Category: Nevin Manimala

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 8:e057784. doi: 10.1002/alz.057784.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to investigate the difficulties in communicating and application of communication skills of nurses wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when interacting with persons with cognitive impairment.

METHOD: A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted among 500 registered nurses of the digital researching company in Japan in March 2021. Participants were asked to rate their difficulty in communicating with persons with cognitive impairment while under the use of PPE using a 4-point Likert scale. Further, they answered the Communication Skill Index (CSI) to evaluate the application of communication skills when interacting with a person with cognitive impairment. The CSI consists of 23 items, each ranging from 1 to 4. A high CSI score suggests frequent application of communication skills. The relationship between these factors were analyzed statistically using the Student’s t-test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient test.

RESULTS: The study participants’ mean age, proportion of women, and mean length of working experience were 40.0±9.9, 83.2%, and 14.8±9.7 respectively. All participants used facemasks, 31.2% of them used safety glasses, and 13.2% of them used medical gowns while caring for persons with cognitive impairment. The mean score of the communication difficulty was 2.6±0.8, and 55.6% of the participants found it difficult to communicate with persons with cognitive impairment while under the use of PPE. Further, participants using safety glasses and medical gowns had significantly higher communication difficulty than those who only wore facemask (p<0.05). The mean score of total CSI was 72.7±11.3, and the mean score of each item ranged from 2.6 to 3.6. “Use other words to reflect what the person with cognitive impairment has said” was the lowest, while “speak slowly” was the highest. A significant correlation was found between communication difficulty and total CSI score, and a score of 6 on CSI items, such as “use a gesture” and “ask only one question at once” (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Majority of the nurses wearing PPE find it difficult to communicate with persons with cognitive impairment. Thus, they must consciously apply their communication skills.

PMID:34971211 | DOI:10.1002/alz.057784

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 8:e057818. doi: 10.1002/alz.057818.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The suspension of memory services during the COVID-19 pandemic delayed dementia diagnosis and access to early intervention. Some services responded to the challenge by developing a remote memory assessment pathway to comply with reduced social contact measures to protect vulnerable patients. The aim of the study was to establish whether remote model is considered a satisfactory experience within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand the factors associated with patient and carer satisfaction of remote pathway.

METHOD: 73 participants recruited from patients referred to memory clinic in West Sussex, who were assessed over a video or telephone. Participants completed an 11-item questionnaire capturing satisfaction across a range of elements, contextual items (the impact of the pandemic, loneliness, previous experience of using teleconference technology and diagnosis), as well as 3 dimensions from Patient Experience Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics are reported at a whole sample level, separated by patient and carer status. A hypothesis driven set of bivariate analyses (Spearman’s rank) was used to understand the association between overall satisfaction and key independent factors across the whole sample.

RESULTS: 73 participants were typically older adults (M=68.5, SD=13.3) and female (n=40, 54.8%). The patient was more likely to be older, feel lonely within the past week and to have used video call software when compared to the carer (p> 0.05). Participants were generally satisfied with the remote pathway with 95.8% (n=69) agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement “Overall, I was satisfied with the assessment”. Patients and carers did not significantly differ on any satisfaction response, apart from the ease of use of technology, in which carers were more likely to find the technology easy to use (U= 432.5; p=0.01). Worry about contracting COVID and communication experience was positively associated with overall satisfaction, whilst perceived communication barriers were significantly negatively associated with overall satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS: Remote memory assessment was a positive and satisfactory experience for most patient and carers. The remote pathway should be considered as an option available during and beyond the pandemic to improve access and patient choice of assessment modality.

PMID:34971221 | DOI:10.1002/alz.057818

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 2:e058406. doi: 10.1002/alz.058406.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been related to dementia, but the impact of life-course TBI on dementia remains unclear. We aimed to examine the association between lifespan TBI and dementia, and to explore whether genetic and early-life environmental factors contribute to this association.

METHOD: Within the Swedish Twin Registry,35,312 dementia-free twins (mean age 62.78 years) were followed for up to 18 years.Life-course TBI was assessed based on information from the SwedishNational Patient Registry (NPR) and participants were divided into five groups according to age at TBI occurrence (≤39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years). Dementia and cardiovascular disease (CVD, including heart disease and stroke) diagnoses were ascertained based on medical records in the NPR and the SwedishCause of Death Register. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE) and conditional logistic regression.

