on this study. After multivariate analysis, patients reporting parosmia had a worse perception of memory performance (p < 0.001). Moderate/severe hypogeusia was significantly associated with a worse performance on the word list memory task (p = 0.012); Concomitant moderate/severe olfactory and gustatory loss during the acute phase of COVID-19 was also significantly associated with episodic memory impairment (p = 0.006). We found a positive association between reported chemosensory (taste and olfaction) abnormalities and cognition dysfunction in post-COVID-19 patients. These findings may help us identify potential mechanisms linking these two neurobiological functions, and also support the speculation on a possible route through which SARS-CoV-2 may reach the central nervous system.

Lithium and Stroke Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Stroke Models in Rodents and Human Data.

BACKGROUND: Lithium has neuroprotective effects in animal models of stroke, but benefits in humans remain uncertain. This article aims to systematically review the available evidence of the neuroprotective and regenerative effects of lithium in animal models of stroke, as well as in observational and trial stroke studies in humans. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO for preclinical and clinical studies published between January 2000 and September 2021. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted from observational studies. RESULTS: From 1625 retrieved studies, 42 were included in the systematic review. Of those, we identified 36 rodent models of stroke using preinsult or postinsult treatment with lithium, and 6 studies were conducted in human samples, of which 4 could be meta-analyzed. The review of animal models was stratified according to the type of stroke and outcomes. Human data were subdivided into observational and intervention studies. Treatment of rodents with lithium was associated with smaller stroke volumes, decreased apoptosis, and improved poststroke function. In humans, exposure to lithium was associated with a lower risk of stroke among adults with bipolar disorder in 2 of 4 studies. Two small trials showed equivocal clinical benefits of lithium poststroke. CONCLUSIONS: Animal models of stroke show consistent biological and functional evidence of benefits associated with lithium treatment, whereas human evidence remains sparse and inconclusive. The potential role of lithium in poststroke recovery is yet to be adequately tested in humans.

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: relationship of central nervous system manifestations with physical disability and systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Despite the multitude of clinical manifestations of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), studies applying statistical methods to directly investigate patterns of symptom co-occurrence and their biological correlates are scarce. METHODS: We assessed 30 symptoms pertaining to different organ systems in 749 adults (age = 55 ± 14 years; 47% female) during in-person visits conducted at 6-11 months after hospitalization due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including six psychiatric and cognitive manifestations. Symptom co-occurrence was initially investigated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and latent variable modeling was then conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT). We investigated associations of latent variable severity with objective indices of persistent physical disability, pulmonary and kidney dysfunction, and C-reactive protein and D-dimer blood levels, measured at the same follow-up assessment. RESULTS: The EFA extracted one factor, explaining 64.8% of variance; loadings were positive for all symptoms, and above 0.35 for 16 of them. The latent trait generated using IRT placed fatigue, psychiatric, and cognitive manifestations as the most discriminative symptoms (coefficients > 1.5, p < 0.001). Latent trait severity was associated with decreased body weight and poorer physical performance (coefficients > 0.240; p ⩽ 0.003), and elevated blood levels of C-reactive protein (coefficient = 0.378; 95% CI 0.215-0.541; p < 0.001) and D-dimer (coefficient = 0.412; 95% CI 0.123-0.702; p = 0.005). Results were similar after excluding subjects with pro-inflammatory comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Different symptoms that persist for several months after moderate or severe COVID-19 may unite within one latent trait of PASC. This trait is dominated by fatigue and psychiatric symptoms, and is associated with objective signs of physical disability and persistent systemic inflammation.

Bipolar symptoms, somatic burden, and functioning in older-age bipolar disorder: Analyses from the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database project.

