Brain and behavior
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There is paucity of information on major neurocognitive disorders in sub-Saharan Africa where the number of individuals with neurocognitive disorders is expected to increase due to demographic transition. This study aims to report on the prevalence estimates of dementia and MCI (mild cognitive impairment) in a rural community in southwest Nigeria. ⋯ Almost one out of five older persons in Lalupon community had major neurocognitive impairment with MCI being six-times more common than dementia. Alzheimer's disease was the most common dementia sub-type.
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Multicenter Study
Genetic variation and cognitive dysfunction in opioid-treated patients with cancer.
The effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the cognitive function of opioid-treated patients with cancer until now have not been explored, but they could potentially be related to poor functioning. This study aimed at identifying associations between SNPs of candidate genes, high opioid dose, and cognitive dysfunction. ⋯ The findings did not support influence of those SNPs analyzed to explain cognitive dysfunction in opioid-treated patients with cancer.
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Approximately, 275,000 American service members deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), with 75% of these incidents involving an explosive blast. Visual processing problems and cognitive dysfunction are common complaints following blast-related mTBI. ⋯ These are the first published results that directly illustrate the relationship between blast-related mTBI severity, visual pathway neural networks, and executive dysfunction - results that highlight the detrimental relationship between blast-related brain injury and the integration of visual sensory input and executive processes.
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Intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) is useful in the evaluation of small-fiber neuropathy (SFN). Recent guidelines recommend extending the spectrum of controls for IENFD assessment by evaluation of patients whose clinical picture mimics that of SFN. The aim of this study was to broaden the spectrum of IENFD controls by the assessment of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and painful feet. ⋯ The study confirmed normal skin biopsy findings in patients with CSM as one of the clinical conditions mimicking SFN and provided further support for the use of IENFD assessment in case of suspicion of SFN.
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Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is common in ageing and patients with dementia and stroke. Its manifestations on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) include white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, microbleeds, perivascular spaces, small subcortical infarcts, and brain atrophy. Many studies focus only on one of these manifestations. A protocol for the differential assessment of all these features is, therefore, needed. ⋯ Final outcomes include guidance for identifying ways to minimize bias and confounds in the assessment of SVD and stroke imaging biomarkers. It is intended that this information will inform the design of studies to examine the underlying pathophysiology of SVD and stroke, and to provide reliable, quantitative outcomes in trials of new therapies and preventative strategies.