RESULT: In multi-adjustedGEE model, the odds ratios (ORs, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of dementia were 1.29 (1.05-1.60) for TBI at any age, 1.01 (0.54-1.89)for TBI at ≤39 years, 1.11 (0.65-1.88) for TBI at 40-49 years, 1.66 (1.13-2.45) for TBI at 50-59 years, 1.84 (1.24-2.74) for TBI at 60-69 years, and 0.86 (0.55-1.34) for TBI at ≥70 years, respectively. In the conditional logistic regression, the OR (95% CI) of dementia for TBI at any age was 1.59 (1.04-2.45). The difference in ORs from the two models was not statistically significant (P =0.40). In joint exposure analysis, the multi-adjusted OR (95% CI) of dementia was 1.46 (1.04-2.04) for participants with TBI but no CVD and 2.64 (1.63-4.29) for those with both TBI and CVD (reference: absence of both TBI and CVD). There was significant additive (attributable proportion0.48, 95% CI 0.17-0.78) and multiplicative interactions (OR1.98, 95% CI 1.09-3.60) betweenTBI at 50-69 years and CVD on dementia.

CONCLUSION: TBI, especially occurring at age 50-69 years, is associated with increased risk of dementia, and the risk becomes greater in people with CVD.Genetic and early-life environmental factors may not account for the TBI-dementia association.

PMID:34971186 | DOI:10.1002/alz.058406

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 12:e058614. doi: 10.1002/alz.058614.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: People living with dementia (PLWD) have an increased susceptibility to developing adverse physical and psychological events. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies provides new ways to remotely monitor patients within the comfort of their homes, particularly important for the timely delivery of appropriate healthcare. Presented here is data collated as part of the on-going UK Dementia Research Institute’s Care Research and Technology Centre cohort and Technology Integrated Health Management (TIHM) study. There are two main aims to this work: first, to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 quarantine on the performance of daily living activities of PLWD, on which there is currently little research; and second, to create a simple classification model capable of effectively predicting agitation risk in PLWD, allowing for the generation of alerts with actionable information by which to prevent such outcomes.

METHOD: A within-subject, date-matched study was conducted on daily living activity data using the first COVID-19 quarantine as a natural experiment. Supervised machine learning approaches were then applied to combined physiological and environmental data to create two simple classification models: a single marker model trained using ambient temperature as a feature, and a multi-marker model using ambient temperature, body temperature, movement, and entropy as features.

RESULT: There are 102 PLWD total included in the dataset, with all patients having an established diagnosis of dementia, but with ranging types and severity. The COVID-19 study was carried out on a sub-group of 21 patient households. In 2020, PLWD had a significant increase in daily household activity (p = 1.40e-08), one-way repeated measures ANOVA). Moreover, there was a significant interaction between the pandemic quarantine and patient gender on night-time bed-occupancy duration (p = 3.00e-02, two-way mixed-effect ANOVA). On evaluating the models using 10-fold cross validation, both the single and multi-marker model were shown to balance precision and recall well, having F1-scores of 0.80 and 0.66, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Remote monitoring technologies provide a continuous and reliable way of monitoring patient day-to-day wellbeing. The application of statistical analyses and machine learning algorithms to combined physiological and environmental data has huge potential to positively impact the delivery of healthcare for PLWD.

PMID:34971120 | DOI:10.1002/alz.058614

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 2:e058565. doi: 10.1002/alz.058565.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sensorineural hearing loss is treated using cochlear implants. The electrodes in the implants directly stimulate spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). However, SGNs continually degenerate and are difficult to access behind the bony modiolar wall of the cochlea. The electrode-tissue interface needs to be improved to enhance hearing for users. Implanting the electrode closer to the SGNs, requires a greater insertion depth and increases the amount of scar tissue that forms around the electrode. The introduction of neurotrophic factors has the potential to improve neural regeneration. However, currently there are a lack of methods to deliver neurotrophic factors locally and sustainably into the cochlea. We propose a neural electrode system utilising electrical stimulation (ES) to increase the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and guide SGNs and their neurites towards the electrode. Additionally, the electrode system would utilise an electrospun nanofiber scaffold surrounding the electrode to act as a mechanical support to the cells and their projections.

METHOD: Nanofiber scaffolds were electrospun onto wires and glass coverslips and cultured with human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and rat Schwann cells. Immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterise the scaffolds and biocompatibility. Platinum electrodes were used to stimulate both rat Schwann cells and SH-SY5Y cells for 3 hours using a 100mV/mm DC electric field. Following 20 hours of incubation, the cells were immunostained to measure changes in BDNF expression.