OBJECTIVE: Literature on older-age bipolar disorder (OABD) is limited. This first-ever analysis of the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE-BD) investigated associations among age, BD symptoms, comorbidity, and functioning. METHODS: This analysis used harmonized, baseline, cross-sectional data from 19 international studies (N = 1377). Standardized measures included the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). RESULTS: Mean sample age was 60.8 years (standard deviation [SD] 12.2 years), 55% female, 72% BD I. Mood symptom severity was low: mean total YMRS score of 4.3 (SD 5.4) and moderate-to-severe depression in only 22%. Controlled for sample effects, both manic and depressive symptom severity appeared lower among older individuals (p's < 0.0001). The negative relationship between older age and symptom severity was similar across sexes, but was stronger among those with lower education levels. GAF was mildly impaired (mean =62.0, SD = 13.3) and somatic burden was high (mean =2.42, SD = 1.97). Comorbidity burden was not associated with GAF. However, higher depressive (p < 0.0001) and manic (p < 0.0001) symptoms were associated with lower GAF, most strongly among older individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest an attenuation of BD symptoms in OABD, despite extensive somatic burden. Depressive symptom severity was strongly associated with worse functioning in older individuals, underscoring the need for effective treatments of BD depression in older people. This international collaboration lays a path for the development of a better understanding of aging in BD.

Physical Health Burden Among Older Men and Women With Bipolar Disorder: Results From the Gage-Bd Collaboration.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of physical morbidities among men and women with older adult bipolar disorder (OABD), and men with and without OABD. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the collaborative Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD) database and non-OABD data from the Health in Men Study. OABD defined as bipolar disorder among adults aged greater than or equal to 50 years. Outcomes of interest were diseases affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, musculoskeletal and endocrinological systems. RESULTS: We examined 1407 participants with OABD aged 50-95 years, of whom 787 were women. More women than men showed evidence of morbidities affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and endocrinological systems. More men with than without OABD showed evidence of cardiovascular, renal and endocrinological diseases. CONCLUSION: GAGE-BD data showed that physical morbidities affect more women than men with OABD, and more men with than without OABD. The underlying reasons for these differences require clarification.

Symptom Severity Mixity in Older-Age Bipolar Disorder: Analyses From the Global Aging and Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database (GAGE-BD).

OBJECTIVE: Some individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) experience manic and depressive symptoms concurrently, but data are limited on symptom mixity in older age bipolar disorder (OABD). Using the Global Aging & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder Database, we characterized mixity in OABD and associations with everyday function. METHODS: The sample (n = 805), from 12 international studies, included cases with both mania and depression severity ratings at a single timepoint. Four mixity groups were created: asymptomatic (A), mixed (Mix), depressed only (Dep), and manic only (Man). Generalized linear mixed models used mixity group as the predictor variable; cohort was included as a random intercept. Everyday function was assessed with the Global Assessment of Functioning score. RESULTS: Group proportions were Mix (69.6%; n = 560), followed by Dep (18.4%; n = 148), then A (7.8%; n = 63), then Man (4.2%; n= 34); levels of depression and mania were similar in Mix compared to Dep and Man, respectively. Everyday function was lowest in Mix, highest in A, and intermediate in Man and Dep. Within Mix, severity of depression was the main driver of worse functioning. Groups differed in years of education, with A higher than all others, but did not differ by age, gender, employment status, BD subtype, or age of onset. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed features predominate in a cross-sectional, global OABD sample and are associated with worse everyday function. Among those with mixed symptoms, functional status relates strongly to current depression severity. Future studies should include cognitive and other biological variables as well as longitudinal designs to allow for evaluation of causal effects.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of lithium-treated older adults with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: There is limited information on the characteristics of older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) treated with lithium, along with safety concerns about its use by older adults. The aim of the present study is to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of OABD receiving lithium therapy, using data from the Global Ageing & Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder (GAGE-BD). EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES: Cross-sectional analysis of the GAGE-BD dataset to determine differences and similarities between lithium users and non-users. We analysed data from 986 participants aged 50 years or older (mean age 63.5 years; 57.5% females) from 12 study sites. Two subgroups ('Lithium'; 'Non-lithium') were defined according to the current prescription of lithium. We compared several outcomes between these groups, controlling for age, gender, and study site. RESULTS: OABD treated with lithium had lower scores on depression rating scales and were less likely to be categorised as with moderate or severe depression. There was a lower proportion of lithium users than non-users among those with evidence of rapid cycling and non-bipolar psychiatric diagnoses. Assessment of global cognitive state and functionality indicated better performance among lithium users. The current use of antipsychotics was less frequent among lithium users, who also reported fewer cardiovascular comorbidities than non-users. CONCLUSION: We found several potentially relevant differences in the clinical profile of OABD treated with lithium compared with those treated with other mood stabilisers. However, the interpretation of the present results must take into account the methodological limitations inherent to the cross-sectional approach and data harmonisation.