RESULT: We discovered that not only were the scaffolds biocompatible, but the cells aligned along the nanofibers, forming networks on the scaffolds. We observed statistically significant increases in BDNF expression in Schwann cells, as well as a limited BDNF increase in SH-SY5Y cells that may be a result of the incubation period used in our experiment and is currently under investigation.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest the feasibility of the system and have the potential to improve cochlear implants.

PMID:34971154 | DOI:10.1002/alz.058565

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 12:e058131. doi: 10.1002/alz.058131.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Dementia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) are prevalent disorders in older adults, and increasingly T2D is recognized as a robust predictor of cognitive impairment, decline and dementia. Older adults with T2D experience global cognitive decline at a rate that is double those without T2D over a 5-year period. With regard to specific cognitive domains, associations between T2D and pre-diabetic levels of insulin resistance are most commonly reported with both episodic memory and decreased executive function, including verbal fluency, working memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and cognitive control. Identification of those living with diabetes at risk for cognitive decline is critically important for early intervention.

METHOD: We used the EPAD LCS vIMI baseline dataset (n=1324, excluding participants with missing data). Our primary outcome measure was performance on the Four Mountains Test (4MT), a measure of allocentric processing. Diabetes was recorded in the medical history. Covariates were age, sex, years of education, family history, APOE status, pTau and Aβ1-42. Our statistical analysis approach was linear regression.

RESULT: There were 90 participants with diabetes included in the sample. Their mean score on the 4MT was 8.32 (±2.32) correct (out of 15) compared to 9.24 (±2.60) for participants without diabetes. In uncorrected models, diabetes was significantly associated with worse 4MT total scores (β=-0.92, p=0.001). This relationship remained significant in a fully adjusted model including sex, age, education, family history of dementia and APOE status (β=-0.71, p=0.0017). There was no significant interaction between diabetes and APOE status. pTau was significantly higher in participants with diabetes compared to those without. Including pTau and Aβ1-42 in the fully adjusted model further attenuated it but it remained significant (β: -0.62, p=0.02) CONCLUSION: Individuals with diabetes performed worse on the 4MT compared to those without diabetes in the EPAD LCS v.IMI dataset. Novel cognitive tests, such as the 4MT, may be appropriate to identify early cognitive changes in this high-risk group. Future research will investigate longitudinal associations between diabetes and 4MT performance over multiple visits.

PMID:34971092 | DOI:10.1002/alz.058131

Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2021 Dec 31. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32884. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The world learned of the heated dispute about the methodology of the early works by Davenport and Rosanoff claiming Mendelian transmission patterns for mental handicap and psychiatric illness in a bold headline in the New York Times on Sunday, November 9, 1913: ENGLISH EXPERT ATTACKS AMERICAN EUGENIC WORK. I here focus on the debate surrounding Rosanoff’s 1911 study where he presented evidence that the neuropathic constitution, including, among its manifestations, dementia praecox, and manic-depressive illness, was an autosomal recessive trait. The “English expert,” David Heron, a student of Pearson’s, launched the debate in his 1913 paper which argued that Rosanoff’s field work methods were biased, his clinical assessments sloppy, his phenotype far too broad, and his statistical approach flawed. Both Davenport, Rosanoff’s mentor, and Rosanoff vigorously defended their methods. Behind this sometimes personal debate was the long simmering controversy about the relative validity of Biometrical genetic (represented by Heron and Pearson) and Mendelian genetic (represented by Rosanoff and Davenport) models for genetic transmission in plants, animals and, especially, humans. A review suggests that most of Heron’s criticisms were valid. This episode presages later controversies within psychiatric genetics, for example between twin and linkage researchers in the 1980s and 1990s.

PMID:34971081 | DOI:10.1002/ajmg.b.32884

Am J Med Genet A. 2021 Dec 31. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62629. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) is a group of diseases that causes abnormalities at the neuromuscular junction owing to genetic anomalies. The pathogenic variant in ALG14 results in a severe pathological form of CMS causing end-plate acetylcholine receptor deficiency. Here, we report the cases of two siblings with CMS associated with a novel variant in ALG14. Immediately after birth, they showed hypotonia and multiple joint contractures with low Apgar scores. Ptosis, low-set ears, and high-arched palate were noted. Deep tendon reflexes were symmetrical. They showed worsening swallowing and respiratory problems; hence, nasal feeding and tracheotomy were performed. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed delayed myelination and cerebral atrophy. Exome sequencing indicated that the siblings had novel compound heterozygous missense variants, c.590T>G (p.Val197Gly) and c.433G>A (p.Gly145Arg), in exon 4 of ALG14. Repetitive nerve stimulation test showed an abnormal decrease in compound muscle action potential. After treatment with pyridostigmine, the time off the respirator increased. Their epileptic seizures were well controlled by anti-epileptic drugs. Their clinical course is stable even now at the ages of 5 and 2 years, making them the longest reported survivors of a severe form of CMS with the ALG14 variant thus far.

PMID:34971077 | DOI:10.1002/ajmg.a.62629

Alzheimers Dement. 2021 Dec;17 Suppl 11:e051128. doi: 10.1002/alz.051128.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has placed an extraordinary and disproportionate level of responsibility and risk on certified nursing assistants (CNAs) caring for persons with dementia (PWD) relative to their training, resources, and compensation levels. Nearly one-quarter of COVID-19 deaths in the United States have been nursing home residents and staff. Despite providing the majority of direct care, CNAs are amongst the most under-resourced and under-trained frontline workers. Given their essentiality, it is critical to support CNAs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this work is to provide CNAs with a space to strengthen their knowledge and confidence in caring for PWD. This pilot study applies a virtual reality (VR) curriculum to train CNAs regarding the lived experiences of PWD and their loved ones. The VR vignette portrays a Latinx woman, Beatriz, through progressive stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

METHOD: Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS) CNAs were recruited (N=7; 86% female, 86% Black) for a seven-week online training program consisting of 1.5 hours per week. Each class included a didactic lecture and an Embodied Labs VR module depicting a first-person experience of dementia through a distributive model approach. The program concluded with two recorded focus groups. Participants completed the UCLA Geriatric Attitudes Scale, a dementia knowledge assessment, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index surveys, and a COVID-19 Impact questionnaire. Current analyses include qualitative content analysis for focus group data and descriptive, quantitative statistics for pre-and post-VR intervention surveys.

RESULT: Preliminary results demonstrate that CNAs endorsed a positive change in attitudes toward older adults (p=0.069), a deepened understanding of dementia, and increased confidence in caregiving skills. Focus groups allowed CNAs to discuss changes in resident behavior and support one another through a virtual platform during a global pandemic.

CONCLUSION: Combining traditional didactic lectures with VR-based curricula provided CNAs with foundational knowledge and first-hand experience of dementia pathology. Participants reported greater levels of insight and empathy for PWD. Future aims include expansion of training content to include end-of-life conversations, LGBTQIA aging, and Lewy body dementia.

PMID:34971052 | DOI:10.1002/alz.051128

J Esthet Restor Dent. 2021 Dec 31. doi: 10.1111/jerd.12863. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at comparing the bleaching efficacy and bleaching sensitivity (BS) of two higher-concentration in-office bleaching gels (37% carbamide peroxide [CP] and 38% hydrogen peroxide [HP]) applied under two conditions: alone or in association with sonic activation.

METHODS: Fifty-six volunteers were randomly assigned in the split-mouth design into the following groups: CP, CP with sonic activation (CPS), HP, and HP with sonic activation (HPS). Two in-office bleaching sessions were performed. Color was evaluated using Vita Classical, Vita Bleachedguide, and digital spectrophotometer at baseline and at 30 days post-bleaching. Absolute risk and intensity of BS were recorded using two pain scales. All data were evaluated statistically (color changes [t test], BS [Chi-square and McNemar test], and BS intensity [VAS; t test; NRS; Wilcoxon; α = 0.05]).

RESULTS: Significant and higher whitening was observed for HP when compared with CP (p < 0.04). However, higher BS intensity was observed in the former (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in whitening effect or BS when the HP or CP bleaching gels were agitated (sonic application) compared with when they were not (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The 37% CP gel demonstrated lower bleaching efficacy and lower BS compared with the 38% HP bleaching gel. The whitening effect was not influenced by the use of sonic activation.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of 37% CP gel did not achieve the same whitening effect when compared to 38% HP gel used for in-office bleaching. The use of sonic activation offers no benefit for in-office bleaching.

PMID:34971074 | DOI:10.1111/jerd.12863