Screening for Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Adults With Down Syndrome: A Novel Approach Using the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) as a diagnostic tool to screen for dementia in aging individuals with Down syndrome (DS). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 92 individuals with DS 30 y or above of age) evaluated with the IQCODE. Using the informant questionnaire of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older People with Down's Syndrome and Others with Intellectual Disabilities, we divided the subjects into 3 diagnostic groups: stable cognition; prodromal dementia; and dementia. The ability of the IQCODE to discriminate between diagnostic groups was analyzed by calculating the areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUCs). RESULTS: The optimal IQCODE cutoffs were 3.14 for dementia versus stable cognition (AUC=0.993; P<0.001) and 3.11 for prodromal dementia+dementia versus stable cognition (AUC=0.975; P<0.001), with sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of 100%/96.8%/97.3%, and 93.3%/91.9%/92.4%, respectively. The IQCODE showed a weak-to-moderate correlation with cognitive performance (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The IQCODE is a useful tool to screen for cognitive decline in individuals with DS and is suitable for use in a primary care setting.

Clinical correlates of late-onset versus early-onset bipolar disorder in a global sample of older adults.

OBJECTIVES: Late-onset bipolar disorder (LOBD) represents a significant subgroup of bipolar disorder (BD). However, knowledge for this group is mostly extrapolated from small studies in subjects with early/mixed age of illness onset. In this global sample of older adults with BD (OABD: ≥50 years old) we aim to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical presentation of LOBD (≥40 years at BD onset) compared to early-onset BD (EOBD: <40 years at BD onset). METHODS: The Global Aging and Geriatric Experiments in Bipolar Disorder consortium provided international data on 437 older age bipolar disorder participants. We compared LOBD versus EOBD on depression, mania, functionality, and physical comorbidities. Exploratory analyses were performed on participants with BD onset ≥50 years old. RESULTS: LOBD (n = 105) did not differ from EOBD (n = 332) on depression, mania, global functioning, nor employment status (p > 0.05). Late-onset bipolar disorder was associated with higher endocrine comorbidities (odds ratio = 1.48, [95%CI = 1.0,12.1], p = 0.03). This difference did not remain significant when subjects with BD onset ≥50 years old were analyzed. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by the retrospective nature of the variable age of onset and the differences in evaluation methods across studies (partially overcame by harmonization processes). CONCLUSION: The present analysis is in favor of the hypothesis that LOBD might represent a similar clinical phenotype as classic EOBD with respect to core BD symptomatology, functionality, and comorbid physical conditions. Large-scale global collaboration to improve our understanding of BD across the lifespan is needed.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and cerebrovascular risk in non-demented elders: cross-sectional study using the mild behavioural impairment checklist (MBI-C).

BACKGROUND: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) may represent early clinical manifestations of evolving brain diseases. Studies underpin the occurrence of NPS in the context of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and prodromal Alzheimer's disease, where symptoms referred to as 'mild behavioural impairment' (MBI) have been shown to predict conversion to dementia and to hasten cognitive/functional decline. However, the association between NPS and cerebrovascular risk factors has been poorly investigated, despite the high prevalence of the latter among individuals with MCI. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between MBI and cerebrovascular risk in a clinical sample of non-demented elders. METHODS: Sixty-five MCI and 15 cognitively unimpaired older adults were cross-sectionally assessed with the Mild Behavioural Impairment Checklist (MBI-C), using the cut-off score > 6.5 to define positive screening. Participants were submitted to the Hachinski Ischaemic Score (HIS) to account for cerebrovascular symptoms, vascular risk, and related comorbidities. Neuroimaging scans (magnetic resonance imaging and/or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography) and apolipoprotein E genotype were obtained. RESULTS: Positive associations were found between total MBI-C scores and increasing number of comorbidities present (0-2 comorbidities), but not with three comorbidities. Two domains of the MBI-C-impulse dyscontrol and social inappropriateness-followed the same trend of the MBI-C total score, with higher scores with the increasing numbers of comorbidities. No significant associations were found between MBI symptoms and HIS or cerebrovascular burden in neuroimaging assessment. CONCLUSION: We found weak associations between MBI-C total score and the presence of comorbidities with cerebrovascular risk, but not with structural or functional neuroimaging abnormalities or HIS. This finding may represent that the presence of comorbidities adds limited risk to the occurrence of MBI in this sample of non-demented elders.

The impact of the microbiota-gut-brain axis on Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology.

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that comprises of more than 100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells. The microbiota, the gut, and the brain form an association, 'the microbiota-gut-brain axis,' and synchronize the gut with the central nervous system and modify the behavior and brain immune homeostasis. The bidirectional communication between gut and brain occurs via the immune system, the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system, and microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), proteins, and tryptophan metabolites. Recent studies have implicated the gut microbiota in many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we present an overview of gut microbiota, including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, SCFA, tryptophan, bacterial composition, besides age-related changes in gut microbiota composition, the microbiota-gut-brain axis pathways, the role of gut metabolites in amyloid-beta clearance, and gut microbiota modulation from experimental and clinical AD models. Understanding the role of the microbiota may provide new targets for treatment to delay the onset, progression, or reverse AD, and may help in reducing the prevalence of AD.

AD-Related CSF Biomarkers Across Distinct Levels of Cognitive Impairment: Correlations With Global Cognitive State.

AIM: Associations between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with the severity of cognitive impairment are unclear. We examined the correlations between CSF biomarkers and cognitive performance in the AD continuum. METHODS: We studied 143 elderly patients: cognitively unimpaired (n = 51), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) amnestic (n = 55) and nonamnestic (n = 20), and mild AD (n = 17) assessed with the Cambridge Cognitive Test (CAMCOG). We correlated total CAMCOG and its subdomains with CSF Aß42, T-tau, p-tau levels, and Aß42/p-tau. RESULTS: In the total sample, T-tau and Aß42/p-tau correlated with the total CAMCOG (P < .01); all biomarkers correlated with memory (P < .001); T-tau correlated with language (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Memory and T-tau levels may be the most suitable parameters to reflect cognitive/CSF biomarker correlations. At present, such correlations are of little use in routine clinical practice.

Acute and chronic lithium treatment increases Wnt/ß-catenin transcripts in cortical and hippocampal tissue at therapeutic concentrations in mice.

Lithium activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling leading to stabilization of free cytosolic ß-catenin. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the in vivo effect of acute and chronic lithium treatment on the expression of ß-catenin target genes, addressing its transcripts HIG2, Bcl-xL, Cyclin D1, c-myc, in cortical and hippocampal tissue from adult mice. Lithium doses were established to yield therapeutic working concentrations. In acute treatment, mice received a 300µL of a 350 mg/kg solution of LiCl by gavage, and were euthanized after 2 h, 6 h and 12 h. To determine the effect of chronic treatment, animals were continuously fed either with chow supplemented with 2 g/kg Li2CO3, or regular chow (controls), being euthanized after 30 days. All animals had access to drinking water and 0.9% saline ad libitum. After acute and chronic treatments samples of peripheral blood were obtained from the tail vein for each animal, and serum concentrations of lithium were determined. All transcripts were up-regulated in cortical and hippocampal tissues of lithium-treated mice, both under acute and chronic treatments. There was a positive correlation between serum lithium concentrations and the increment in the expression of all transcripts. This effect was observed in all time points of the acute treatment (i.e., 2, 6 and 12 hours) and also after 30 days. We conclude that Wnt/ß-catenin transcriptional response (HIG2, Bcl-xL, Cyclin D1 and c-myc) is up-regulated in the mouse brain in response to acute and chronic lithium treatment at therapeutic concentrations.